by Robyn Banks

Created on: August 12, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Sunshine 365 days a year, warm water from the Gulf of Mexico, lush, green palm trees blowing gently in the wind, white sandy beaches....Those are the glorious outdoors that South Seas Resort offers. South Seas Resort and Spa is located at the tip of Captiva Island, in southwest Florida.

Now, let's go indoors and visit their spa. Take a moment, close your eyes, and imagine this: You enter a cool, tranquil building nestled back in the landscaping where you are greeted by a friendly associate. You quickly glance around the room and notice the inviting teak furniture and the clean white cushions. Oh! Is that a gift shop over on the left? Is that the latest "Lilly" purse on display? But. I digress!

The associate leads you to an area where music plays in the background, softly lulling your senses. You feel yourself unwind. Your breathing slows. She hands you a glass of water that has a fresh piece of cucumber in it. Your first instinct is to refuse it, but when you see the other women, resting quietly on their teak chaises, consuming their water, you realize that maybe it won't be all that bad.

The associate directs you to a changing area and provides you with a key to your very own locker. You open it to find a clean, fluffy, white bathrobe waiting for you. You don the robe and return to the room where the other women wait.

You pinch yourself to see if this is real. You think to yourself how lucky you are and you find yourself imaging what your massage will be like and what the massage therapist will look like. Maybe a "Matthew McConaghy" look-alike? Moments later, you hear your name being called ever so softly. It is then that you've realized you drifted to sleep.

The associate leads you down a darkened hallway and into your massage room. The lights are dim, but the smell of lavender permeates your senses. In a lowered voice, the massage therapist introduces herself. Drats! No Matthew McConaghy!

Almost one hour later, you are awakened again. In one afternoon, you've managed to fall asleep twice! You remember the massage therapist's hands coaxing your muscles into a relaxed state, you remember the music, and you realize you haven't felt this good in a long time.

As you dress and depart the building, the blinding sunshine makes you want to turn back around. That is, until you hear the waves crashing against the beach and realize that South Seas Resort offers more than just a terrific spa.

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