Visiting The Springs Idaho City Hot Springs ended up being the perfect reset during our Idaho City stay. After bouncing between downtown Boise restaurants, mural hunting, and exploring, this was such a refreshing change of pace. It felt like pressing pause for a few hours—in the best way.
If you’re planning time in Idaho City or looking for a relaxing escape from Boise, The Springs Idaho City Hot Springs is an easy add that feels intentional, not rushed or touristy.
Early in our trip, pairing this soak with exploring town made total sense—especially if you’re following my Idaho City Guide: What to Do, Where to Eat & Where to Stay, which helps tie everything together without overplanning.
The Springs Idaho City Hot Springs isn’t a totally wild, rustic soak where you hike in and fend for yourself. This is much more of a mountain hot springs retreat with a spa-style setup—while still using natural geothermal water.
Here’s how it’s laid out:
One large communal soaking pool
A hot tub
A steam room
Private tubs you can reserve by the hour if you want something quieter
The water comes from natural geothermal sources and stays consistently warm, which makes it incredibly relaxing. It’s not flashy, but it’s comfortable, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed.
The overall vibe is very much spa day meets mountain escape. Everything felt relaxed, calm, and easygoing—no chaos, no crowds, no stress.
Reservations are required at The Springs Idaho City Hot Springs, and visits are done in timed sessions. Honestly, this is one of the best things about the experience. It never felt overcrowded, and everyone had space to spread out and actually relax.
Once you’re in, you’re encouraged to settle in. You can even order food and drinks while soaking, which makes it tempting to stay the entire session. We had zero desire to rush out.
If you’re celebrating something—or just want less noise—the private tubs are a great option. They’re secluded, cozy, and feel a little extra without being over-the-top.
A few things really stood out during our visit to The Springs Idaho City Hot Springs:
It’s about a 45-minute scenic drive from Boise, which makes it feel like a mini getaway
Reservations keep everything organized and calm
Being able to order food and drinks while soaking is a huge bonus
Everything felt clean, well-run, and thoughtfully spaced
The drive alone helps flip your brain into relaxation mode, especially once you’re winding through the mountains.
If you’re coming from Boise, renting a car makes this much easier—and honestly more enjoyable—especially if you want flexibility to explore Idaho City before or after. We found driving the most practical option, and we used this site.
If you want to turn your visit into an overnight (or two), staying in Idaho City is part of the charm. We loved leaning into the slower pace and mountain-town feel.
For a historic, walkable option right in town, I break it all down in my Gold Mine Hotel Idaho City Review, which pairs perfectly with a soak day.
If you’re browsing options, you can find hotels near Idaho City here, which is helpful if you’re deciding between staying in town or closer to Boise.
A few practical things to know before visiting The Springs Idaho City Hot Springs:
Book your reservation ahead of time—sessions do sell out
Plan to arrive early so you’re not rushed
Bring a swimsuit and sandals; towels are typically provided
Consider timing your soak for late afternoon or evening for peak relaxation
If you’re building this into a broader Boise trip, flights into Boise are straightforward, and checking flight options through Skyscanner makes it easy to compare routes and times without bouncing between tabs.
If you’re looking for a relaxing, well-organized hot springs experience without the unpredictability of a fully wild soak, The Springs Idaho City Hot Springs is a great fit. It’s ideal for couples, small groups, or anyone who wants geothermal soaking with comfort baked in.
If you’re trying to decide between different hot springs in the area, learn more in my post about Idaho City Hot Springs Day Trip: Kirkham, Bonneville & The Springs Compared—it breaks down the vibes so you can pick what fits your travel style best.
For us, The Springs Idaho City Hot Springs delivered exactly what we wanted: a calm reset, warm water, and a few hours where the only plan was to relax.
There are two kinds of travelers: people who plan a trip and then figure out where to eat, and people who book a restaurant and then build the rest of the itinerary around it.I am the second kind. I will not apologize for this.
The reservation gets locked in first. The hotel search happens within the same 24 hours. The flights get compared around the restaurant’s hours of operation. The rest of the trip exists to fill the days before and after the table I actually came for.
If this sounds unhinged, I completely understand. It has also resulted in some of the best meals of my life, so I’m going to keep doing it.
Drop a 🍽️ if you plan your trips around food too.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
