JOE: Miracle Hot Springs, a very welcome destination just outside of Buhl, Idaho is a place I have grown very fond of. The layout of the pools and private soaking tubs, along with the several geodesic domes really gives this place a feel that I could get used to. Between Miracle and Banbury you have several options for staying overnight beyond just the groovy geodesic domes. There is tent camping, RV sites, and a lodge and cabins available as well. We elected to stay in the very reasonably priced Queen Bed Geodesic Dome which was $89/night and that includes soaking at both places from check in to check out. 

RACH: Miracle has a series of pools that range in temperature, the large swimming pool being the coolest, but still a warm comfortable soak. I think the pool complex is beautiful. The design with the private pool rooms lining the perimeter is quite lovely, and there are many different seating levels in the the various pools. The hot-hot pool is partially enclosed, keeping it insulated, and feels like a cave. Very private and meditative. The private tub rooms are simple with sunken deep tubs. Perfect for privacy and for shedding those suits!

The dome was a pretty dreamy sleeping arrangement. Talk about glamping! It even has heating and air conditioning. There are a ton of great options for lodging between Miracle Hot Springs and Banbury and you can click this link to see specifically what they are. However, if you are just coming for the day, here's a breakdown of what that'll cost you...

JOE: This really is a charming and great place to visit. 4 generations of the Olsen family have helped run this place since it opened in 1960 and you can really feel the love and care they've put into this land and place. It's modest in design though it achieves a level of elegance in it's simplicity. We loved all the soaking areas and the way the geodesic domes are arranged in the field next to the soaking area really gave the whole place a sense that a lot of mindful attention was put into the creation of Miracle Hot Springs.

JOE: While it is true that the Snake River runs through this part of Idaho, the reality of this area is that it is dry and barren for what seems like hundreds of miles in all directions. That is not to say it is without a great deal of beauty though, on the contrary, the Snake river has cut a canyon through the desert that provides rich and vibrant formations and a spectrum of rusty reds that give the place an almost martian feel. Here's the thing, Miracle Hot Springs & Banbury Hot Springs are both a welcome oasis in the midst of a largely desert landscape.  If you have never soaked in geothermal waters before you simply must. Right now. I mean it. Stop reading this and go find the nearest hot springs and I don't care if it is a thousand miles away! For real though, what happens when you soak in hot mineral water is likely going to be a wholly new experience you'll fall in love with. Soaking in a hot tub or jacuzzi is relaxing and feels great to be sure, but there is something truly special about soaking in hot springs water that you simply have to experience yourself to really understand what I'm trying to describe. And as it goes, Miracle's water is up there on the list of top notch hot springs waters to soak it up in. It has a very high ph (9.6!) which is fantastic for your mind, body, and soul, and it was one of those places I felt like I could have stayed in the water forever. That's not the case in all places. Some places have such intensely high mineral contents and are meant to only be soaked in for a few minutes at a time (Stewart Mineral Springs near Mt Shasta comes to mind). Here though, you could live full time in this water.

JOE: While kids are allowed at Miracle Hot Springs, if you bring them 1.5 miles down the road to Banbury they are likely going to have WAY more fun. Here they have a diving board, all sorts of floaty things, flippers, a basketball hoop, a spinning log, and you know, things kids (young and old) like. Banbury sits right off of the Snake River and has its own feel that is much more laid back and accommodating to all walks of life. There are campsites and lodging that surround the pool and you can also rent kayaks and stand up paddle boards to go have fun with on the river. Speaking of the Snake River, the boat ramp we walked down to provided some pretty lovely views!

RACH: Don't forget your suits! Both Miracle and Branbury require bathing suits.

JOE: Banbury really feels more like a city municipality pool rather than a hot springs destination but I don't consider that a bad thing. It is welcoming to everyone and ultimately, from this humble perspective of mine, the more people who can soak up the healing waters of these hot springs the better! And not for nothing, It's a really fun place, too. We talked about how fun it would be to invite a bunch of families and friends to come for a week and camp out and have it be our big summer vacation destination. I bet a lot of people have that same idea.  We met some really sweet folks in the pool and one of the families even gave us an inflatable tube for Willy Cosmo and he absolutely loved it as you can see below...

