Hot Springs Things to Do

Hot Springs Arkansas: Things to Do

Hot Springs Arkansas Bathhouse Row

We enjoyed our stay in Hot Springs and found a lot to do here:

The most popular thing is to visit Bathhouse Row. This is a row of bathhouses along magnolia-lined Central Avenue in the historic downtown, all designated as part of Hot Springs National Park. Most of the bathhouses are closed, although the exteriors have been renovated and interior renovations are in progress. Plans are to lease them in the near future, while still maintaining over sight by the NPS.

There are two of these buildings that you can visit and we would highly recommend. One is the Fordyce Bathhouse building, which now serves as the Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center.

It has three restored floors that showcase the baths, salons, therapy and dressing rooms, along with period artifacts and exhibits. One of the exhibits has a short film on what to expect if you go to "take the baths". And you can do just that a few doors down, at the Buckstaff Baths-- the only one on Bathhouse Row still offering the traditional bath, along with massages, pedicure and manicures. Some of the hotels also offer the bathing experience - the Visitor Center gave us a price list for the available places to indulge.

Behind the bathhouses on Bathhouse Row is the Grand Promenade, designed as a place for bathers to stroll and get some fresh air. It is a lovely walkway worth taking a stroll. For more of a workout, you can climb the steps and walk up the mountain to the Mountain Tower (or you can drive up).
An elevator ride up into the tower affords some great views of the surrounding hillsides.

The third floor of the Mountain Tower is open air, the second floor is enclosed with windows to look at the view and houses a good-sized exhibit about the history and timeline of the bathhouse and Hot Springs. There is also a short video and display about former President Bill Clinton -- after all, this is his boyhood home.

From the Mountain Tower, there are a number of hiking trails that you can piece together for a brief walk or a longer hike. This was of course, a favorite pastime for us.

There seems to be plenty of other things to do in Hot Springs: strolling through the shops and a series of art galleries, riding the "Ducks" for a narrated tour that goes through town and onto Lake Hamilton.

There's a magic show, a riverboat cruise, Garvan Woodland Gardens, Magic Springs Theme and Water Park and so on.

There are also plenty of places to eat. We opted to try the BBQ at McClard's (proclaimed as Mr. Clinton's favorite BBQ place). We were quite happy with this treat - a heaping plate of ribs, fries and cole slaw followed by blackberry cobbler.

We also went into Little Rock to visit the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum. Whatever your politics, this is a fascinating place to visit. We spent the better part of a day and still didn't get to all the exhibits. The museum showcases the two-term presidency of Bill Clinton, life in the White House during his administration, presidential gifts and more. It is well worth a visit.

We would return to Hot Springs again -- perhaps in the springtime -- to catch the magnolias and wildflowers in bloom.

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