National Park Week 2024 Day 1 – Hot Springs National Park!

One of the most unique national parks that we’ve been to is Hot Springs National Park during our 2023 Cross Country Road Trip. Instead of just one natural park-like location, Hot Springs National Park bleeds into the town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, all of which should be a part of your Hot Springs National Park visit. The rivers of mineral water that flow from the hot springs stream into various spas, hotels, restaurants, and other locations in town.

On this visit to Hot Springs, Arkansas, we stayed at the Arlington Hotel, a historic hotel that pipes water from the nearby mineral springs into the hotel! There is even a fountain in the lobby where you can drink the mineral water. There’s also an exhibit that shows the history of the hotel and all the famous people who have stayed there, including several U.S. Presidents. It’s a beautiful hotel!

Look at the view of Hot Springs National Park and the downtown area from our hotel room! We got there in time for a gorgeous sunset.

On the way to dinner, we explored the downtown area and peaked at a little part of Hot Springs National Park. There was a cute little pool of water from a hot spring waterfall right across from our hotel!

We went to dinner down the street at the Superior Bathhouse Brewery. This used to be a Hot Springs bathhouse back in the day, but it has now been converted into a restaurant and brewery. They are the only restaurant left to use the real mineral spring water in their food. We got the iconic root beer made with spring water. It definitely tastes better than the store-bought stuff! The other foods were good too.

This is definitely a splurge hotel for us but it was a key part of visiting Hot Springs National Park. If you can’t get in a visit at one of the two remaining bathhouses to experience the hot springs water, then you can at least try it by reserving one of the hotel rooms at the Arlington Hotel that pipe the mineral water into the room bathtub.

The next day, we got up bright and early to explore Hot Springs. But first, there is a little family-owned restaurant down the street from our hotel that claims to have the World’s Best Chocolate Milk, so you know we had to go there for breakfast!

It was definitely the best! The Pancake Shop also had huge pancakes! Everything was huge and house-made, in fact. Soooo good! Everyone there was so friendly and welcoming. I definitely felt that Southern hospitality charm. The walls of the restaurant were filled with pictures showing the history of the place and many notable folks who had been there. Definitely check them out when you’re in town.

Now that we are stuffed from breakfast, we burn some of it off by walking around downtown Hot Springs. It’s such a cute town!

We made our way to Bath House Row, one of the key spots within Hot Springs National Park, where a string of bathhouses from the past still stand. Only two are still functioning as bathhouses, though. The rest have been converted into restaurants and other buildings, including the Visitors Center. They’re all still beautiful buildings.

Behind them is The Grand Promenade, a nice paved path where you can see some of the mineral springs flowing out or steam from their vent holes in a few spots. We took a walk there, too.

As with all national parks that we go to, we like to go to the Visitors Center to learn more about the park. Since this one is in a former bathhouse, we could see the old bathhouse rooms and equipment still preserved there. Some interesting yet crazy stuff! I don’t think current spas use some of those “features” anymore. LoL

Inside, there is also an exhibit about the hot springs and the area’s history.

Hot Springs National Park and the town of Hot Springs are fascinating places to visit. There are many opportunities for hiking and outdoor activities, as well as more leisurely activities in the mineral springs spas and attractions in the town. Make sure to plan ahead and make your reservations at the spas, though. I hope you get a chance to visit!

Please contact me if you would like to chat about planning a National Park trip.