A spa retreat featuring chocolate? Willy Wonka couldn’t have created a better treat.
This fantasy weekend for food lovers—the All Things Chocolate Spa Retreat—happens November 21 through 23 at the luxe Inn at Bay Harbor, named one of the world’s best hotels by Travel + Leisure magazine. Over the course of three days, guests will learn how to prepare, cook, eat and benefit from the sensuous, satisfying and salubrious effects of chocolate with meals. Think: hands-on cooking classes, sit-downs with food artisans and a chocolatier, and—to soothe the body—a choice of one 50-minute treatment from The Spa including the deliciously themed Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Body Treatment.
The Decadent Itinerary
On Friday evening, you’ll mingle with fellow chocolate lovers at a tasting reception. On Saturday, numerous cooking demonstrations are available. Each will showcase the area’s finest eateries and talented chefs. Plan on magnificent displays of chocolate served with atypical meats such as bison and beef, paired with heavenly cheeses and dished up as decadent desserts. Fireside chats with a presentation on organic wines, a trip to The Spa, boutique shopping in Petoskey’s Historic Shopping District, and a visit to Blackbird Gardens, a three-acre Petoskey homestead with specialty foods and culinary services, round out the weekend’s irresistible events.
The Deets
The All Things Chocolate Spa Retreat starts at $398 per person and includes two nights of luxurious lodging at The Inn at Bay Harbor on November 21 and 22, plus meals, cooking classes, tours and one 50-minute service at the resort’s spa. For reservations, call 800.462.6963 or visit innatbayharbor.com. Bonus: Guests can earn Marriott Rewards points with each stay at The Inn.