Glen Ivy and Mud!

Headed with my girls to Glen Ivy for a relaxing day of sun and MUD!

Formerly called Temescal Sulphur Springs in the 1860's,

it wasn't until the late 1880's that it was known as Glen Ivy Hot Springs.

Glen Ivy got its name for the wild grape ivy growing in Coldwater Canyon.

The original owners were from England where the word

"glen" is synomyous with "canyon".  "Glen" "Ivy" - there you go!

Glen Ivy Hot Springs has been around for over 150 years.

It was originally a bumpy day-long trip from Los Angeles by a horse

drawn wagon (later by Model T!!) to experience the healing

waters of its natural hot springs.  Back then it included a hotel.

Here we are present day.

Nestled up against a mountain range, it is truly an oasis!

It boasts sulphur pools, jacuzzi pools, a 3 foot deep rafting pool,

a lap pool, a "north" pool, a "south" pool, and even an ice cold pool!

An oasis where we spend the day lying in the 100+ degree desert heat

experiencing relaxation, slurping sipping pool-side Peach Bellinis
and Strawberry-Coconut Pina Coladas, eating good food, and 
getting dirty in a MUD bath!

Yes - M-U-D!
Here someone has fingerpainted in mud onto the door into the sauna cave!
(Yes, as if it isn't hot enough outside to dry out the MUD before exfoliating.)

One of the treatments included with admission is the use of this MUD bath.
MUD is slathered on, dried-on, then towel-dried off/exfoliated prior to showering,

leaving skin soft.  An additional treatment is offered for $25 where a

woman paints on a warm green body moisturizer, then more heating in a

sauna cave, then showering... and finishing while enjoying fresh apples, iced

water and hot tea under a fine-cool mist! I know, makes you want to

say, "Ahhhhh" just reading this, doesn't it?  "Ahhhhh..." just one more time... 

Okay.  SO.  Now that you are all relaxed, I can tell you about the food! 

 My favorite part!  The day doesn't go without good food!

Lunch......

Our selections:

Smoked Salmon & Walnuts Salad

Naked Waldorf Salad

and

Ahi Hawaiian Poke Salad

I ordered the Smoked Salmon & Walnuts Salad, like I always do.

(I have been told I am so predictable.)  This salad consisted of House Applewood

Smoked Wild Salmon, Cherry Tomatoes, Mandarin Oranges, Celery, and tossed with Organic Fresh Garden Greens and Glen Ivy's house made Dill Miso Vinaigrette.

Daughter #2 ordered the Naked Waldorf Salad

comprising a Grilled Free-Range Chicken Breast, Strawberries,

Candied Pecans, Celery, and Baby Greens with a Feta Cheese Vinaigrette.

Daughter #1 ordered the Ahi Hawaiian Poke Salad

comprising Cubed Wild-Caught Ahi Tuna tossed in Zesty Hawaiian

Vinaigrette, Avocado, Toasted Almonds, Soy Sauce, Seaweed Salad,

Cucumber, Daikon Sprouts, Sesame Seeds, with a Miso Lemon Vinaigrette,

Dragon Juice, and Wasabi Cream.

These salads were divine! We had a hard time keeping each other's forks

out of each other's salads. And, I have officially decided I am going to deviate

and order the Ahi salad next time.  If you like spicy, like I do, you would love it! 

And, yes, a deserving shout-out and thank you to my girls for enduring

the photo session before they could dig-in. Actually, Daughter #2

was taking pics with her iPhone.

As can imagine, we had a glorious day of relaxation, laughing, and

mother/daughter fun.  I wonder if Daughter #1's white lace bathing

top will ever be white again after that MUD?  Remind me to ask.

Thank you for visiting me...  I now have the urge for a cup of hot tea and

a fresh apple.   Ahhhhh......

Fondly,

~ Karen