Couples Time in Kohler
My husband Steve calls it a weekend away to release the safety valve on the pressure cooker that is our busy life with two jobs and two kids. And it was definitely time for a grown-up's getaway, one that didn't include chutes and slides at waterparks and anyone named Mickey and Minnie.
Our requirements for couple's time away: access to a spa and a really great dinner at a fabulous restaurant. It also had to be fairly close to home since we only had one night. And it had to fit our budget. Kohler seemed to have all the ingredients for what we thought would be the perfect getaway.
Since budget was an issue, we opted for the Inn On Woodlake, Kohler's moderately priced hotel. Our room pleasantly surprised us. Granted, it didn't have the whirlpool in the middle of the room like it's posh and more expensive sister, the "Immersion Suites" located directly over the Kohler Waters Spa. But it did have a very fancy shower with a variety of sprays and jets. Plus, even more exciting, our room had a private outdoor rooftop patio. A quick stop at the Woodlake Market, just steps from our hotel, produced a bottle of wine and several gourmet cheeses and crackers to help us enjoy a beautiful September day on our deck.
A little background on Kohler. This village of 2,000 is located outside of Sheboygan, just a stone's throw from Lake Michigan. Since the village was named after the Kohler family of plumbing fixture fame, our first stop was The Design Center, a showplace for Kohler products. Even if you aren't in the market to buy a $15,000 shower it's fun to at least ogle the inventive kitchen and bathroom products.
When it was time to head over to the Kohler Waters Spa, I realized that in the chaos of preparing my job, two kids and a babysitter for 24 hours without me, I managed to forget my swimsuit. Although a gift shop inside the Sports Core, the Kohler campus' private health & fitness club, stocked a decent selection of suits, the shopping experience wasn't ideal. Ever buy a swimsuit in 20 minutes? Let's just say I didn't arrive relaxed at the spa. But after the concierge checked us in and gave us a brief tour, it wasn't long before I was in the co-ed relaxation pool de-stressing.
Steve was wowed by the spa. This is from someone who I consider to be the "Rand McNally of Spas," having visited them in Las Vegas, California, Japan and Thailand. Later he confessed that he had a "transcendental experience" after he sat for several minutes at the bottom of the cool plunge. Fortunately, the men's spa was not too busy, otherwise he might have attracted some unwanted attention, like someone unwittingly trying to rescue him. I wouldn't recommend trying this yourself.
Our spa services, which consisted of 50-minute massages, were excellent. There is wide range of standard treatments to choose from plus a few Kohler specialties including the "Cooler-Near-The-Lake" experience, which alternates warm Vichy shower, ice therapies and cool stones to reflect the weather patterns and temperatures of Lake Michigan. There's also a menu just for the male spa-goer, catering to the crowd drawn to the world-class golf at nearby Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits. The spa services must be working because I couldn't help but notice a steady stream of dazed-looking patrons exiting the treatment area. Overall, Steve and I spent nearly three hours in the spa leisurely relaxing in the whirlpool, sauna and steam rooms after our massages.
Relaxed from our spa experience, we headed out for our dinner at the Immigrant Room. Our waitress made our evening even more fun with her delightful personality. Our favorite dish: the Bento Box sushi appetizer. Note to the squeamish about raw fish: this Bento Box had non-fish and cooked fish selections. And for dessert, the chocolate trilogy was definitely the answer. The wine list is superb, which has earned the Immigrant Room the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.
Our last stop before heading back to Madison the next afternoon was Kohler-Andrae State Park. If it weren't for the absence of palm trees, we would have thought our stroll on this Lake Michigan beach was on some oceanside tropical locale. Except for the one RV in the parking lot, the beach was deserted on this weekday morning. We followed the cord-walk that winds it way around the top of dunes for a terrific birds-eye view of Lake Michigan. Lots of benches along the trail to sit, rest and just relax to the sounds of nature.
Unfortunately, our time in paradise was up and we had to head back to where reality waited. At least we could face it refreshed and rejuvenated. Now every time I enjoy my own Kohler tub at home surrounded by my daughter's plastic "Finding Nemo" toys, I dream about my next spa getaway.
Resources:
Destination Kohler
One-stop shopping for information and reservation for all of the restaurants, spas and lodging options under the Kohler Company umbrella
800/344-2838 ext 700
www.destinationkohler.com
Kohler-Andrae State Park
1020 Beach Park Lane
888-947-2757
www.wiparks.net