Complete Guide to Hot Springs, Arkansas
BathHouse Row
Currently there are eight bathhouse buildings on Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The oldest bathhouse, Hale, opened on Central Avenue in 1892. Bathhouse Row was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It remains the greatest number of early 20th century bathhouses in the U.S. Today, there are 2 bathhouses that have thermal springs piped directly into them. Guests can relax in the thermal water indoors for an authentic experience at either The Quapaw Bathhouse or The Buckstaff Bathhouse.
Also on Bathhouse Row is a collection of boutique shops, wineries, restaurants, and breweries. We spent a few days walking up and down the area, visiting shops and various places on Bathhouse Row.
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BathHouse Row Winery
We enjoyed wine tasting at the Bathhouse Row Winery on our first evening in Hot Springs. There is something for everyone here, and the prices are very reasonable! We purchased wine to take back and enjoy at the VRBO we were staying in town.
Arlington Hotel
In downtown Hot Springs is the historic Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa. It originally opened to guests in 1875 but in 1923 the hotel was destroyed by a fire. In 1924 the current hotel opened. It is located across the street from Arlington Park, which has trails and springs throughout. The Arlington Hotel has mineral water rooms, where the hot springs mineral water is piped in. On our visit to the hotel, we walked through the lobby area, admiring the hotels beautiful architecture and Christmas displays. We also made our way up to room 443, where Al Capone frequently stayed. From the window of the hotel room, he could see the Southern Club, a gambling house that he patronized. We learned that many famous guests visited the luxurious Arlington Hotel, enjoying thermal baths and amenities.
Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Visitors can get a view of the countryside from one of the two decks of the observation tower. The top observation deck is open-air, while the lower observation deck is enclosed. The lower observation deck provides views through large windows along with a display of photos and historical memorabilia on the Hot Springs area. And there is also a gift shop on the ground level of the tower. We drove to the tower, however, from Fountain Street there is a trail that you can take to get there – it’s approximately 1.5 miles.
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
Home of the Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn is a premier racetrack for thoroughbreds. Oaklawn opened in 1904 and was the first of it’s kind to have a heated, glass-enclosed grandstand. Besides racing, guests can enjoy the casino, spa, hotel, and dine at the resort.
Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail
Through a self-guided tour we learned about the history of professional baseball in Hot Springs. We found plaques throughout town, marking significant events in professional baseball. In fact, there’s a map of the baseball trail, including several baseball fields. The fields were built in the late 1800’s in Hot Springs, Arkansas to hold annual spring training.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery
In downtown Hot Springs, the Superior Bathhouse opened in 1916. The bathhouse closed in 1983. Today, the bathhouse is a craft brewery serving beer that contains thermal spring water. We enjoyed a flight of beer and their famous beer cheese dip with chips and salsa. It sure hit the spot after a busy afternoon!
Ohio Club
Known as Arkansas’ oldest bar, the Ohio Club has been around for over 100 years. It was a bar and casino when it opened in 1905. Major League Baseball players like Babe Ruth along with celebrities including Al Capone frequented the Ohio Club in the early 1900’s. We stopped in the club for a drink one afternoon.
Garavan Woodland Gardens
We made an evening visit to Garavan Woodland Gardens for their holiday light display. It is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas. On our visit, we walked over bridges and waterfalls, and along multiple lighted paths throughout the gardens. We not only admired the beautiful Christmas lights trail, but were also able to see Anthony Chapel. The chapel is a peaceful place in nature, with a stunning vaulted glass ceiling and wood beams. It’s one you can’t miss if you are in the area!
Dining in Hot Springs:
The Porterhouse is located on Central Avenue in downtown Hot Springs. The restaurant serves steak and seafood entrees. We visited over the Thanksgiving holiday and enjoyed their Thanksgiving Day buffet, which included an assortment of dishes, prime rib, and a large selection of desserts.
Will’s Cinnamon Shop is a popular morning destination for many in Hot Springs. We came for their delicious made from scratch cinnamon rolls! They have a variety of icings and toppings you can add to your cinnamon roll. My husband had the traditional sugar glaze and I enjoyed the maple coffee along with a delicious cappuccino. Mmmm!
McClard’s BBQ has been a family owned establishment since 1928. It was featured on Food Network so of course we had to make a stop in! During lunchtime we found McClard’s to be a very busy place, with no empty tables. We placed our order to-go and it arrived promptly. The food was definitely worth the stop – large portions, great sides, and delicious BBQ!
Luna Bella serves great Italian dishes, all made from scratch. We had reservations here the first evening of our stay in Hot Springs. The bread and pasta dishes were all very good.
The Pancake Shop was our breakfast spot on the day we were leaving Hot Springs. It is also located on Central Avenue in Hot Springs National Park. We arrived early to avoid the wait and were seated immediately. I had the blueberry pancakes with a side of bacon and my husband had the original pancakes with a side of bacon. Our breakfasts were both tasty and fulfilling. We highly recommend a visit to this establishment!
Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe was another establishment we visited in the historic district. Their cupcakes were on the Food Network show, Cupcake Wars. They make the cupcakes fresh each day and have a variety of flavors to choose from. Additionally, they make pupcakes for fur-babies to enjoy (so cool!) Of course we purchased some cupcakes and pupcakes to take back for all to enjoy!
