If you’ve never taken it upon yourself to stop and spend a day enjoying hot springs, you’re seriously missing out! For years people have believed these natural hot springs have healing powers, and more recent research has proven that they can help a number of health issues. Keep reading to learn more about these springs, what you should pack to prepare for your adventure, and check out our top four favorite hot springs destinations!
You may be wondering what hot springs are exactly; simply put, hot springs are natural bodies of water that are warmed by the Earth. These hot springs can be found all over the country, all over the world in fact. (More on our favorite hot springs later!)
Legend has it that hot springs have healing powers, and research has proven that to be so. Hot springs contain a high mineral content, making them great for a number of ailments including various musculoskeletal problems such as swollen joints or achy muscles, eczema, congestion, poor circulation, and probably just what the doctor ordered for all of us: relaxation.
Now that we have a deeper understanding of hot springs, let’s talk about what you’ll need to pack for your hot springs adventure!
- Swim attire, of course! While some facilities may be clothing optional, most hot springs locations do require some kind of swimwear to be worn.
- Towels. Because no one wants to air dry after relaxing in literal hot springs. Bring a towel for each member of your traveling party, but don’t panic if you forget, a lot of places offer towels for a small fee.
- Water. Hot springs are dehydrating, you can thank us later.
- Sandals. Think ‘all natural public pool’. While sandals aren’t a requirement, they will make trekking around a little more comfortable, especially if conditions are less than perfect.
Alright, it’s been decided you need a relaxing hot springs vacation in your life, you know what you need to bring with you, all that’s left to decide is which hot springs to check out. Like we mentioned earlier, there are a ton all over the country, here are our top four favorites:
Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas: Hot Springs, Arkansas was discovered 3,000 years ago by Native Americans who promptly and quite accurately named it ‘valley of the vapors’. Today you can enjoy over forty natural hot springs located within the park.
Hot Springs State Park, Thermopolis, Wyoming: Visitors will enjoy natural springs exceeding over 100 degrees; and as a bonus, visitors can also enjoy spotting bison and checking out Legend Rock.
Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks, Alaska: Have you ever wanted to soak in hot springs under the Northern Lights? Well, pay Fairbanks, Alaska a visit during the winter months and your dream can become a reality.
Dunton Hot Springs, Dolores, Colorado: What was once a ghost town is now an upscale resort that consists of multiple hot springs in an unbelievably gorgeous setting.