From the hushed whispers of ancient civilizations to the contemporary adventures of leisure seekers, hot springs have woven themselves into the rich tapestry of human history. These geothermal wonders, bubbling from the Earth’s embrace, offer more than just a warm soak—they carry tales of health practices, cultural significance, and an enduring allure that transcends culture or location.

The Ancient Thermal Embrace

Beginning back in ancient human civilizations, hot springs have cradled societies in their warm waters. Picture ancient Rome, where the public baths, or “thermae,” became the heartbeat of social life. Romans believed in the medicinal properties of these heated waters, and communal baths became hubs of not just hygiene but also politics and gossip.

In Japan, the onsen tradition traces its roots to the eighth century. Here, hot springs aren’t just natural wonders but revered spirits, embodying a delicate dance between the ethereal and the earthly. To bathe in an onsen is to partake in a ritual that transcends the mere cleansing of the body—it’s a spiritual communion.

Europe’s Renaissance and the Spa Culture

As Europe emerged from the shadow of the Middle Ages into the Renaissance, the fascination with hot springs experienced a renaissance of its own. Spurred by the belief in the therapeutic powers of these natural baths, spa towns blossomed across the continent. The town of Spa in Belgium lent its name to these retreats, becoming synonymous with places dedicated to health, relaxation, and social indulgence.

German and Swiss spas, renowned for their mineral-rich waters, drew visitors seeking remedies for ailments ranging from skin conditions to arthritis. The mineral composition of each spring was scrutinized, with some attaining a reputation equal to the finest elixirs.

Hot Springs in the New World

As explorers set sail to discover the New World, hot springs beckoned them in unexpected corners. Native American communities had long revered these natural thermal wonders for their healing properties. The geothermal gems scattered across North and South America became sanctuaries, places where rituals of purification unfolded.

From Tradition to Tourism

The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed a shift. Hot springs transformed from revered sites of cultural and spiritual significance to destinations of leisure and recreation. The healing properties that once defined them now shared the stage with the allure of relaxation and escape from the rigors of modern life.

Yellowstone National Park, the United States’ first national park, is home to some of the world’s most iconic hot springs. Here, the vivid colors of the Grand Prismatic Spring and the rhythmic eruptions of Old Faithful showcase nature’s unbridled display of geothermal prowess.

Present-Day Soak: A Fusion of Tradition and Luxury

In the contemporary landscape, hot springs continue to be both a nod to tradition and a symbol of luxurious escape. Resorts like Yellowstone Hot Springs blend the age-old benefits of geothermal waters with modern amenities, offering visitors not just a soak but an experience.

Today’s hot springs are not merely pools of warmth; metaphorically, they could be considered portals connecting us to a timeless past. Whether you’re immersing yourself in the centuries-old ritual of a Japanese onsen, feeling the minerals of a European spa, or witnessing the geothermal symphony of Yellowstone, each hot spring is a chapter in the story of human fascination with the Earth’s innate healing powers.

Soaking in the History

So, the next time you dip into the welcoming embrace of a hot spring, remember that you’re not just enjoying a leisurely soak; you’re participating in a ritual that spans epochs. The steam rising around you carries with it the whispers of ancient Romans, the tranquility of Japanese onsen-goers, and the adventurous spirit of explorers encountering geothermal wonders in uncharted territories.

The allure of hot springs is a testament to their timeless magic. From ancient civilizations to the modern-day wanderer, these natural marvels remain steadfast, inviting us to soak not only in their warm waters but also in the profound history they hold.

Hot springs are a popular tourist attraction in many countries. Not only do they offer calming relaxation, but they also often boast beautiful scenery for photos.

Credit: Charles Willgren under license CC BY 2.0 No changes were made to the image.

