Pit stop: Manitou Springs Resort and Spa in Saskatchewan

I am generally goal oriented - and since my goal was arriving in Cold Lake, I did't make many stops except for gas, eating (combined with gas stops) and sleeping. I did make one stop at Manitou Beach at the Resort there. My Dad has been thinking of going there and there website said they had been ranked in the top five spas in Canada... so I decided to stop.

Here is my review.

First, a bit of history. According to the website there is a legend that during a smallpox epidemic a victim made it to the saline lake and drank and bathed in the waters and was cured. It is also called the Dead Sea of Canada - given the mix of minerals and salts in the water and that people float given the high specific gravity.

It has been ranked the number one spa in Saskatchewan and one of the top spas in Canada. Not sure about those rankings as I have been to some very nice spas in Quebec (all around the province) and on Vancouver Island... but this wasn't really a spa targeting Gen Xers or Millennials. It did seem popular with the Baby Boomer generation and the Pre-War generation (born before 1946) and their services and amenities were set up for them.

Most of the staff I encountered were new - working there for two months or less. They were nice though... and that is always important.

I arrived expecting a bit more... but there is no real access to the lake that I saw, no natural beach. But inside the spa there are large pools (look like swimming pools) of different temperatures. There is also a long ramp and wheelchairs available for those with mobility issues. There are lifeguards on duty and there is a spa where you can get massages and facials.

I had both a massage and facial, and the therapist was experienced, although had only worked at the spa for a month. The services were basic and done with goodwill.

Dinner was OK. But I will say the breakfast buffet (included in the price of the room) was excellent.

So, my recommendation is that it is good for older folks and with the comfy beds, fair price and breakfast buffet it was worth the detour.

Some photos:

I arrived with sun and temperatures in the 20s!

Big screen TV for hockey and a very cool fake fireplace. 
No maple syrup, but sugar free syrup for diabetics.  
healthy fruit and not so healthy toppings for waffles and french toast.

French toast tasted like homemade :)

Scrambled eggs...

Eggs Benedict  and has brown potatoes

After a big breakfast a walk.... dipped my toe in and the water was super cold (and tasted salty)

Begging for some sort of development... but would need the right kind. It would need to be environmentally and culturally sustainable. 
A cabin for picnics maybe? 
Really very peaceful and the air was super clean

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