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To complete the experience, the prize package also includes three Limited Edition “Simplified Skin” Kits from Haebae Holistics — a $300 total value that brings the spa experience home — plus a $100 gift card to On The Docks Pub, a beloved dockside restaurant in Huntsville, courtesy of Reel Media Inc. Whether you’re dreaming of a self-care retreat, a cozy getaway with friends, or simply some lakeside serenity, this prize is your chance to indulge in relaxation from start to finish.

Highlights Include:

Outdoors
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– Spectacular Lake Views (sunrise & Sunset)
– 2 lakeview patios
– balcony with seating for 6
– Outdoor large fire table (propane Provided)
– Loungers & Egg Chairs
– Master Chef Elite BBQ (gas)
– Outdoor Dining table (4 seats)
– Private Beach access on site
– Hiking trails, Arrowhead Provincial park, Ice Trail
– Ice Fishing, Snowmobiling
– DT Huntsville, dining, shopping, beauty, grocery, entertainment, 3 min away

Indoors

– Cozy living room space to enjoy a 65″ TV with with Netflix & Fireplace
– Private 1-2 person in-suite Infrared Sauna
– Essential Oils & Diffuser
– 8 dining spaces at large Dining table
– High Speed Internet
– 1 King bedroom w/ensuite & Color changing fireplace w/TV
– 1 Queen bedroom w/ensuite
– 1 Full Sofa Bed
– Fresh/clean linens & towels provided
– Fully equipped kitchen (basis spices, oil & vinegar provided)
– Coffee station- Keurig – coffee pods, tea varieties, hot chocolate provided

This could be your perfect escape to relax, reset, and enjoy Muskoka’s natural beauty—just 2.5 hours from Toronto!

Special Thanks to Premier Host for making this giveaway possible. Get ready to turn your dream getaway into reality!

HOW TO ENTER – (Contest Ends November 10th at 11:59pm, 2025)

Open to Ontario residents only. Must be 18+ to enter. Must be following listed social accounts. Multiple entries accepted.

Facebook

1. Follow Toronto Guardian and Premier Host on Facebook.

2. Share this Facebook Post.

3. Tag a friend in the comments of this Facebook Post who you will be bringing with you if you win.

Instagram

1. Follow Toronto Guardian + Premier Host + Haebae Holistics + Reel Media Inc. on Instagram so we can direct message the winner.

2. Tag a friend in the comments of this Instagram Post who you will be bringing with you if you win.

3. Share the post to your stories.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by haebae | cool moms club ★ diy ★ mama + mini meals & lifestyle (@haleydawncoulter)

The post CONTEST: Win a 2-Night Stay at Lakeside Oasis Spa Getaway appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Located right along the sparkling waterfront of Lake Ontario sits this refreshing and modern hotel that caters to many travellers and their tastes. Ideally situated between Toronto and the Niagara Escarpment visitors truly can have the best of both city and outdoor exploration.   It’s also considered one of the most elegant and sought after wedding venues to no one’s surprise!

The Pearle was founded by the Ciancone family and Pearle, the matriarch of the family, served as inspiration for her love of being by the soothing waterways. The hotel continues to offer that unhurried relaxing by-the-lake feeling to all their guests. It’s luxurious yet inviting and unpretentious. The hospitality team here prides itself on providing guests with genuine and thoughtful experiences, extraordinary cuisine, gracious service, and inspiring settings.

The Pearle Hotel, part of the Autograph Collection of hotels worldwide,  is certainly worth the drive out of Toronto’s nightmare traffic for a quick getaway. It gives off that breezy sophisticated coastal vibe that truly speaks for itself. The 151 room property is not rustic by any means but they’ve taken elements of cottage life to create something completely unique and charming at the lake.

Rest and Reset:

It all starts from the moment you step foot into the hotel. Its main lobby with nature inspired design has us all cosy with gorgeous elements of wood and limestone. A dramatic staircase serves as a focal point in the main area. One step back with a deep exhale, and the entire vision feels like a waterfall with droplet-shaped glass lights suspended from way above.  This striking, yet soothing, entrance is a dream come to life envisioned by the talented design team at Studio Munge — you may recognize their breathtaking and award-winning work in worldwide luxury hotels, restaurants, and private residences including Ritz-Carlton Residences South Beach Miami, Nobu Toronto, and Park Hyatt Toronto to name a few.

