Katie

Hot Springs Weekend Getaway

**Disclosure: All thoughts and opinions expressed within this blog are mine alone and do not represent that of any business or company mentioned.**

My girlfriend and I recently decided to get away for a relaxing weekend in Hot Springs, AR. Sunday was her birthday, and we felt we needed to escape from all the daily stresses and enjoy ourselves for a few days. Hot Springs is only about a 3-hour drive from our home and looked perfect for the occasion. After doing some research on the local accommodations, we decided to give The Waters a try. It is housed in the beautiful historic Thompson Building that recently underwent a massive renovation. We chose The Waters mainly because, unlike the other hotels that are located all the way on one end, The Waters sits almost dead-center of the Hot Springs main strip. We loved the idea of being in the middle of all the action and having the bath houses right across the street.

The breathtaking architecture made the building impossible to miss. When we arrived about 7pm Friday, we were enthusiastically greeted by the doorman and helped with our luggage. The valet is conveniently located directly in front of the hotel which makes for a super simple arrival and departure. The check-in process was the one of the fastest I’ve ever experienced. The front desk staff had everything for my package ready and waiting for me. All I had to do was sign once and take my keys. The staff considered even the smallest details to ensure we were comfortable. There was even a little note with the key cards that had the password to the WIFI and a helpful tip on where to find the headboard light. The architecture outside was just a sampling of what the inside of the hotel offered. It was the perfect mix of historic architecture and modern convenience. All of the original stairways and floorings appeared to be perfectly preserved and only accentuated by the pops of modern color expertly placed here and there. Our first trip up with luggage, however, we opted for the modern convenience of the elevator. LOL!

We were assigned room 404, a king room with a wonderful view of Bathhouse Row and Central Avenue. The first thing I noticed stepping into the room was the massive windows lining almost the entire wall. The room was elegantly decorated with a simplistic design that included artwork from local artists. In addition to the king bed, there was also a desk, flat-screen TV, refrigerator, mini coffee bar with connected drawers for storage, 2 accent chairs, and a small sofa. Personally, I would characterize the room as an open-concept suite due to the large size and additional seating available. We also found a safe, bathrobe, iron, and ironing board neatly tucked away in the closet beside a large full-length mirror. There were convenient charging stations with plug-ins mounted into each side of the king headboard along with disposable earplugs and the cutest little notes about partner snoring on each nightstand. The hotel also had a delicious cheese plate and complimentary bottled water waiting for us. Every little detail was precise and well thought out. This helpful trend continued into the bathroom. There were handmade soaps and lotions on the sink with not only a large LED backlit mirror, but also an accommodating extendable backlit makeup mirror. The large step-in shower came complete with shampoo, conditioner, and body wash dispensers. All the little details were extremely considerate and helped make our first impression of this hotel over-the-top!

After unpacking our luggage and settling in, we decided to venture out for a nightcap. We walked across the street towards the irresistible bathhouses to have a sneak peak and stumbled upon Superior Bathhouse Brewery. I must say, Hot Springs really has the whole relaxation thing down-pat. What could be better than alcohol and spa services side by side?! Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the only in the world to use thermal spring water in their beer. They also offer a full food and drink menu including frozen options. I highly recommend their adult frozen orange dreamsicle. The brewery plays a great mix of eclectic vintage music and offers great views of Central Avenue for all your people-watching needs. I would consider this a must visit, if nothing else, simply for the unique atmosphere. I mean, come on, drinking the world’s only thermal spring beer is definitely bucket list material!

Those large windows I loved so much pre-brewery even came fully furnished with 2 sets of blackout shades to hide the street lights when it was time to get some sleep. We slept like babies in the luxurious king bed. The next morning, we awoke refreshed and ready to start our spa day. The Waters offers many different packages, and we decided to take advantage of their partnership with Quapaw Bath & Spa for a healing soak in their thermal pool. Downstairs in The Waters restaurant, The Avenue, there were complimentary muffins and coffee waiting. We snacked on a few, but ultimately decided we wanted a larger breakfast before starting the day. We walked a couple doors down to Granny’s kitchen. It was the cutest little place. There was no line or wait and offered open seating. They even served energy drinks for that extra pick-me-up. The breakfast was scrumptious and just what we were craving.

We left there and decided to visit the National Park Lookout Tower. There were hiking trails through the woods and several lookout points perfect for photographs. Due to the rainy weather, we decided to forego stopping at the lookout points and to drive directly up the mountain to the tower. There’s a small giftshop on the ground floor and an elevator up to the top. The back of the elevator is glass allowing you to look out across the mountain and into the city of Hot Springs. We felt on top of the world being up so high! There are two different levels to this attraction. There’s a small museum display on level 2 that details Hot Springs’ history and includes a few artifacts with 360-degree windows and tower viewer binoculars to lookout from the comfort of an enclosure. I won’t ruin the fun by disclosing the details of the rich history of Hot Springs, but, trust me, the museum is definitely a must-see. The open-air lookout is on level 3. There are tower viewer binoculars here as well. This is a great backdrop for family photos. It was rainy and windy the day we went, but it was still amazing to see the fog flowing in from way above the city. Don’t forget to get your photo taken in the iron tub photo prop set up in front of the tower on your way out!

