Favorite Places 2Favorite Places 2

This week's Favorite Place comes from information news editor Beth Bacheldor, who writes about a magical place in the Rocky Mountains:

My expectations were none. I had a few hours to kill before meeting with colleagues for a two-day conference we'd planned for talking shop. The drive to the place revealed little; the dirt road wound up the mountain and was at times so mottled with holes and mud that, if it weren't for the four-wheel drive truck I'd borrowed, I'd have had to turn around.

Finally, a simple sign announced that I'd made it. I was at Strawberry Springs, a series of hot springs about seven miles from Steamboat Springs, Colo. that bubble from the hillside at temperatures of some 150 degrees. Man-made rocks divide the water; there's a large pool steaming at about 104 degrees, and a smaller, slightly cooler pool next to that. There's also a small private pool created for Watsu, a type of warm water massage. Several waterfalls carry the hot water into the pools, all around are pine trees that stretch to the breathtaking Colorado Rockies.

I had to leave my modesty in the truck, because at the time the only place to change was a unisex wigwam. And bathing suits are optional. It was a brisk walk to the springs; though I was visiting in March, it was still quite chilly. And the highlight? Shortly after easing into the springs, huge snowflakes the size of quarters began falling, melting away in the steamy fog just before hitting the water. It was truly magical, and definitely a favorite place.

What's your Favorite Place? A special backyard? A coffeehouse in your neighborhood? The basement of your uncle's house? Let us know! E-mail Clint Wilder at [email protected] and Chuck Ulie at [email protected].