If you feel the need to unwind after the holiday rush, treat yourself to a day or a weekend at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Md. There you will find peace and relaxation you probably never thought possible.

Relaxation sets in the moment you drive past the resort pond and its impressive water fountain on Turf Valley Road. On the drive leading to the hotel, golf greens lie in wait for warm weather to return. As you enter the hotel’s lobby, you’ll be greeted by a professional staff who will make you feel at home. The staff will answer any questions, explain how to get to the spa, pool, fitness center, any of the resort’s three restaurants, then send you on your way, key card in hand, to begin your relaxation therapy.

Spa treatments

A good way to begin your relaxation therapy is to book a treatment at the spa, located on the first floor of the hotel. There you will find a full menu of services including massages, body treatments and facials. You can choose one or more treatments or even a full day of therapies. Overnight spa packages are also available.

Most massages last from 60 to 90 minutes. The menu includes Swedish Relaxation, Deep Tissue and Hot Stone. Body treatments include Sea Glow Body Polish, Milk and Honey Body Wrap, Moroccan Rassoul Mud Body Wrap, Green Coffee Body Wrap, Essential Oil Wrap and, for the men, a Vitamin Scrub. If a facial interests you, your array of choices includes European Deep Cleansing to Intensive Moisture Treatment. There is even a “facial” for your back. After you have selected your menu, the spa waiting area prepares you to relax with soft, soothing lighting and warm colors. The tension of the day melts away as you sink into the deep chairs knowing you are about to be pampered. When your treatment is complete, you’ll feel like a new person. 

Golf and other activities

Turf Valley Resort offers golf on two championship courses, weather permitting. The more traditional Original Course contains strategically placed bunkers and mature trees that challenge but do not punish good shots. The Hialeah Course has tight, tree-lined fairways requiring accuracy off the tee. Players are challenged by numerous creeks and elevation changes. If your swing is your concern, you can learn to swing like the pros with the ModelGolf™ scientifically based golf instruction program that uses a computer model. The resort’s golf staff includes PGA professionals, and amenities include pro shop, golf school, driving range and putting green to get you ready to tee off.

In addition to golf, the resort offers an indoor pool (the outdoor pool is closed for the winter) and a fitness center a cut above those found in most other hotels. The fitness center contains treadmills, elliptical trainers, a recumbent bike, dumbbells and numerous Life Fitness strength-training machines.

Accommodations

When your active day ends, your room will be waiting for you with a comfortable bed and amenities to meet your needs. The hotel has 171 comfortably appointed rooms, including 74 spacious and luxurious suites. The suites offer the ultimate entertainment center, featuring a 32-inch LCD TV that also acts as the monitor for the suite’s Dell computer with built-in DVD player and CD burner. WiFi high-speed Internet is available in the hotel.

Dining

You can satisfy your hunger at any one of the resort’s three restaurants. At Alexandra’s, award-winning chef Rich Hoffman will serve up a mouth-watering full-course meal, beautifully presented. For a more casual setting, dine at Terrace on the Green Clubhouse Grill, which offers pub fare including soups, salads and sandwiches. Evening happy hour specials and lite fare are offered at the Fairway Lounge.

Special packages

Turf Valley Resort offers a variety of exciting day and overnight packages. The luxurious, indulgent Spa Packages feature massages, facials and body treatments. You can enjoy a girlfriends’ getaway or girls’ day out package with friends, or relax with a spa or spa Jacuzzi romance package with that special someone.  If you really feel like indulging yourself, book Turf Valley’s “Ultimate Indulgence”— six hours of treatments plus a healthy lunch.

Action-packed Golf Packages include rounds on the championship golf courses, overnight accommodations, pro shop merchandise credits and more.

Seasonal Getaway Specials and special event packages include concert and dance tickets, delectable wine dinners and more. Check out www.turfvalleyresort.com/ packages, for details on all packages (including the Resort’s bridal packages).

For more information on how to get away and find relaxation, visit www.turfvalleyresort.com or call 1-888-TEE-TURF.