I love going to the hot springs more than anything else. I live in California, you see, so I am close to several hot sulfur springs in the area. Although there are a lot of people who find the smell of a sulfur hot spring objectionable, I have definitely gotten used to it. Putting up with the odor of mineral springs is worth it. After all, there is no trip that is more relaxing.
Not all hot mineral spring trips are the same. You see, different hot springs are set up in different ways. For example, some hot springs spas are highly developed. They will have cabins that you can rent, masseurs available for hire, catered breakfast, lunch, and dinner – the works. These are great places for a weekend getaway if you want to be pampered. If you want to rough it a bit, or don't feel like spending the money for a spa vacation, you might consider going to one of the less developed Hot Springs. Basically, Hot Springs come in all varieties. Sometimes a Hot Spring is nothing but a natural pool of water that is accessible from the road. Other times, it is a whole complex with different pools at different temperatures so you can sit in water that is perfect for you. No matter what your taste, you will find hot springs that you like.
Personally, my favorite hot springs to go to are the ones in the middle of the woods. I feel like I can relax without having someone take care of me, and there are many advantages to going to these natural springs. One of the best things about them is that there are fewer people there. Going to a hot Spring is fine when you're by yourself, but who really wants to spend the whole time soaking in the water surrounded by crowds of other people? For me, that defeats the whole purpose. If I am really going to unwind and relax in hot springs, I need a little bit of solitude.
One of my favorite destinations so far is Harbin hot springs. I don't like it so much because of what it is as because of where it is. It is very easy to me to get to Harbin Springs from my home in San Francisco, and I can go up there whenever I want. Of course, in Oregon there are hot geothermal springs that are even less developed, but I don't get a chance to visit them that much.
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