After a glorious night's sleep on the most comfortable mattress, I woke up to not one, but two, amazing views. We chose to sleep in the upstairs beds just for that purpose, and the morning sky and trees did not disappoint.
Time For Coffee With The Locals
But first things first - coffee. As planned, we took the short drive back to Brown Dog Coffee for breakfast and people-watching. We had to stop here in Salida just because of the name. We have a chocolate lab at home, that we now know we can bring next time, and it made my daughter smile.
Exploring Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
One of the items on my checklist was to visit the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort which we did, and it did not disappoint.
A short 20-minute drive from the Ranch, and of course, stunning views on the way there. Obviously, we didn't visit the adults-only side or indulge in a foot treatment at the spa, but perhaps next time. The creekside was amazing. We got to climb over some rocks and test the different temperatures as we got closer to the source of the hot spring, and just an arm's length away is the river, trickling cold water from the Chalk Creek into the rock pools. Such a "cool" thing to experience! The main area has two pools to choose from to lounge in as well, so you can feel free to relax in whichever one is less crowded. We brought a picnic of sandwiches and grapes, sat in the sun and just explored the springs, read and relaxed for hours.
Winding Down A Great Day
Back at the cabin, it was time to take in the view from the patio before more exploring and picking up some food in town to make dinner. Afterward, we had special permission from the owners to explore the Inn and take a dip in the hot tub - as if we hadn't had enough warm water that day, but it was lovely!
A glass of wine to watch the moon coming up at the cabin was the perfect way to end the day with no trouble falling asleep from all the mountain air. I can't imagine a more peaceful place to "exit" your world - even for a little while.