Friday, April 10, 2009

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park.
Hot Springs National Park is a tiny gem in the National Park system. The park, which consists of a row of Bathhouses many of which were built in the late 18th century, and the protections areas of the natural hot springs, was first established as a reservation in 1832, making it truly our first national park. The springs, heated not by volcanic action but by the earth's central core a mile deep, rise through a fault at the base of Hot Springs Mountain. It is believed that the water flowing out of the springs today, fell as rain more than 3000 years ago. The springs are completely protected and there are no outdoor bathing areas, although there are several fountains around town with spring water flowing continuously...some cold, some hot. A marvelous promenade walk behind Bathhouse Row protects the springs and gives one a peek at them in several places.
To use the springs you must enter a bathhouse (think ancient Greek bathhouse, not the bathhouses at Old Orchard Beach) where for a small fee you can soak in the mineral rich water at 104 degrees for as long as you can stand it. You can also drink the water (It does not taste sulfurous, but is delicious spring water). Cold showers next to the pools give the brave (count me in, Cheryl out) an invigorating temperature shock.We bathed at the Quapaw bathhouse (one of two that are restored and the only one that allows coed bathing - clothed of course) for several hours on a warm rainy afternoon and left thoroughly relaxed. I can personally tell you that 2 hours in a hot mineral bath, followed by a "Fat Tire" Amber Ale, leaves one totally mellowfied.

The campground at the park is very nice but perhaps lacks a little privacy between sites. It is situated below a bluff on the banks of the Gulpha Creek. Heavy rain on the evening following our rainy afternoon at the baths had the creek roaring by the camper a few steps from the back door.

Garvan Woodland Gardens.
The following day we headed for Garvan Woodland Gardens just outside of town. The gardens are a Japanese style managed garden of exceptional beauty. We strolled stone walkways, trails and steps, past Tulips, Magnolias, Camelias, Azaleas and inumerable other trees, many in blossom. Flowers, ferns, and shrubbery surrounded the many water elements including streams, ponds and waterfalls. There's a beautiful small lake with an island you can walk to. The lake is filled with Koi the size of an Atlantic Salmon.
I believe we walked every trail in the park, including the 1.6 mile nature trail, and Cheryl took 1.6 million pictures.I don't know how we manage to keep so busy, but in three days at Hot Springs we never really got a a chance to stroll around town or eat at Bill Clinton's favorite Barbecue place, but we will next time.(I know this isn't President Clinton's favorite barbecue place, but we liked the name)

If you don't already know it, Cheryl takes all the wonderful pictures we post in this blog while I try to relax.
Next: We zoom through Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico to meet up with our friends Mr. and Ms. Whazoo( in their wonderful Outfitter Pop-up truck camper "Mr. Whazimoto") in Arizona. Actually with the weather predicting 40+ MPH winds from the southwest we will probably creep through OK,TX, & NM.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Cheryl & Ted
    Wonderful blog & I am enjoying your notes very much. However please list the state in which you are visiting so we know just where these wonderful places are. So far I can keep up with you but may be lost at some point. Spring has sprung in NH but still cool so enjoy your shorts!!! jan

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