After all the wind and rain, we decided it was a perfect time to warm up in a thermal pool at Quapaw Bath & Spa. We valeted the car and walked across the street. All the buildings along this side of the street are spectacular exhibits of historic architecture. The large tile dome at the top of Quapaw Bathhouse is one of the most recognizable features of Bathhouse Row. This bathhouse was originally built in 1922 and named after an Indian tribe from the area. It’s absolutely stunning to see in person! The rocking chairs adorning the porches on each side of the building make for the perfect cool-down spot after a nice hot bath inside. The spa offers many different packages, but we chose to simply indulge in a thermal bath. All of the staff were incredibly helpful in showing us around and making sure we felt completely comfortable. There are rubber sandals and lockers provided in a private dressing room. There are also private showers complete with shampoo and body wash dispensers. The spa requests that you use these to rinse off prior to entering the pool to prevent contamination of the water. The four mineral-rich thermal pools inside are heated to between 98 and 104 degrees. There’s a gorgeous stained-glass skylight above the pools that adds to the relaxing ambiance. The complimentary iced spring water made for a special touch and was greatly appreciated after a few minutes in the hot thermal pools. We thoroughly enjoyed the first-time experience, but personally, I look forward to booking a more private experience in the future. Make sure you book your spa package at least two weeks in advance for weekend trips to ensure availability of services. Once you complete all your spa services and return to the dressing room, they have the neatest gadget I think I’ve ever seen. I don’t remember the exact name of the device, but you place your swimwear inside and press the lid down and it spins all the water out of your clothing so that you don’t have to carry wet clothes out with you. I know it seems insignificant, but to me, this was incredibly thoughtful of the establishment. What can I say? I’m a sucker for small details.

If you don’t wish to experience the spa for yourself, there’s a great museum just next door in Fordyce Bathhouse. There you can watch an orientation movie and tour some incredible exhibits of historic spa and health club equipment and techniques. Fordyce was once an operating Bathhouse and many of the exhibits are in original spa rooms or dressing rooms. There’s also a spot in the basement where you can view the actual Fordyce Spring. This museum is an awesome display of historic grandeur you shouldn’t miss if given the opportunity!

After all our healing and learning at the spa, we had worked up quite the appetite. So, we climbed up to the hill just behind Central Avenue to Grateful Head Pizza Oven & Beer Garden. They serve hand-crafted sodas and deliciously fresh pizza in a quaint vintage environment. I would highly recommend their orange cream soda and Casey Jones pizza. It was phenomenal! They have a huge outdoor patio that would be perfect on warmer drier days. I hate we didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy it. However, if you expect to get tipsy, I would suggest doing so downstairs in the Gin Den, as the stairs to the patio and restaurant are pretty steep and could make coming down inebriated somewhat tricky. With full bellies, we walked the strip for a while and stopped in several pastry, candy, and souvenir shops, but the rain seemed to get the better of us. We decided it was time for a break and headed back to The Waters for a warm shower and a nap. The bed was even better and more inviting than I remembered from the night before. I’m telling you, this place has some sort of monopoly on relaxation!

A couple hours of sleep was just what we needed to awaken energized and excited to explore the rest of the city. The wall of windows facing the street at The Avenue caught my eye and we decided to stop in for a drink and some people-watching. They offer an incredible dinner menu, and as tempting as it was, we were unfortunately still full from the pizza earlier. One drink turned into a couple as we found such friendly staff and irresistible conversation. Like the neighboring hotel, the walls of the restaurant are adorned with unique local artwork, and the view from the window-front bar is unbeatable. I could have easily stayed there all night, but we decided to walk a bit and see if we could find some local music. We found the Ohio Club Bar & Grill a few doors down and could hear the live music from the street. This is Hot Springs’ oldest bar and was once a famed spot for Al Capone back in the day. They even have a life-size sitting Al Capone statue they roll out daily for photo opportunities. Once inside we decided upon a less crowded downstairs table with a view of the upstairs band via the flat-screen mounted to the wall nearby. There’s a dance floor and stage available upstairs, but there’s limited seating and it was fairly crowded at the time. I would recommend early arrival if you wish to be closer to the band.

After enjoying a few drinks and several songs from the band at the Ohio Club, we decided to head back out and explore further down Central Avenue. We stopped into a place called Core Brewery for one last drink before calling it a night. In addition to the regular dining tables found in almost every bar, Core also offered their patrons couches, a pool table, a huge flat-screen TV, a live band, and a couple of retro arcade games. They have partnered with Foghorn’s Chicken to offer meals as well, making the place a cool family-friendly spot for all ages. In my opinion, this location has a ton of potential with their laid-back vibe and friendly service, and I can easily see this being a booming spot in a very short time. So, if you are ever in the area and have a chance, be sure to check it out!

We crawled into that big comfy bed Saturday night and almost immediately fell asleep. The next morning, we awoke feeling refreshed but sad to be leaving so soon. After enjoying one more long hot shower and packing our belongings, we reluctantly retrieved our car from the always cheerful valet. He suggested we stay just a little longer for brunch. We were immediately sold on the idea and hurried back inside. We were again impressed by The Avenue when we viewed their decadent Sunday brunch menu offerings. Chef Casey is working true magic in that kitchen! Our selection of brunch was cooked to absolute perfection and presented with the most appetizing artistry. The Waters and The Avenue were both amazing beyond any description, and I can’t wait to return! I feel I have finally found our home hotel – that trusted place to go when you need to relax and rejuvenate without worry or concern. I truly appreciate the kind hospitality we received and would recommend this historical beauty to anyone! Make sure you check out the links below the last set of photos for details on all the spots we visited during our weekend getaway to Hot Springs.