California Central West
Located in the Los Padres National Forest, 12 miles east of Big Sur via trail.
Tassajara Buddhist Meditation Center
California Central West
Developed
Description: This is primarily a retreat for Buddhist meditation and study, located in a secluded valley in the Ventana Wilderness. 5 hrs south of San Francisco, 8 hrs north of Los Angeles. The japanese style baths and facilities are only open to the general public and overnight guests in the summer. There are lots of rules and visitors should research thoroughly before making a reservation… and a reservation seems to be required for everything, including meals. You can’t just show up. It’s hard to get to and a $35 non refundable coach to take one over the treacherous cliffs is recommended.
$$-$$$ Day use 9am – 9pm $25 adults and $12 children. Lunch in the dining room (reservation only) $12 adults and $7.50 children. Bring your own towel. Baths free to overnight guests.
Payment accepted: only checks, cash or travelers’ checks.
Clothing optional? only during the day and in certain places. Coed at night only.
Clothing required in swimming pool.
Accommodation: yurts, cabins, stone rooms start at $127 per person. Work/study guests with shared accommodations and a strict early morning meditation, study, and work, schedule, pay $55 per day for shared guest accommodations (minimum stay of three days). See website for details.
Food: 3 vegetarian meals a day provided to overnight guests.
Address: Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, 39171 Tassajara Rd, Carmel Valley , CA 93924
phone: Reservations (415) 865-1899, For day guest reservations call 831-659-2229 no more than two weeks in advance. Information (415) 865-1895, Work Programs: (831) 659-2229
Email: tassrez@sfzc.org
Website: www.sfzc.org/tassajara (very informative)
Details:
Guest season April 29 – Sept 11, open to the general public for bathing and overnight accommodations. Retreats and workshops available. Morning and evening meditation sessions, and 4pm meditation sessions, open to all wearing dark pants and long sleeves. Bathhouse is Japanese-style and has separate sides for men and women. Co-ed bathing is permitted in the evenings. Each side includes a tiled indoor hot plunge, an outdoor plunge, large decks appropriate for sunning and yoga, a steam room, showers and a small private bath with hot springs and cold water spigots. There are also steps leading down to the creek.
For directions (that includes a coach): see their website
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Vichy Springs
California Central West
Vicky Hot Springs Resort and Inn
(707) 462-9515
2605 Vichy Springs Rd
Ukiah, CA 95482
How to get there:
About 2 hrs north of San Francisco. From HWY 101 going North: Take the exit to Central Ukiah – go 0.2 mi, Turn right at Vichy Springs Rd – go 2.0 mi
Map: http://tinyurl.com/7p8qu
Website: http://www.vichysprings.com
White Sulpher Springs
California Central West
Jan 1, 2007 this hot springs closed to the Public. The only reservations now being accepted at White Sulphur Springs are for participants of the Hoffman Process or one of the other Hoffman Institute programs
St. Helena’s only natural spring spa. Open air Jacuzzi, swimming pool, and sulphur soaking pool.
White Sulphur Springs Inn and Spa
3100 White Sulphr Spgs Rd, Saint Helena, CA 94574
phone: Hoffman Process and other program participants who wish to book accommodations before or after their Process may do so by calling 800/593-8873.
www.whitesulphursprings.com
Accomodations: Until mid-December 2006, transient guests could stay in any the four large or five smaller creekside cottages (shown) at St. Helena’s White Sulpur Springs Inn and Spa. The resort, though, is now used exclusively for seminars, put on by the Hoffman Institute.
Rates:
Payment:
DIRECTIONS: About 1 hr. 30 Min. north of San Francisco
From San Francisco: Take I-80 East, follow signs to Bay Bridge, stay in the left lanes and go over bridge. Then take I-80 East toward Sacramento. Continue about 20 miles to the Carquinez Bridge ($2). Continue 4 miles to Hwy. 37, marked Napa/Sonoma and Columbus Pkwy/Marine World. Take Hwy. 37 West over the freeway. Go 1.6 miles to Hwy. 29. Turn sharp right on Hwy. 29 N/Sonoma Blvd. Proceed on Hwy. 29 North through Napa, towards Calistoga to St. Helena about 20 miles.
From Downtown San Francisco via Golden Gate Bridge, scenic route– 2+ hours
In San Francisco, take Bus. 101 (Van Ness Ave. to Lombard St.) and cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Continue on US-101 North for 21 miles. Take right on the ramp to CA-37 East. Follow signs toward Napa. Merge onto CA-37 East 18 miles. Take slight left onto Sonoma Blvd. It becomes CA-12 W, then becomes CA-121 N toward Napa. Continue until you turn left on CA-29 North. Proceed on Hwy 29 North through Napa, towards Calistoga to St. Helena about 20 miles.
From St. Helena: Hwy. 29 becomes St. Helena Hwy./Main St., St. Helena
As you come into the town of St. Helena from the South, look for an Exxon gas station on your left. It is on the corner of Main St. (Hwy. 29) and Spring St. Turn left on Spring St. and go 2.2 miles. Once you reach the resort, the Office is in the first building on your left.
NOTES: Please see the official website for details.
Wilbur Hot Springs
California Central West
fee $$$
GPS (Lat / Lon) 39.039 122.421
address: 3375 Wilbur Springs Road, Wilbur Springs, CA 95987-9709
Phone: 530~473~2306 10am-8pm
Fax: 530~473~2497
e-mail: info@wilburhotsprings.com
shelter: shared bunk room, and private guestrooms in historic Victorian hotel, camping. Solar powered electricity, gas fireplaces.
food: grocery store/restaurant
payment accepted: unknown
massage: yes
website: http://www.wilburhotsprings.com
How to get there: Accessible via main highways, 2 1/2 hours NE of San Francisco, 1 1/2 hours N of the Sacramento Airport. The most preferred, direct and scenic route to Wilbur Hot Springs from the Bay Area is Hwy 80, 505 and 16.
MAP: http://tinyurl.com/bj37o
DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of Highways 16 and 20, (click thumbail to enlarge map 1 ) go west on Highway 20 for 675 feet (see map 2), turn onto Bear Valley Road. Follow this dirt road for about 4 miles and turn left to cross Silver Bridge. Continue another mile to Wilbur.
NOTE: Established in 1865. Set in a valley of an 1800 acres private nature preserve, 22 miles from the nearest town. Special yoga and retreat programs; see their website for details.
California Central East
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Bath Tub
California Central East
Benton Hot Spring
California Central East
Big Hot (CLOSED)
California Central East
(CLOSED) reported closed 6-5-2002