There’s something in the water…
Or at least that’s what people thought when they used to make the cross country journey to the healing powers of the natural springs in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Since that time, Hot Springs has ‘sprung up’ with so much more than just water. From hiking to horses races, there’s a little something for everyone in your family. Check it out!
Things to Do
Hot Springs, Arkansas has not shortage of things to do! In fact, there’s so much there, you might need more than just a weekend to fit it all in. Here’s a few things to choose from:
Hot Springs National Park
Of course, the number one thing to do in Hot Springs is going to be it’s namesake – Hot Springs National Park. It’s free to visit the park, so price-wise this place is perfect. This beautiful park is right in the middle of the city – in fact, on one side of the street you’ve got businesses and buildings and the other is national forest area. But once you get deeper into the park, you’ll find 26 miles of hiking trails and 8 historic bathhouses. On Bathhouse Row, you’ll see eight historic buildings that were constructed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, along with the Grand Promenade.
So what exactly are the bathhouses you ask? Before modern medicine was around, health seekers came to Hot Springs to “take to the waters”. In sitting in the spring-fed baths, the waters were thought to cure a plethora of ailments. While most of the bathhouses are no longer in use, two of them are open to the public. The Fordyce Bathhouse, one of the more luxurious spas, now serves as a museum to the Golden Age of Bathing (and it has free entry) and you can still take a dip at the Buckstuff Bathhouse or Quapaw Baths & Spa – but make sure you have a reservation and kids are not allowed inside the working bathhouses.
While in the park, you’ll want to take a sip at one of the 6 public water fountains. These drinking facilities are real, spring fed, water – so you can experience the “healing powers” for yourself.
Running of the Tubs
If you’re into the quirky and slightly silly, then you have to check out the Running of the Tubs! This is one day of the year where the community has fun paying homage to their water-loving city by strapping some wheels on the bottom of their bathtubs, decorating them to the nines, and racing through town. It’s such a fun event and like nothing you’ve ever seen before!
AdventureWorks Hot Springs
Looking for a little adventure? This zipline course provides all the thrills and excitement you’re looking for on a vacation. Packages range from $35-80 per person.
Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo
If you’re an animal lover, this place is a must see place in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo has been there for over 100 years, so you know they treat their animals well and are doing a great job teaching the community about these dragon-looking creatures. While at the farm, you can hold a baby alligator, learn more about these powerful animals, and pet a few more cuddlier animals in the petting zoo. If you go, make sure to go on a Saturday or Sunday at noon so you can watch the alligator feeding. Those powerful jaws are a sight to see in person! Tickets are $7 for kids and $9 for adults, but they also have a 50 cent coupon on their website. And, of course, don’t bring your pets unless you want them to become alligator food!
Oaklawn Racing & Gaming
Since 1904, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort has been one of the premier Thoroughbred racetracks in the country – home of the $1 million Arkansas Derby and so much more. The season ended the end of April, so we weren’t able to catch any races, but it’s such a beautiful arena! There’s also a large hotel and casino on property that has regularly scheduled live entertainment.
Mid America Science Museum
Who says science museums are boring? This indoor/outdoor museum was so neat! For only $8.80 per person, you can see exhibits like the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk, Light Bridge, Dinosaurs, Rowland Emett Collection (Rowland Emett was a constructor of whimsical kinetic sculpture and creator who made pieces like those in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), rope trampoline thing, dino trek, and the world’s largest tesla coil. Plan to spend a couple hours looking at all of the exhibits.
Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail
Do you have baseball coursing through your viens? If you’re a baseball fanatic, you’ll want to make note of this one. You can stand in the very spot where Babe Ruth hit his record-breaking home run – the first to fly more than 500 feet! Just download the app and you’re on your way to a self-guided tour of the city’s baseball history! Check out more info on that here.
Garvan Woodland Gardens
This beautiful wooded wonderland is a place you just have to see! Garvan Woodland Gardens is a 210-acre botanical garden of the University of Arkansas located on the shores of beautiful Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
The site for Garvan Woodland Gardens was purchased in the 1920’s after a timber clear-cut in about 1915. Mrs. Garvan loved this beautiful place so much that she never allowed it to be cut again. In 1956, as a self-taught gardener, she began to develop it as a garden and possible future residence. She was intimately familiar with the land and laid out each path, marking every tree to be removed. Verna also personally chose each new plant and selected its location. Over the next forty years, Mrs. Garvan planted thousands of specimens which now form an impressive collection.
