Health and Beauty

By the Sea Inn & Spa

107 Montowese St.
Branford, CT
(203) 483-3333
bytheseainnspa.com

Like its name suggests, By the Sea Inn and Spa was originally located by the sea. It hasn't been on the water in years, so the owners are redecorating with a water theme. The massage rooms will be repainted a calming, frothy, blue and green (of course, Marilyn Rose Acquarulo and Mary Ellen Julian's massages are pretty calming already). The new decor is representative of their attitude toward holistic healing in a warm, relaxing environment.

The pair has worked together and done massages since 1982 so they have enough experience to know what will best suit you. Most people prefer Swedish massage, says Acquarulo, for its long, broad strokes. That massage is perfect for people mentally stressed out who need to be calmed. But the deep tissue massage, says Julian, is for people with tight muscles who store stress in their body. "Not a lot of people like it," she says, "but a lot of people need it."