Sure you could go up to Napa and shell out a bunch of dough to sit at a spa. But what if you like being outdoors, under the stars, in a beautiful setting? Plus, wouldn’t you rather spend that spa-money on a camping gear?

If this sounds like you, we recommend scrapping a ritzy mud bath and checking out some of the incredible hot springs around Northern California as a (more exciting) substitute.

The planning and execution of such an adventure is relatively simple -- it requires just a bit of gumption and the willingness to camp.

While there are over 50 developed hot springs in California – mostly northern -- and hundreds of undeveloped or secret ones, here is a smattering of four in a few key settings that represent the scope of options for a weekend getaway.

1. Marin tidal hot spri

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