King's Spa & Sauna Date

January 27, 2018

With the advent of 2018, Steven and I resolved to create a special monthly date day! It doesn't seem like a big deal, but honestly we had slipped in our marriage planning intentional times to do things together (other than watching Netflix at home and playing with our cats). Days like these are so rejuvenating for our marriage! We decided to switch off the monthly responsibility of planning the date with yours truly up first.

One of Steven's favorite things is anything relaxing. While I'm constantly powering through tasks and love being productive, Steven is my perfect complement. He adores taking naps, massages, playing with the cats, and watching Modern Family. He reminds me to be content, thankful, and remember to play :)January started off extremely busy in our work lives, with many long nights for both of us.

When I saw a Groupon for King's Spa & Sauna ($25 each) in Niles, IL for basically unlimited spa & sauna time, I knew this Korean bath house date to the "jimjilbang" would be perfect.

On a side note, if you haven't seen Conan's video visiting a jimjilbang, please watch this if you want to burn a few hundred calories laughing. It is definitely one of my top 3 favorite Youtube videos!

The moment we entered the building, we knew we were in for a treat. Almost immediately, the front desk split us into separate directions: right for the women, left for the men. I bid Steven adieu and followed the hallway to the women's locker room and baths. A lady asked me to remove my shoes and handed me a bracelet with a key and number leading me to my assigned locker for the day on top of my oversized pink t-shirt and baggy shorts uniform for the day.

Clean calming scents filled the air with the cheery chatter of women roaming nude in and out of the baths. Initially quite shy, Steven and I decided to meet each other in the sauna area first. As I exited the locker room, a dark theater surfaced to my right playing Iron Man. Teens playing chess on my left. A massive food court with delicious smells of bulgogi wafted my way.

Each of the 8 saunas features a different theme. We ignorantly grabbed a mat and went into the hottest sauna of all - the Fire Sudatorium!! The name itself inspires fear. Almost immediately, heat imprisons your body and you concentrate completely on shallow breathing to stay cool. We survived a solid few minutes before having to move on. Only the strong survive that one...

Other saunas we loved were the Ice Room (to cool off in when you're hot), the Pyramid Room (heated with real gold), and the Salt Room. We paid an extra $5 to enter the Base Rock Room - a super hot room lined with stones and you lay on a hot rock. Intense and well worth it! 

I even attempted to imitate the Korean girls around me with the Jimjilbang Hair Towel twist (I didn't do it well)...

Eventually we needed to visit let go and enjoy the baths. I picked up one of their tiny face towels and awkwardly attempted to cover myself in the midst of the confident womenn working what God gave them. I got over myself eventually and embraced the fact that this is totally normal for the baths. They even have FREE toothbrushes and toothpaste lying around for your use - don't mind if I do! 

I have to say - the experience surpassed my expectations. Both Steven & I felt unbelievably relaxed and would love to go back. 10/10!

Afterwards, we hung around the suburbs living our best Korean lives. We visited H-Mart, the popular Korean supermarket for the first time (that is conveniently right next door to King's) and ended up ordering way too much chicken at DooRe HoDoo DooRe Chicken (also known as Noori on Yelp). We love our Korean chicken wings. Not as good as Crisp, but definitely still a treat after sweating all day! 

Loved this inaugural date day in 2018. Steven's up next and I can't wait for the next one in February!! We'd love to hear dates you've gone on in or around Chicago that you love...please share them with us! : )