Spa Review: We Tried the Summer of Tea Body Treatment at Idlewild Spa at Omni Viking Lakes Hotel
Idlewild Spa offers a Nordic-inspired wellness experience at Omni Viking Lakes Hotel.
As someone who appreciates the nuances of individual spas, I was intrigued by the promise of a unique character awaiting me at Idlewild Spa within the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel in Minneapolis.
It’s a place that offers more than relaxation; it invites you to dive into the rich tapestry of Nordic traditions, paying homage to the Scandinavian pioneers who have left their mark on the vibrant history of Minnesota.
Spa Profile: Idlewild Spa at Omni Viking Lakes Hotel
The spa is designed to immediately connect you to the Finnish ancestral rituals that inspire its treatments and structure. The air held a sense of tranquility, a gentle reminder of the Nordic way of life, where nature and wellness intertwine seamlessly. It’s a luxury experience that does more than just pamper. It tells a story and I was eager to immerse myself in it.
The Idlewild Spa’s focus on thermotherapy is a standout feature, offering a carefully curated range of hot and cold treatments. It’s a journey for the senses, an artful cycle that invigorates and rejuvenates. Whether it is the comforting warmth of the sauna and steam room or the refreshing ice fountain, each step felt purposeful, aligning with the spa’s inspiration.
Antara is one of the main brands carried at Idlewild Spa.
Here’s what you’ll love about Idlewild Spa at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel:
You could spend hours in the spa before or after your treatment(s). There are three relaxation areas, a hot tub, steam room, sauna, ice fountain and deluge shower.
There are complimentary spa snacks and drinks and, for those who want something more substantial, a menu with spa food to order from. They serve amazingly delicious Wellness Waters prepared with Pure Invention Water Infusion Drops. When I was there, they had a watermelon flavor and a coconut water. The drops are available for purchase through the spa.
The salt room is serene and filled with comfortable chairs and ottomans. It’s a place to breathe deeply and clear your lungs, and a great way to experience halotherapy before or after your other treatments.
Massage treatments incorporate both heat and cold aspects to increase circulation and promote relaxation.
Fresh towels and robes are provided in the locker room.
I arrived on a mild summer Sunday at a time when the outdoor air was suffering from Canadian wildfires. Idlewild offered an opportunity to clear my lungs, restore my spirit, and engage in activities that improved my overall well-being.
The reception area is surrounded with a clean and simple boutique, letting you take your spa experience home with you. Antara is one of their main product lines.
The spa receptionist provided me with a tour of the locker rooms and their myriad relaxation spaces. While the treatment I had was blissfully wonderful (and I’ll get to that soon), these relaxation spaces are part of what really sets Idlewild apart as a destination that is not to be missed and, indeed, a reason to stay at the Omni Viking hotel.
Spa refreshments include infused water, tea, and healthy snacks.
After perusing the tea options, I poured myself some watermelon-infused water. I was instantly impressed with the flavor. I’m a fan of infused water and this was some of the best I’ve ever had.
I took the water and a small bowl of mixed nuts and headed to the salt relaxation room. The backlit, Himalayan salt-lined walls provided a serene environment where it was possible to lean back, prop your feet up on the ottomans, close your eyes and take in the halotherapy—which is exactly what I did.
I soon felt as though the smoky air of the city had been banished from my lungs and I could taste the salt on my lips. The room was kept nicely cool and blankets were available for those who get cold (which is something that I rarely experience).
The Himalayan salt room offers numerous health and relaxation benefits.
Having arrived early enough to fully experience the spa, I eventually headed out to the main relaxation room decorated with plenty of furry pillows mixed with wood-trimmed furniture. A long fireplace burned along one wall. Outdoors there was a large hot tub and more chairs to lounge in around it, but I had not brought my swimsuit with me so I only peeked at it.
The spa’s indoor relaxation lounge.
Spa-goers can get cozy next to the fireplace.
The spa also has an outdoor tub.
Between the steam room and the sauna was a pile of ice so you could cool off and experience the tradition of moving between hot and cold, but it was about then that my therapist came out to fetch me for my service.
The sauna.
Ice is available to help guests cool off between the sauna and steam room.
This summer, the spa was having its “Summer of Tea,” a partnership with Well Rooted teas. My therapist explained to me each step of the 80-minute Summer of Tea Body Ritual that I was receiving.
It’s a service that uses lots of hot towels and famously mixes cool and heated elements in a soothing manner that invites you to melt away into the bed, especially once the very talented therapist starts her magic work.
The body treatment is one that invites total relaxation. It starts with a tea-infused oil and a vitamin C salt scrub. My therapist applied the citrus-infused hydrating scrub from my neck to my toes and then removed it with warm scented towels.
The moisturizing oil—infused with tea—contains both yuzu and camu camu, both ingredients I had been previously unfamiliar with. The camu camu is reddish-purple berry grown in Peru and Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. It is rich in vitamin C and acts as an antioxidant and is reputed to decrease inflammation. Yuzu is a yellowish citrus fruit originating from East Asia. It is also known as an antioxidant, but is also revered for maintaining brain health and helping people to relax and unwind.
The Summer of Tea Treatment mixes cool and heated elements in a soothing manner for ultimate relaxation.
Relax and unwind is exactly what this service excels at. In fact, as much as I try to stay awake during services, under the expert attention of the therapist, I soon found myself dozing off.
Toward the end of the service, the therapist provided a deeply relaxing scalp massage, loosening all the stresses of travel as a final touch to a treatment that had me melting into the bed.
At the end of this amazing ritual, my skin felt incredibly soft and the aroma of the oils stayed with me for the rest of the day. Indeed, I was reluctant to shower the next day because I wanted to keep the after-effects of the service with me.
I left the treatment room and returned to the salt cave with another glass of water, taking the time to gently recover from my service and rehydrate.
Perhaps the biggest drawback to Idlewild was that I eventually had to leave, for it is the type of spa where it is easy to forget that the outside world exists and offers you a place to escape to with luxury, well-being, and relaxation.
The outdoor relaxation area.
Cost: Summer Tea Body Ritual, $275/80 minutes
Insider Tip: While the Summer of Tea was a limited-time offering, Idlewild engages in many partnerships. Don’t hesitate to sign up for their seasonal offerings. They are carefully curated to provide unique, memorable experiences that are focused on well-being.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tues), 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Wed through Fri), 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sat and Sun)
Address: 2611 Nordic Way, Eagan, MN 55121
Phone: 651-689-9860
Email: idlewildspa@omnihotels.com
For more information and to book a service at Idlewild Spa, visit their website. Follow on Instagram: @omnivikinglakes
[Photos by Bridgette Redman]
Bridgette Redman, who is a second-generation journalist, fell in love with spas and travel while working as a writer and editor for 16 years at the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. As a freelancer for the International SPA Association, she co-wrote two textbooks, nine workbooks and numerous case studies on spas. Her freelance career began in the 80s and she has written for publications in Michigan, Arizona, California, and Texas along with several regional and national publications. She is a committed storyteller who loves sharing narratives which improve people's quality of life and build community. Born and raised in Michigan, she currently lives in Lansing with her husband and son. See more of her writing at www.bridgetteredman.com