Things to Do in Hot Springs, Arkansas

[Dallas91]

Originally Posted by Luv2Dance

I miss Memphis.

Did you live here, nearby, or visit much?

[Luv2Dance]

Originally Posted by Dallas91

Did you live here, nearby, or visit much?

I lived there for 3 years . Moved back to California in 93.

[Dallas91]

Originally Posted by Luv2Dance

I lived there for 3 years . Moved back to California in 93.

Cool B) I've been here for 12 years now so I guess this is "Home". My wife was born & raised here. Being so close to Mississippi, I hold onto my "hometown" roots too.

Regarding Hot Springs:
I think I've narrowed it down to either using the massage services of The Arlington or possilby going over to The Alchemy Shoppe. I've only done the massage thing once (here, about 5 years ago) and it was awesome! so I'm really looking forward to it. I need a good de-stressing.
So, now it's onto finding the right Lunch or Dinner spots.

[FarBil]

I know nothing of the geography of Arkansas but there is a great music festival Friday through Sunday in Little Rock. Robert Randolph and the Family Band are playing Sunday at 9.

[Dallas91]

Thanks to all for your input. We had a wonderful time in Hot Springs.

The Arlington Hotel was very nice. Service was only average (a bit disappointing based on their room rates), but the architecture and location were great! We would consider staying there again.

Did steak dinner at The Porterhouse. Very good. I think they mixed up our order as my wife's steak was prepared my way (medium rare) and my lamb chops where cooked per her request (medium). Average pricing for a steakhouse....1 Appetizer, 2 glasses of Wine, Rack of Lamb, and Petite Filet ran us about $75 after tax and before tip. White tablecloth, but clientele was dressed very casual. You'd be fine in shorts and a knit shirt.

Dined at Rolando's. Best meal of our vacation. Ecuadorian-Fusion restaurant. Fancy way of saying "Upscale Mexican Dining". Food was fantastic. Atmosphere is very casual. They have a great little patio with live music that was cut into the mountain. Great atmosphere. Food Very Reasonably priced. About $13 entree average and my Burrito with olive-oil & garlic sauteed spinach, chicken, and fine cheese was delicious Top Shelf Margaritas were good too (but nothing like have a Marg on the beach in Playa )

The town itself has a lot of character and if you've never been, It's a great place for a weekend retreat.

[MattMill]

Glad to hear you had a good time. Next time try the weekend of the Arkansas Derby (if you like horse racing). We'll be there again next year for it. We are actually going back in a few weeks for a family thing. We won't be able to do the whole going out, massage, dinner thing. However, we will be hanging out on Lake Hamilton. Btw, I loved your Shangri la report. We are staying there in November and found it very helpful.

[Dallas91]

Originally Posted by MattMill

Glad to hear you had a good time. Next time try the weekend of the Arkansas Derby (if you like horse racing). We'll be there again next year for it. We are actually going back in a few weeks for a family thing. We won't be able to do the whole going out, massage, dinner thing. However, we will be hanging out on Lake Hamilton. Btw, I loved your Shangri la report. We are staying there in November and found it very helpful.

We wish we had been there during Horse racing season and would have gone to the races. We have family that just moved to Louisville, KY last week so I imagine we'll be headed to a race or two up there at some point (but probably not the Kentucky Derby).

We drove by Lake Hamilton while there and Lake Catherine on the way back. The Hamilton House looks like a cool place, but I know I won't be throwing out that kind of money to stay there. Possibly dine there if it's a very special occassion. I think we'll spend more time by the lake next time we go.

A friend mentioned Doe's on the lake for good steaks in a very casual environment.
Glad you enjoyed the trip report and found it helpful. We had a blast while there last year and would love to go back. Maybe someday. Not in the finances at the moment and we have a long list of international destinations we want to try. Playa thus far though goes down for the most beautiful beach I've seen.

The Shangri-La is great. I worry a bit about the recent stories of Las Palapas being bought out. Sounds like it may eventually become condos or a larger resort and it would take away from the feel of the Shangri-La. But, I don't that should happen anytime 'too' soon so you should be in good shape for your visit.
Have fun and thanks again for the feedback.

[Dallas91]

Originally Posted by MattMill

We won't be able to do the whole going out, massage, dinner thing. However, we will be hanging out on Lake Hamilton.

Just as an FYI, we never got around to doing the massage thing. The Buckstaff is the oldest working bathhouse there and we were going to do it. But you get a mineral bath and a 20 min. massage for $50/person. Well, after several hotel reservation mix-ups (aka screwups on their part), they put us in a Mineral Bath room so we had a superlong tub with mineral water piped in. So, we got our mineral baths for 'free' (normally $24 per person at a bath house). I figure I can use the $50 to get at least a half hour massage back here in Memphis at Goulds or Touch of Health. So, we passed on it. Bath House Row on Central Avenue though was very nice (beautiful gardens, great architecture, etc). The large magnolias that line the street were starting to bloom.
Overall, it was a great 'affordable' weekend retreat to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary.

[Luv2Dance]

Originally Posted by Dallas91

Just as an FYI, we never got around to doing the massage thing. The Buckstaff is the oldest working bathhouse there and we were going to do it. But you get a mineral bath and a 20 min. massage for $50/person. Well, after several hotel reservation mix-ups (aka screwups on their part), they put us in a Mineral Bath room so we had a superlong tub with mineral water piped in. So, we got our mineral baths for 'free' (normally $24 per person at a bath house). I figure I can use the $50 to get at least a half hour massage back here in Memphis at Goulds or Touch of Health. So, we passed on it. Bath House Row on Central Avenue though was very nice (beautiful gardens, great architecture, etc). The large magnolias that line the street were starting to bloom.
Overall, it was a great 'affordable' weekend retreat to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary.

I did the Bath House thing. Kind of weird though. I'd rather have my own personal space.

[louden48]

Man, I wish I would have seen this post sooner. We were in Hot Sprngs this past weekend, too. We were looking for a house. We dined at Does on Sun. night and got to see the fireworks over the lake. It was nice. Jeff had the t-bone and I had the crab cake. It was excellent and had a very chill atmosphere. We'll be moving there in about a month so if any of you folks are coming up to Hot Springs, you'll have to give us a shout so we can plan a peep meet...hopefully I'll have a house by then!

Christy