As you've likely gathered by this point, Willy Cosmo and the fam love Miracle Hot Springs (and Banubry, too). We'll for sure be back and we HIGHLY recommend you get your bones in these waters and soak 'em good, too.

JOE: Yup, we did it. We loaded up our car with a tent, clothes, pillows, a cooler, a stroller, some food, and a whole lot of gumption and made our way to Denver, Colorado for an absolutely lovely wedding. We of course made the most of this trip and squeezed in a visit to 10 different hot springs between the way there and back again. We'll be reporting individually on each of these places but before we break it down we thought we'd better just give you a glimpse of this mighty ambitious trip we just did. So, below you're going to get to see the list o' hot springs Willy Cosmo checked out in just one week of this young lads life!
RACH: This was, by far, the biggest road trip WC has ever been on. he was a little champ. We wanted to hit at least 4 hot springs on the ways there and back, but, thanks largely to his dreamy temperament and thirst for the next soak, we were able to go to 10!! So, we now have a better idea about the hot springs culture in Idaho, Colorado, and Wyoming. A decidedly different flavor than California and Oregon. Some really spectacular water to be sure, but don't forget your swimming costumes! Full reports to follow shortly, but here is an overview of the ground we covered, and the waters we replenished ourselves in:

Miracle Hot Springs is on the outskirts of Buhl, Idaho - spoiler alert: they have an alligator!! Also, some really well designed pools and great camping domes. We loved this place.

Banbury Hot Springs is just about one and a half miles from Miracle Hot Springs and last year, Miracle bought Banbury. So, these two lovely soaking destinations are in cahoots! Banbury is the place for family fun.

Strawberry Park Hot Springs is just outside Steamboat Springs, Colorado, way up in the forest, a very unique destination.

Hot Sulphur Springs is located in the town by the same name. They have 24 pools, varying in temperatures, different mineral contents, and some really stunning views.

Willy Cosmo was quite impressed with the wedding accommodations in Denver! While it's not a hot spring, nothing beats a fancy rooftop swimming pool on a hot city day!

The Fountain of Youth Hot Springs RV Park is located in what we've come to call the Mecca of Hot Springs, Thermopolis, Wyoming! Located in Hot Springs County and just a yodel away from the largest hot mineral springs in the world, this is a destination that all hot springs lovers around the world need to pilgrimage to...

Hot Springs State Park Bath House is wonderful. Go get yourself a free soak at this well built and well run soaking spot located in Hot Springs State Park. Also located in Thermopolis (what a great name for a place btw), Wyoming

Granite Hot Springs Pool is pretty darn amazing. I mean, look at that view! Located in the Bridger-Teton National forest, this is one spot you'll be happy you stopped at after taking in the amazing natural surroundings of this incredible area.

What can we say about Challis Hot Springs? Not much good as of yet because THEY DIDN'T LET WILLY COSMO SOAK THERE! A story for another time (and believe us, that story will get told). 

Sunbeam Hot Springs is a soaking spot right off of HWY 75 on the Salmon River and you know what? It is fantastic.

Haven Hot Springs is quite a spot. Located in the Sawtooth Mountains in Lowman, Idaho... Straight up, this is is one of the great pools in the history of pools.

So, stay tuned for many, many more photos, and in-depth reviews of each of these places. In the meantime, we are thrilled to be soaking up the comforts of home after a very big week!

JOE: Carson Hot Springs is nestled in this beautiful little piece of nature just off the Columbia Gorge in the quaint little town of Carson, Washington. This hot springs has been in operation since 1897 as a business and the waters were appreciated for hundreds of years previous to this by the local Native American population. In the past decade several additions have been made to the grounds including the pool above and the three story hotel below.

JOE: Until the addition of the pool in 2016, the only way in which you came to enjoy these glorious waters was by going for a soak and wrap, if you are anywhere near the area. It's really quite an experience to give this a try, there is a 25 minutes soak session and then a 25 minute wrap session where an attendant comes and gets you all snug in some sheets and a blanket and then you proceed to sweat out the demons, it is such an incredibly potent experience. It almost knocks you out, I think the combination of the soaking with all its glorious minerals and then immediately getting wrapped up really sweats out the toxins and in general drains the energy out of you. In a good way though. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. Hydration, hydration, hydration! After you are done and recovered from that initial drained/knocked out feeling, you feel absolutely wonderful. 
RACH: The soak and wrap in the old bathhouse is a no-frills, real deal wellness treatment. It's only about a 45 minute drive from Portland, and I would go as far as to say that it would be a worthy thing to make into a regular weekly or bi-weekly practice. For $25 you get the benefits of some very strong and detoxifying waters, and the sweat you get from the wrap is no joke. And it's nice to soak in the privacy of your own curtain-shrouded clawfoot tub. 

