QUEBEC: SPA EASTMAN - EASTERN TOWNSHIPS
by Anne Dimon
Spa Eastman, in the heart of Quebec’s rural Eastern Townships about an hour’s drive from downtown Montreal, is an ideal choice when the plan is to simply get away from it all. Quebec’s premiere spa for the last 30 years, Spa Eastman is literally carved out of the bush. The wilds of nature marry beautifully with meticulously groomed English gardens and a collection of cozy modern buildings scattered around the property and housing very comfortable accommodations. In this rural setting, dynamic owner Jocelyna Dubuc has created an idyllic refuge where luxury meets nature.
My daughter, Julia, and I arrive mid-afternoon. At check-in we pick up robes, then head upstairs to our room, one of 13 located in the main pavilion. This large lodge-style pavilion warmly decorated in upscale country is the social centre of this “spa village.” It also houses the treatment rooms, a number of comfortable lounge areas, the dining room, a heated indoor pool, a steam room and meeting rooms for spa workshops. At the top of a curved stairway that leads from the lobby, our guestroom has a king-size bed, a fireplace, a bathtub with jets, and a good-size deck overlooking a natural pond and Mount Orford beyond.
“What, no TV?” squeals my daughter in a near apoplectic state. What I’m missing is a telephone jack so I can connect to the Internet and access my e-mail. But none of the 44 guestrooms have televisions or telephones. No newspapers in house either. “For some it’s a little uncomfortable at first,” says Dubuc, but guests eventually like the idea of time for themselves with no disruptions and “they begin to enjoy it. It gives them time to talk and think and nap.” Here with three friends celebrating a 50th birthday, Suzie Laskin from New Hampshire agrees, “it’s great. We’ve been reading, exercising, talking and playing scrabble.”
Other ways to spend new found free time include lounging by the natural pond or outdoor swimming pool, participating is a guided walk, exercise or yoga class, sitting in on one of the many health and lifestyle-related workshops held daily, or strolling along the groomed trails that wind around the 315-acre property. Another option is simply finding a private place to sit and read or enjoy something many of us don’t have much time for in these busy, stressful days – quiet reflection.
Dubuc says even when the spa is full (up to 85 guests at any one time) it never feels uncomfortably busy. As we walk the spacious property past beautifully kept gardens, some with trickling fountains, I notice the needs of guests who want moments alone or with a partner have been thoughtfully taken into consideration. In a secluded spot, a swing hangs from the massive arm of an oak tree, in another niche embraced by nature there’s a hammock. Here, a wooden bench overlooks a bed of bright blooms. There, a couple of Andirondack chairs offer those who choose to sit a lovely mountain view.
Along with the setting, another unique feature of Spa Eastman is the healthy spa cuisine. Based on naturopathic needs, meals (except for dinner) are mostly vegetarian and while dishes are not gourmet, they are tasty, plentiful and nicely presented buffet style in a sunny Provence-influenced dining room. European-trained executive chef Pierre Cornelis says he uses soy instead of cream for soups, and no cheese unless it tops a dish so guests can simply remove if they desire. “Food combinations, he says, “are also chosen for better digestion.” During our stay we dined on dishes such as rabbit in a mustard sauce, grilled haddock, baked salmon with a dill sauce and chicken with a tarragon sauce. Wine is available with the evening meal. Between meals there are snacks like fresh fruit and squares made from Verbena said to help digestion and fight anxiety and nervous fatigue.
The Mom half of this duo was delighted with the healthy cuisine, the daughter, on the other hand, wasn’t quite ready for such a lifestyle change. In a moment of weakness we stole into the tiny town of Eastman, a four-minute drive away, for a fix of junk food and fashion magazines. The town also has a few shops, antique stores and restaurants.
The raison d’etre, of course, is the spa. The spa menu offers a wide range of treatments from massages ($25 for a 15-minute chair massage to $140 for a 120-minute massage of your choice), to body treatments like scrubs and wraps ($50 to $120), and facials ($55 to $95). One of the newest additions to the menu is the Eastman Quartet, a four-hand treatment that combines the techniques of Swedish and California massages. With Annie on one side of the table and Cindy on the other, the two perform a perfectly synchronized ballet of fingers, hands and forehands that takes them from scalp to toe. One of the most unique treatments is the oxygen and steam bath with essential oils ($50 for 20 minutes). Totally invigorating.
We drove off leaving this haven of peace and serenity for the bustle of city life and made ourselves a promise. Another escape next year.
For more information go to Spa Eastman