“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is to rest." - Mark Black
A busy surgeon and friend (Yes, anesthesiologists can be friends with surgeons 👭❤️) recently texted me:
"Hey, I need a weekend away to just relax. Where should I go?"
My response was one word - Chico! 🛀🤩
There are so many ways to enjoy Chico, but here's my favorite kind of day... ❤️
Move: Go for a relaxing run in solitude, or with your favorite 4-legged or 2-legged creature(s), on the surrounding trails 🚶⛰️. There's nothing like fresh mountain air!
Fuel: Grab a drink + pastry at the Coffee & Gift Shop. The baristas are FANTASTIC ☕. I don't know who makes the daily pastries, but oh my gosh... It's like I'm in a french bakery. (Allocate at least 20-30 minutes here because the gift shop is incredible, and there is SOOOO much to look at)
Rest: Find a cozy place to read 📖 or journal in the lobby and watch all the interesting guests check in and out (1 hour). Forget a journal or book? Check out the gift shop for some great options.
Soak: I've started swimming a few laps in the big pool for 10 minutes and then soak/meditate for 10 minutes in the smaller/hotter pool. Then I rotate doing that for 3 cycles. And throw in a 5 minute tread water in the deep end (1 hour)
Fuel: Grab lunch at the Poolside Grille or Saloon. I love their grilled chicken over fresh greens
Spa: There are so many options, but I loved my massage + facial combo
NAP! Go back to your room and take a nice long nap 😴
Fuel: Have dinner in the historic dining room
Soak: Take one last dip. You'll sleep like a baby tonight, I promise.
Hands down, this is the best way to hit the RESET button after a busy week! You'll feel like a new person ready to take on the world the following day. The more nights you stay, the more restored you'll feel 😉
There are SO many reasons to love this place...
1. The history here is incredible!
Montana is home to more than 260 developed and natural geothermal sites. These Hot Springs are HUNDREDS of millions of years old. And Chico's human history is as wild and deep as any hot spring in the world.
People have been soaking here for thousands of years. The Crow, Flathead, Blackfoot, Shoshone and Newz Perce tribes are reported to have use this hot spring for bathing, cooking and preparing hides. The "Chico Warm Springs Hotel" itself was opened in 1900, and when you walk into the lobby, you can feel the character and history oozing through. Many of the guests who stayed there at the time were Gold miners, searching for their fortunes in the surrounding area.
The first time it's officially documented that someone soaked at Chico was on Jan 16, 1865. John S. Hackney, a miner, wrote in his journal, "I went out to the hot springs and washed my dirty 'duds." Hot mineral water has been emerging from the ground at 113°F (45°C), at 37 gallons per minute for centuries. It's kind of like magic.
SO many celebrities have stayed here. Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, Dennis Quaid, Jeff Bridges and George McGovern, Peter Fonda, President Theodore Roosevelt, just to name a few. You're in good company.
More recently, in 2023, the hotel was sold to Diamond Rock Hospitality Company, and I was a bit worried about how that transition would go! But I have to say, I am ⭐ SO ⭐ impressed by the new management. They are doing an amazing job taking care of the hotel, and maintaining its unique history. The interim GM has made several great improvements (thanks for the new chairs on the lawn - love them). According to gossip I overheard at the coffee shop this morning, a new permanent GM has been hired who is a local. I like the sound of that. I've heard he's met with all the managers and everyone is saying they like this new guy! Yay!
“When the mind is allowed to relax, inspiration often follows." - Phil Jackson
2. The Pool!
Chico is Chico first and foremost for the magic of the hot springs. If you haven't soaked at a natural hot springs, it's some of the best medicine you can find. Let's list a few ways a soak at Chico Hot Springs can help your health:
Increase circulation and oxygen delivery in the body. The heat, minerals and gentle pressure of the water can increase oxygen flow and circulation through the body. This can help so many health conditions. Painful joints? Do you carry your stress in your neck? Trust me, a soak will be amazing.
Better sleep. The warm water and relaxation will make you sleep like a baby.
Improved metabolism. Hydrostatic pressure from the minerals in the water, and increasing body temperature will increase your cardiac output and metabolism.
Decrease stress. Seriously, sometimes I get to Chico and I'm so stressed about something at work or in my personal life. And I can't stop ruminating on something I said to someone. But by the time I'm in the pool, all those thoughts disappear and a sense of calm takes over me.
Detoxification. The minerals and heat of the water help open pores and sweat glands, which helps toxins leave the body more effectively.
