Healing Waters

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I was recently able to spend two nights with my sweetie at Alameda’s Hot Springs Retreat on Spring Street in the not-so-bustling town of Hot Springs, Montana, just a pretty mountain pass north from Plains – sometimes called Wild Horse Plains – and a good hour south of fabulous Flathead Lake. Beautiful, open, sagey, hilly country with views of the Mission Mountain range of the almighty Rockies, located on Flathead tribal land. I love this part of the country. We usually see wild Rocky Mountain Sheep on the way over to Hot Springs, and this trip was no exception. Sorry, no pix!

It’s amazing what a little hot water can do. Hot water from the healing waters of Hot Springs, Montana, that is.

I’ve been to Hot Springs to partake of the silica-rich healing waters many times over the past 30 years (not often enough for my liking) and there are a few soak-houses where you can go, some with lodging, some not. A couple places have mud soaks too, but I’ve never brought myself to climb into a hot mud pot.

We’ve discovered that driving two hours to soak for a couple hours and then turn around and drive home was a hassle. This was the first time we’d been to Alameda’s, and it was very quiet, peaceful, quaint, and clean. Clean. From the inviting tablecloth in the kitchen to the luminous shower curtains surrounding the claw-footed tub, little touches made us feel very comfortable. I liked the glass-covered breeze way where the begonias were blooming! The price for one weeknight we/kitchen was $72, plus $5 for our dog.

Hot Springs is a very eclectic town, with a sweet little health food store called Camas Natural Foods; funky junk shoppes and inspiring Indian Art galleries; an obvious “wellness community” with yoga teachers, massage therapists, and the Zen Organic Cafe; and of course the healing waters of the natural hot springs, which is why we were there. Eclectic as it may be, the poor economy has certainly touched this little town, and it appears that some have given up a long time ago in terms of pride of place. But not at Alameda’s.

Fancy? Not really. Comfortable? Oh yes. Eclectic? Definately, in a rustic Victorian way. Funky? Not unless you call a geodesic dome  in the yard  for social gatherings funky. I call it following one’s calling, and there’s no small amount of tenacity required to keep going when things around you look shaky.
Uptight? Take a soak. Tired? Take a soak. Happy? TAKE A SOAK !!! See what it did for me?!?
                                           

Oh yeah, and the coffee was great! (Thanks Momoya.)

www.alamedashotsprings.com