Givens Hot Springs

I had more of an adventure in mind when I was planning a weekend hot springs outing, but a fierce, biting wind on the last day of February forced me to chose a place that would be sheltered from its incessant force.

I decided upon a private establishment called Givens Hot Springs, which is 11 miles south of the town of Marsing, Idaho and about 40 minutes from my home. I chose the family-owned-and-operated business established in 1891, primarily because it was indoors and I figured it would be a great way to escape the wind. I mustered up a friend and her daughter and the daughter’s friend and off we went in search of warmth and fun.

We weren’t disappointed and I couldn’t have chosen a better place for the day. As we slipped into the silky, soft mineral water, its warmth wrapped around us like a winter blanket and we all exclaimed at the exact same moment, “ahhh, it’s so warm.” It especially felt good, after escaping the wind that had chased us from the car to the front door.

The large indoor pool, complete with a kiddie pool separated by a divider and a basketball hoop, gave us plenty of space to just relax, play water games and shoot baskets with lots of soft, vinyl balls floating all around.

After our water workout, it was time for lunch. We settled in on one of the several picnic tables around the sides of the pool. Guests are allowed to bring in their own lunch or you can get a few lunch items at the snack bar.

Now satiated with full bellies, we slid back into the life-relaxing liquid and let it’s warmth soothe our bodies. As I bobbed around in the pool, I couldn’t help but wonder about all those who had enjoyed this place long, long before our arrival – for thousands of years, according to the historical marker that greets you in the parking lot.

It seems the natural hot water available here has been a popular attraction and served as a winter village site for 5,000 years and was even used by emigrants using an alternate Oregon Trail route. I’m sure the pioneers appreciated this place as much or even more as I did on their cross-country trek. What a warm respite in such an arduous journey – as much for them as well as for me.

Learn more about Givens Hot Springs by visiting their website at www.givenshotsprings.com