Explore the hotel and you’ll discover hints of history to The Pearle Hotel. A few unique spots within the hotel pay homage to the hotel as well as the city’s past. A showcase of artefacts, letters, fine china, and other paraphernalia from yesteryears is neatly displayed near the hotel’s signature spa. There is also a nook where guests will find postcards with vintage images. Handwritten notes to send home is an honoured tradition here at The Pearle and they welcome guests to pick up a pen and capture their memories.  By the way, the hotel will take care of the postage, too!

The Rooms:

Most of the hotel’s suites and rooms overlook the water. With unobstructed views of the lake, it is absolutely stunning to take it all in. There was barely any activity on the waterways from our vantage point. Just the moon’s bright beam glistening on the ripples.

Our room with its lakehouse decor was welcoming. Light wood and understated furnishings didn’t take away from the view but enhanced that feeling of escape to somewhere far away. The same vibe I had when I recently retreated to Laguna Beach.

Restaurants:

The hotel’s signature restaurant Isabelle has a stunning canopied patio making it an ideal place to be in the summer months. With a gorgeous view of the lake all time of the day or evening, it’s a perfect place for date night as well as friends and family gatherings. The main dining room is also a treat with its airy lakehouse vibe.

The Pearle Café is a modern and refreshing hotspot for casual morning coffees, smoothies, baked goods, delicious afternoon salads, paninis and other savoury desires. Its pretty pastel colour palette complements that vibe we yearn for being at the water. The café’s motto “Seize the Day” reminds us to appreciate all the little details even though we tend to move quickly in our daily lives. By the way, it’s also a perfect spot to pick up a few pantry items as well as pretty fresh flower bouquets that won’t break the bank.

Also be sure to check out nearby Spencer’s along the waterfront. It’s a popular spot for the season’s freshest seafood and other delicious fare.

The Pearle Spa

I had checked in for a one hour massage in the airy soothing space. The spa space is beautiful with enough private areas to lounge in peace when you’re done “peopling”. Located within the spa is also a traditional Hammam Spa including a steam room and lounge,

Look to their curated list of signature services. Body treatments are intriguing such as the Rose Quartz Restorative service — a unique experience that harnesses the power of crystals to restore positive energy to the body. There are also more familiar services including massages, manis and pedis to check yourself into if crystals are not your speed.

Within the spa area, guests can find the Indoor Pool area. Family swim time and relaxing times ensure that all guests have the option to relax or unwind at their own pace. For those who want to stay on track with their workout goals, The Pearle’s Fitness Centre is open 24/7 with full access to state-of-the-art equipment on site.

What else is there to do in Burlington?

Just steps away from the hotel are charming streets filled with cafés, shops, weekend farmer’s market in the summertime, and restaurants to explore. Definitely hit up Kelly’s Bakeshop! Not overwhelming – just about right to whittle away a few hours on foot. Also nearby are quiet residential streets with some stately homes. Fun to see the architecture and guess who the heck lives around here and what do they do?

The Royal Botanical Gardens is also a neat place to visit. During the summer they also have special events including live music performances and movie screenings in the park.

Also, enjoy scenic hikes along the Niagara Escarpment with over 130km of trails along the waterfront as well as the Trans Canada Trail — perfect for nature lovers. Hiking trails can be found here.

The post The Pearle Hotel’s Sparkling Waterfront Escape appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

The word AMAN can be found in many cultures…

In Arabic, it means tranquillity and peacefulness.

In Hebrew it means support, nourish.

In Biblical terms, Aman means Mother.

In Hindi it means peace.

Founder Thom Tullo tells us the name AMAN to him means tranquillity, peace, and harmony. It came to him when he was travelling in the Middle East and heard this song titled “Aman” by Myriam Fares. “While I was in the desert with my partner I heard this song and asked what it was about. He told me about the popular artist and what Aman meant. I knew that was the name, and the vibe was what I wanted,” said Tullo. “Very much of the Middle Eastern culture has influenced this spa concept. Also, that feeling of tranquillity and the sand is so very comforting to me. I wanted to bring that experience here.”

Even the colour palate at AMAN reflects that soothing vision. The earthy beige and stone as well. How the light hits the stone and the contrasting tones appear to be swooping up like a sand dune. The archways you see incorporated in the design of the space also reflect the Middle Eastern culture blended with Tullo’s Mediterranean background.

Tullo wanted AMAN Spa to be more than just a beautiful place. He truly believes in a more purposeful approach. “I always knew I wanted to treat people with a wellness approach. Since we’ve experienced the pandemic it’s crazy what has touched us and what has been stripped away from us. We’ve lost even simple contacts in daily life — that connection of a simple handshake or a pat on the back can be very powerful. I know touch is a significant way to help heal people.”

