Magazine Review: Getaways - Your Guide to America's Great Escapes
Dateline: 11/15/97
Updated 1-31-98
In the last 2 months, I've received notices from 2 different airlines that my bonus flight miles were about to expire. I know it wasn't Delta (SkyMiles) or USAirways (Dividend Miles) so it must have been TWA (Frequent Flight Bonus Program) and either American Airlines (AAdvantage) or Continental (OnePass). It doesn't really matter. The point is that both of these airlines offered the opportunity to cash in unused miles for 1 year magazine subscriptions. I am now the overwhelmed recipient of about 13 weekly, monthly, bimonthly, and quarterly periodicals. Most of them are collecting in a nice pile on my office floor waiting for that unlikely day in the future when I will have some leisure time to enjoy them. However, a few of them have caught my eye and I have already picked them up and enjoyed from cover to cover. Getaways is one of them.
The September/October issue is full of interesting features and articles with great photos including:
- Portland du Jour - Oregon's capital city is cooking by Heidi Yorkshire
- Maine Stay - A cottage by the sea on the St. George Peninsula - what life in a Wyeth painting is really like by Larry Sheehan
- Bluffing It In Utah - A kid-friendly base camp guarantees great adventures for the whole family by Stephanie Woodard
- Boogying Across Austin - Blues, barbecue, boot-scooting, and beyond by Carol Flake
- Pacific Overture - Surprising twists and turns on the road to Mendocino by William Sertl
- Local Color - One hundred and seven years and still going strong, the Old Town Bar in New York City by William Sertl
- In a New York Minute - Ultimate Manhattan by Harvey Chipkin
Unfortunately, unlike many other magazine Web sites, Getaways does not put the contents of articles from the magazine on the site. So you will have to actually get the magazine to enjoy them.
Spas appear in a special advertising section that includes an interesting article The Changing Face of Spas by Diane Tegmeyer, co-author of The Spa Life at Home (available in the Bookstore). The author discusses the new role spas are taking on in the '90's - that of rejuvenation centers where "the overstressed and physically depleted can go for a reality check" and how spas address these issues with diet, rest, and exercise. Here are some of the topics covered:
- The medically supervised programs offered at the Cooper Aerobics Center (TX), and Canyon Ranch (AZ)
- The preventative medicine program in Miraval Life in Balance (AZ)
- The surge in resort or amenity spas (hotels with comprehensive spas) that offer spas along with other vacation attractions - golf, tennis, sightseeing, etc. An example given is Harmony at The Crescent Court (TX)
- The rise in outdoor exercise programs such as those at Rancho La Puerta (MX), The Peaks at Telluride (CO), Lake Austin Spa Resort (TX), Norwich Inn & Spa (CT), and Green Valley Spa and Tennis Resort (UT).
- Gardens used by spas for tools of rest and relaxation such as the labyrinth and Japanese garden at The Golden Door (CA) and the desert oasis and Zen garden at Miraval Life in Balance (AZ)
- Gardens for use in spas' aromatherapy treatments such as the Fragrance Court at The Ojai Valley Inn (CA)
- Fresh, colorful, and appetizing spa cuisine such as that found at Lake Austin Spa Resort (TX), The Greenhouse (TX), Canyon Ranch (AZ), and Miraval Life in Balance (AZ)
- Spas whose products use regional ingredients, herbs, and flowers in beauty and body treatments such as Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea Resort (HI), The Anara Spa at the Hyatt Regency Kauai (HI), Gurney's Inn (NY), The Peaks at Telluride (CO), Green Valley Spa and Tennis Resort (CO), and Marriott Camelback (AZ)
- Inventive and seductive spa treatments found at the Aveda Spa and Retreat (WI), PGA National Resort & Spa (FL), and The Broadmoor (CO)
Also appearing in this section are a number of colorful ads for spas. I always enjoy seeing pictures of the spas and ads are usually where you can find them short of an actual brochure. Spas with advertisements are: The Spa at The Desert Inn, Las Vegas (NV), The Registry Resort & Spa (FL), Citiview Spa (TX), Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa (FL), Palm Springs Desert Resorts (Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage), The Spa at Camelback Inn (AZ), The Peaks Resort & Spa (CO). I don't know if the Spa section is a regular feature or just a special for this issue.
In the section titled Guide to the Best Inns, Hotels, and B&B's, the following spas are found with full-page ads: Norwich Inn & Spa (CT), Saybrook Point Inn & Spa (CT), Eden Roc Resort & Spa (FL), and Indian Oak Resort & Spa (IN).
There is an opportunity to WIN A FREE SPA GETAWAY both in the magazine (send in a completed entry card) and on the Web site (complete and submit an online form). There is no expiration date that I could find. The site also offers a geographical search for getaways by location, a customized search for getaways by amenity, and a Getaway of the Week.
Unfortunately, I haven't seen Getaways on any news stands and I haven't received a November/December issue. I hope all is well. It is one magazine I am actually looking forward to reading.
UPDATE: 1-31-98
I just received a message from Getaways which explains why I haven't seen the magazine for a while. Here it is:
An Important Message
Dear Subscriber,
Just a short note to let you know that Getaways Magazine is going to be taking a short vacation. Actually, we're really not on vacation but it may seem that way to you, because we are temporarily suspending publication for a few months while we redesign and retool our publication.
We have acquired a new publishing partner with the editorial and financial resources we need to make our dreams and aspirations for Getaways Magazine come alive. So after a short break, we'll be sending issues to your house.
Once we resume publication, we'll send you the number of issues remaining on your subscription. Thank you in advance for being patient with us while we get ready to relaunch Getaways Magazine.
Sincerely,
Dan Kaplan
Publisher
