Historic Postcard

In 1539, Hernando Desoto reached the shores of Old Tampa Bay and discovered the natural springs, later named “Espiritu Santo Springs,” believing he had found the legendary “Fountain of Youth” missed by Ponce De Leon. In 1926 Safety Harbor Sanatorium & Hotel opened and proclaimed that “To visit the Sanatorium is to bestow upon yourself the gift of health brewed by the Great Chemist.” In 1945, the sanatorium became the Safety Harbor Spa, a landmark Tampa resort and spa that still anchors the town to the bay and to a passion for good health. 1964 the U.S. Department of the Interior recognized and designated the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa a Historical Landmark in 1964 and in 1997 it became a Florida Heritage Landmark and in 2020 No Kids, Will Travel took a spa day.

We’ve both been feeling a little run down and needed to do something different to recharge. A chance to take in the waters of a spa said to rejuvenate figured like it was something we should give a shot. The recently renovated historic spa offers an array of treatments. We chose to stick to the bubbling spa and the indoor pool each fed water from the spring. Amanda also scheduled a pedicure so I rested in the steam room and sauna before grabbing a drink poolside.

The experience was a bit different for me. I’m not the spa kind of guy. I do like a nice sauna and spending time in a pool is always nice. I told Amanda after we left is she wanted to join it be okay, the dues for one were $200 a month. She said she didn’t need it, but she deserves a way to unwind that doesn’t require her to burn a bazillion calories in the gym.

The indoor pool complete with murals of the Greek Islands.