Exploring Crystal Crane Hot Springs in Burns, OR

It's crazy to think that just a few weeks ago, my man and I were on our four-day road trip across three states that I've never really explored before. Our journey from Salt Lake City to Washington had three rules:

1. No driving for more than six hours a day.
2. Leave all of life's stresses at home and let the wide open road try and soothe all of our adulting pains.
3. Hand holding. Lots of hand holding.

This trip could not have come at a better time. My man decided on a route and I just showed up for the ride. There was nothing to do but just sit, look out the window, and be with each other.  

The Pond before sundown.

One of my many favorite moments from the trip was our overnight stay at Crystal Crane Hot Springs. Leave it up to my man to find a totally rustic camping resort of sorts with a massive hot springs pond constantly heated to 100 degrees. The resort itself is in the middle of nowhere and attracts roadtrippers, campers, hikers and people on the natural hot springs tour throughout the region. Though the one great thing about the remoteness of Crystal Crane's location is that it's hard to get to and there really aren't that many people out there. The second best thing? The stargazing was absolutely stunning.

Sunset in Burns, OR at Crystal Crane Hot Springs.

My man reserved the resort's 5th Wheel for the night and I'm so glad he did. Our rental was better than glamping! Our RV was stocked with a kitchenette, dining area, TV, queen-sized bed, and full bathroom. We chatted it up with other travelers and be-friended dogs in the common living area and we grilled up sandwiches in the communal kitchen. The place was definitely quirky and I loved all of the personalities we ran into along the way.

In case you didn't bring your own tent or RV, you can rent a teepee at Crystal Crane!

The pond...The pond was magical. Small pebbles of what looked like lava rock lined the bottom of the huge pond. The water contained minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and silica.The spring water came out at nearly 160 degrees at the water fountain source and kept the entire pond a hot 100 degrees throughout the day and night. We took our first dip in the early evening and the hot water was amazing. There were small groups around us but we later found out that the pond closes to the public at 9 pm and only resort guests had 24/7 access. We came back to a quieter pond after dinner and soaked under the stars and clouds. And we didn't even mind the chilly and crisp high desert air after soaking.

We decided to take advantage of the resort's private cedar-enclosed bathhouse the next day. We figured before we headed out for another day of driving, we might as well treat ourselves one last time. And for $15 per person/per hour, it was a bargain. We packed up the truck and spent our last moments in a private bathhouse. The tub was at about 101 degrees but we were able to heat it up and cool it down as we pleased. We got hooked up with our host's favorite tub and we soaked and steamed before hitting the road again. Our tub was huge and the lounge space around the tub was even bigger so I could lay around when the tub got too hot.

Maybe it was the mineral water or the high desert air. Maybe it was the stargazing. But I definitely felt more relaxed and rejuvenated after leaving Crystal Crane. If it wasn't in such a remote part of Oregon, I'm sure we'd visit more often. 

Microdosing at the 420 Games with Atlas Edibles

Nadia Wanders was inspired by all kinds of people and events. I started incorporating cannabis-friendly things into the way I'd entertain myself and I've met the coolest people at my neighborhood lounge, dispensary, or weed-inspired event. One of these events was the 420 Games in Golden Gate Park. Simply put, the gang behind the 420 Games are producing cannabis-friendly athletic events to diminish the stigma that stoners are lazy couch bums.

The event was held in the Park and was based around a 4.20 mile fun run/skate/walk/bike ride with an after party. I picked up my bib a day early at Harvest, my old neighborhood dispensary, which was also hosting a pre-party. I chatted and smoked joints with fellow neighbors, vendors, and other people in the industry. I ended up chatting with Ezra Malmuth, owner of San Francisco-based Atlas Edibles. 

When I'm having edibles, I try to stay mindful of how much sugar I'm eating. I tend to have my edibles at night so eating a super sugary edible before bedtime can really mess with my sleep. What I love about Atlas is that their ingredients are creative and dare I say artisanal. Their Ember sativa edible has ingredients like caramel, cayenne, cashews and apricot and Nimbus uses dark chocolate, hazelnut, pecans, dried currants and cinnamon. 

The ingredients are high quality and they are actually deliciously healthy compared to the cookies, chocolate and candy you'll usually find. Ezra sent me home with some samples and I decided to micro dose the 10mg samples after the race.

Check out the awesome packaging artwork, designed by local artists.

The 4.20 mile stroll was lovely and I met up with one of the friends I made the night earlier, Jewli. I had my first dose after the stroll and it definitely carried me through the day. Jewli and I were sampling some of the pre-rolls and vape pens we were gifted earlier and the edibles definitely maintained my energy level throughout the afternoon. We did yoga, listened to speakers, made friends and chatted with all kinds of people in the industry. I had my second dose a few hours later and it made for the best way to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening. 

The high was mellow with small bursts of energy and it really made for a lovely day. I hadn't really microdosed before and this event really made for the best place to experience it for the first time. 

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I'm really lucky to have started smoking weed for the first time while living in the Bay Area and I realize it all the time. I've only been smoking a year or so and the quality of flower and the cannabis-friendly environment up here has made life really freaking awesome. Make sure and check out the 420 Games the next time they come to your town and Atlas Edibles if you're looking for a tastier and healthier way to medicate.