This past Labor Day weekend we decided to visit Hot Springs, Arkansas. I really wanted to get away and
DO something this summer with David, Megan and Will. We were not able to have a family vacation because of the move, my surgery, and generally getting settled in Magnolia. We had thought about doing a small trip for the entire Labor Day weekend, but Megan so generously gave David her cold. What a nice, sweet and thoughtful child! Anyway, it was decided it would be best to do a day trip and have the rest of the holiday to stay at home and goof off.
I visited Hot Springs when I was in high school on a youth trip. I don't remember much, just that we did visit there for a bit. This trip we did a great deal more than the standard teenager walk through town and look at tourist shops. We had a great time. Megan, Will, David and I toured the
Fordyce Bathhouse and learned all about the history of Hot Springs and the process of "taking the waters." I did not realize that the area around the springs was set aside in 1832 as a federal reservation to conserve the area and its natural springs for all people to enjoy. The bathhouses evolved from crude tents, and wooden Victorian houses, to the brick and concrete classical structures that you can tour today. The amount of artistry that went into the tile work and stained glass that you can view in the Fordyce was amazing. It is well worth the time to walk through the three levels open to visitors. Here is a picture of Megan in one of the men's soaking chambers. She really liked the size of the tub.
Will enjoyed seeing all of the pipes in the basement that circulated the hot and cold water through out the house. He also enjoyed looking at the elevator and its cable system. I would definitely recommend seeing the bathhouses with children. We learned at lot and Megan had some really great questions about why Bathhouse Row was a National Park. She believed that it did not look like a National Park should look. She thought that a National Park should have forests and wildlife, not buildings in a town. During the film that covered a short history of Hot Springs, Will discovered that the old time pictures on the film were the same place that we walked on Bathhouse Row, it just looked different because the trees had not been planted yet. Then he started on a different tangent about when the first car was made and who made it. We will have to visit the Henry Ford Museum sometime in the future!
We did take time out for lunch at Bubba Lou's Bodacious Burgers. It was in a neat store front across from Bathhouse Row. We got to sit at the counter and watch them prepare our hamburgers and onion rings. I really enjoyed looking at the renovated tile ceiling and old-time soda counter. Megan and Will thought it was cool that they could talk to the ladies fixing the food and taking orders.
After walking along the Grand Promenade, through some art galleries that Megan picked out, an antique store, and a pet store that both children wanted to get toys for Buck and Luci; we had some ice cream and started back home. It was a great trip! Next time I would like to go on some of the mountain trails and see some more of the little towns in the area. Also, both children wanted to go to the amusement park, Magic Springs. Maybe we can do that next summer.