There are hundreds of rare shrubs and trees, some more than 40 years old, including camellias, magnolias and more than 160 different types of azaleas. In the center of the original plantings is the Garvan Pavilion, designed by nationally acclaimed architects E. Fay Jones (winner of the American Institute of Architects’ prestigious Gold Medal and former Dean of the University of Arkansas School of Architecture) and his partner Maurice Jennings. Japanese maples and tree peonies serve as an introduction to the Japanese inspired Garden of the Pine Wind, just as Mrs. Garvan always intended. Rock gardens, a conifer border, and a growing number of bulbs and perennials complete the collection, providing interest throughout the year. It was Mrs. Garvan’s wish that the Gardens be used to educate and serve the people of Arkansas, providing them the joy and repose it had offered her. She noted the devastation of the environment that had taken place in her lifetime and wished to preserve a remnant of the twentieth century’s natural grandeur for generations to come.
Also on property, you can see the Anthony Chapel. This gorgeous glass and native wood beam chapel is the perfect spot for a fairytale wedding! It features a 57 foot ceiling tat seems to just reach right into the trees! We were able to stop in and see it and it just surreal! This is a must see for sure! While you can’t go inside right now (thanks, Covid!), visitors are still able to see it from the outside and take it all in.
For just $15 per adult and $5 per kid or dog, you can see take in all this gorgeous garden has to offer. Don’t forget to check out the 4 story tree house (our kids loved it) – and if you’re a flower buff, there’s a bloom calendar on their website.
Ron Coleman Crystal Mining
The Ouachita Mountains surrounding Hot Springs produce some of the world’s finest quartz crystals including mammoth-size specimens that have made their way to museums, galleries and private collections all around the world. Various mines in nearby Jessieville and Mount Ida offer visitors the opportunity to dig for their own treasures and keep whatever they find. There’s also a zipline there for a the more adventurous ones in your group.
Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Looking for a little heart-pounding adventure? Then you’ll want to head over to Magic Springs! This theme park/water park combo opens at the end of may and provides tons of fun all summer long. There’s concerts on Saturday nights and they also have “Cooler Sundays” where you can bring your own drinks and snacks into the park (just no alcohol or glass containers please). They have kid rides, family rides, and thrill rides, plus all the water park fun you could need to help you cool off this summer.
Maxwell Blade Magic Show
Ready to be amazed? The Maxwell Blade Theater of Magic is just the place! This family-friendly show features Maxwell Blade – a magician and illusionist that you just have to see to believe. Shows are just under 2 hours and feature large scale illusions, close up magic, comedy, and live music. Tickets are available online for just $20-39 each.
Where to Eat
When I’m checking out a new town, I’ve just got to try a few of the local restaurants. Here’s a few restaurants in Hot Springs we loved.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery
Get your fill of the geothermal waters that gave Hot Springs its name and its fame at any of the jug fountains in Hot Springs National Park. At Superior Bathhouse Brewery you can drink beer brewed with the park’s water. Housed in a historic bathhouse, it is the first brewery headquartered in a national park and is believed to be the only brewery using thermal spring water as its main ingredient. The water flows through Superior’s pipes at about 140 degrees, saving both time and energy in the brewing process.
Deluca’s
Would you believe you can find Brooklyn style pizza in the Northwest part of Arkansas? Yeah, I didn’t either. But here we are! Food & Wine said they had the best pizza in the state, and we agreed that it was pretty dang good. We ordered the Big Mike (sausage and pepperoni) and it was delicious! These 18” pizzas are big enough to feed the entire family for just $29 each! Pro tip: make a reservation. They only make so much dough per day, so when they sell out, they sell out. When you make your reservation, you’ll actually reserve a number of pizzas. So that way, they know they have enough saved for you. We loved it and the location was super convenient to go walk off all that pizza at Bathhouse Row afterwards.
Taco Mama
Away from the touristy spots, you’ll find a local Mexican food eatery. We had no wait and the food was good. I recommend getting the chicken enchiladas or the chicken and rice dish. Portions are a little on the small side from what we’re used to in Texas Tex-Mex joints, but the food had some great flavor.
The Pancake Shop
Just go get in line. Seriously. Do it now because there’s going to be a wait. But when you’re voted as one of the 50 Best Breakfasts in 50 States by the Food Network, you know you’re going to have something delicious waiting for you on the other side of that wait. You’re going to need to order pancakes, something with ham (I got an omelet), and the hot chocolate. Just trust me on this one. They make the hot chocolate with hot milk fresh for each order and it was delicious. Everything we got was super tasty!
Fat Bottomed Girls Cupcakes
We stumbled upon this cupcake shop across from Bathhouse Row and we’re so glad we did! Their cupcakes were flavorful and moist – just how they should be!
Places to Stay
Where should I stay in Hot Springs Arkansas?
Cloud 9 RV
The thing with RV parks is that you never really know what you’re going to get. So we were pleasantly surprised when we pulled off the main road and drove through the huge arch over the road that read ‘Cloud 9 – Open’ in neon lights. Up a twisty-turvy driveway, was a beautiful Hot Springs RV park full with trees, campers, and friendly faces. We felt safe letting the kids play outside and we loved exploring around the grounds. I would definitely stay here again the next time we’re in the area.
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