If you find big thermal spas too crowded for your liking, I have good news for you: You can have a soaker tub and private sauna all to yourself at Meristem Massage and Hydrotherapy in Carp, a pretty village on the west side of Ottawa.
Owner and registered massage therapist Amy Courtney built the private sauna room as a complement to her busy Carp massage business. The little enclave includes a deep soaker tub, a cozy cedar sauna and a separate shower room. The room also has a wireless speaker, so you can enjoy a playlist from your phone. (Amy can also provide the tunes, if you prefer.) There’s even room to unroll the provided yoga mat and do a few sun salutations, if you’re so inclined.
Disclosure: I visited the spa at no cost to me, as a guest of Meristem, which has neither reviewed nor approved this post. All opinions are my own.
From California to Ottawa
Amy discovered the concept while living in Santa Cruz, California, where at least four spas in the city of roughly 60,000 people offered private sauna/hydrotherapy rooms. When she moved to the Ottawa area, she assumed there would be lots of similar facilities here. “I thought for sure, when I came to a cold climate like this, they’d be all over the place.” To her surprise, she found none.
After working at other massage clinics, she opened Meristem on Carp’s main street in 2020, adding the private sauna room in 2023. The sauna room appeals to a wide range of clients, from hockey players and cross-country skiers to office workers looking to de-stress, Amy says. “It’s pretty diverse, actually.” And while most of her massage clients come from Carp and nearby communities, sauna clients drive from as far as Orleans and Calabogie to try the private room.
So what is it like spending an hour in a private spa? Your mileage may vary, but I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely on a cold January afternoon.
There’s nothing like a warm bath on a cold day
When I booked my visit, Amy asked me whether I’d like to have a hot bath or a cold one waiting for me on my arrival. Apparently, her Gen-Z clients are big on cold plunges. And I know there are people who think nothing of jumping into a river in January for a bracing polar-bear swim.
I am not one of those people. In fact, I am perpetually cold from Thanksgiving until Easter. In winter, I leave a trail of throws, fuzzy slippers, fleece pullovers and tea mugs throughout our house. So, unsurprisingly, I requested the hot bath.
When I opened the door the suite and saw the gorgeous tub, I was delighted. Is there anything more indulgent and comforting than having someone else draw you a bath? (Side note: My home’s tiny tub is approximately the depth of a large puddle, so my baths at home are rare and short.)
On top of a stack of fluffy white towels, I found a small mason jar of epsom salts, which I happily poured into the tub. Then, without further ado, I unpeeled my many winter layers and sank gratefully into the warm, deep water. The temperature was Goldilocks-perfect: not too hot, not too cold.
From tub to sauna
Amy had advised me to spend no more than 10 minutes in the tub and to rest a few minutes on a bench to cool down before heading into the sauna. A small clock on the shelf beside the tub came in handy for tracking my time—otherwise, I might still be there.
With some reluctance, I extracted myself, cuddled into a big towel, and curled up on the bench with a cup of cold water from the nearby cooler.
Then it was time to hop into the small sauna, which is big enough for two adults and one or two kids. (Children are welcome on weekends.) Amy says the private spa is popular with families, as well as with frazzled parents who come alone or as a couple to enjoy some uninterrupted quiet time.
For those who like a steamy sauna, you can pour water over the hot stones with the supplied bucket and ladle. However, I was content to just laze in a dry, bone-warming heat. I brought the clock in with me, to make sure I didn’t overcook.
All too soon, it was time to exit the sauna. Fortunately, the tub was now at a fairly tepid temperature, as I’d taken Amy’s advice to drain some of the hot water and add cold before using the sauna. It was now cool enough to count as the “cold” part of my do-it-yourself thermal cycle. A quick dip and a spray with the shower wand attachment, and I was done.
Reluctantly coming out of my cozy cocoon
Glancing at the clock, I realized the hour had almost completely flown by. I’d considered doing some yoga, but I’d been quite happy to just drift from tub to sauna and back to tub, like a slightly stunned amphibian.
I climbed out of the tub and headed to the shower to quickly rinse off the epsom salts. Soon, I was dry and rebundled into my winter layers.
As I emerged from the room, Amy asked whether I felt warmed through. I did. In fact, that inner glow lasted long into the evening, as did the relaxed vibe I’d cultivated during an hour of doing absolutely nothing. It turns out that a deep bath and a warm sauna were just what I needed.
If you go
Meristem Massage and Hydrotherapy is located at 3722 Carp Road, on the southern edge of the village. Private sauna sessions start at $40. You can also combine a sauna visit with a massage or other therapeutic treatment.
If you find large thermal spas too noisy and crowded, Meristem’s private sauna room offers a quiet alternative. I loved this little retreat’s simplicity and privacy.
Looking for more things to do while you’re in the area? Check out my guide to Carp and Richmond. It’s a bit out of date, but I hope it provides at least a little inspiration until I can update it later this year.
Make it an overnight getaway
If you’re coming from outside Ottawa, perhaps you’d like to stay overnight nearby. You can use the map above to find accommodations near Carp. Disclosure: If you do book a place to stay using the map above, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.