JOE: We had never stayed the night at Carson before so for the sake of giving the best review we could, we booked one of the rooms there. They're a bit pricey for what you are getting but we really wanted to have Willy Cosmo get into these waters and this is the only way at Carson for that to be a possibility. For anyone under the age of 18, the only way to get your soak on is to come and stay at one of the rooms with a jacuzzi tub in it. Willy really loved the waters too, that is completely understandable because let's be honest, these waters are no joke legit.

JOE: The history of this place and its waters in interesting and I like seeing pictures of what it was like way back when. That is cool. It does kinda have a ghost town/haunted feeling to it, too but I am alright with that. I even think that is something I'd put in the plus category (but I acknowledge that may sound weird).  Carson Hot Springs has great water. That's the truth. If for nothing else I'd say come check it out for yourself if you live in the Portland area or are visiting Mt Hood and the Hood River area. Some of the old pictures make the place look like it would have been really awesome to have visited back then...

There's another spot in Carson we recommend you check out. It's this delicious restaurant and brewery just down the road and we definitely suggest you go there. Backwoods Brewery is great. They serve up some tasty beers and we were pleased to have happened upon some live music out back when we got there as well.  They have a super friendly staff and a pretty darn good menu, too. House made salads and hand made from scratch pizzas make this a great place to go and eat if you ever find yourself in or near Carson, Washington. We really liked Backwoods Brewery.

RACH: Doe Bay's tubs and sauna are some of the best in the Pacific Northwest. That being said, they are not natural mineral springs. But the natural setting, the sauna, and the retreat vibe deserves a nod from WC. The first time I went to Doe Bay it was for Doe Bay Fest 4 in 2011 and I fell in love with the place. It should be noted that this one weekend a year when they have the music festival is quite different than the rest of the year. I have also visited in the winter, and even played at the Cafe - they have live music every Friday night, and an open mic every Thursday. If you have not visited the San Juan Islands, it should be on your list. Like Vancouver Island and the Canadian Gulf Islands to the north, there is an indescribable magic that you feel, stepping out of the world as we know it. Fairies live here. And whales, of course, and bald eagles. The resort is situated on an idyllic cove, and has a range of accommodations from gorgeous rugged campsites, yurts and domes on sea cliffs, to forested rustic cabins and houses. Don't expect luxury sheets or fancy bathrooms, though. This is a truly rustic retreat, done simply, with a gorgeous bathhouse spa. Think glamping with a fancy spa. That's what we are always thinking, by the way, in our family.

​JOE: Doe Bay, Doe Bay?... Ah, what can I say? I love this place. And I know, I know, Doe Bay Resort & Retreat is technically not a "hot springs" but it is totally worthy of being added to the guide. Willy Cosmo absolutely loves this place as well and highly recommends you come and soak your bones here. And not for nothing, the sauna is a top drawer sauna as it goes. So, to put it simply, Doe Bay is awesome. This visit was my second extended stay on both Orcas Island, and at Doe Bay itself. Both times have been during Doe Bay Fest and both times have been wonderful. I look forward to going back for a visit when no event or conference is going on to experience the place and space without the festival energy attached to it. We did arrive on Wednesday - which is a day before any of the music and all that business begins - and there were very few people there (compared to Thurs-Sun) so I did get a taste of what it is like when you can really soak up the peace and quite of this magical land (and water of course).

