Really Regal: The Amazingness of Spa Castle in Queens

Yesterday I journeyed to the far reaches of Queens to discover what Spa Castle is all about. I was blown away by the absolute amazingness.

Now, when I say Spa Castle is in the far reaches of Queens, I'm not kidding. I had to take two subways and a Spa Castle-sponsored shuttle bus just to reach the place. But once there, it was all worth it.

I began by checking in at the front desk and paying the $45 admission fee. This gave me access to the multiple saunas, pools, hot tubs and locker room. And the coolest part? I was given a watch with a 4-digit number that corresponded not only to my locker, but was my payment system for the day! Each time I bought food or drinks, or even rented beach towels for the outdoor pools, I simply scanned my watch and went about my day. It took me awhile to get over my heinous "uniform" -- but after about 10 minutes, I forgot I was even wearing it.

I checked out each of the saunas -- including a 180-degree igloo with jade walls -- and enjoyed a few minutes in a 27-degree ice castle with some delightful four-year-olds. (When we asked the age of one of the little munchkins, she held up four fingers and then serenely said, "I don't have any ice skates." I died laughing.)

My favorite part of the day? My 90-minute Swedish massage. While I did have to tell my masseuse to ease up on the pressure a couple times -- she kneaded so hard, I'm actually a bit sore today! -- it was an unbelievable experience and I felt like jelly afterward.

At the end of the day, I paid about $150 for 6 hours of fun, relaxation and rejuvenation. Not too shabby.

Check out nyspacastle.com for more information.