A Day At Glen Ivy Hot Springs & Spa

Kick Back And Relax At Glen Ivy

Today I’m excited to be kicking off a new section on my blog dedicated to Travel! When I started this website almost 3 years ago it’s gone through a few evolutions. Incorporating travel seemed to be the next step because food and travel go together like burgers and fries! The first stop on #natashastraveladventures? Glen Ivy Hot Springs in lovely Temescal Valley, California.

We went here to celebrate our mini Honeymoon. This was just a few days after our wedding in September and it was the perfect way to decompress after all the wedding chaos. Some women make wedding planning look effortless and easy but when you’re on a tight budget and have a strict venue like we did it’s a little more hectic. So a day of relaxation was something we both needed and I already told Jarod I want to come back here again for our one year anniversary.

All Our Dreams Can Come True If We Have The Courage To Pursue Them - Walt Disney

Since we were celebrating a special occasion we splurged a little and rented a two person cabana for the day. When I called to make the reservation they suggested the Ivy Terrace which is more private and tucked away from the busier areas of the resort. Truly a slice of heaven! It was quiet and we even had our own hot tub that was only accessible by others in the cabanas.

On top of having a private place to relax and sunbathe (with sunscreen of course! I do work for a dermatologist), we had dedicated cabana staff to bring us anything we could possibly need, luxurious robes to wear, complimentary fruit and reserved parking. They really make sure you feel like royalty when you’re here.

Natasha & Jarod Octon having fun in the Ivy Terrace Spa Pool.

We started our morning with a dip in the Ivy Terrace Spa Pool followed by a delicious breakfast. We ordered the brioche french toast that’s dipped in orange cognac batter. It was topped with fresh berries, caramelized banana, toasted coconut butter and a Vermont maple syrup. Perfection!

After relaxing for awhile we had a couples massage scheduled. It’s a nice break in the day to enhance your experience and they have celebration packages available at reasonable prices if you’re already a cabana guest.

Then we came back to the cabana for a fresh green juice. I loved that everything here was so fresh and healthy. They get all of their fruit and vegetables directly from local farmers and it makes all the difference!

Natasha & Jarod Octon in front of a water fountain.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs Pools

After a brief nap it was time to explore more of the pools and hot springs. They have so many different ones to try! I personally loved the saline baths. They are filled with epsom salt and are great for healing and reducing inflammation. I also like the detoxifying mineral baths. They have a bit of a sulfur smell but the benefits of a dip in here outweigh the smell!

Next it was time for some lunch and cocktail. We ordered their margherita flatbread pizza. It has juicy cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, mozzarella cheese, San Marzano marinara and fresh basil. But wait...there’s more! We also ordered a cheese board! I loved the raw honeycomb, fruit and variety of cheeses.

Club Mud At Glen Ivy

After lunch we decided to get muddy! Club Mud is an experience open to anyone who visits the hot springs and a lot of fun if you’ve never played in mud before. The mud here is actually a red clay that helps to detoxify and exfoliate your skin so we of course covered ourselves in it! Instant baby soft skin after rinsing it all off. FYI, it helps to have a friend help you get it all off because it does get everywhere!

The Grotto At Glen Ivy

To wrap up our day we headed to the Grotto for a moisturizing body treatment. I would recommend doing this at the end of the day so as not to lose the moisturized feeling throughout the day. The Grotto is in a subterranean cave complete with saunas and showers to freshen up before heading back to your cabana. I loved this unique experience and will happily do it again on my next visit.