So get your bathing suit on and try it out! (And if you forget your bathing suit, don't worry... just head on over to the gift shop and they have a great selection). I also love reading pool side when the sun is out!
3. Coffee Shop & Gift Shop!
All I can say is WOW! This is one of the coolest stores in Montana. The baristas are amazing. Vera is the manager and she just does a fabulous job. The drinks are great, the pastries are to die for. And the gift shop that's attached... is a delight.
I ended up buying ALL of my Christmas presents here. Yep, you heard that -- ALL of my gifts. It made life easy. From kids to adults, mountain lovers to city slickers, this place has it all.
The jewelry selection is particularly notable, with a lot of local Montana artists.
“It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving." - Mother Teresa
4. The Spa!
To Ali, Adrianne, Tonya and Elizabeth - you all are amazing. Thank you for the amazing experience. My facial and massage were such a great part of a relaxing day at Chico. I loved the tea bar when you walk in. And the massage and facial rooms were so warm and cozy.
There's a fireplace that is in the waiting area, which is super cozy to curl up to while you are waiting. I like getting there 10 minutes early to get the paperwork done, and then just relax with tea by the fireplace.
You can check out their offerings here: https://www.chicohotsprings.com/experiences-dayspa. You can't go wrong! I'm going to go back and try the hand and foot treatments. That sounds like heaven. Here's some of the facials they offer. Check out the website for massage offerings and other add ons!
To schedule, give them a ring at: 406-333-4553.
“ Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." - Jim Rohn
4. The Food
There's a lot to say here. You have 4 (yes, FOUR!) dining options, not including the coffee shop (which also has some great snacks). It's hard to imagine a place in a small town like Pray, Montana would have some of the best food ever. But the meals are amazing.
The Saloon (photos above) is a real experience. You walk in and all I can think about is all the gold miners and prospectors who have come through over the past 100+ years! The staff is 10/10 awesome. You'll find a mix of locals here (they're easy to spot in the parking lot 🦌🤣), as well as weary travelers. Everyone belongs here.
The 4 dining options at Chico:
5. The Lobby & Library
I love chillin' in the lobby. The people watching is awesome. And the ambiance is fantastic. Bring a good book and just relax. There's coffee out in the morning for guests and the fire's always on.
Check out the Wildlife Aware board before you head out for a hike. They do an awesome job of letting you know what creatures are out and about, and how to minimize human-wildlife interactions.
6. The Location
“You must go on adventures before you figure out where you truly belong." - Sue Fitzmaurice
Chico is a destination in and of itself. And I highly recommend planning to stay there for an entire day and night (ideally at least 2 nights). If you have the ability to stay for multiple nights, a good day trip is to go into Yellowstone National Park. My favorite time of year to go here is in the winter. It's not that crowded, and you are bound to see some cool wildlife. Stop at the Ski Shop in Mammoth Lodge and rent a pair of snow shoes or cross country skis for the day.
Google maps says Yellowstone is 1 hour from Chico. I'd say it's closer than that if the weather is good. Either way, it's not that far to drive, especially since the drive itself is stunning and follows right along the Yellowstone River. My favorite place to stop and stretch my legs (and let Winston frolic) is at the Point of Rocks fishing access point. Pull off and walk the short 1/2 mile trail along the river. I always go there when I can't make a decision about something and need some clear thinking.
Locals secret tip 🤫:
To get into the saloon from the pool, you need to PUSH the Buzzer and PULL the door AT THE SAME TIME. This takes some serious coordination and most newcomers can't do it the first time 🤣. Which makes us locals giggle a little bit when we are sitting in the hot pool right in front of the door. Don't worry, we'll help you out though!
Why I love Chico:
“In stillness lives wisdom. In quiet you'll find peace. In solitude you'll remember yourself." - Robin Sharma
I like my solitude. When I'm not at work, I spend most of my time alone (with Winston of course!). I think solitude is the entrance to discovering some of that deep hidden wisdom within. But the line between solitude and loneliness is a bit blurry sometimes. So when I'm leaning more toward feeling lonely, I head to Chico. You can find us there at least once a week. It feels like a home, with really awesome people around you, whether that be guests or staff. Thank you Team Chico for being awesome.
Helpful Links:
Chico Hot Springs: https://www.chicohotsprings.com/
Chico Hot Springs Day Spa: https://www.chicohotsprings.com/experiences-dayspa
Montana Public Radio has an awesome history of Chico and Montana Hot Springs here: https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2022-08-31/whats-the-story-behind-montanas-hot-springs
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