I love a good spa experience, and a recent trip to Great Jones Spa in New York City was not only good, but great! I’d never been to a spa that includes three hours of pure bliss before and after your treatment. My friend and I arrived about two hours before our massage appointments were scheduled to begin and were greeted by the friendly staff. As we were guided down the hallway to the locker room, the loud splashing sound coming from the floor below got us really excited. I knew that Great Jones had a water lounge but wasn’t expecting a waterfall, heated pool, cold water pool, steam room, sauna and a Jacuzzi! The locker room was spacious, and the smell of lavender infused the common area. We put our things away, changed into our swimsuits and headed down to the water lounge. I felt like a kid in a candy store — what should we try first? We grabbed a glass of complimentary mint and lemon water and decided to jump in the Jacuzzi. The water lounge area is very open, and the fog on the sky lights was a constant reminder that it was a cold and dreary day outside. Before moving onto the next section of the lounge, we decided to visit the juice bar and enjoy a smoothie. Our cold treat was delicious and hit the spot once we were inside the sauna. After moving around from the sauna to the eucalyptus steam room we plopped down in lounge chairs until it was time for our massages. My massage therapist Kara was very talented. The music was soothing, the scent of the oil calming; and after an hour with Kara, the tension in my back and shoulders had melted away. My friend said that her massage was equally as wonderful. Once we were done with the appointments, we could have gone back down to the water lounge, but we had a dinner reservation to make and showered instead. The next time you’re in Manhattan, try this oasis of relaxation. I’m looking forward to another trip to Great Jones soon! — Christie Rhodes, advertising manager, eastern region