With its exquisite, European-inspired lodges, spectacular natural beauty and unrivaled guest services, the Vail Valley is fast becoming one of the most touted spa-destination resorts in the country.

The popularity of spa vacations has caught fire throughout the nation and luxury and pampering have become highly sought-after components of leisure travel. Spas in the Vail Valley offer visitors endless treatment options in the most idyllic summer setting imaginable.

Experience total indulgence among the mountain peaks and mighty forests of the area and restore the spiritual and physical balance to mind and body. Each of the valley's spas offers a unique perspective on health and fitness and each specific treatment is designed to return the recipient to a peaceful state.

To celebrate the Vail Valley spa experience truly, it's best to begin at one end of the valley and travel to the other via the resort's spas. Begin in the town of Vail and enjoy the arduous task of choosing the best treatment from each area expert. Temptations include the Vail Athletic Club, Sonnenalp Spa, Vail Cascade Club and Massage of the Mountains.

After thoroughly exhausting all options in Vail move on to Beaver Creek for yet another round of spa-searching at Allegria, SpaStruck and Total Body Care. The European feel of the resort only adds to the theme of this spa getaway, and the setting's obvious attention from Mother Nature only heightens the feeling of serenity.

Ah, but Cordillera waits patiently as the finale to this truly unique mountain spa vacation. High in the Squaw Creek Valley, this resort offers recreation, relaxation and respite. The spa at Cordillera provides a fitting end to a trip of total emergence in pampering and indulgence.

A total Vail Valley spa experience wouldn't be complete without the accompaniment of sumptuous cuisine, and the area offers an array of flavors for every taste. Many of the world's more celebrated chefs showcase their creations in restaurants throughout the valley, offering the perfect meal to complement a day of treatments.

Experience a Vail Valley summer spa vacation and feel what it is to live truly.

Vail Valley Tourism and Convention Bureau. (970) 476-1000.