On our visit to Hot Springs, we were told to check out Garvan Woodland Gardens. It was definitely a…read moregreat decision to come by and have a nice long stroll through the various gardens, forests, streams, and just nature. Its not too hard to find and there's plenty of parking out front. Leaving the parking lot is a little confusing though (signs would be helpful...). But its well worth the trip out! There were a variety of slices of nature and we spent a few hours here and still did not get to see it all. There's a whole nature preserve that's part of it and apparently great in the dawn/dusk to spot and hear various birds. We did see quite a bit of wildlife and fun plants around so even if we missed the preserve it was fun to see everything else. I think this is a great spot to reconnect with nature for a bit. There were well marked paths so it wasn't too strenuous and there were some more kid friendly areas as well for them to explore and run around.

I recently visited for the first time while visiting family in Arkansas, and it was absolutely…read moreworth the trip. My cousin drove us from Little Rock, and although it took about an hour and 10 minutes, the experience made the drive completely worthwhile. The gardens are beautifully maintained and peaceful. Perfect for taking your time, enjoying nature, and capturing great photos. One tip: buy your tickets online if you can. At the gate, adult tickets are around $30, and while there are different price ranges for kids (with children under 4 getting in free), purchasing ahead of time can save you money and time. Be prepared to walk! The paths vary from smooth sidewalks to gravel and slightly uneven stone paths. There are also bridegs and stairs that lead to highlights like the koi pond, the tree house, and waterfall, which are absolutely worth exploring. Because of this, I highly recommend wearing very comfortable shoes, or even bringing a backup pair if you plan to take a lot of pictures. If you're visiting with kids, they'll have a great time exploring, but be mindful on the uneven stones and hold their hands in certain areas. For those using strollers or wheelchairs, just know that some parts of the garden can be a bit challenging due to the terrain. There is also a nature preserve area that we didn't get to fully explore because we were tired. Overall, this is a lovely, relaxing place to visit, and I would definitely come back again when I'm in Arkansas.

We spent a day here and got through all the visitor center and the displays it has on all the…read morelevels. We drove to the mountain lookout and paid to go up there and spent more time there. We also drove the weather mountain loop and stopped at the pull off areas. The history and the geology is really neat. You need a full day if you plan to drive the park roads. If you want to hike then you need 2+ days.

On top of Hot Sprigs Mountain this 216ft tower hs spectacular views of the surrounding mountains…read morecovered with dogwood, hickory, oak & pine. We winded up a single lane road passing Picnic areas and rest stops before we got to the top. There was a small parking lot with magnificent views. We walked to the gift shop & found the register. We have a parks pass & paid $12 pp to take the elevator to the top of the tower. We took in the view on the top and then went down a floor to see the history of Hot Springs starting in 1875. Photos and artifacts from the old hotels and bath houses were presented with a timeline.

Everything went well!…read more Just loved being in this historic place and glad they provided information on its history. We sat upstairs at the balcony overlooking the bar from above. Cool view! Our round table was a glass covered roulette tabletop. What an expansive bar. They are known for their burgers so we had to indulge. We had the Blu on Black Burger and subbed for sweet potato fries. Yummy! Maybe a little small to share, but time will tell if we get hungry later. I also had a John Dillinger Gin Fizz. Cortney W took care of us and said we ordered well. The music just started as we finished up. We stayed through a couple of songs, but decided to give up our table for those waiting and to allow Courtney to continue earn more money.

Really cool ambiance. Stopped in while visiting downtown and had one of the best burgers. Would…read morerecommend getting in the waiting list before exploring nearby shopping. Would return for a burger anytime we are in the area. Drinks are solid, the decor and history are amazing.

Just home from early voting. It was all very easy. They have electronic and paper voting. Was…read morein and out in just a few minutes!!!

I loved this pottery place so much. We got to watch one of the Drydens throw two bowls with ease. I…read moregot two little cute pots. Would different come back. The pieces are worth the prices and you can find a reasonable piece that you love.

I grew up eating off Dryden's famous drip glaze dishes, but the stuff offered by the (family owned)…read morepottery now is (generally) more artistic and thoughtfully made. (You can still find the stuff I grew up with, though. And it's surprisingly popular.) You'll find pieces ranging from ten bucks to hundreds of dollars. Friendly, engaging staff. Gorgeous surroundings

My husband and I loved it here! They stayed open a little later so we could visit while we were…read morepassing through Hot Springs, and they were so easy to communicate with and really went our of their way for us! We didn't mind the price of admission, since they give so much back to the community. Excellent cause, such cool selection of collections, and a great tour with fun backstories! We came specifically for Star Wars nostalgia, but were pleasantly surprised with how much else was there! We would definitely come back if we are ever passing through Hot Springs again!

This is a great place to go for a little nostalgia. If you grew up in the '70s, '80s, or '90s--or…read morejust love vintage toys--you have to check out the Retroverse Museum. The toy collection is insanely fun and super well-curated. I saw everything from original Star Wars figures to Matchbox cars and He-Man. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the collections. You can tell a lot of love went into this place. New pieces are added as they are found "in the wild" or donated by collectors and families of collectors that have passed. They even have some duplicate/overflow items available to purchase in a little gift shop area. Tickets are a little pricy, but proceeds are used to maintain the museum, as well as a variety of community events.

Very well run! Love to come get the water to take home!…read moreSo much to do and see! I come for the daycation weekends.

