Along with visiting the spa, Walden guests can ride horses housed in an original barn and silo found on the property.

In Henry David Thoreau's nonfiction 1854 masterpiece Walden, he championed the beauty of simplicity, a philosophy he espoused after living for two years, two months, and two days in an isolated cabin near Walden Pond in Concord, MA. This credo inspired the creation of Walden, a secluded luxury retreat in Aurora, OH, set amid the pastures, lakes, streams, and meadows of the Western Reserve natural sanctuary. The 1,000-acre property is a nature-lover's dream and is home to Inn Walden, the only inn in the Midwest to hold the AAA Five-Diamond rating, a residential community, a golf club, and Spa Walden. A relatively new addition to the Walden collection, the 10,000-square-foot, 12-treatment-room spa opened its doors in May 2007 to cater to the needs of guests who had been enjoying in-room services at the Inn since it debuted in 1998 but were looking for an enhanced spa experience. "We believe we have developed a spa that is non-pretentious, yet aesthetically pleasing, to every guest," says spa director Jenessee Roy. "Spa Walden fits flawlessly into the Walden property."

Guests are encouraged to enjoy such amenities as a fireplace, Jacuzzi, and more for 45 minutes before and after services in each of the three Couples' Suites.

Visitors to Walden are encouraged to enjoy the scenic beauty of the property and emulate Thoreau's spirit of personal contemplation. Therefore, creating a secluded relaxation experience was of the utmost importance when planning the spa. In fact, Spa Walden was designed to afford guests their privacy. "During the research phase of the project, we realized that most spa experiences had a major flaw—a lack of privacy just prior to and following the treatment experience," says Roy. "When developing our private spa suites, it was our goal to rectify this flaw and make privacy a key component to Spa Walden's success."

Walden visitors are welcome to traverse the property and enjoy the natural beauty of the local flora and fauna.

After much research and planning, that goal was realized. The spa was purposefully created without locker rooms so that guests could enjoy their experience, from start to finish, in a personal suite. Each suite includes a Kohler Bubble Massage tub, a private steam room, and a Swiss shower, as well as a personal powder room with a well-stocked beauty bar, a mini-fridge with chilled water, and a tea station. Additionally, 30 complimentary minutes of relaxation time before and after each treatment are built into every spa experience to allow guests to enjoy the amenities of the suite. "We realize that time can be considered an indulgence," says Roy.

Guests can read, sip on tea, or soak in the in-suite Jacuzzi during their pre-and post-relaxation time.

Spa Walden guests are also indulged with simplicity and personalization when it comes to their services. As such, the spa menu is completely customizable. Clients purchase a set time and select their treatments of choice, choosing 60-minute ($125), 90-minute ($185), or 120-minute ($245) increments from such easily understandable menu options as scrubs, wraps, massages, facials, back facials, manicures, pedicures, reflexology, and more. "Our inspiration is our client, and our goal was not to scare away the non-spa-goer," says Roy. "We customize every treatment to our clients' needs and desires. We do not pre-set the treatment—we allow our clients the freedom and flexibility to choose once they arrive, and each treatment fits the individual's emotional state on the day he or she walks through our doors."