JOE: This place really is a treat of a retreat if I do say so myself. The views, the fresh air, the trees, the abundant amount of deer roaming the grounds, the excellent cafe and restaurant, the spa services, and of course, the soaking tubs and sauna with it's exceptional view make this place somewhere we really can't speak highly enough about. The list goes on of course because as I briefly mentioned above, this place is also located on Orcas Island by the way! This island, one of the many beautiful islands in the San Juan chain, is worth a visit in its own right. It's such a beautiful place and it is only really accessible by taking the ferry (or you can fly in on a little prop plane too if you happened to be one of those people who roll like that). We took the ferry and it was Willy C's first ferry boat ride and he really liked it. We played a game of cribbage and happened to be sitting next to a couple of folks who were playing at Doe Bay Fest, we learned that after they started talking to us because Willy Cosmo was charming the pants off of them. One of the bands was Lenore (and you should totally check out this lovely duo because they're really talented and their voices and melodies are quite something to behold). The other band - which will likely rock your socks off if you ever get a chance to experience one of their shows - is Jacob Miller and the Bridge City Crooners.These guys are amazing. It was fun connecting with them and we ended up hanging out off and on throughout the weekend with all these good peoples. And the ferry ride itself was rather nice. The other gentlemen we met and shared seats on the ferry ride with we had met while waiting in line for the ferry. He happened to be from Seattle and had a place about a mile down the road from Doe Bay, we ended up enjoying his company throughout the weekend as well. I chalk that up to baby magic, while we may have crossed paths otherwise, it was Willy Cosmo that drew this kindhearted man to us and invited us to visit with him and his wife and go check out their lovely property. So, yeah, the ferry ride was great actually. It's an hour and a half ride and it really is quite a lovely boat ride as it goes.

JOE: Did I mention already that we love Doe Bay? I did? Well, we do. We love Doe Bay, A LOT. One of the big things about this place that we like so much is that, besides being one of the only nice resort/spa areas in all of the greater Seattle area, it quite simply is one of the most peaceful and serene settings imaginable. It's exceptionally beautiful and the fact that the good folks who own and operate it have brought all these wonderful conferences, retreats, and modest sized, intimate music festival to the land is really something we love and is indeed an element (or elements) of what we plan to offer when we have our own hot springs resort. It just feels good being there and it is clear that the owner Joe and all those who help to operate this place really love what they are doing and that is awesome.

​RACH: Their organic farm supplies the incredible cafe, which serves not only the guests but the whole island, and has a thriving scene year round. The spa is a perfectly designed sanctuary. Perched so that you can gaze out over the bay, the dry sauna is my second favorite ever (second to Stewart Springs). There are three tiers to sit on, and the top seats have little windows to take in the view. In quiet winter, you can stay all day soaking and shvitzing (little Willy Cosmo has yet to know the wonders of the shvitz), and in summer you can run down the trail to the beach on Otter Cove below and cold plunge in the sound! Or for the very brave, there is a cliff to dive off at the end of the point. Deer roam the grounds freely and happily, as do children. Festival time or no, this is a place to come get inspired creatively, to retreat and receive in peace...

JOE: We camped out at Doe Bay for 5 nights which is pretty ambitious of us considering it was our first camping trip since Willy Cosmo was born. He was a trooper though and I actually think he quite enjoyed it actually. He loves him some nature and I don't blame him! We had a really nice tucked away setting for our campsite and I decided to deck it out with a little bit of my stretched fabric art just for fun. Here's a glimpse of our campsite and a view of sunrise through the trees that first morning just a little way down the path from our tent.

JOE: It is worth spending a few sentences here to mention that Doe Bay Fest is a fantastic music festival. Super family friendly and no matter what music is going on, the setting in which you are listening to and participating in the experiencing of being a part of the musical festivities is always fantastic. I think Blind Pilot was probably the best show (I know for certain it was for Rach) but I really liked quite a few of the bands that were there this year, Sisters was one that particularly had me moving and grooving with young Willy Cosmo. The two main stages each have their charms but it is undeniable that the Otter Cove stage is one of the best places to take in live music in all of the world! That might be an exaggeration as there are likely countless other places that are equal or better but here, take a look for yourself and you'll understand what I mean...

JOE: See what I mean? Pretty special place to watch a show, eh? Willy Cosmo was digging the music and I am glad we got him a pair of those baby ear muffs for the loud music (and they came with a pair of sunglasses so he was pretty much ready to rock and roll like nobodies business).  And I must admit, Jacob Miller and the Bride City Crooners are quickly becoming one of my favorite Portland bands. 

