It only took a few minutes to settle in before I knew—these are my people. I met Emma Griffith, one of the founders of Wild Haus Floating Saunas, on a crisp, clear, late-summer morning to chat about the project she helped start last January. In simple terms, the team of eight created two saunas on flat boats, powered by simple outboard motors. The baseline was to combine hot sauna with cold plunging in the often-frigid waters of Lake Union, a wellness trend that has swept many parts of the country. More, the founders wanted to create a unique space for meaningful connections, real conversations, and memorable moments outside the daily grind.

I soaked in the feeling of gratitude for living in such a unique city and for the moment of tranquility.

“Everyone wants to be together right now,” Griffith tells me before my journey on the boat. She and her crew members started Wild Haus, in part, because they felt there was something missing in Seattle worth doing outside year-round beyond soggy hikes and brewery hopping. The benefits of combining sauna and cold plunge are becoming more apparent, and more closely studied, as the trend continues to rise. Using the sauna can help with muscle soreness, cardiovascular health, and stress relief, while cold plunging can boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and enhance or elevate your mood. Wild Haus believes that sauna and cold therapy are more than another passing wellness trend—the ritual has staying power because of the long-term benefits of doing them consistently, especially in a communal setting.

My 90-minute journey on the floating sauna was with one of my best friends—we’re obviously far from strangers—and his girlfriend from South Africa, whom I am still getting to know. I couldn’t think of a better way to show someone from far away the beauty of Seattle than cruising around Lake Union. With large picture windows, the sauna got up to 200 degrees as we sweated out toxins. When we had had enough, the captain, Leroy, shut off the engine and the boat drifted while we jumped off the second story deck into the water. Since it was early September, the water wasn’t so much a cold plunge as the perfect temperature for swimming. Seaplanes took off and landed almost close enough to touch, and houseboats dotting the lake perimeter gave us a glimpse into the experience of living directly on the water.

Weekends are the busiest for Wild Haus; it sends out approximately 10 trips each day. The boat captains play a big part in the experience. In addition to driving the vessels, they often act as tour guides, conversationalists, or a simple background presence during a special anniversary or celebration. Leroy provided a certain quiet energy. He was engaged and thoughtful without being overbearing. He let us into his life without sharing too much, and he handled the boat with ease. In these ways, he embodied the culture that Wild Haus is trying to create. It’s not as much about “achieving wellness,” as it is about “making of it what you wish,” Griffith explains. She wants all customers to come back to shore with a memory they’ll never forget.

My favorite moments on the boat weren’t about the sauna or dipping in the water. After our last hot-cold cycle, the captain headed back to the dock, and I moseyed up a set of stairs to the upper deck and plopped myself onto a comfy couch. As we putt-putted along, I was mesmerized by all the houseboats on the water, from rickety-looking cabins to luxurious, multi-level homes. I soaked in the feeling of gratitude for living in such a unique city and for the moment of tranquility. Perhaps it was the endorphins from the sauna surging through my system, or the power of doing something new with good friends. “Everyone comes happy and leaves happy,” Griffith notes, and that’s how I felt, too.