The Best Spa Getaways for Working Moms By Marilyn Zeitlin Before you open your office door, the phone rings. Pages are waiting on the fax machine. There's e-mail to answer. Your calendar is filled with meetings and presentations. You're expected to come up with new ideas and solve old problems. Deadlines. Interruptions. Delays. Then you go home and hear "Why didn't you eat supper with us?" "I need help with my homework." The children need a bath and story before bedtime. You can't wait until you're in bed. Sound like a day in your life? Balancing work and family life can produce stress, a factor in many illnesses. A spa getaway could be just what the doctor ordered. Dr. Gordon Reynolds, medical director at the Green Valley Spa in Utah, says stress contributes to higher blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol as well as affecting the immune system and making one more irritable. Reynolds, who retired from his medical practice to create spa health and fitness programs, says a spa vacation can be a balm for mind, body and spirit. Along with relaxation, pampering and healthy food, a spa can be an educational center for teaching stress management. Educational programs include topics like nutrition, meditation, fitness and smoking session programs. I went in search of the best places for a working mom to unwind, five North American spas were selected for this story - many even have child care and day camps. Canyon Ranch, Tucson AZ This is where you go to get fit, lose weight and lose bad habits. The atmosphere is comforting with a variety of cactus artistically planted among sand and stones. The food is varied, looks and tastes good, so you won't feel deprived. There are 50 fitness classes including tai chi, chi gong and meditation. You can hike, bike, and play tennis, squash or racquetball. You can learn to manage stress, lose weight and stop smoking. After a day spent getting fit, you'll enjoy a relaxing massage or facial. Individual attention is given to each visitor including a health and goal evaluation on the first day. Evening events include presentations and question/answer sessions with doctors, psychologists and fitness specialists. Children must be at least 14 years old to participate in spa activities. For more information: (800) 742-9000; www.canyonranch.com Grand Wailea Resort's Spa Grande, Maui, HI Hawaii, with its emphasis on spiritual well-being, its native fish and fruit, incredible flowers beaches and culture, belongs in any spa story - if only to put readers in the mood. This is the largest spa in Hawaii and the resort has everything for a fun family vacation. Spa treatments, classes, relaxation therapies and philosophies are borrowed from around the world and combined. Exotic treatments like Jin Shin acupressure, Lomi Lomi massage and Limu facials are available - plus "ordinary" massages and facials. "The Grand" has Camp Grande for kids 5-12. It offers Hawaiian culture and crafts plus a movie theatre and pool games. Child care is also available on the premises. Did I mention that it's Hawaii? For more information: (808) 879-4077, www.grandwailea.com Hotel Club Tremblant's Spa sur-le-lac, Quebec, Canada In the heart of the Laurentian Mountains, not far from beautiful Montreal, you'll find lush greenery, clear lakes, European-style chalets, ancient rock formations and a spa. It's just a six-hour, scenic drive from New York. Known for years as a ski resort, Tremblant now seeks to attract warm weather guests. The spa was added four years ago, but it is separate and feels "away from it all." There are many services to choose from. I had my first head/hair treatment - something I hope to do again. Since my hair shone brilliantly, I wanted to show off, so two friends and I went to dinner at Grappe, five minutes away by car. Located inside an old cottage, it's a great place to introduce children to French food. Hotel Club Tremblant has a children's camp, for ages 4 - 17. It includes sleepovers. There are pools, tennis courts, golf, hiking and biking trails. The excellent accommodations include suites with two bedrooms and well-stocked kitchenettes. Prices are reasonable, especially for those paying in American dollars. For more information: (800) 567-8347, www.clubtremblant.com The Oaks at Ojai, Ojai, CA This small, no-frills spa is a short, coastal drive from Los Angeles. It's a good choice for those who need to lose weight in short time. The Oaks (and its sister spa, The Palms) emphasizes lifestyle changes. The women I met at the spa were occasional guests and came from near and far. One New Yorker told me: "Each time I find myself pigging out and putting away my size 8's, I come here." Among the guests are Hollywood celebrities, like June Allyson, Phyllis Diller and Helen Reddy. The Oaks' new treatment is the dot.com massage - meant to relieve computeritis - bad hands, neck and back. My daughter, a journalist, said it helped - until her next heavy deadline! I am not a fan of the food. I found myself going down the block for coffee with undiluted milk and juices. This is a low-cost spa; among the lowest I found anywhere. Serious fitness instructors teach classes. I attended three and they were great. The Oaks sits in the center of Ojai, an artists' colony, so you might find a painting to take home. For more information: (805) 646-5573, www.oaksspa.com The Spa at Silverado, Napa, CA This spa, added to the Silverado Resort two years ago, is in the heart of California's wine country. (Spa-rkling!) About an hour's drive from San Francisco. The décor is peachy-creamy - you wait in a room before each treatment, listening to soft strains of eastern music in plush, robe and slippers, and by the time your therapist comes, you've already entered nirvana. I had a 90-minute hot stone massage - large heated stones alternating with ice cold marble - a tension reliever for muscles. (I liked the heat but not the cold.) The therapist also massaged the achy parts of my body. Ohhh … My husband, who accompanied me on this trip, had his first facial with aromatic, lukewarm oils drizzled over his face; it's the Silverado facial specialty. Maurice's report: "Incredibly relaxing and soothing." Restaurants at the resort are good, but you'll need to practice avoidance therapy on your own. Serious golfers and tennis players come often, also nine pools on the premises - acres and acres. This year, Camp Silverado opens for kids (6-12), who will get tennis, golf, cooking and swimming lessons, crafts, karate, and barbecues for a mere $300 a week per child. Camp Silverado's Director, Laurie Gordon, is creative, caring, bubbling with enthusiasm - somebody kids will enjoy having around. Within fifteen minutes from the spa, you have California's wineries. St. Supery is one kid-friendly winery where children can see how grapes go from vine to bottle, as parents taste the selection. Several wineries are within walking distance from each other. For more information (888) 918-4772, www.silveradoresort.com In my spa sojourns, I was steamed and iced, stroked, patted and pummeled, soothed, slapped and walked on. I was massaged under warm showers and wrapped in seaweed and mud. My head was clear, my muscles were relaxed, my skin was soft and rosy; I felt and looked good. But is all this fancy stuff necessary? According to experts, "not really." A plain massage and facial may be all you need to sooth your body and spirit. Also see: • Plan your next vacation • Traveling with children • Vacation ideas • Stay connected with your family while traveling for business • Take the kids along on your next business trip Marilyn Zeitlin is an award-winning freelance writer from Los Angeles.