JOE: During our stay on Orcas Island we also went for a day trip up to Mt. Constitution and let me tell you, that is something you just have to do! It's amazing. The views from up there are astounding. You can see so many other islands and into Canada and it is simply one of those places you want to see for yourself. Also while we were up there we decided it was Willy Cosmo's time to learn to fly. So, in front of a lovely crowd of folks that were up there as tourists (or the group of people who we witnessed getting married up there!) I gave our young lad his first proper flight. Check it out!

JOE: That was fun. Willy C loved it. Also incidentally on this particular trip, Willy Cosmo learned another new trick for his bag. As a young lad of 5 months old, not able to crawl or even sit up of his own accord just yet, Willy Cosmo realized he could do this, too...

JOE: Okay, alright, okay, okay. Well, we love Doe Bay Resort & Retreat and we love Doe Bay Fest, too! Orcas Island is mighty charming and wonderful as well. We will be back and we strongly encourage you to check it out as well!

JOE: Oh yeah! One more thing, Rachel's latest EP c'est la swimming happens to have it's album cover art from a picture I took at Doe Bay! It was from the first time I was there (Doe Bay Fest 7). Thought that was pretty neat and worth mentioning before we close out this review. Okay, that's it. That's all we've got for now. Willy Cosmo and the whole fam are big fans of Doe Bay Resort & Retreat and we highly recommend you go and visit this wonderful place yourself.

Doe Bay Resort & Retreat
107 Doe Bay Rd
Olga, WA 98279
located on Orcas Island which is only accessible by boat, ferry or small airplanes.

JOE: So, it was our 1st Anniversary (thank you) on July 3rd and we decided we'd go and check out Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa as a part of our celebrations. Amazingly, neither Rachel nor I had ever been to this place before. Why that is amazing is because it is actually the closest hot springs to us here in Portland. The forecast was looking good for the day and we decided to go for a hike with Rachel's parents along with Joy and Willy Cosmo, for a nice family outing. We packed a lunch and then the plan was to all go to Bonneville for an hour or two to soak and see what this place was all about. Rachel booked her and I a one hour soak and wrap which we have done a number of times at Carson Hot Springs (owned by the same folks who own Bonneville) and had enjoyed that very much. Carson Hot Springs is quite a unique place in that it is part of an old historic hotel and grounds that looks kinda like a ghost town. It is a kinda strange and interesting place to check out and as mentioned above, we have enjoyed going for a soak and wrap there together on several occasions. Well, we decided to go to Falls Creek for the hike, our goal was to do the hike all the way into Falls Creek Falls but we ended up stopping and having lunch a little over half way through the hike next to the creek. At that point we decided we'd better just turn back so we could make sure to get to Bonneville for our scheduled soak and wraps. We'll have to see those sweet falls another time.

We were only in the jacuzzi tub outside for a few minutes and then got out and were standing near the entry and a woman who was working there said to Rachel "No children can be in the outside tub". Rachel said she hadn't been informed of that at the front desk while checking in and hadn't seen the sign and the woman made an off-hand remark to Rachel saying "Oh I just thought everyone could read the signs that were posted there."  (strangely, kids can be in the outside tub if they are staying overnight but day time guests do not get that option). So, we went in to the covered area where the lap pool, sauna, and other tubs were. It smelled of chlorine which was a very unwelcome smell at a hot springs and we were all a bit turned off by that. Shortly after this I headed into the spa area where the individual tubs are for the men and women along with the area for the wraps. I had an attendant show me to the tub that was to be mine, and he left and I had about 30 minutes to soak in my semi private tub that also had a carafe of water with a glass and 7 green grapes in a little dish (I guess that is a part of the spa treatment?). You can purchase essential oils and/or salts to add to your tub but I just wanted to experience the water au natural. While we did notice a chlorine smell in the lap pool and maybe the other tubs in the main soaking area, this water is plumbed right from the source so it was straight up hot-hot mineral water and that was what I was looking for. There is a cold plunge in the room as well and so I did my customary hydro therapy session where I go back and forth from the hot to cold no less than three times. That felt incredible and I highly recommend you give that a try. Then the attendant came back into the room and lead me to the wrap room, it's approximately 16 massage table beds with linens on them in its own area of the spa. The idea is you get under a sheet and get wrapped up for 25-30 minutes to sweat out the the evil spirits and what have you. It's actually a pretty amazing experience. There's some soft, quite music playing off in the background, they offer a cold towel to cover your eyes with (do accept that when they offer it!) and they also lay a nice n' hot towel under your back for added heat to get the sweat moving. There is an aroma of eucalyptus and perhaps one or more other essential oils my nostrils noticed which was nice. After being wrapped up and getting all that sweat out, you rinse off and spend the next little bit getting your senses back about you. It's surprising - even after several times doing this - how woozy I feel after one of these sessions. On that note, make sure you drink a whole lot of water! This is a good recommendation for your life in general but for this particular activity, please do remember to drink a bunch of water, it is super important. Dehydration is no joke.