His experience in the luxury spa industry gave him a clear vision of what would make AMAN Spa a stand out. Bringing the beautiful spa experience to more people was what he wanted.  Often luxury spa destinations are situated in high end hotels and can feel intimidating at times.  “I wanted to bring that experience of being at a hotel Spa outside of the hotel and bring it to the streets of Toronto.

He wanted to be downtown but he also wanted a space where it wasn’t distracted the sounds of the busy streets. He was working at a studio nearby when stumbled upon this space during a break in his workday and fell in love instantly. He learned that it had been on the market for a while so he swooped in. “The architecture was beautiful and the street was quiet. It reminded me of the streets in Old Montreal and had that brownstone in New York vibe,” said Tullo.

So, what treatments are available here? I mentioned that I am usually drawn to signature treatments that offer something different and unique to experience.

“Our AMAN Facial Massage is very unique,” said Tullo.  “You might have seen it elsewhere and even now on social media but it’s not something many are doing quite like this in our city. It touches on lymphatic drainage, facial stretch therapy, and actual relaxation of the facial tissue.” He also explains that us our faces do so many things — we have expressions, clench our jaws, chew, and we talk. Muscles in our face are always working and we don’t necessarily realize just how tense we really are in this region. So, this treatment focuses from the upper chest and goes upwards and leaves you feeling relaxed and sculpted.

The unique technique that originated from Russia has already piqued interest with his clientele. “Our faces are so important from a wellness standpoint and getting massages is a great way to help with many things including headaches. Our neck muscles are strained too from driving or being hunched over a computer. I truly think these desk jobs are really not great for us. We’re not designed to be in this position for long durations of time.”

So, what happens in the Facial Massage ($185)  treatment? First, Thom walks through what to expect. With this 60-minute treatment, you’ll start with a gentle cleansing using the luxurious 111SKIN line. This is a medical grade luxurious line of skin care found in higher end spas. The massage itself is done by hand applying a gentle stretching and movement. The pressure begins light and progresses to a medium pressure. The most unique part of the experience is the massage that happens inside the mouth but just for a few minutes. Then a micro-current treatment finishes off the massage. To finish off, he applies a thin layer of 111Skin eye gel and facial cream.

Results? You’ll see some slight sculpting and contouring immediately which is why people are already loving it. “It’s like doing a face workout,” said Tullo.

In case you’re wondering if you can do this treatment after other facial treatments, he tells us, yes. However, the facial massage it’s best to wait a minimum of 2 weeks after Botox. It also is best to wait 4 to 6 weeks after any fillers. As with any spa be sure to inform the staff about recent work done before booking.

The facial massage is just one of the unique treatments here but his team also offers Forma and Morpheus8 (microneedling with radio frequency) treatments. They target different concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, minimizing pores, tightening skin, and decreasing fat pockets in the face.

Other great services offered here are the AMAN Signature Rose Gold Facial, Black Diamond, and more.

AMAN Spa is located at 47 Colbourne Street. See their site here for what is offered.

The post Luxurious AMAN Spa opens on Colborne Street in Toronto appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

In the past, I would have told you this is a destination for luxurious pampering and in many ways it still is — but it’s different. It was a place where you would find the “ladies of high society” cocoon in their fluffy white bathrobes well hidden away from the hustle and bustle of their social calendars. It was considered an escape or maybe somewhere once in a while where we would treat ourselves (or be treated to) for a special celebration- bridal shower, birthday, anniversary, a work promotion (hey, thanks boss!), or Mother’s Day. It was in one word…glamorous in a very ’90s kind of way.

When the popular spa shuttered in 2017 for renovations who knew that a global pandemic would  force them to press pause for just a bit longer like the rest of the world. A forced pause that, like many of us, made us really think about what’s important and what we want to take care of going forward. A focus on wellness moved to the forefront Minimize the noise and overwhelming stimulants that take space in our minds each and every day.

Welcome to the new Stillwater Spa where your body and mind will both feel renewed.

With a new spa director on board there seems to be a monumental shift in how Stillwater’s positions itself. Yes, you will still have a luxurious experience but the focus is as much on you as it is on the space and what they have to offer.

First noticeable difference? The list of services is not going to overwhelm you. While there are several signature offerings, Stillwater places a priority on your needs  “in the moment”. You can book yourself in for a massage but instead of 10 different styles and options, they’ve pared it down. Same goes for their facial and nail treatments. Why? Kerry Werner, Spa Director explains that we already have so many decisions in our lives to make and Stillwater doesn’t want to add to our daily stresses. The goal is to bring the most optimal experience for that day. She would love each person walking into the space to reflect on their needs and wants, then trust they will be well looked after by their attentive staff.

