Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Hot Springs

"Anyone visiting Hot Springs is likely to know about this place, either by word of mouth praises from the native folks or by reading about it on the internet. Yes, it is as famous as that. Being one of the top botanical gardens in USA, this beautiful paradise of flora and beauty is renowned among people for its picturesque landscape spanning the shorelines of Lake Hamilton and beautiful Japanese...Read more"

"The botanical garden of the University of Arkansas is home to a variety of flowers, plants, and trees. Travel the wooded shoreline and see the rocky inclines where the greenery grows in the Ouachita Mountains. Also, visit the picturesque Anthony Chapel on the grounds."

"Garvan Woodland Gardens, Arkansas' premier botanical garden is located on a 210-acre peninsula on Lake Hamilton ...... More About Garvan Woodland Gardens"

"Hot Springs Reservation, the first designation of Hot Springs National Park, was set aside by Congress in 1832. This makes Hot Springs National Park the oldest unit in the national park system, 40 years older than Yellowstone National Park. The hot springs flow from the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain, part of the Ouachita Mountain range."

"The oldest park in town, it can be found sitting right in between the surrounding mountains. Hot Springs National Park is like a hub for the city for outdoors lovers. You have access to multiple trails, a public bathhouse with natural mineral baths, and plenty of outdoor amenities to make your stay as comfortable as possible."

"Situated at the pinnacle of Hot Springs Mountain overlooking the town, the tower was built in the early ‘80s. A view from the top will give guests an unobstructed view of the countryside. On a clear day, it’s possible to see more than 100 miles away according to locals."

"A mountain tower has been on top of Hot Springs Mountain or North Mountain as some call it since 1877. The current Hot Springs Mountain Tower opened in 1983. It stands 216 feet tall and rises up 1,256 feet above sea level."

"401 Hot Springs Mountain DrHot Springs, AR 71901(501) 881-4020. With a whopping elevation of over 1,250 feet above sea level, this tower rewards visitors with unrivaled vistas of the area."

"Back in the day, the Fordyce Bathhouse was one of the town’s swankiest. It’s now a museum and visitor’s center that would be a great place to stop not long after you’ve gotten into town. The building has been restored to near original condition and includes many of the amenities that it featured in years past, like interesting, antiquated exercise equipment and therapy devices that purportedly relieved symptoms from a long list of ailments."

"Take a self-guided tour of the bathhouse that operated from 1915-1962. Step back in time as you view the dressing rooms, electrotherapy beds, music room, gymnasium, and of course the bathtubs. The building has beautiful stain-glass windows throughout and is certainly a stop that even the kids will enjoy."

"Named after its original owner, Samuel Fordyce, this site served as a bathhouse between 1915 and 1962. Today, it functions as a visitors center housing an array of exhibits."

"At just shy of two million acres, Ouachita National Forest covers vast expanses of forested and mountain land between the border of Arkansas and Oklahoma. With dozens of miles of trails, numerous campsites and a host of other activities available to outdoor lovers, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s one of the area’s most popular outdoor destinations. Amateur rock hounds are attracted by the huge vein of crystals that runs through the area, and hunters and fisherman are drawn here as well."

"The forest is over 1.8 million acres that stretches between Arkansas and Oklahoma. The forest is used for timber harvesting, mineral leasing of course lots of recreation opportunities. Visitors can take a scenic drive through the winding roads, canoe down the river, hiking, ATV rides, and horseback riding."

"Another popular attraction in Hot Springs, the petting zoo is a nice place to visit for it contains a wide variety of animals such as alligators, deer, ponies, goats, lions, ostriches and many more. What distinguishes this little wildlife park than others is the way the zoo functions. The place has been devised and maintained to provide a friendly and comfortable environment to both animals and...Read more"

"Most of us steer clear of alligators when we see them in the water, but at the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo, you can hold a baby one in your very own hands. This is a popular tourist attraction that has hundreds of alligators and other animals too, such as emu, sheep, and deer. Live alligator feeding shows take place Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at noon in the summer."

"Hold a baby gator, feed and pet mini goats, and see wolves, mountain lions, monkeys, raccoons and more. Guests also have the chance to feed baby alligators and see live gator feeding shows."

"Enjoy a stunning blend of art and nature at the Wildwood Park for the Arts. It’s a quiet, peaceful area with paved and unpaved paths for strolling, scenic gazebos, stone bridges, botanical gardens, a wonderful lake, and a theatre complex. Ask your sweetie out to the park to take a relaxed walk and hide from urban noise, have a romantic picnic or see the performance at the small but quite good theatre."

"Wildwood Park is a park for music and the performing arts, designed for indoor and outdoor performances. With 104 acres, the park also has a number of gardens and smaller facilities. Within Wildwood, the Butler Arboretum contains daffodils and native flowering trees, and the neighboring Gertrude Butler Gazebo features a daylily garden and scenic views of Swan Lake."

"Anyone who visits Wildwood Park will love the ability to wander through the botanical gardens. The park is also a place where everyone can learn, imagine, and celebrate, due in part to the Lucy Lockett Cabe Festival Theatre. The 105 acres of the park are continuously used as a phenomenal natural and cultural resource for Little Rock."