Tag: Hot Springs National Park

Ideas for a Week in Hot Springs, Arkansas

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Hot Springs National Park Headquarters Building

Ideas for a Week in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Hot Springs, Arkansas is a small town located in the Ouachita Mountains. It’s known for its natural hot springs and many outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as its beautiful botanical gardens. If you’re planning a week-long visit to Hot Springs here are some ideas for things to do:

Garvan Woodland Gardens

Visit the Garvan Woodland Gardens

The Garvan Woodland Gardens is a 210-acre botanical garden located on the shores of Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs. It features a variety of gardens, including a Japanese garden, a butterfly garden, and a water garden. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place to visit, and offers many opportunities for photography and relaxation. The Garvan Woodland Gardens were the highlight of the trip.

Take a Boat Tour

Many of the gardens at the Garvan Woodland Gardens can only be accessed by boat, and the park offers guided boat tours of the gardens. These tours are a great way to see the gardens from a different perspective, and provide interesting information about the plants and animals that live there.

Lake Hamilton on the Quachita River at Entergy Park

Entergy Park

Several evening I enjoyed the watching the sunset from Entergy Park. It’s a waterside recreational park offering walking trails, fishing spots, playgrounds & a scenic overlook. It is on Lake Hamilton and the Ouachita River.

Visit the Hot Springs National Park

The Hot Springs National Park is a must-see attraction in Hot Springs. In addition to the hot springs, the park also offers many other activities, such as hiking, picnicking, and fishing. I enjoyed a hike on a wonderful trail that followed the ridge of the mountain overlooking town.

Go Fishing

The Hot Springs area is known for its many rivers and lakes, and is a popular destination for fishing. Some popular spots for fishing include Lake Hamilton, Lake Catherine, and the Ouachita River.

Explore the Downtown Hot Springs Area

Hot Springs has a charming downtown area with many interesting shops, restaurants, and historical attractions. Some highlights include the Hot Springs Bathhouse Row, the Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center, and the Hot Springs National Park Museum.

Plenty to Keep You Busy

Overall, Hot Springs has a lot to offer for a week-long visit, and a visit to the Garvan Woodland Gardens is a must-do activity. Whether you’re interested in outdoor activities, history, or just enjoying the beautiful gardens, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy in this charming town.

Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase using the links in the article I receive a small commission.

Covid-19 Rest and Relaxation Roadtrip

Posted in Blog, J Kepler, JA Kepler, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, Writer's Life, Writers, WritingLeave a comment

Hot Springs, Arkansas

I’m taking five days of rest and relaxation in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Western Arkansas, and Eastern Oklahoma. I’m based out of Hot Springs.

Oaklawn Racetrack and Casino

During my stay, I’m seeing local sights, fall foliage, and reading/editing/rewriting. I have a nice hotel room with a balcony. It’s just across the street from the Oaklawn Racetrack and Casino. I don’t play the horses or go to casinos but you can see the big building across the street from the Best Western where I’m staying. It’s a huge airplane hanger size building. The photo was taken from my balcony.

The hotel has a full breakfast included in the room rate. I enjoyed scrambled eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy with a cup of coffee.

 

Talimena National Scenic Byway

I have already visited Mena, Arkansas, and driven the Talimena Scenic Byway in Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. The Talimena Scenic Drive is a National Scenic Byway in southeastern Oklahoma and extreme western Arkansas spanning a 54.0-mile stretch of Oklahoma State Highway 1 and Arkansas Highway 88 from Talihina, Oklahoma, to Mena, Arkansas.

Mena, Arkansas

The views were amazing looking back toward Mena, Arkansas.

Further down the drive, the vista was unending.

Traffic was heavy.

Fall Foliage

The fall foliage was spectacular.

I even took a selfie.

Hot Springs National Park

Today I hiked in the Hot Springs National Park near downtown Hot Springs. I was at an elevation of just under 2,000 feet.

Lake Hamilton

In the evening I watched the sunset at Lake Hamilton just 10-minutes south of my hotel.

I also have edited and rewritten 175 pages on my current work. I’ll post more in the days ahead.