Visit Hot Springs, Arkansas For Natural Beauty That's Easy on the Wallet

Consider a trip to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas if you haven't been recently, especially if you are within driving distance. Hot Springs has something for everyone and a lot of it is free or almost free.

First let's cover places to stay. Camping at one of the State Parks on Lake Ouachita is great if you have a camping trailer or RV. It's also nice for tent camping if you don't go in the hottest part of summer. Lake Ouachita is the largest lake in Arkansas and it is one of the cleanest. Rent a boat or just hike along the wooded trails while you're there. Also make sure you check out the ranger's lecture schedule especially if you have kids. Another option on the lake is a cabin. Most of them have a basic kitchen and air conditioning. Check with State Park websites for details. If you would rather visit the lake but not sleep there, you are in luck as Hot Springs has an abundance of Hotels for most budgets. If your visit is a week or more you might consider renting a condo on Lake Hamilton. If you shop around you can get some good deals on accommodations to fit your needs.

Now that you have a place to stay lined up, decide which things you want to see and do. You can't go to Hot Springs without touring the Fordyce Bathhouse Museum & Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center and best of all it's free. Afterwards stroll past the bathhouses and up to the Grand Promenade where you can see a natural hot spring with 143' F water. You could easily spend half a day strolling through the National Park and downtown Hot Springs. A scenic drive up Hot Springs Mountain and then to West Mountain is a must for outstanding views of the city, lakes, and national forest. Numerous trails are available if you are up for a hike. If you feel guilty for getting all of this for free, splurge and stop at the Hot Springs Mountain Tower on top of Hot Springs Mountain and buy a ticket to the observation deck for even better views. Other highlighted things to do include visiting Garvan Woodland Gardens, Arkansas' premier botanical garden on Lake Hamilton, Magic Springs Theme Park, Crystal Falls Water Park, Mid-America Science Museum which houses the world's largest conical Tesla coil, and if you're in town between January and April you may want to check out Oaklawn Park if you like Thoroughbred racing.

Now for the best thing about visiting Hot Springs, the restaurants! You will find great food at reasonable prices if you know where to look. Hot Springs has the largest number of great restaurants for the size of the town just about anywhere. You can stay for a week and go to a different BBQ joint every day (the first being McClard's BBQ), eat a great meal and still crave BBQ when you return home. The best pizza ever made is also in Hot Springs at Rod's Pizza Cellar. This pizza is named the Godfather. Don't ask questions just order it and you will understand. For a nice Italian meal one evening try Cafe Pompeii. Wash all of it down with some Gelato at Dolce Gelato.

These tips will give you a basic game plan for your visit to Hot Springs, Arkansas. When you arrive take in the natural beauty and ask the locals what attractions they recommend and which restaurants they like. Maybe you'll get enough BBQ recommendations to get you through two weeks without a repeat.

Mike Garner provides a list of Hot Springs, Arkansas Restaurants, Things to Do in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Campsites on Lake Ouachita at www.HotSpringsTips.com.