In all, Bonneville is a nice enough place. I enjoyed the soak and wrap very much and the facilities and grounds were clean and well kept. Esthetically, it wasn't the kind of place that Rachel or I are looking for in a hot springs resort and energetically it just didn't feel quite right to us. Willy Cosmo only sorta enjoyed himself, he wasn't too stoked on the chlorine in those healing waters and while the staff at the check in counter was friendly and accommodating, there were some other staff that weren't quite as nice. So, you know, if you are looking for a soak and a wrap and you are in the Portland area, this is the closest place to find that has hot spring waters. You can also stay the night and they have a restaurant as well though we did not eat there or sleep there so we can't speak to what those experiences are like. In all, I don't think we'll be going back there very often and we'd prefer to drive another 30 minutes east to the simpler and more basic facilities of Carson Hot Springs if we are going to do a soak and wrap. 

They do have the local mineral waters feeding their drinking fountains which is a nice touch. And to wrap this up (no pun intended), I do want to acknowledge that our visit was odd from the get-go and maybe the place is deserving of another visit to get a better impression of it. I wouldn't not recommend anyone go here, we just didn't have that nice of an experience overall as we'd hoped to (that's expectations for ya...). The soak and wrap are legit and the spa services I'm sure are great. I have heard good things from a couple people about this place so I know it really depends on who you are and what your circumstances are when you visit. They clearly have put a lot of money into this place and it's worth checking out yourself to see if it's the kind of place you like. It was just kinda meh for us, though.
​RACH: willy cosmo does not recommend bonneville hot springs. neither does his mother. and don't get me started on carson, which has the same owners and management. carson will have its own entry... WC really doesn't want to spend too much time on these places, but i will say that the soak and wrap only at the old carson bathhouse is a real treat (just don't even think about staying overnight), and even though they just raised the price again, the water itself is worth $25. but more on carson later...

RACH: so, originally we had planned this trip to be Willy Cosmo's first hot springs. i had a crazy idea that it would even be the first place he would ever travel outside the house (i stayed in the house with him for 40 days after he was born), but he still would have been too little at six weeks old. breitenbush is a very peaceful sanctuary, and while there are kids there, it is a mostly quite environment and by the time that the trip arrived, we were confident that we had a pretty chill, warm water loving customer.

JOE: There are few places in Oregon where you can get more bang for your buck. That is, if you don't mind either being buck naked yourself, or being in the presence of those who are. Breitenbush Hot Springs Retreat & Conference Center outside of Detroit, Oregon is easily one of our favorite destinations in all of Oregon and we do our best to visit this special place as often as we can. Rain or shine (or snow for that matter!), this is a place you can come to where you are truly in as cozy and secluded of a place as one could hope for, there is no wifi or cell phone reception so when you are at Breitenbush, it's time to relax, leave your worries behind, and commune with the natural world that surrounds you.

RACH: it's about a two hour and change drive from portland, and as you enter the forest, you start to feel everything drop away. we stopped along the road on the breitenbush river for a hike and lunch and willy cosmo was immediately affected by the medicine of the woods. we all felt so joyful taking deeper breathes with brighter eyes, gazing at the crystal clear water of the river. i do believe our baby was absolutely amazed.

