The Spa at The Omni Grove Park Inn: Overnight Trip Idea for Adults

A day at the The Spa at The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville has always been on my wish list. Recently when trying to decide how to celebrate a big birthday (one that ends in 0!), my husband and I decided that Grove Park was exactly what we needed to do. Grove Park was definitely a splurge – but we thought the occasion called for it.

Getting the Appointment

In order to book an appointment at the spa, you must be an overnight guest of the hotel. A reservation for any spa service (facial, massage, etc.) also grants you access to the entire spa facility for the day of your appointment. I was excited to spend as much time as possible enjoying the pools, steam room, sauna, and cafe.

The spa accepts appointments up to 60 days in advance of your hotel reservations. I called to schedule spa appointments about a month in advance. There were VERY FEW appointments left. However, the customer service representative was very helpful and was able to find Spa Day Passes available for the day we needed. Day passes allow you access to the facility without an appointment. But even day passes are limited, so I was glad to have them! She also suggested I check back to see if cancellations opened up other appointments. I then made dinner reservations for the two nights we would be at Grove Park – I had decided that after checking in, I just wanted to stay on property and soak it up as much as possible.

The First Day

On the first day of our trip, we left early so that we would have time to grab lunch in Asheville and check out a brewery. We ate at Early Girl Eatery in West Asheville – shout out to the BEST server, Asia – and then spent some time shopping. Then we went to New Belgium and enjoyed some beers by the river. It was a gorgeous day and a great way to spend the afternoon. I even got lucky and was able to call and grab some spa appointments that had opened up. Everything was working out well!

Arriving at Omni Grove Park Inn

We finally made our way to Grove Park Inn. The historic building that looks almost exactly like it did when it was built over 100 years ago. We were immediately greeted and helped with our luggage inside. The bellman led us to the elevator that is housed within the fireplace in the Great Hall. The elevator, complete with a full time attendant, is just one of the fascinating historical features found in this hotel. Stepping into our room, I was surprised to see original furnishings and the original windows which we were able to open wide to the gorgeous view of the Blue RIdge Mountains.

After a quick swim in the outdoor pool, we dressed for dinner at Edison, Craft Ales + Kitchen. The setting was gorgeous and my husband’s meal was creative and delicious – a whole fried fish. My food was bland and our service wasn’t great, so it wasn’t my favorite meal. When I go back I would try Vue 1913 instead.

Spa Day

The following day was our spa day – and it was nothing short of glorious. The staff was attentive and efficient. We were provided with robes, sandals, and snacks. It is an electronic-free environment, so it was nice to unplug for a while. I had a massage in an outdoor pavilion with a view of the mountains. It was amazing! We enjoyed the Spa Cafe service by the pool and then spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the mineral pools and the grotto. I especially enjoyed the lap pool – a slow backstroke allows you to listen to the calm music that is piped in underwater and imagine that the twinkling LED lights in the stones are stars.

We finished our evening with a celebratory dinner on the Sunset Terrace. Our meal was delicious and our server was informative, helpful, and attentive. It was a great way to cap off our trip. This will definitely not be the last time we take a trip up to Grove Park Inn, it is just too good not to go again.

*Some images copyright Omni Grove Park Inn

By Guest Blogger Janet Fulp

~ Looking for another day trip idea for adults? Check out Janet’s recent post HERE about JOLO Winery.
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