Courtesy of the Reeds at Shelter Haven
Compared to some of New Jersey’s more boisterous Shore towns, Stone Harbor might seem almost sleepy. Located on Seven Mile Island, this mostly residential enclave has the feel of a home away from home. Well-curated downtown boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and a retro-vibe movie theater conjure small-town quaintness, while the beach is just a few blocks off the main drag.
The bi-level Salt Spa is one of Stone Harbor’s newest attractions. Located in the borough’s toniest hotel, the Reeds at Shelter Haven (9601 Third Avenue), the spa has five private treatment rooms, each appointed in silvery-gray hues with subtle glimmers to reinforce the salt theme. The spa offers the top-shelf services you’d expect (manis, pedis, massages and facials), but doesn’t stop there. Consider indulgences such as the Brine Light Inhalation Lounge. Here, guests are treated to salt-enhanced air while they decompress to the sound of a trickling waterfall and mood-enhancing chromotherapy—a soothing, slow-moving light display. There’s a Turkish bath, complete with heated marble massage table for treatments like the Himalayan salt scrub and the Rasul mud ritual. Not to be missed is the spa’s zero-gravity treatment called the Soft-Pack Float. A session in this bed-like pad suspended in a water-filled frame creates a sensation of weightlessness intended to relieve joint, muscle and back pain. It’s like an upside-down lounger and float therapy all in one—and it doesn’t even require getting wet.
STAY: The Reeds at Shelter Haven itself exudes a Zen-meets-beach-house vibe. The décor is a relaxing palette of grays and blues balanced by warm wood floors and accent molding. Artwork includes beachy watercolors and black-and-white Shore photos. Common spaces, while not gapingly large, flow into each other, so they are at once cozy and generous enough for a crowd. The 56 guest rooms are upscale, but not stuffy; pretty, but not fussy. For spa goers, preseason rates make May an ideal time to indulge.
DINE: The hotel’s own dining-options make it easy to stay on site. There’s the Buckets Margarita Bar + Cantina for casual Mexican at the harbor’s edge; the lively Water Star Grille for indoor/outdoor dining; and Sax for year-round fine dining. After dinner, you might be tempted to stroll out onto Third Avenue for homemade ice cream at Springer’s.
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