In a survey of hot springs trends from the Global Wellness Institute, hot springs are recognized and appreciated for their health and healing potential. Thermal mineral springs are also used as a natural remedy to improve health and recovery for visitors. While hot springs are increasingly sought-after globally, some of the best and most unique ones are right here in the US. Below, we’ll look at some of the most unique hot springs in the country and why you might want to check them out:

Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming

Containing the world’s largest mineral hot springs, Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming is a park that is simple to navigate, offering hiking trails and buffalo fields for excellent landscape photography. In a previous post, we’ve mentioned Hot Springs State Park and highlighted the turquoise and green mineral-laden spring in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Visitors can picnic, explore The Swinging Bridge — a suspension footbridge across the Bighorn River — or soak in the calming springs. The hot springs offer indoor and outdoor options, providing enough room for everyone and preventing congestion. Visitors can also appreciate the view of the State Park’s beautiful summer flower gardens for some colorful photography.

Pohoiki Hot Springs in Hawaii

Credit: W. Bulach under license CC BY-SA 4.0 No changes were made to the image.

The 2018 lower Puna eruption in Hawaii created several natural thermal ponds, including Pohoiki Hot Springs, as well as a black sand beach that has since become a tourist attraction. Located in Isaac Hale State Park, getting here takes about an hour, but this depends on where you’re coming from; it could take two to three hours coming from the Kona side of the island. To get to the Puna District, where the hot springs are located, you’d need to travel by private car.

There are plenty of car rental options on Hawaii’s Big Island to help you get south of the city of Hilo, allowing you to enjoy the lush green surroundings, heated tide pools, and freshwater springs. Traveling by car in Hawaii is also a great sightseeing opportunity for rugged coastlines and lava fields, especially if you’re looking to explore past your hotel or resort. Once you reach the town of Pahoa, you’ll be able to get to your target destination when you see the detailed signage in the area.

Yellowstone Hot Springs Resort in Montana

One of Montana’s newest hot springs experiences, the Yellowstone Hot Springs is located between two mountain ranges on the bank of the Yellowstone River. The mineral-rich pool waters have become visitors’ go-to for a relaxing, stress-free day.

If you want beautiful scenery to accompany your hot springs experience, you can enjoy the view of the surrounding mountains and the big Montana sky. Visitors will also be able to enjoy other attractions in and around Yellowstone National Park, such as wildlife, thermal geysers, and the sunset. The Yellowstone Hot Springs also offers seasonal campsites and RV parking, with plans to offer cabin rentals for a family-friendly outdoorsy experience.

Chena Hot Springs in Alaska

Credit: unagiinu1210 under license CC BY-SA 3.0 No changes were made to the image.

Last but not least, the Chena Hot Springs offers hot springs and houses an ice museum and kennel for family-friendly fun. They offer seasonal activities such as ice fishing and snowmobile tours in the winter and an unforgettable viewing tour for visitors to glimpse the famed Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. Most importantly, the Chena Hot Springs resort is geothermally powered, having installed Alaska’s first geothermal energy plant in 2006. The facility’s geothermal resources heat its outdoor baths, swimming pools, and greenhouses and even refrigerate its ice museum. You can book a Chena Hot Springs Resort shuttle for the scenic 60-mile drive from downtown Fairbanks to the resort, with the occasional moose and wildlife along the way.

Post penned by Chloe Pearl Alexander
for yellowstonehotspringsmt.com

Yellowstone National Park Trips featured us (much appreciation!) in their list of “17 Best Hot Springs and Pools in and Near Yellowstone.” In their article they say: “Swim in hot springs pools at the brand-new Yellowstone Hot Springs in Corwin Springs, Mont., 6 miles north of Gardiner off Hwy. 89. It offers 400 square feet of pools in a natural setting. Fresh mineral water is constantly flowing into the pools, so the water is always fresh and clean.”

If you haven’t already checked it out, be sure to take a look. There were even a couple I had never heard of. For instance, I had not heard of Heise Hot Springs in Ririe Idaho.