JOE: Before arriving at the resort we stopped to have lunch, we decided to check out an abandoned old hot springs with some camping spots along the trail. We came across a young couple in their late teens I'd guess and they told us about where to find the soaking area up ahead on the trail. They informed us they were camping there and hoped they'd find a good spot. It is a first come-first serve camping area but it was a Sunday afternoon so their chances were good. They passed us on the trail and when we got down to where they were setting up camp we were a bit saddened to see that some careless human's had decided to leave many traces behind and display their disrespect for nature in grand form. Trash and empty beer cans and bottles were strewn all over the camp site. Amazingly, this young couple were making short work of cleaning up the mess! They planned ahead for cleaning up others messes (this apparently wasn't their first rodeo) and had brought trash bags along with them, there still is hope for humanity! After wiping the tears of joy from my eyes at that sight, we ventured down to the waters edge and where the abandoned hot springs were located and ate our lunch. There were a handful of others down there with their dogs and a couple of them were getting in the old concrete tubs. We then hiked back up to our car and made our way to our final destination. 

JOE: Our timing with lunch and our little hike was pretty ideal. When you stay at Breitenbush they ask that you arrive at 3:00 or later. We finished lunch and got there just after 3:00 which was perfect. The staff checking us in were sweet and kind as usual. Because we've been there so often it was a quick and smooth operation and so we went and parked, and grabbed our robes and Willy Cosmo's rabbit towel and made a beeline for the soaking pools!

As mentioned above, you can check in as early as 3:00pm but the platform tents, the cabins, and the lodge are not ready to be moved into until 4:00 which made the decision to go soak it up for an hour an easy one. We had elected to stay in the platform tent this visit because it was the only space available for an overnight stay when we booked it. We've tent camped, stayed in the cabins, and in the lodge on previous visits as well.

As you could likely guess, Willy Cosmo couldn't wait to get in those glorious waters and get to soaking. We settled in to a fantastic post lunch soak and ended up soaking with a woman who happened to live just two blocks away from us in Portland. It is a small world after all, isn't it? After awhile Rachel and Willy Cosmo stayed soaking it up and I popped over to the holiest place I know, the wooden sauna that is fed by a capped geyser. To date, I have yet to meet it's equal. The hydro therapy sessions I get from this and the cold plunge tub outside of it are a spiritual experience for me. After that I went to get our camping stuff and set up our space while the missus and Willy Cosmo continued soaking, which turned out to be something of an unexpected adventure as I will get to shortly...

RACH: so, if you know me you may know that i have a strong aversion to bathing suits, especially wet ones. the truth is, i feel better about my body and the world when i am naked. i credit two of my girlfriends for encouraging me to strip down in my twenties and get over myself - one of my best college friends diana whose east hampton pool was always au natural those summers, and my friend amanda, who grew up frequenting tassajara with her family (a spot that is on WC's list!) and a major hot springs junkie. i came to realize that once you are in an environment where everyone is naked, then it's like no one is naked. we are all people. i have now ridden in portland's naked bike ride twice, where over 10,000 people ride bare-ass through the city, and i remember commenting that it's just like a bunch of naked babies on bikes! the folks who wear thongs or pasties actually look more sexualized than the completely naked ones. so, as the years went by, i became the one who was always naked at friends' pools, and i think i can now take credit for some other people's newfound comfort with their plain bodies. i feel good about that. i bring it up because breitenbush is one of those glorious places that creates the perfect low-key environment for getting naked. and the community and clientele are pretty much all on there same page... and it's also totally cool to wear a suit if you don't share my feelings - it is an atmosphere of quiet acceptance. clothing optional. i option out. have i mentioned the food? joe probably did. it has been exceptionally good this year.

JOE: I second these feelings about naked soaking and swimming and have had the exhilarating pleasure of riding 6 miles through Portland for the naked bike ride (that year we also got free admission into the Portland Art Museum before the ride if we were in the buff, so, yeah we got to walk through the art museum naked...). And in my opinion, what has happened with the sexualization of our bodies and the taboos that surround it is damaging to our lives on many levels. For one, the body issues that males (and especially females) experience in our current society is pretty messed up. Being naked is wonderful. Wearing clothing is in its most basic form, a way to protect our bodies from the elements and beyond that, it is a costume that is often dictated by the culture we live in and of course by the amount of money we have to spend on said costumes. So then it becomes a status costume and/or an expression of our individuality or what group of humans we associate with. These things are innocent enough on one level though they also have become a part of the detriment of respectable human to human relations. I could write more about this but I'll stop. In essence what Rach and I are writing about is that we both love the freedom, vulnerability, and innocence of being naked in nature or in a setting such as a hot springs where all humans are equal and equally taking care of themselves by soaking in healing waters (and at Breitenbush much like other hot springs resorts also embracing many other self care tactics such as: relaxation, walking a labyrinth, massage, yoga, etc). If you can remove the sexualized component of being naked and just surrender into the serenity and pure beauty of being at peace in nature in this way I think you can begin to appreciate what we are talking about. The image below is an example of that serenity and what I mean by this, here's Sweethome Teacup, owner of Teacup Yoga, who, along with being an instructor of yoga, is also a teacher of healing and magical ways, she's also an animal rights activist, and a lovely, kind human being who in the early morning light of June 13th 2016 was also soaking as peacefully and content as any of us could hope to be.

