10,000 waves

Ten Thousand Waves is technically a day spa, but it feels kind of like the ewok village. If the ewok village was transported from Japan to the hills above Santa Fe and specialized in making people feel high on life. Accommodations range from a renovated vintage Airstream to a multiple-bedroom villa. We didn't have a chance to stay here, but we spent one of the most relaxing mornings of the trip (and the best physical body treatment of my life) here. We started with a dip in the baths, followed by an 85-minute Indo-Asian treatment. After massaging warm oil into your body, you're then sprinkled with calamus root powder, which is scrubbed into the oil. Then more massage. Then you're wrapped, mummy-like, in heavy blankets that have been steeped in numerous herbs. I guess it opens up your pores so your body is able to absorb the healing powers of the herbs (unlike some wraps in which you're supposed to sweat out toxins.) My eyes were covered in cucumber slices and then my face was packed with cold compresses. Every few minutes, my therapist would mist my face with lavender-scented water, then stick a straw in my mouth so I could sip cool water. Divine. I can see why the Hodapps are obsessed with this place. And yes, although I knew clothing was optional, I opted to keep my suit on to spare the construction workers (they're in the process of opening two new baths.)