Another they mention is Hot Springs State Park, in Thermopolis, Wyoming. “As you travel through Wyoming, don’t miss the opportunity to swim in the “world’s largest mineral hot springs,“ or so locals say, located in Thermopolis, Wyoming. Greek for “hot city,” Thermopolis derives its name from the hot water that comes from Big Spring. The turquoise and green, mineral-laden spring issues forth 3.6 million gallons of water every day.”

There are also a number of other beautiful hot springs scattered around Montana and Wyoming. We are passionate about hot springs here at YHS and love sharing lists of some of the hidden gems in the area. Here are some additional hot springs photos to whet your appetite for more soaking fun!

Norman Wesley Brooks said: “Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself.”

Every holiday has its special nuances and traditions. Christmas is no different, and is arguably one of the most celebrated and recognized holidays. From childhood, we are taught the significance of a holiday from family, friends, and the community. That limited perspective can sometimes drift over into adulthood, and we forget that there are glorious celebrations, which may look different from what we know, all across the globe. For example, here in the United States, Christmas is widely known to be celebrated on December 25th. But, is this the same everywhere? Where did this date come from? The Christmas holiday is meant to honor the birth of Jesus, but this date was never specified in the Bible. So where did it come from? The first official mention of December 25th as Jesus’ Birthday appeared on a Roman calendar from AD 336. However, is this when everyone celebrates the miracle birth?

With this in mind, I started to think about how others view this very special day. So, I set out on a journey, and I would love for you to take a moment to join me for a magic sleigh ride around the world. We will take a peek into the way that some other countries celebrate this very special holiday, and maybe add new practices to our own Christmas traditions.

Sweden Celebrates Christmas, Wishing us “God Jul!”

Christmas is sometimes referred to as the “second most important celebration in the Swedish calendar after Midsummer.”— Royal Djurgården

Can you believe that the Christmas celebration lasts almost 2 months in Sweden? Christmas in Sweden begins on the first Sunday in December and continues until January 13. During this time, there are several celebrations that may seem different than what most people imagine when they think of Christmas.

Forsta Advent Day

The Swedish celebration of Christmas kicks off with the lighting of a special candle on the “Forsta Advent,” or first Sunday, in December. This ceremonial lighting continues for every Sunday in December.

Courtesy of Flickr

St. Lucia Day – Little Yule

St. Lucia Day is an honoring of a young girl named Lucia who lost her life for her religious beliefs in 304 A.D. This amazing young lady daringly took food to Christians who were hiding from persecution in the catacombs under Rome. For this courage and dedication to God, she is celebrated by Scandinavian countries. During this time, the morning of “little Yule” the eldest daughter in the home wakes early and awakens each family member bearing gifts of coffee and buns. She dresses in a long white dress with a red sash and a crown made of twigs that holds 9 lighted candles. There are also community celebrations where a young girl is selected to be St. Lucia participating in an Advent procession, visits hospitals and schools, and acts as the recognized symbol in parades.

Decorating for God Jul in Sweden

Families in Sweden are much like that of other families around the world who celebrate Christmas. They love to decorate! Whether it is their home, yard, community, or their Christmas tree, decorations are important. They choose to try to utilize the theme of “natural is better.” A favorite activity is to make ornaments out of straw as a reminder of Jesus in His manger. Their Christmas decorations will bring joy to all until January 13th. This is when they take down their Christmas tree and decorations.

Santa Claus Tradition in Sweden

Santa Claus is a jolly tradition in many Christmas stories, and it is no different for the Swedish children. There has been an evolution of this Christmas icon from an angry man who guards local agriculture to the rosy cheeked warm fellow known today. He is believed to look similar to a gnome and goes by Jultomten. Families leave delicious snacks out for Jultomten like rice pudding with cherries and almonds.

