Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three

This is part three of a three-part series on travel to the San Luis Valley. 

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (3)

Most people who stay in the Moffat area of the San Luis Valley, have hot springs on the agenda. That’s because two hot springs destinations are located here. In fact, our Airbnb, Mountain Springs Homestay (closed), is next door to Valley View Hot Springs and just a 15-minute drive from Joyful Journey Hot Springs

Hot Springs in San Luis Valley

If you want to soak at Valley View call ahead and make reservations. They allow a limited number of soakers and weekend days fill up months in advance. Valley View is also clothing optional, so plan accordingly. 

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (9)
Joyful Journey Hot Springs

We ended up at Joyful Journey twice and I hadn’t soaked this much in one day since I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve damage. Many writers suffer from these ailments. The visits to Joyful Journey, where the water boasts a significant number of minerals, had a positive impact on my nerve damage. My arms felt amazingly normal after two long soaks. I have no idea if it this was due to the water or being on vacation, but it was wonderful.

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (10)
Joyful Journey Hot Springs

We did a morning soak and evening soak and the views were spectacular. Joyful Journey includes a spa, lodge rooms, tipis, yurts, RV sites and a campground. The property enjoys splendid vistas of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains that glow at sunrise and sunset. 

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (7)
Joyful Journey Hot Springs

Joyful Journey isn’t an undiscovered gem, and it can be a bit crowded. It was certainly popular during our weekend visit. The facility hosts many retreats such as yoga, dance and meditation.  However, we found moments of peace here between waves of visitors.

Great Sand Dunes & Alamosa

We had driven our Toyota pickup truck to the San Luis Valley and Ryan was determined to find a back way into Great Sand Dunes National Park. However, after hours of driving down roads and running into closed gates and fences, we gave up. Maps show numerous roads and jeep trails in and around the park but we found none to be accessible. 

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (4)

The day was a bit overcast and blustery. We had an al fresco lunch near a lake in the San Luis Lake State Wildlife Area before driving towards the Great Sand Dunes to take some photos. We’ve camped at the sand dunes several times in the past so we did not go into the park.

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (2)

In search of a birding area, we drove up and down many dirt roads (again) west of the park but kept running into gates. A little discouraged, we realized we were mere minutes from Alamosa, so we decided to stop there for a beer. 

RELATED: How We Committed One of the 7 Deadly Sins in Alamosa, Colorado

We ducked into Square Peg Brewerks for a pint. It is two years old and new since our last visit to Alamosa. At that time there was only one brewery, San Luis Brewing Company, maker of our favorite chile beer. Now there are three breweries, including The Colorado Farm Brewery, located about 20 minutes outside town. We had a nice pint at Square Peg and chatted with the beertender before moving on.

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (5)

Since we hadn’t found a birding area near the Great Sand Dunes we decided to try the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge, just minutes outside of town. This is a sweet spot for birding, and despite the wind, we saw a lot of birds. There is an auto-loop here, and a Visitor Center that was closed during our visit. 

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (11)

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (12)

From the auto-loop, we saw dozens of yellow-headed blackbird swaying on cattails and a lot of ducks. We saw a large shorebird and hundreds of swallows. We even spied a herd of sheep and lambs in the distance, complete with a sheepherder and her border collie. 

Home-Style Cookin’ in Moffat

An hour from our Airbnb, we made a bee-lined back to Moffat where we dined at Grammy’s Kitchen, the only restaurant in town. This eatery opened in January 2018, and as one might expect from the name, they serve home comfort food like fried chicken and prime rib. There’s even a wood stove that they fire up when needed.

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (8)

We dined on fried chicken; Ryan had his smothered in gravy and a milkshake. That’s the other thing they make here, old-fashioned malts like some of us remember from childhood. Everything was scrumptious and if we’re ever in the area again, we’ll be back.

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (6)

On the way out, we bought bread. That’s right, they sell bread like your mom used to make. My mom makes bread (something I took for granted until I became an adult).

Ryan got to use a real map a lot during this trip. We ventured into territory where GPS and GoogleMaps refused to work and I think using a paper map is something Ryan will remember fondly from this adventure.

Hot Springs, Fried Chicken & Sand in the San Luis Valley, Part Three. HeidiTown (1)

Our time in the San Luis Valley is like no other experience I’ve had in Colorado. Here, one feels disconnected from the world, especially when the signal on our phones or the truck’s GPS disappears. 

The Valley has a quietness about it. It seems as though if someone talks loudly they’ll break the beauty spell and the area is beautiful. With mountains all around, dirt roads and more cows than humans, it’s easy to fall in love with the San Luis Valley; especially if you are looking for a true, off-the-grid Colorado getaway.

***

Read Part One “Living History in the San Luis Valley of Colorado.”

Read Part Two “Off-The-Grid in the San Luis Valley, Our First Airbnb Stay

6 Comments


  1. I appreciate you travel guide about the Valley. The San Luis Valley is my home. I was born and raised in Del Norte (the west side) and attended what is now Adams State University. Taught school in Alamosa, South Fork, Hooper and Center. I love the way you are capturing the “special” unique aspects of the Valley. Nice job. Have you taken in the Hooper Swimming Pool? Alligator Farm is interesting. I am enjoy the trip. Excellent Job!

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  2. Since you were so close to Sand Dunes Swimming Pool and Hot Springs, too bad you did not go there. They have an outdoor fresh water swimming pool, some indoor hot springs pools for adults and children, snack bar and a bar serving drinks inside the hot springs area. They have small cabins for lodging, camping, and Hooper Hacienda, a house that sleeps 10 people, with its own fenced yard and outdoor fire pit. It is located in Hooper, CO, north of the Gator Park, and close to the UFO Headquarters. Give it a try if you have not been there.

    Reply

    1. Tom,
      Thanks so much for stopping by!

      We HAVE been to the Hooper Pool. It was totally by accident as it wasn’t as well known back in 2016. I have written about it here: https://www.heiditown.com/2016/03/01/an-oasis-in-southern-colorado-discovering-hidden-travel-gems/

      The San Luis Valley holds so many treasures to be discovered.

      Thank you for stopping by HeidiTown! We can’t wait to go back to the Sand Dunes Swimming Pool. We need a week in the area to do all the things!

      Heidi

      Reply

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