Chico Hot Springs
Family Road Trip to Chico Hot Springs
Ah, the family road trip – that timeless tradition of packing kids, snacks, and unrealistic expectations into a car and heading off into the wild blue yonder. This time, our destination was the Chico Hot Springs in Montana, the first stop on a road trip that was part family vacation, part homage to loved ones we lost during the Covid era.
With our intrepid crew consisting of my wife, our 4-year-old aspiring aquanaut, a 3-year-old diva-in-training, and a 6-year-old who is convinced he’s the next Indiana Jones, we set off.
First challenge: packing the car. Who knew you needed an engineering degree to fit a few days worth of luggage, emergency snacks (enough to feed a small army), and enough entertainment to keep the kids from asking "Are we there yet?" every five minutes?
The drive itself was a symphony of "I'm bored", "He's touching me!", and the ever-popular "I need to go to the bathroom" – right after we passed the last rest stop for 50 miles.
Arriving at Chico Hot Springs was like entering an oasis. The kids' eyes widened at the sight of the pools, and they immediately forgot their sibling rivalries in their rush to get into their swimsuits. My wife and I exchanged a look that said, "We've made it. We can relax now." How naïve we were!
The hot springs were a hit, but let's just say our kids’ ideas of relaxing in hot water involved more splashing and less tranquil soaking. And who knew a 3-year-old could make such impressive tidal waves?
After the springs we finally made it to Grandpa’s house, and as we tucked our little angels into bed, we reflected on the day. There were moments of chaos, moments of laughter, and moments where we just had to shake our heads and smile.
In the end, despite the minor meltdowns and the bathroom emergencies, our trip to Chico Hot Springs was a memorable start to our road trip. It reminded us that family adventures aren't about perfection; they're about being together, making memories, and finding humor in the chaos.
And as for the rest of the road trip? Well, that's a story for another time.