Christmas Eve in Sweden

Sunset on December 24th is when Swedish families open presents, but that is not all. At 3:00 in the afternoon, almost everyone in Sweden stops what they are doing to watch the American TV show, “From All of Us to All of You,” or a marathon of Disney movies/shows. That night, families gather for a jalbord feast of things like cold fish, pickled herring, cheese, pickled pigs feet, ham joint and meatballs. There is a very special tradition during this time that includes “risgryngrot” which is a rice pudding dish. There is one bowl that has an almond hidden inside. If you are the lucky winner of this bowl, it means that you will get married in the upcoming year!

Attending Church on December 25th

If December 24th is for family celebrations, you might be wondering what they do on December 25th. Well, Swedish families recognize this as a day for families to attend church.

Next Stop on Our Christmas Traditions Sleigh Ride

Join us again next week for several more Christmas traditions from around the world. We will take a look at a few more countries and how they celebrate. Can you guess what country opens their presents right after midnight on December 24th?

Yellowstone Hot Springs is honoring first responders this weekend (October 15-17) and next weekend (October 22-24). First Responders soak for FREE at YHS and their family members soak for only $1. We appreciate all the hard work, dedication and risks that first responders take to keep us safe. A big THANK YOU from all of us at YHS!

Officially, the National First Responders Day is October 28th. However, this has only been “officially” recognized since 2017 (first by Colorado, then nationally in 2019), even though many have been honoring our First Responders for much longer.

Who is a First Responder?

So who is a “First Responder?” There is some disagreement on the technicalities of who qualifies.

Merriam Webster defines it as: “a person (such as a police officer or an EMT) who is among those responsible for going immediately to the scene of an accident or emergency to provide assistance.”

In general terms, a First Responder is a member of an emergency service who are first on the scene in an emergency. Typically: Police, EMS, Firefighters.

Brief History of the term “First Responder”

President Lyndon Johnson received a white paper report in 1966 showing that a large cause of death in young people was due to injuries caused by accidents. One of the suggested solutions was to have standardized training for response teams who would help in situations of crises. These “EMS” teams consisting of fireman, police and medics would be called in for emergencies.

In 1969 the first national training for EMS was published. Initially, an EMT and paramedic were considered the same thing. In the early 1970s a group of doctors decided that further training could be provided to help save more lives and the first EMT-P (paramedic) training was born.

Now there were EMT-B and EMT-P training (Basic and Paramedic). An EMT-B program generally provides 120+ hours of training in basic life-saving protocols. An EMT-P often requires as many as 1800 hours of training and is trained in advanced care. They can administer IVs and medication, provide breathing support, EKGs, resuscitate, and many other medical procedures.

Over time, “EMT” has become the common term for anyone with Emergency Medical Technician Basic training. EMT-P are generally referred to as paramedics.

Did you know that all firefighters have at least EMT training, and many are also paramedics? Some police forces also have EMT training, but this varies by state and department.

Modern EMS

Within hours of the attacks on September 11th, 2001, thousands of rescue team members made up of firefighters, rescue dogs, police, and volunteers rushed to Ground Zero to hunt through the collapsed buildings for survivors. EMS teams from all over the country combined their efforts in one of our nation’s greatest rescue missions.

Firefighters were first on the scene, arriving just 6 minutes after the World Trade Center’s north tower collapsed. They were already climbing the building trying to rescue trapped people on the tower’s higher floors, when another plane struck. This was the deadliest day in history for U.S. firefighters. 343 firefighters lost their lives that day while trying to rescue Americans trapped in the rubble and collapsing buildings.

Of the over 17,000 people estimated to be in the towers, 87% of them were helped to safety by First Responders.

YHS Thank you to First Responders

Since then, the term First Responder has become a widely accepted designation for police, firefighters and EMS teams who are the first personnel at the scene. To all of you, Yellowstone Hot Springs says THANK YOU! You work hard, put yourself at risk and under stress. You deserve time to relax and unwind. Bring your families and relax in the pools at YHS. Come join us for a soak at YHS the weekends of October 15-17 and 22-24.