How to spend a weekend in Hot Springs?

[techman05]

Heading up there next Friday for our anniversary. Booking a spa day. Probably going to hike some trails. Need recommendations on restaurants. Any help is appreciated.

[PawDawg]

No trail hiking in August.

Great place for a weekend trip.

Breakfast or brunch at http://www.pancakeshop.com/

[techman05]

Too hot for hiking or not allowed?

[PawDawg]

Too hot for hiking or not allowed?

Too hot!

After taking in several thousand calories each at The Pancake Shop, make a quick loop up the hill and back down. That's plenty when it is 90ish.

[Dawgpix]

Park at the Arlington side street. Walk up to the Promenade behind Bath House Row. Walk all the way to the end by the Army-Navy Hospital. Take in the views, read the signage. Halfway back, go down the stairs to the Display Springs. Continue to Central Avenue, take a right and grab a bite at the Superior Bathhouse Brewery. Sample the 4x4oz. beer tray. Last Monday it was warm, but pleasant, if you do this after 5:30 pm. Plenty of shade along Promenade.
After the Superior take a right up to Arlington Park and take in the Display Spring there.

Weekend music events in the Arlington Hotel lobby are nice.

Try the Tamale Spread at McClard's BBQ, or the ribs, or the sandwich plate with a side of their beans and slaw. Special place (cuz I grew up in HS.) Don't go a rush hours. 11-noon or 5-6 are usually best times to sneak in a table. Small place.

Drive up Hot Springs Mountain to the tower (hairpin turns are fun going up). Then drive over West Mountain and stop at each of the 3 the Lookout spots.

If you're there during Aug. 27-28 they're having the 4th annual Hot Springs Baseball Weekend. Spring training unofficially started in HS in the 1920s and they've capitalized on its history. There are markers all over towns giving details.

Go to www.VisitHotSprings.com to find many, many other things.


PS-If The Pancake Shop is too busy for your wait time, stroll up to the Colonial House up Central by the Fountain.

[PawDawg]

Park at the Arlington side street. Walk up to the Promenade behind Bath House Row. Walk all the way to the end by the Army-Navy Hospital. Take in the views, read the signage. Halfway back, go down the stairs to the Display Springs.

This was my "make a quick loop up the hill and back down" reference.

The Army-Navy hospital has to have tons of stories. Do you know the history details on it?

[techman05]

Thanks for the pointers. Haven’t been there in almost 20 years, so I don’t remember much.

[Dawgpix]

Thanks for the pointers. Haven’t been there in almost 20 years, so I don’t remember much.

www.VisitHotSprings.com is a solid website

[Dawgpix]

Park at the Arlington side street. Walk up to the Promenade behind Bath House Row. Walk all the way to the end by the Army-Navy Hospital. Take in the views, read the signage. Halfway back, go down the stairs to the Display Springs.

This was my "make a quick loop up the hill and back down" reference.

The Army-Navy hospital has to have tons of stories. Do you know the history details on it?

Built in 1930s at cost of $1.5 million to help veterans recover from wars. Later became the Arkansas Rehabilitation Center helping disabled folks to learn a trade and a living. Disappointing vacant right now. State wants feds to take it back. Feds want the state to do something with it.

Here's a good link for more,.
https://www.nps.gov/places/army-and-navy-hospital.htm

[PawDawg]

Built in 1930s at cost of $1.5 million to help veterans recover from wars. Later became the Arkansas Rehabilitation Center helping disabled folks to learn a trade and a living. Disappointing vacant right now. State wants feds to take it back. Feds want the state to do something with it.

Here's a good link for more,.
https://www.nps.gov/places/army-and-navy-hospital.htm

Thanks. It is a beautiful landmark.

[arkansasbob]

not sure if i'm too late or not ("next friday" can be ambiguous)
i really like taco mama, especially for brunch. rolando's is pretty good for supper, and they have a nice patio in the back right on the side of the mountain.

lots of great hiking spots, but it's gonna be hot. gulpha gorge is a nice place to cool off in the creek and have a picnic. if you hike up the mountain from there you're likely to see some tiny deer if you don't pass out from the heat first.

[techman05]

Not too late. Leaving on the 27th. Got our massages scheduled. Wife wants to shop and see Garvin Gardens. Seems to be a lot of good eating very close to our hotel across from bath house row.

[techman05]

Colonial Pancake and Waffle House is great, as is Pancake Shop. Grateful Head Pizza is a cool spot. Bella Luna was great Italian. Hiked up to the Observation Tower. First time for me. Garvin Gardens was impressive. Great weekend. Our only complaint is that everything shut down at 10pm and many places were closed because of short staff or no staff. Of course a majority of that isn’t the business owners fault.

[Dawgpix]

Colonial Pancake and Waffle House is great, as is Pancake Shop. Grateful Head Pizza is a cool spot. Bella Luna was great Italian. Hiked up to the Observation Tower. First time for me. Garvin Gardens was impressive. Great weekend. Our only complaint is that everything shut down at 10pm and many places were closed because of short staff or no staff. Of course a majority of that isn’t the business owners fault.

Good for you.