{"id":13325,"date":"2022-09-08T10:38:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T14:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vacayou.com\/magazine\/?p=13325"},"modified":"2025-01-14T13:50:49","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T18:50:49","slug":"finnish-spa-experience-canada-vetta-nordic-spa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vacayou.com\/magazine\/finnish-spa-experience-canada-vetta-nordic-spa\/","title":{"rendered":"Finnish Spa Experience in Canada: Vett\u00e4 Nordic Spa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sweating, soaking and cold plunging\u2014an authentic Finnish spa experience in Canada at Vett\u00e4 Nordic Spa.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drops of sweat form on my forehead as tiny rivers of sweat sweep across my back and shoulders. Let the sauna and health<\/a> rejuvenating process begin.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m sitting in the Sisu<\/a> wood-burning sauna at the adults-only Vett\u00e4 Nordic Spa in Horseshoe Valley, a popular ski and nature area just 90 minutes north of Toronto, Ontario. When Vett\u00e4 (which means water in English) opened earlier this year, I was only too happy to have a seat on the Finnish wood bench and enjoy a good sweat followed by an invigorating cold plunge. After all, sauna is the Finnish way of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finnish Spa Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Vetta\u0308
Courtesy Vetta\u0308 Nordic Spa <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are more than three million saunas in Finland for a population of just over 5.5 million. The Finnish sauna tradition (sauna is a Finnish word) dates back thousands of years. There were originally \u201cground pit saunas\u201d which evolved into smoke saunas (the preferred sauna in the countryside) then wood stoves and electric saunas of modern times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the centuries the sauna became the place to eat, relax, share conversations and even where women gave birth (when the sauna wasn\u2019t heated). The Finnish sauna was so ingrained into the culture that it was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2020.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Family Tradition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Courtesy Vett\u00e4 Nordic Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Vett\u00e4 embraces the Finnish culture and tradition throughout the 26-acre property with 5.5 acres currently in use. Owner Eric Harkonen, a mining engineer, was born to Finnish parents who moved to Canada and grew up with a daily sauna session while living in northern Ontario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, with his wife Donna, who now acts as Vett\u00e4\u2019s Guest Services Manager, he constructed a mini Nordic spa in his backyard. Inspired by this, Harkonen began the process in 2019 of building a state-of-the-art Finnish spa experience in Canada which is open to the public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vett\u00e4\u2019s Finnish touches extend to the property\u2019s design by Finnish-born architect Ian Malcolm of ISM incorporating a sleek minimalist Scandinavian design with Horseshoe Valley\u2019s natural elements.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The towering maple and pine trees surrounding Vett\u00e4 act as a protective and scenic blanket. Canada\u2019s maple trees harmoniously blend with wood imported from Finland for the spa\u2019s saunas and siding. Large landscape paintings by a Finnish artist accent the main building\u2019s towering 55-foot-high cathedral ceilings.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owner Eric Harkonen\u2019s purpose for opening Vett\u00e4 is simple, \u201cReconnect with yourself.\u201d He wanted to duplicate the Finnish spa experience in Canada for others the ways he would relax, reconnect and regenerate.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finnish Your Food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Vetta\u0308<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Vetta\u0308<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Vetta\u0308<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Finnish
Courtesy Vetta\u0308 Nordic Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I follow his advice and start with a visit to Savu, their bistro-style restaurant which has an outdoor patio and direct access to the spa area. There are Finnish-inspired dishes such as pannukakku<\/em> (baked pancake). I ordered makkara<\/em>, a tasty sausage on a bun with Finnish mustard, tomato jam and pickled red onions. Local craft beers, wines, juices, coffee, teas and waters are offered to quench the thirst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koivu restaurant also offers diners full farm-to-table Finnish- and Canadian-inspired dishes with a patio overlooking the spa complex and surrounding valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appetite sated, I head down to the change room, shower and begin the Finnish-style process: sauna sweat, cold plunge and relax. I change up the routine with stops at the two steam rooms, one citrus and the other eucalyptus, the hot stone room, the warm thermal pools and then a relaxing swing on the hammocks located throughout the spa complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking the Plunge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Vetta\u0308<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Vetta\u0308<\/figure>\n
Courtesy Vett\u00e4 Nordic Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The three thermal pools, four saunas, two cold plunge pools, two relaxation rooms and one hot stone room all have Finnish names. Warm relaxation pools are kept between 77 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. I prefer soaking in the higher-degree relaxation pools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I go to Sisu first, their large wood-burning sauna. The temperature in the different saunas can range from 145 degrees Fahrenheit on the low end to almost 200 degrees Fahrenheit. With our cold Canadian winters, my motto is, \u201cBring on the heat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sweating is very therapeutic and in one sauna there were cool water misters from above the top bench that spritzed sauna-goers every couple of minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike in some cultures or spas, the Finnish spa experience encourages conversation between people. Think of it as happy hour without the alcohol. Just have a sip from your water bottle or go out and pour a bucket of cold water over you. Guaranteed to cool you off. Vett\u00e4 has these strategically placed outside several of their saunas.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fire & Ice & Chill<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sweat dripping from my skin I retreat to the cold plunge pool where the temperature can be anywhere from a \u201crefreshing\u201d 44 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Nothing like a cold dip to jolt your mind and body to attention. I manage to stay in for almost a minute before my feet begin to ache from the frigid temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comfy lounge chairs in the relaxation rooms with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows offer scenic forest views making relaxing easy. I let my body\u2019s temperature return to normal as I lie back and enjoy the view. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wood fire pits with Muskoka chairs offer guests another option to relax outside or as I did on my final cycle just swing effortlessly on the hammocks set up on the grounds. Fortunately, no comedic mishaps on video trying to get on or off the hammock. Cell phone use in spa areas is not allowed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nordic Spa Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Vetta\u0308<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Vetta\u0308<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Finnish
Courtesy Vetta\u0308 Nordic Spa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Finnish spa experience in Canada has many adaptations but they all revolve around the tradition of a long hot session, short cold plunge and long relaxation to boost your immunity and overall well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kuum<\/em>a (hot) \u2014 in sauna \u201410-15 minutes (or whatever feels comfortable)<\/p>\n\n\n\n