A Perfect Weekend at The Elms Hotel and Spa

A unique, beautifully decorated historic hotel. A relaxing, luxuriously equipped spa. Lovely walking trails, gardens, and green space. Breakfast in bed. Delicious meals and excellent wine. Outstanding service. All within an hour’s drive from just about anywhere in the Kansas City metro …

My husband and I received an invitation to celebrate a friend’s wedding this past weekend. The ceremony and reception took place at The Elms Hotel & Spa in Excelsior Springs, MO. We hadn’t spent a weekend away together since our daughter was born last October, so we decided to book two nights and a spa package and make it a staycation – and we are so glad that we did!

We headed up to Excelsior Springs right after work on Friday. The rolling hills at sunset made for a beautiful drive which took us less than an hour from western Shawnee. I took this photo and posted it to Instagram as we approached the hotel. What a perfect evening to start our weekend!

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We unloaded our luggage and valeted the car (since all of the nearby parking lots were full, they valeted it for us free of charge!) and got checked in to our room. How cool is this lobby?! The hotel recently underwent a $20 million face lift; I loved how many of the historic elements were still intact or featured prominently (such as the lobby fireplace and tile) and then accented by more contemporary elements (such as the orange light fixture). Don’t you want to curl up next to the fireplace with a book and a glass of wine as snow falls softly outside? (Yes, I’m already planning our first trip back for sometime this winter!)

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On our first night, we walked around the small downtown area and scoped out some shops we wanted to visit the next day. We went back to our room early after our walk and went to bed … and didn’t set our alarms! The next morning, we ordered breakfast in bed. The room service was excellent, as was the food – one notable dish was my husband’s Brioche French Toast with Blackberry Compote and Vermont Maple Syrup. SO yum! One of my favorite in-room amenities was the Keurig coffeemaker! What a relaxing morning!

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After checking in with grandma (who was having her own staycation weekend at our house with our daughter), we spent the rest of the morning visiting a few shops (our favorite was Shabby Chic Boutique & Co) and having an old-fashioned cheeseburger and crinkle cut fries at Ray’s Diner for lunch. We then headed back to The Elms for our afternoon at The Spa at the Elms!

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We spent the first part of our spa afternoon in The Grotto which is “a modern twist on a Roman bath.” You can relax in The Grotto for as long as you wish on the day of your spa appointment. Our only regret was not coming even earlier to read a few magazines and take a nap! We utilized the steam sauna, the hot tub, the steam shower, and the cold plunge shower. My husband enjoyed the cold plunge shower and I think my favorite was the steam shower, which I used while exfoliating with The Elms’ special rose/sea salt blend from the Exfoliation Bar. After our time in The Grotto, we had a one-hour long couples massage. It was bliss! Both of our massage therapists were outstanding. They used a light-smelling lotion (vs. a sticky oil) and applied just the right pressure to our liking. I can’t say enough good things about The Spa … I wish I could go back every weekend!

After our afternoon at the spa, we got all dressed up for our friends’ wedding. (Side note: if you or someone you know is looking for a wedding venue, I would highly recommend The Elms! The buffet food was outstanding and the ballroom venue was perfect for both the wedding and the reception.) I had to slip in one photo of my husband and I from our friends’ photo booth!

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The next morning, we went to 88 at The Elms and enjoyed their breakfast buffet which was filled with things like made-to-order omelets, biscuits and gravy (my favorite!), eggs, bacon, sausage, pastries, cinnamon rolls (so good!), cheese/fruit plate, fruit salad, potatoes, and more. The buffet was set up in the lobby and The Cafe area, but we got a table in the restaurant where it was quiet (with a little jazz music playing in the background) to enjoy our meal. There is also a lot of outdoor seating tucked away here and there where you can eat and enjoy a cup of coffee.

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I would highly recommend The Elms. It is far enough away that you feel like you’re actually getting away, and close enough that you could pop home if anything came up with the kiddos. The hotel has so many unique qualities and a great history, and there are lots of nearby shops, wineries, and historical landmarks to check out, as well. The service and food was excellent, and it was so nice to get away for a weekend with my hubby!

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Erin Roebuck
Hi, friends! I’m Erin and I've called Kansas City home for over nine years. I am the girl who always thought I’d have kids by the time I turned twenty-five and swore I’d never meet my husband in a bar. I moved to KC right after college and lived it up for several years as a single, working woman for a wee little greeting card company here in town. Not only did I not have kids according to my self-imposed timeline, I ended up meeting my now-husband Eric at O'Dowd's on the Plaza! I have lived all over the metro and have explored the city as a single gal, a married woman, and now as a mama to my daughter, Lilly (born October 2012) and Baby #2 (due June 2015). This city has something for everyone—artists, musicians, farmers, athletes, technologists, families, innovators, and more—which is why I love it! I now live in western Shawnee, KS where my husband and I tend to a 500 square foot vegetable garden, host barbecues on our deck, cheer for the Chiefs, and pray for the day when Glacé or BRGR open locations that are closer than thirty minutes away.

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