Science, History, Hiking and Healing Water
Fall is in the air and the fair-weather campers are starting to retreat to warmer options. This means some of our parks are more accessible to those of us with the option to travel at various times throughout the year. Having home schooled children provides us that very opportunity so we chose to combine our adventures with education. Our latest trip proved to be a great mix of science, history, hiking and the healing water of Hot Springs National Park!
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK
Hot Springs National Park is located in Southwest Arkansas and is surrounded by the natural beauty of mountains, forests and lakes. The park itself is urban but the lands have been protected by the federal government even before the existence of the National Park Service. It is rich in history and has something for just about everyone.
At it’s peak, Hot Springs was one of the most corrupt towns in the United States and became a target of the FBI and politicians due to the extreme environment created. Gambling, alcohol, clubs and the mafia ran the town while baseball utilized the area for Spring Training. All of these groups were drawn to the area for one main thing…….WATER!
The Hot Springs in the area come from deep within the Earth’s surface and meet the air between 140 – 150 degrees Fahrenheit and have long been thought to hold healing powers. This led to the creation of many bath houses with 2 still operating today. The Quapaw Bath House and the Buckstaff Bath House are both owned by the park service but still offer baths to visitors. The Buckstaff is the oldest continually operating bath house and still provides services much the same as it did a century ago.
HIKES, FOOD & ATTRACTIONS
Although Hot Springs National Park is the second smallest park in the system there is no shortage of things to do. Most of the hiking trails are under 1.5 miles and provide great opportunities to learn about the area while taking in some amazing sites. The Grand Promenade Trail is an extremely level brick pathway running the length of Bath House Row and gives you a great opportunity to see the town from a higher vantage point. Several trails lead from the Grand Promenade with some leading up Hot Springs Mountain to additional viewpoints. We hiked most of these along with taking in the Hot Springs Mountain Tower and the Goat Rock Trail. (Note – You can also drive to the tower)
In town you can find just about any type of food you could imagine, shop the local stores across from Bath House Row or check out the Gangster Museum of America to learn all about Al Capone and the many other famous mafia members who frequented Hot Springs.
We chose to eat at the Superior Bath House our first night and couldn’t have been more pleased! Penny was an incredible server and the vibe of dining in a century old building was second to none. I highly recommend you check it out when you visit. The building is one of the original bath houses on the row and is owned by the National Park Service but it is operated under a concessionaire agreement as the ONLY brewery inside a national park!
On the opposite side of the street you’ll find the commercial businesses with some, such as the Ohio Club, being original from the early days of the town. The downfall here is that kids are not allowed inside so if you’re traveling as a family you’ll have to get your pictures from outside.
We spent several days in Hot Springs and still didn’t take in everything there was in the area. There are many lakes, state parks and the Ouachita National Forest in very close proximity to the National Park. There are many campgrounds around and FREE public parking just off the main strip in the park. Check out our YouTube video HERE for an overview of the area and let us know if you have any questions or comments. Until next time…….
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