Steamed Up on a Cold Day

Tweet What to do on a bitter cold day when you can't hike? Options include: stay in bed, watch DVDs, read or go to the spa. I chose the last two -- kind of a spur of the moment decision, really. I don't regret it -- one bit.

While the temperature hovered around 12 degrees -- I put on my swimming trunks and headed outside to the large hot tub that is shadowed by the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. The water temperature was 103 degrees Fahrenheit. As steam rose from the tub -- tiny crystals formed on my two-day old beard growth. (It kind of reminded me of my trip to Iceland's Blue Lagoon a few years ago)

After 20 minutes or so, I climbed out of the hot tub and headed for a cold shower and then into the steam room for a good sweat -- another cold shower and then into the sauna -- followed by another cold shower and then the indoor hot tub that has a waterfall -- that doubles as a shoulder massage. Next, I swam a few laps in the indoor pool -- and then repeated the whole cycle again.

It was a great way to spend a bitter cold afternoon. If only I could have taken the steam room home with me.

The picture at the top was snapped from the Sunset Terrace of the Grove Park Inn. The picture below is the Inn, itself.