Berkeley Parents Network: Harbin Hot Springs

Berkeley Parents Network

Harbin Hot Springs

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Places to Go > Harbin Hot Springs

Website for Harbin Hot Springs: www.Harbin.org/

a friend swears by Harbin Hot Springs - see http://www.harbin.org/). She's been there again and again and returns completely refreshed. Good luck, and congrats! Jennie

Re: Weekend of solitude for mom (April 2003)
Although I haven't been there in a couple of years, I've enjoyed time alone at Harbin Hot Springs- a bit NE of Calistoga, the town begins with a ''W'' but I can't quite remember the name . I've gone sometimes when I was feeling very inward and have never felt intruded on at all. I have heard people say that it's a pick-up scene, but that hasn't been my experience.

There's a place to buy (good, healthy) food, and a kitchen where you can keep and cook your own. And I've had some great massages too. They have several pools of various temperatures including a big hot-bath-temperature one that I really like- there's lots of room to move around in it.

The atmosphere is quiet (I am) and very new-agey (I'm not), but the latter hasn't been a problem, in fact I've overheard some very entertaining conversations in the dressing room.

It's in a very nice setting, tucked up into a little valley. It's not fancy but it's very clean and comfortable. I'm sure they must have a website to check out.

Have a nice time wherever you go! cb

Re: Visiting a spa while pregnant (March 2003)
I got a great pregnancy massage at Harbin Hot Springs when I was seven months pregnant. The massage therapist was also a midwife, which was reassuring! Harbin has a warm pool that is close to body temperature and thus safe to go in while pregnant. It was wonderful to float in the pool and feel temporarily weightless. Harbin is a bit farther away than Calistoga--another half an hour or so northeast--and its atmosphere is different from the typical Calistoga spa (for example, the pools are clothes-optional). See www.harbin.org for more info. Nomi Harris

It's not for everyone, but if you like a clothing-optional (usually, VERY optional!) atmosphere, Harbin Hot Springs is great. They are actually not in Calistoga, but about 20 minutes farther "up" the road, outside of Middleton. Keep going on the main route through Calistoga, and head up the hill and over the pass. They have a large warm pool (kept at about 98 or 99 degrees) which is our favorite place. They also have a hot pool and a cold plunge, as well as a large, unheated swimming pool. And they have a small, warm, heart-shaped pool for the kids (kids are only allowed from 10 am to 8pm, I think). There are practitioners of many healing arts, including massage, and watsu (a massage given in the water--amazing to try!). There's a vegetarian cafe, several small vendors, a small store to buy sunscreen at, and a kitchen where you can cook vegetarian food. They have day rates, and you can also stay overnight, either in the rooms (but no kids are allowed in the rooms), or in camping spaces. I don't have the contact info, but I'm sure you could get it from Information. Dawn

Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, 20 miles north of Calistoga is wonderful. It's clothing optional, but run by a church, has it's own massage school, and trademarked massage technique (Watsu = water shiatsu). They have 1000 acres to hike and camp, and a central complex with turn-of-the-(1900)century hotels, an organic food store, communal kitchen, good veggie restaurant, free movie theatre, workshops, and lotsa hot pools, a sauna, and an olympic-sized swimming pool, etc. It's run by women, but not overly friendly to children. (I leave mine home.) And cheap too, $20-$25 bucks for up to 24 hours camping/use of pools. They're at http//www.Harbin.org/ Jaguarj

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