Stressed at a spa? Come on now! But it happens. Who wants to be on a rigid schedule of be here, sit there, wait here, do this, do that, choose this,..or that, get up, repeat and goodbye? There’s a time and a place for that perhaps — but it’s more focused here.

I checked myself in for Stillwater’s “Ultimate Aromatherapy Experience” — a 60 minute  blissful massage created to help “restore and rebalance with this customized aromatherapy ritual. Mind and body connect with individually chosen essential oils applied to calm and ground.”

The word ritual meant it was more than “deep tissue” or a “Swedish massage”. As a signature service, I wanted to see what would make this different than other services.

A licensed registered massage therapist welcomed me into her retreat — a minimally designed space with no distractions. I stepped into the light wood accented room with a warm glow of soft light. A single well appointed chair sat at the corner with a small table. A hook was on the wall for the fluffy taupe (not white) bathroom to be hung and duvet draped neatly over the long cushioned massage table.

She asked how I wanted to feel and what I wanted to achieve that day. I paused and thought, I wanted to feel renewed and ready for the world. My creative flow felt a little blocked and distracted.  With a nod of acknowledgement she brought out four small bottles of essential oils. I instantly fell in love with the first scent and didn’t need to go any further.

The essential oil line here was created by Aromatherapy Associates whom I had learned have a direct lineage to the beginning of modern aromatherapy. Founders of the line, Geraldine Howard and Sue Beechey have been sharing the therapeutic benefits of essential oils after training under the renowned aromatherapist Micheline Arcier — who studied with Mauguerite Maury and Jean Valnet M.D., the original pioneers. The purposefully made and hand-crafted masterfully blended natural oils are considered the gold standard in the world of aromatherapy.

My massage therapist eased into the experience. Classical music was gently playing in the background. There were two other options if preferred — contemporary classical as well as spa music. Or nothing if that’s what guests want. She had mentioned that visitors can also play their own music and bring AirPods or headphones.

I was pretty certain she could feel all the knots and kinks in my back and shoulders without me having to say a word. Methodically she moved them out of my system and I’m pretty certain my mind and body responded with a morning nap. There was definitely something subtly different about this experience. The essential oils, the movements and techniques all centred me.

Returning to the quiet lounge area is where “spa bites” of fresh house-made Madelines, morsels of matcha tea cakes, mini oat bars, and mango jellies await. Along side the delights were individually bottled cold-pressed juices all crafted for spa guests to enjoy — the day’s fresh pickings? A delicious Lemonade made with Strawberry, Rosewater, and Passionfruit, a Blueberry, Mint Lavender fresh blend, a Raspberry Hibiscus raw smoothie, and a Four the Greens juice with lemon and ginger. Werner mentioned the juices were locally sourced and will change with the seasons. And  a tea selection by the popular Sloane Tea Company was also offered as was a bowl of fresh fruit.

It’s hard not to fall in love with the aesthetics here too. The much loved design team lead by world renowned designer Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge, who also worked on the Park Hyatt interiors, were also tasked to give the Stillwater Spa its refresh. It’s much lighter, tranquil space and it’s beautiful. Even the artwork has a presence, yet seamlessly integrated starting with the porcelain blossoms and lily pads on the wall in the welcome area.

There was no rushing here. Not even after my service where the massage therapist quietly whispered to take a moment to enjoy the calm. But there was also a steam and sauna room to enjoy should I choose to (before or after). I was ready to face the world again. Spa guests also have access to a beautiful and clean shower area within the change room (separate men’s and women’s).

I met up with my friend Carole in the spa — she was also there to experience the new space and we enjoyed a little catch up. Another woman was there and we all reminisced about the grand old days of the previous Stillwater Spa. She had told us that she was a big fan of the spa and returned for the first time since it’s refresh to try the new Rose Indulgence Body Ritual – impressed by her glowing experience I made a note to try when I return. By the way, there are two lounge areas – one that is quieter and another that is great for friends to chit chat. Attentive staff are happy to ensure your time here a luxurious and pampered one. We all agreed that the re-imagined space and their current philosophy was so needed in today’s environment and reflective of the needs of those who live, work and visit our city.

Another noticeable difference? No “shop” filled with products to buy. No suggestion selling of beauty products. Refreshing! Maybe it’s all hidden? I didn’t see anything. But I should have asked if that aromatherapy blend was available for purchase but I floated out of there with my head in the clouds.

Stillwater Spa is located at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Toronto (Yorkville). Learn more about them here.

Thank you to Stillwater Spa for the experience. Looking forward to revisiting in the near future!

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