Earth Day Every Day: The Collier’s Favorite Hot Spring Sanctuaries

Earth’s natural spas as inspiration for a more intuitive approach to wellness, design, and living well

Hot springs have always been a happy and healthy meeting place for The Collier Family, offering us a dose of earth’s natural healing magic.

Some of our earliest memories together revolve around piling into the car and driving about an hour from home to a small, unassuming town of Hot Springs Montana, and staying at the historic Symes Hotel. Being built in the 1930’s, it wasn’t fancy, and it didn’t need to be! There was something about the mineral-rich water, the quiet mountain air, and the way time seemed to slow down that made it feel like magic. It became our place where we laughed, unwound, and connected in a way that everyday life rarely allows.

As we’ve grown older and gone off on our own adventures, the hot springs love hasn’t faded. No matter where life takes us, we find our way to new hot springs, and often back to Hot Springs, Montana for a nostalgic soak, continuing a tradition that feels both grounding and expansive at the same time.

Beyond the sentimental, there’s a reason hot springs have always been at the heart of our family’s lifestyle. As a spa-minded family business, we’ve experienced firsthand how powerful these natural environments can be. From Mexico to Montana, California and beyond, each hot spring has offered something unique, be it different mineral compositions, landscapes, or energy, but always the same sense of renewal and a new spark of creativity for our design and business concepts.

Hot springs have never failed to amaze us. They remind us that healing doesn’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s as simple as sinking into warm water, breathing deeply, and letting nature do what it does best.

Sulphur & Lithium Waters - Symes Hot Springs Hotel

A little rugged and deeply nostalgic for our family, these mineral-rich waters are known for supporting skin health, easing joint discomfort, and promoting that full-body calm that leads to the best sleep.

Thermal Circuits & Social Soaking - Murrieta Hot Springs Resort

With saunas, geothermal pools, and Kneipp walks, this experience blends hot and cold therapy to stimulate circulation, boost immunity, and create space for both restoration and connection. We even had the opportunity to experience doing a full body mud mask with their “clay cove mud experience,” a detoxifying, self-applied treatment using Mojave Desert bentonite clay and geothermal water.

Naturally Carbonated Mineral Baths - Vichy Springs Resort

The only place in North America with true “champagne” mineral baths, where naturally carbonated water bubbles against your skin, helping improve circulation, reduce stress, and soothe the body. Absolutely charming!

Petrified Waterfalls & Cliffside Pools - Hierve el Agua in Oaxaca, Mexico

Mineral-rich springs have formed surreal frozen waterfalls cascading down the mountainside. Soak in infinity-edge pools overlooking the valley, hike the trails, and take in the deep history of ancient Zapotec terraces.

Tiered Geothermal Pools & Mountain Views - Yellowstone Hot Springs

A series of cascading pools with varying temperatures overlook the Yellowstone River, offering a clean, modern soaking experience surrounded by wide-open Montana wilderness. Designed with conservation in mind, the waters are “borrowed” from the Yellowstone River, filtered and returned to the river daily.

Forest Bathing & Cedar Enzyme Soaks - Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary

Surrounded by redwoods and quiet garden paths, these cedar and rice bran baths gently exfoliate the skin, improve circulation, and promote deep relaxation through soft, radiant heat.

Our Favorite Springs: In Our Own Words

Cary Collier

“Our adventure in Oaxaca, Mexico included a natural spring’s treat: Hierve el Agua, a set of natural travertine rock formations in San Lorenzo Albarradas that resemble cascades of water. The mountain view and cool springs were refreshing on a sizzling blue sky day. It was glorious.

Memories are abundant from our family trips to Symes in the town of Hot Springs, Montana. We soaked and swam, and laughed about how we all smelled like sulfur. Then we slept like babies and did it again. I love our spa family!”

Kim Collier

Rinse, soak, breathe, rinse, relax and, repeat, hot springs protocol for all! Relaxation, longevity, energy smart and often historical... what is not to love when soaking with those you love?! We're always in search of hot springs and are captivated by the community, conversations and mineral-rich relaxation that results in this environment.

As for the future of social soaking, check out “Submersive" coming up in Austin, Texas.

Cierra Collier

“I’m always looking for a hot spring. I loved going to the town of Hot Springs, Montana as a kid and have frequented many hot springs around Bozeman. The spectrum of hot springs keeps me curious; they can be beautifully built up with pristine landscaping and over 100 years old, or barely held together by mineral deposits and memories (questionable if observed too closely), or even a pool of river rocks in a flowing river with a 5-gallon bucket of cold water nearby to regulate the temperature (my personal favorite). Each experience is completely unique. My love for thermal waters has brought me unforgettable moments all around the world. I’ll always seek them out.”

Kiara Collier

“Vichy is a close tie to Symes for me, but for different reasons. Symes feels like childhood, plus I love that it’s simple, a little rugged, full of laughter and that unmistakable sulfur smell that somehow makes it even more memorable. Vichy, on the other hand, feels almost transportive. The naturally carbonated ‘champagne’ mineral baths are unlike anything else!

There’s something about moving between those two places that makes it even harder to choose just one - there’s one rooted in nostalgia, the other in discovering new hot springs / the excitement and reminder of all of the new healing waters there are to find!!”

A Tradition We’ll Always Keep

We know we’ve only just scratched the surface when it comes to exploring the world’s hot springs. There are SO many more out there waiting to be discovered. But what we’ve learned quickly is that it doesn’t have to be extravagant to be meaningful. Even the simplest spring, tucked away and quiet, can feel profoundly magical.

We feel endlessly grateful for what the earth naturally offers. These places remind us to slow down, reconnect, and appreciate the beauty and healing that surrounds us every day.

Happy Earth Month from one of nature’s greatest gifts to us. The earth gives us so much, and for that, we soak it all in.