Some like it Hot at this Springs
Written: Aug 01 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Scenery: |
 |
|
| Crowds: |
 |
|
| Time needed for visit: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Easy to manage and unusual in many ways.
Cons: Very small; not much hiking.
The Bottom Line: This is an unusual small Park in the midst of a town. Worthwhile visit if you are in the area.
|
|
|
| jo.com's Full Review: Hot Springs National Park |
It wasn’t very busy in Hot Springs National Park in early June so it was a good time to visit the smallest National Park in the country.
Details and history:
Hot Spring National Park lies on both sides of Central Avenue about 55 miles southwest of Little Rock, Arkansas. The Park is open year round although some of the features are seasonal. There are sections of the mountain because it is literally divided by Central Avenue a street of shops and restaurants which sprung up in response to the popularity of the bathhouses. The southwest slope is the most popular and that’s where you most likely will find yourself. You may also visit the west mountain trails. I will get more into the trails but do not go here to hike. The trails are easy and short. We found the tops of the mountains the best place to get cell phone and Internet connection so we spent much of our time there!
There are several free parking lots and street parking although some of the parking says 2 hours only so watch for that. The park itself has no parking areas. The parking that is available is in what is called the city’s historic district. It is said that Hernando deSoto (the Spanish explorer who is said to have discovered the Mississippi river) was the first European to visit the “Valley of the Vapors” in 1541. The Native Americans enjoyed these vapors or thermal springs as well. Hot Springs claim to fame also included being the boyhood home of Bill Clinton. The famous Bathhouse Row consists of 8 bathhouses which are in the National Park. The only one that functions as a bathhouse is Buckstaff. There are 4 other traditional bathhouses in hotels within walking distance of the visitor center.
You will also find horse racing, water sports, fishing and camping in the area. The Hot Springs Mountain Tower is a 216 foot observation tower open all year. This is not operated by the park but is on the top of Hot Springs Mountain.
What attracted me to Hot Springs Arkansas was the water. However as a Ranger told me, I wouldn’t find open pools of hot spring water as I might in other areas of the country. The 47 springs of water are controlled and go to one spot. From this spot they are then directed to the bathhouses and many thermal fountains where you can fill up water bottles of this odorless, colorless hot water. We filled up 15 bottles and wish we had filled up more!
The Park has a campground in Gulpha Gorge. This is in the northeast area of the mountain. It has tables and fireplaces for tents and trailer campers. There are no hookups however and you can’t make advance reservations. You can get more information by calling the Park at 501-624-2701.
What we did:
The first thing we did and I would highly recommend this is to go to the Visitor Center. Not only will you get the usual information but the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center is now a museum. This is free and not only will you get all the information you want about the water and where it comes from but you will learn about the baths if you decide to take one. Also although there is information on the ranger’s desk, if you want to do any hiking ask for the hiking maps. They are not kept out. I imagine they are an expense that Hot Springs National Park doesn’t want to incur unless they have to. The maps are some of the nicest I’ve seen. However I was given seven pages of maps and information – far more than was necessary.
You will take a self-guided tour in the Visitor Center where this bathhouse that once functioned looks very much like the one that does function! You’ll see the ladies’ and men’s bath halls, the dressing room and a gymnasium that was considered the largest one in Arkansas in 1915. Many came here to get cured of ailments (and still do). Exercise was thought to be essential (a novel idea back then) with people like Jack Dempsey and Babe Ruth coming to enjoy the area.
You’ll watch two videos. One is about 20 minutes long and gives you an overview of the Springs. This is fascinating so you don’t want to miss this. You’ll be right in the area anyway. The Fordyce Bathhouse is the 4th bathhouse in the row with the mountain right behind the row. You will also see a 9 minute video which will show you step by step what taking a bath will entail. I think some people may be fearful but your fears should be put to rest after watching this video.
