A Mother-Daughter Wellness Weekend

QUESTION

I am interested in taking my 17-year-old daughter to a spa for a few days over spring break. Are there any that you would recommend? Is this something appropriate for a 17-year-old? She loves horses, yoga, exercise, massages and pampering. Thanks.

R.

ANSWER

As the industry continues its move into wellness, more spas are boosting efforts to help people of all ages lead a healthier lifestyle — so it is very appropriate to take your 17-year-old daughter with you. (You may also be interested in reading the “Spas Become a Family Affair” trend, which was included in our recent 2012 Spa Trend Report.)

You have a bevy of options, and I have a couple of spa ideas in mind: The Ojai Valley Inn in Ojai, California hosts numerous yoga classes, from yin yoga to Kundalini to power yoga, and the concierge is available to arrange private and group horseback riding and horsemanship lessons at the local stables.

Grail Springs Health Spa and Wellness Center in Ontario has its own equine program, led by its “horse whisperer” Richard Capener, and Vermont’s Topnotch Resort & Spa boasts an on-site equestrian center.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, 40 minutes from Tucson, which partners with a local ranch for riding and has a spa celebrating eco-holistic treatments, is also a good choice.

I also invite you to use the www.spafinder.com website and simply type in “horseback riding” in the search bar to discover spas that offer this amenity.

You’re also welcome to use SpaFinder’s Advanced Search tool — just tag “horseback riding” and “yoga” for an even more extensive search.

I wish you and your daughter happy travels!