Luxury Spas of the World: Lakeside Spa & Salon

Mission Point Resort‘s Lakeside Spa & Salon, an Aveda Salon & Spa, is the largest and most luxurious spa on all of Mackinac Island. I have visited a lot of spas throughout the course of my travels, and I consider myself somewhat of an expert on relaxing and rejuvenating, however few spas have come even close to the quality of treatment I received here. If you’re planning a visit to Mackinac Island and looking to relax, if you want to work out sore muscle tension from your day job, or after biking & hiking the island, I highly recommend scheduling a massage at Lakeside Spa & Salon with Amanda – you can thank me later!

After a long weekend of hiking all over the island, biking about 40 miles total, swimming in the lake, and exploring the hotel grounds in order to photograph it from every angle possible, I couldn’t believe how refreshed I felt after leaving the spa. It was almost like I hadn’t done any exercise at all, as all of the muscle soreness and discomfort I’d felt had completely melted away. My massage therapist, Amanda, was such a sweetheart, and she seemed to know exactly where my muscles needed help the most. I received the Lilac Body Treatment, which is a full body massage, scalp massage, foot treatment, and a facial, all done with lilac essential oils, which smell so light and lovely. I left feeling completely stress-free, and smelling like a gorgeous spring morning.

Due to current health requirements on salons and spas, the spa has extra protections put in place to ensure the health and safety of guests and staff alike. For example, those who were not receiving treatments were not allowed into the spa, which had the added benefit of keeping the spa even quieter and more intimate. The nail stations had barriers between the technicians and the clients, and everyone in the spa was required to wear a mask the entire time they were in the area. The sauna, steam room, lockers, showers, and other shared spaces were closed. Couples services or other services with more than one person per treatment room are temporarily suspended. To compensate for the temporarily limited services, the prices of treatments were reduced and also include a 5% cleaning fee as well as a 15% gratuity, so the price you see on their website is exactly what you’ll pay.

Another change from normal spa procedures I noticed during my time in the spa is that the massage table had a pillowcase over it that hung down loosely with plenty of space on my side, so that I could take off my mask and relax, without worrying about droplets or anything from me or other guests contaminating the area around the massage table. During my facial, Amanda used an easy-to-sanitize plastic cube that went over my head and neck. It had room for my neck and two holes for her arms, one on either side, so that I could enjoy my facial sans mask, without breathing on the massage therapist or potentially contaminating the room. As a germaphobe, I loved these extra safety measures, and I felt much safer, and more relaxed, with them in place.

If you ask me, no visit to Mackinac Island is complete without visiting Lakeside Salon & Spa. Visitors are able to book their treatments in advance, and I recommend calling at least 72 hours ahead of your preferred date and time to ensure that you can get in, because this is one of the most iconic and popular destinations on the island. I simply cannot say enough good things about the spa itself, the staff, the tranquil atmosphere of the spa, and the quality of the services they offer. If you’re looking for a way to treat yourself on the island, make your stay extra special, relax and unwind, or if you’re looking for a gift for a loved one, I absolutely recommend a spa day at Lakeside Salon & Spa.

Safe travels!

xAnnie Fairfax
Follow Me for More: @AnnieFairfax & @AnnieWearsit

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