3 Midwinter Breaks that Won’t Break the Bank

Ojo Caliente Hot Springs

Since it’ll be several more weeks before I can count on greening grass, blooming trees and mild air, a long weekend getaway can lift my attitude and help sustain my patience. My fantasies tend toward a beach retreat in the Maldives or a week at a fancy spa in the desert somewhere. But when times are tight, even the most avid travelers may need to scale down. I recommend these three affordable eco-friendly getaways that can nurture both you and the earth at the same time. Book a weekend retreat, refresh your memory on eco-friendly travel tips, and your spring break can sustain both your sanity and the environment.

Melt  your cares away at a low-key hot springs

Ojo Caliente Hot Springs

You don’t need a 5-star spa to enjoy a retreat among nature’s restorative waters. Find a hot springs that’s centered on a healing soak, rather than luxe accommodations and too much pretention.

One of my favorites is in the high desert Southwest, but I’m sure it has peers in atmosphere and economy elsewhere in the country. Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs in northern New Mexico has been sacred to Native Americans for centuries. Its 10 pools offer four different types of mineral water and range in temperature from tepid to seriously sweat-inducing. I love boosting my circulation and immune system in the sandy-bottomed iron spring, looking up at the sandstone walls beneath a cobalt-blue sky — or under the stars. The mud pool is fun, and a sure way to pull impurities from your tired, dry winter skin. Follow up with a Milagro Wrap, Ojo’s signature cotton and wool layered blanket cocoon that will draw stress out of your weary self that you didn’t even know was there.

Ojo Caliente Hot Springs

Ojo is committed to carefully stewarding resources, from heating and cooling its buildings with the hot mineral water that flows through its pools, and passively harvesting rain water for xeriscaping, to recharging the local aquifer through its onsite wastewater treatment facility, which returns water into the ground.

Pool admission prices range from $12-$24, depending on day of the week and length of visit; Milagro Wraps are $12. A full range of massage and body work treatments is available, as are on-site accommodations in a mix of prices starting at $109/night, and the Artesian Restaurant, highlighting local, organic and vegetarian offerings among a broad, Southwest-flavored menu. What’s great about an a la carte resort like Ojo is that you can choose just what you want — and can afford — from among a wide range of possibilities.

A quick way to look for other bubbly mineral retreats is simply to type in “hot springs” as a book search term on Amazon.com. You’ll be amazed at the number of regional resources you pull up.

Rejuvenate your body with a Nordic skiing escape

Craftsbury Outdoor Center

Though you may long to get away to the tropics, any chance to be outside during the winter is a boost to the psyche. And there’s no better boost for your entire system than a brisk glide through the woods on a pair of cross-country skis. Even if you’ve never tried it before, the learning curve for Nordic skiing is far less than for its downhill Alpine cousin. And it’s a whole lot cheaper. While it can provide a serious workout if you incorporate uphill sequences or opt for backcountry routes, a novice can also find an exhilarating release on a flat, groomed trail network – and the resorts that offer these usually provide some extra creature-comforts, too.

Nordic skiing resorts are found anywhere there’s snow, and they range from simple mom-and-pop-run ventures to luxury outposts with every amenity. Fortunately, there

are lots of choices in between. And some, like Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Vermont’s peaceable ‘Northeast Kingdom,’ feature not only a vast trail network in a pristine setting, but an environmental focus, too. Reorganized as a non-profit in 2008 by its new owners, the center’s mission promotes a commitment to both lifelong sports participation and sustainable land-management practices. And the center was named by Away.com as one of the 10 Best Nordic Centers in America.

Trails both mellow and demanding skirt rivers, track across frozen lakes, and ascend to plateaus with magnificent views of the Green Mountains. And with the cost of a day trail pass just $14 (kids are half-price), you can afford to stay a few nights in the center’s simple yet comfortable accommodations. Both lodge rooms and lakeside cabins are available, with double-occupancy rates from $174 to $314 — which includes three healthy, hearty, all-you-can-eat meals per day. The homestyle cooking at Craftsbury focuses on fresh, local ingredients and is so tasty that it’s generated a popular cookbook. The resort becomes a rowing and running center in the summertime.

You can also find a much longer list of Nordic ski resorts arranged by location and theme at XCSki Resorts.com.

Refresh your spirit with a personal yoga retreat

White Lotus Foundation retreat center

Whether you are a yoga devotee or new to its transforming capacity for body and mind, a few days spent in peaceful practice in a serene setting can be a fresh breath of energy during the winter doldrums. White Lotus Foundation, which offers a series of scheduled yoga retreats, also offers personal retreats on a space-available basis. The 40-acre retreat center is tucked away in a mountain canyon above Santa Barbara, California, with a view of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. Clean air, spring water, sandstone swimming holes and hiking trails through the bay forest provide numerous opportunities to relax, meditate and commune with nature in addition to the center’s range of programs. Private yoga classes and bodywork can also be arranged.

Secluded yurt accommodations are available in the trees ($95 per person per night/$180 per couple, including use of all facilities), or you can opt to camp by a spring-fed creek in the near-perfect year-round climate that Santa Barbara enjoys. A vegetarian kitchen on the premises provides gourmet meals (additional cost), or guests may buy and prepare their own food in a central kitchen on the premises.

For more yoga retreat possibilities around the country, check out this comprehensive round-up. It’s a couple of years old, so check to be sure information is current — but the article provides a host of resources for finding an affordable yoga oasis with the personality and location of your choice.

Here’s to making the best of the rest of winter!

Restorative travels,

Wendy