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Live a Little! How to Beat Stress and Indulge Yourself in a Colorado Arkansas River Area Experience
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Arkansas River, Colo.
(July 20, 2016) - Got stress? According to the American Psychiatric Association's 2015 Stress Report at StressInAmerica.org, Americans shoulder their fair share of it. We're all looking for stress-busting solutions and getting away from it all fuels the dreams of those who work inside and outside the home.
After all, what can be better than to surround oneself with spectacular scenery, exciting activities and rejuvenating, soul-soothing experiences? Colorado's Arkansas River is chock-full of a wide variety of adventures and escapes that offer a huge dose of health, well-being and peace-of-mind benefits.
YOUR OUTDOOR OFFICE
 According to Brandon Slate, owner of the Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center (
www.rmoc.com
), and member of the Arkansas River Outfitters Association (AROA), there are many ways visitors can relax and unwind here. "The beauty of this river is that there's over 100 miles with something for everyone's comfort level. We have trips for non-thrill seekers and super advanced trips and everything in between. We'll float under a bridge and then it turns into canyons, granite domes and ponderosa forests. That's when I look at our guests and say, 'Welcome to MY office!'"
It's an "office" unlike any other. Colorado's Rocky Mountains and Sawatch Range feature 15 peaks that tower over 14,000 feet. Wildflowers, cascading creeks, bubbling hot springs, towering pines and aspen glades grace the hillsides and offer a respite for weary wanderers. Approximately 80 percent of Chaffee County is public land, attracting outdoor enthusiasts from far-flung states and Colorado communities alike.
 Joe Greiner, AROA member and owner of Wilderness Aware Rafting says there's something for everyone, especially on the water. "Three generations can raft together and everyone has an equal amount of fun. Parents can host both their kids and their own folks, which makes them the hero. It can be the highlight of their whole vacation - something they shared they can talk about for years to come. It is physically possible and enjoyable for all three generations. For parents looking for things they can do to bond with their families, it's a sure winner!"
NATURE, WATER AND WELL-BEING
Studies have found that natural environments are more restorative and confer greater psychological benefits, including improved memory, focus and attention. Poet Walt Whitman, Henry David Thoreau and naturalist John Muir were famous for writing about how communing with nature will set your psyche straight.
"
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn."
-John Muir
 Mark Hammer, owner of The Adventure Company and AROA member, also sees many benefits. "The experiences you get in the out-of-doors are critical to your well being. We feel there's something about being in nature, especially on a river, that soothes your soul. It sort of breaks down some of the walls we build up, defensive walls based on the environment you live in. When you're out in the middle of nowhere, there's no reason for those defenses. It takes off your blinders. Once you let these barriers down and take in the full environment, and it's an environment that's aesthetically uplifting, well, we all start to feel good.
Soaking can feel just as good as floating. Since the late 1800s, travelers have indulged in hot springs and mineral-rich waters dotting the Arkansas River Valley. From Buena Vista to Salida, year-round soaking grounds with naturally heated, mineral-rich waters drew settlers who built bath houses, hot tubs and public pools. Today there are also spa facilities, hotels and even a water slide. Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort has two man-made pools and access to rustic Chalk Creek, while Salida Hot Springs boasts the largest indoor hot-springs facility in the country. The Cottonwood Hot Springs Resort facilities include rock-lined soaking pools, sauna and private spas, lodge rooms and cabins with deep tissue to traditional Thai massage.
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in tune once more."
-
John Burroughs
 Hammer continued, "I find the psychology behind why everyone feels good around water interesting. You could be sitting on a creek, the ocean, a river and everyone feels good. Our bodies respond physiologically in a beneficial way to the feeling of being on water and being in beautiful natural landscapes. Everybody to some extent has this need to be close to nature. Being a guide for 29 years, I've sat with many people and I've watched this occur. Especially when we take soldiers rafting who have come back from the war zone. They have this 100 yard stare. Many will comment how much better they feel. Rafting through the canyon took the weight off their shoulders and reduced their stress."
ROAM AROUND AND WALKABOUT
 Whether you choose horseback, mountain bike, jeep, ATV or the two-footed approach, there are plenty of places to roam around off the water too. The Arkansas Riverwalk Trail is seven miles of meandering pleasure along the Arkansas River east of the Royal Gorge Bridge and through downtown Ca
ñ
on City. The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest bridge in the United States, crossing the Arkansas River at a height of 955 feet. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers two-hour train rides along which you can sit back and relax to the rhythm and beauty along the rails. Keep your eyes peeled for elk, deer, bighorn sheep and other wildlife that share this spectacular scenery.
Closer to town, you'll discover thriving arts and culture enclaves featuring artists with national recognition. Salida's painters, potters, sculptors and jewelers infuse the area with creative energy.
FIND YOUR OWN LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN
 Slate has found that once people get a taste of the Arkansas River, they're eager for more. "I've had a number of visitors say, 'You do this every day, don't you?' and when I answer yes, I do this every day, they sigh and say, 'I'm really jealous!'"
"The mountains are calling and I must go."
-John Muir
While some might be tempted to chuck it all and head for the woods full time, you can have the best of both worlds. Time on the Arkansas River lifts you up to a new place where altitude re-shapes your attitude long term. You will breathe easier and find yourself refreshed, renewed and reinvigorated - until the next time the mountains call you back!
RESOURCES:
A 3-day Chaffee County itinerary:
Interviews:
To schedule an interview or experience first-hand an exciting Royal Gorge spring trip, please contact:
Monica Ramey
Bachman pr: 719-339-4109 mobile
Bachman pr: 488-5908 main
About Arkansas River Outfitters Association
Arkansas River Outfitters Association (AROA) consists of knowledgeable, experienced and licensed professionals who are dedicated to offering world-class outdoor fun on one of the most popular rivers for rafting in United States, Colorado's Arkansas River. AROA's members
offer a wide range of whitewater experiences for all ages and adrenaline levels, and are truly committed to providing exceptional service for a memorable adventure.
AROA, partnering with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Chaffee County Visitors Bureau are grantees of the 2016
Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) Marketing Matching Grant program.
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