That same morning I awoke before the sun was fully peaking it's head up to greet us with the new day and on my way to soak I decided to record the sounds of nature and my footsteps as I made my way to the silent pool. Here, have a listen...

And when I got to the Silent Pool I couldn't resist making a little time lapse of my soak and the sunrise for a few minutes as well.

There are so many wonderful things to mention about the grounds of Breitenbush that it is hard to narrow it down and figure out what to describe next. I'll try though. Oh, I know! Part of the incredible value of staying overnight at Breitenbush is that you get three wholesome, delicious, organic, vegetarian meals served in addition to the 24 hour access to the waters and grounds at large. These meals are served buffet style and quite frankly make the cost of admission basically free if you consider the amount you'd spend on each of these three meals if you went out to a restaurant to order them. The meals are served in the main lodge which also has a few rooms that you can rent and a super cozy two room library that is also part of the 24 hour access which is fantastic. There are tons of books, a few board games and puzzles, and a bunch of couches that you can melt into for a good reading session and/or nap if you feel so inclined. Another really awesome part of what makes this place so special is that it is basically a fully off-grid resort. The geothermal heats the main lodge and all the cabins and the hydro power of the Breitenbush River provides all the additional electrical power to run all of the facilities on the grounds. They have back up generators and use them from time to time in rare circumstances, but this place is essentially self sufficient. Sweet, huh?

JOE: So, in writing this I've come to realize there is so much to mention that it is kind of amazing to step back and realize what the folks at Breienbush have accomplished over these past 30 years or so. The 24 hour access to the waters and all the many wonderful amenities of the grounds is top notch accommodations any way you slice or dice it. With 3 wonderful soaking pools in the meadow, the best sauna I've personally been in in all of the world, the healthy and delicious food served 3 times a day, the cozy library, the massage rooms, the many wonderful hikes in the area, the year round conferences and events that are hosted here, and there are so many more things! I haven't even mentioned the spiral tubs yet! These are down by the labyrinth and the river, it is 4 soaking pools that get progressively hotter until you get to the fourth one which is hot to trot, then just beyond that is the cold plunge. This happens to be my second (or third) favorite activity at breitenbush, I dunk fully under water in the hottest tub, holding my breath for as long as I can endure and then immediately I go into the cold plunge and do the very same thing. I try and repeat this process no less than three rounds. It is exhilarating and is glorious hydrotherapy at its finest.

Directions via Breitenbush's Website:

Coming To Breitenbush ...
By Air: The nearest large airport is Portland International. Rent a car at the airport.
By Car: (IMPORTANT: Alternate route, Highway 224 (US Forest Service Route 46) from Estacada to Breitenbush is IMPASSABLE FROM EARLY FALL TO LATE SPRING. Every year people get stranded on this road.)
From the West: (Interstate 5 at Salem), take exit 253 and go east on OR-22 toward Stayton/Detroit for approximately 49 miles to Detroit, OR. (See At Detroit below.)
From the East: (Redmond, Bend, Sisters) Take OR-20/126 west from Sisters for 25.5 miles and turn right onto OR-22W for 31 miles to Detroit, OR. (See At Detroit below.)
At Detroit: Turn from OR-22 onto Highway 46 at the only gas station in Detroit. Drive 9.1 miles and just past Cleator Bend Campground take a right onto the single lane bridge crossing the Breitenbush River. The road is gravel after the bridge and has three forks in its 1.2 mile course. Take a left at every fork and you will end up in our parking lot. You’re home! DO NOT FOLLOW MAPQUEST, GOOGLE MAPS or GPS DIRECTIONS PAST DETROIT!