I recently visited Hot Springs, Arkansas national Park and me and my family spent several hours…read morethere. We're walking in and out of the bath houses and looking around the area even took some time to ask the gentleman who works for the national parks inside of the main building. Where is some things that we could see around the area? He of course, handed me a map and he said well the best thing we got is right outside the door. There's a fountain outside. For me I was hoping there would be more to that national park than just a few bath houses and a few fountains with hot water now I understand that that is amazing but it definitely under performs as a national park. We did take time to walk around the trails. We did take time to see the other areas, but there's really not much here other than a few hot water springs and some trails to walk on. Now don't let this take away from Hot Springs the city. It is a great city a lot of vibrant shopping in restaurants along Hot Springs. If you're going just to go shopping then you won't be disappointed. There was a lot to do as far as that but from the national Park perspective it was a letdown.

I read about Tiny Town in book entitled 100 things to do in "Hot Springs before you Die". So i put…read moreit on the iteniary while visiting. It is a very old building and an elderly lady was working when we attended. She took our admission fee, turned on the lights and ushered us into the viewing room. It is a 65 year old display of numerous scenes that a single man crafted from discarded materials and wood carvings. I thought it was fascinating. There was a carnival scene, with a working carousel and ferris wheel with hand carved people in them, an Indian village with a dying cowboy with an arrow through his heart, a replica of Mt Rushmore, a dog getting ready to attack a cat, trains cruising around, an Andy Griffith scene, mountains and waterfalls, a man swimming, kids on swings and seesaws and OH so much more. There were so many moving parts, so many intricacies to see and ponder. The lady guided us part of the way (she had a very soft voice, and with the background noise of the moving parts it was almost impossible to understand her) but you could tell ahe was passionate about the display which was sweet). She then let us to walk around at our leisure. There are signs to read and buttons to push to make certain object either move or light up, while some of the display is in constant motion. We spent about 30 to 40 minutes in the depot so it doesn't take a long time to see but it was worth the $8 admission fee. Free street parking right outside the depot and a small gift shop.

The man who runs the tiny town exhibition is so nice! His dad built this incredible exhibit and you…read morecan tell he's so passionate about it. This was one of our favorite, unexpected stops in Hot Springs.

Visiting the Fordyce Bathhouse was one of the most nostalgic and unexpectedly fascinating parts of…read moreour Arkansas trip visiting family from Florida. I first visited Bathhouse Row when I was 16 years old, so getting to walk through it again decades later with my own 16-year-old daughter felt really special. It's one of those places that stays in your memory because it's both beautiful and genuinely interesting. The Fordyce Bathhouse serves as the visitor center and museum for Hot Springs and spans multiple floors plus a basement - it's filled with restored rooms, exhibits, furnishings, and historical displays. Best of all? Admission is completely free, though donations are encouraged. Honestly, it's incredible how much history and preservation work you can experience here without an entrance fee. One thing I found especially fascinating was learning that the natural spring water can reach temperatures up to 140 degrees. The museum also walks you through the history of hydrotherapy and the various treatments people once believed could heal illness and restore health. Some of the old medical equipment and therapies were truly wild by today's standards. I also loved learning that recreation, socialization, exercise, and relaxation were considered important parts of healing. The old gymnasium was one of my favorite sections because it gave such a glimpse into how wellness was viewed during that era. Some of the antique workout equipment honestly looked both impressive and slightly terrifying at the same time. The building itself is gorgeous and beautifully preserved with stained glass, tiled rooms, vintage bathing areas, and so many details that make it easy to picture what Bathhouse Row was like during its peak popularity. What surprised me most is how accessible and approachable the experience is. You don't need to be a hardcore history buff to enjoy this place. Whether you're interested in architecture, medical history, historical gym equipment, or simply stepping into another era for a little while, it's absolutely worth visiting. For me personally, though, the sweetest part was sharing a place I remembered from my own teenage years with my teenage daughter and family all these years later. That alone made this stop special.

Fordyce Bathhouse Visitors Center is probably where we should have started our visit to Hot Springs…read moreNational Park in Hot Springs, AR. But dogs were not allowed, so we found a dog boarder and came back to explore this FREE museum. The old cranky park ranger that we spoke to inside at the front counter was not friendly at all on 7.21.2025. He was very dismissive and not willing to share any insight beyond the two questions I asked him. Not welcoming. I didn't hear his interactions with previous visitors, but it doesn't matter. We had just walked in and my children were in good behavior. Quite frankly, he's primarily the reason for a star knocked off. TIPS + Don't forget to get your national park passport cancellation stamp. It was to the right when we walked in. + I paid for all-day parking (just a little over $8) in the Exchange Street Parking Plaza garage on Exchange Street. All three of us are highly active, so this was an easy walk for us even in the late July heat. Nice, simple exhibits. We enjoyed seeing how folks enjoyed the thermal springs long ago.

I would recommend the Gangster Museum if the history is interesting to you. It's a very…read more"tourist-y" place but it's also historically accurate and the staff is good at what they do. I have been 3 times total. Once as a tourist myself, and twice taking others after I moved here. Some loved it and found it very interesting and others were bored to tears, visibly yawning as we walked from room to room. I think it's terrific, but again, subjective. /Gangster

If you go to Hot Springs, this is a must. It costs about $16.50 for adults. I'm not sure if…read moredifferent prices for children or other discounts. It's about an hour and half guided tour. If you get Bird, aka "the Bird Man," as a tour guide it will be informative and entertaining. Reminder...you can tip the tour guides. Doesn't seem like people remember to do that. He takes you "through time" and gives you the history of gangsters and Hot Springs. It was so informative and you learn about so many people and places of Hot Springs. They sell hats for men and women. They also sell souvenirs and books. The lady at the check-in desk was very friendly and helpful.