Jacksonville Spa and Massage

When Giovanni and Diana Manzano founded Solé Spa Wellness Center in 2007, they chose to focus on services that rejuvenated their clients physically as well as emotionally. They also chose to honor Giovanni's mother—Solé Manzano, a victim of breast cancer—by gracing the spa with her name. The haven of relaxation they've built blends contemporary touches with Asian-themed décor. Instead of relying on a throng of fireflies, the studio creates a warm atmosphere by filling rooms with earthy tones and the calming glow emanating from hanging lights.

Although waxing is their specialty, the aestheticians' body treatments—including a full-body sugar glow with imported sugar cane, tropical nut oils, and fruit enzymes—also helped to earn the spa a place on Jacksonville Magazine's Best of Jacksonville list in 2011 and 2012. Manually applied airbrush tans imbue skin with a rich, sun-kissed hue that can last as long as seven days, much like a citywide game of hide-and-seek. Facials similarly make skin glow by slathering cheekbones with vitamin-rich salves or seaweed masks. During massages, therapists can employ a number of modalities, customizing every treatment to address clients' needs with a combination of Swedish, deep tissue, or reflexology techniques.