The new extreme sport for 2016.
Photo by Justin Kriel
Imagine standing at the edge of a platform in the middle of a forest, facing nothing but trees and a vertical drop of 55 feet. You take the plunge and leap out into the open air, nothing separating you from the ground but a narrow steel cable overhead. Exhilarating, right? Welcome to Zip & Zen at Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg—where extreme sport meets extreme relaxation.
The package includes a 2-hour zip line tour, poolside lunch of your choice, including a healthful vegetarian wrap, spicy edamame or a cheese board, and a 50-minute well-being massage ($305-$329). “The spa is a nice complement,” says Lucy Curtis, programming coordinator at Salamander Resort. “It’s a good way to fully unwind after a strenuous activity.”
Coined the “Adrenaline & Zen Cocktail” by Spafinder 365’s 2016 Trends Report, high-octane adventures like Salamander’s are increasingly being paired with more traditional spa treatments making the combo a top trend this year.
For other thrill-then-chill experiences, go to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where you wind down from a day of white water rafting or Alpine Tower climbing with the spa’s Reflex Trio Massage: a mineral bath combined with warm stones placed on reflex points on the body to soothe pressure points ($195). At the Tides Inn in Irvington, enjoy the marine-inspired Ocean Energy clay wrap after a day of sailing or water biking. Mineral-rich ocean clay detoxifies and prevents inflammation, while native oils applied after the clay is showered off smooth weather-roughed skin ($165). SalamanderResort.com, Greenbrier.com, TidesInn.com