You will get the most detailed piece of paper I’ve seen from a National Park of parking areas, ramps for wheel chair accessibility, elevators, rest rooms, pay telephones including one for people with a hearing disability, water fountains, campsites, accessible picnic tables, interpretive services, where large print is available, touchable models and sign language interpretation is available. Hot Springs National Park has really done an amazing job for its visitors.
After we visited the Visitor Center we did a couple of the drives on Hot Springs. One is on the West Mountain. It is about a mile long drive with parking areas on each end of the drive. The others are on what I call the main mountain. It is the mountain you see as you face the bathhouses. Two short drives (less than a mile) can be found here. One is called North Mountain Loop Drive and the other is Hot Springs Mountain Drive. You’ll find the observation tower I mentioned on Hot Springs Mountain Drive. We stopped at the top. There were a few people there but it certainly wasn’t crowded. People sit on a wall as well as a covered bench. If you walk down a few steps you’ll come to restrooms and picnic tables. This was our favorite spot to bring our chairs and computer!
You’ll still have time before the end of the day to walk what is called the Grand Promenade. This is just a very pretty walk above the sidewalk of the town and abutting the mountain. It is a brick walkway from which several park trails begin and end. There are beautiful benches on which to sit and enjoy the views of downtown, Arlington Lawn and the thermal cascade. (I’ll mention this in a moment.)
I recommend having Sunday brunch (if you are there on a Sunday, if not just go in and look) at the Arlington Hotel. This is a beautiful old hotel with water fountain from which you can take a cup and get yourself some hot water. The brunch was excellent ($20). Across the street is what is called the Arlington Lawn. It is the only area where open pools of hot water can be seen and touched. In fact you can put your feet in if you’d like. Although the water comes out of the mountain at 145 degrees, it is mechanically cooled so you can drink the water and touch the pools although it is still about 104 degrees.
After brunch was our “hiking” day. As I said this is not a place to hike but we wanted to walk to the peak of the mountain. They consider Peak Trail to be short (.6 miles) with a steep ascend to the observation tower and rewarding. It begins at Tufa Terrace Trail which is .2 of a mile right above the Promenade. We came back via Short Cut Trail which is .2 of a mile and is a shortcut between Dead Chief Trail and the Hot Springs Mountain Picnic area (or the top where we ended up after Peak Trail). We then finished on part of Dead Chief Trail which brought us back to the Promenade.
The trails are so maintained you will feel as if you are taking a walk in the park. There are signs to watch for ticks, poison ivy and snakes but we saw none of these and other than a couple of very short narrow areas it was quite easy to stay away from the grassy areas. When you first start up the trail from the Promenade there are some steps. This is not a wheelchair accessible trail. I found the whole process to be easy and the view not spectacular at all. It was a pleasant way to spend some time and it was the first time our puppy walked on a leash while hiking with us. We usually carry her in her pet carrier (on my husband’s chest) but this was so easy she managed the steps and the walk quite easily.
Jo’s final thoughts:
You will find many of the restaurants in the historic district close early. Much to our surprise, Hot Springs is quite built up so have no fear, there is a Ruby Tuesday in town!
We did have lunch at one of the cafes across from bathhouse row. It is called Maggie’s Pickle Café. It was good but not great. We found it overpriced but the fried pickles were unique.
Would I go back here? Considering it is a distance from Massachusetts, the answer is no. If I lived in the area I would consider a bath and massage once a month but I have no need to go back to Hot Springs National Park. Sure I will recommend it. It is unique and historical. We are traveling cross country so it wasn’t terribly out of our way. I wouldn’t suggest you go out of your way to visit this Park. There are too many other fantastic sites to see in this country. Spend a day or two here, but that’s all I’ll recommend. Please feel free to leave me a question or comment.
If you would like to follow our journey, I am posting my reviews below:
Applebee's in Ohio
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky
Bella Notte This is a restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky.
Buckstaff Bathhouse This is in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Bicentennial Mall State Park in Nashville, TN
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN
Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN
Graceland in Memphis, TN
Taste of Thai a San Diego restaurant
Handlery Hotel in San Diego, CA
Recommended:
Yes
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.