Laurie Dove
DoveMedia@cox.net

Discovering the Princess Within:
Wild, Wonderful Hays

By Laurie L. Dove
"Copyright 2003.  This article may not be reprinted without the author's permission."

Oh, how I love a Princess Day.

What makes for a Princess Day, you ask? Me, a spa and at least one shopping bag with the name of a chic boutique emblazoned across the front. While I know it’s entirely possible to have a Princess Day close to home, there’s nothing better than traveling to a new destination to treat oneself. Think of it as a way to discover the royalty within.

Although I’ve been to Hays at least a half-dozen times, admittedly I’ve never ventured farther than the Motel 8 just off the Interstate. This time, however, I vow to uncover the unique finds this city of 20,000 has to offer.

Rising above the miles of surrounding Kansas grassland, Hays anchors the crossroads of Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 183. I drive to its only bed and breakfast — the Tea Rose Inn — and am thrilled that it’s within easy walking distance of downtown. I’m even more excited when I discover what awaits inside. Rita Stramel, the Tea Rose Inn’s proprietor, has chosen the Victorian home’s third floor bedroom for my stay. The recently renovated Garden Room features impressionist-style wall murals created by a local artist, two beds, a television flanked by comfy chairs and a spacious private bath complete with a claw-foot tub. Stramel pays attention to detail: There are embroidered towels, fresh flowers and Tea Rose Inn signature soaps. Heavenly.

From there, I walk to CS Post & Co., a downtown general store. I knew before I even entered the city limits that I’d want to check this one out; a recent issue of Elle Décor called it a “hip, updated version of the general store.” And hip, it is, with its posh offerings that include exclusively designed and manufactured furniture that is a favorite of celebs like Janet Jackson, Arnold Schwarzeneger, Elton John and even Vice President Dick Cheney. I peruse the store’s fine gifts and decorative accessories before settling on a sterling silver key chain, a trendy chenille baby blanket and a gourmet coffee press.

With my requisite shopping bags in tow, I head for the spa. This time I drive, however, because the Rock Haven Day Spa is in a historic barn about 10 miles outside of Hays. Yes, I said barn. Within the hand-carved limestone walls, however, lies an elaborate Aveda day spa with a full menu of services fit for a princess: massage, hydrotherapy, aromatherapy, body wraps, European facials, three steam rooms and a hair salon located in the loft. I relax with a glass of champagne before my massage and take in the spa’s many paintings and sculptures created by Kansas artists, as well as spa owner Dereama Allenbaugh.

My Princess Day continues with a twilight stroll down the brick-paved streets of Hays proper. The downtown is undergoing a resurrection designed to rehabilitate historic structures and draw a new generation of coffee shops, eateries, retailers and art galleries. That night, I ponder a return to see the completed renovation while soaking in a claw-foot tub at the circa 1909 Tea Rose Inn, but breakfast the next morning — fresh fruit, homemade pastries and a delicate egg soufflé — seals the deal. I went to Hays expecting the Wild West and found a quiet Midwestern elegance that will keep me coming back for more.

About the Author: Laurie L. Dove is a Newton, Kan.-based award-winning freelance writer. She is the mother of three well-traveled children.