When we first moved to Hot Springs we both volunteered at the gardens. It was wonderful. Got to…read moremeet a lot of people and see so much beauty. The two lives in the spring are absolutely gorgeous. So many varieties. So many colors. Gorgeous! Christmas is a incredible time. The displays, the workmanship that goes into them. They're all made there on site. It's a wonderful time. I always loved working at Christmas. Lots of hot chocolate, Santa Clause The restaurant is amazing. They have such a great variety! The carts and the drivers are just awesome. You'll see so much of the park, especially if you're older, you'll enjoy the cart rides. Go and get to enjoy the beauty of Hot Springs!

Love being there. The staffs are friendly, the gardens and grounds are soothing and peaceful. I go…read morethere at least twice a week, maybe 3 times when I can escape from my hustle and bustle. Every time I was there, I feel a sense of peace and joy. Where else can you get that kind of relaxation in a city? It's just beautiful.

Nice views, great store, friendly service. This tower offers excellent views of the surrounding…read morearea. A great spot to watch the sunset and sunrise. They need to offer longer hours.

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.

Historical place lots of charm and really good burgers. We both got a burger and they were…read moredelicious. They were a little more cooked than we would have wanted, but the burgers were still pretty juicy and had plenty of flavor. The fried pickles are chips and come with a house-made ranch. A good start to lunch. If you've never been, this place is definitely worth trying out. How many times can you eat at a place that has had everyone from U.S Presidents to Hall of Fame baseball players to notorious gangsters come through the front door. Our server, Callie, was very attentive despite being very busy.

The food was fine . it was super busy so be prepared for lots of noise and alittle chaos…read more Or server on the other hand was not alright. She seemed distant and not present. No real engagement and she seemed like it was a problem for her because I had specific food allergies. 7/10 atmosphere and presentation 2/10 service

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

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.

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!

Fun urban walk with historical businesses and there is enough nature to walk and see from above I…read more The tower as well

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and experience it beyond simply driving by. Hot Springs National Park was one of the most unique parks on our journey because it is unlike any other national park we have visited. Rather than protecting vast wilderness, this park preserves the history and natural thermal springs that gave birth to the city of Hot Springs. For centuries, people believed the mineral-rich waters had healing properties, and during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the area became one of America's premier spa destinations. The beautifully preserved Bathhouse Row is a reminder of that era, with historic buildings that still define the character of the park today. The park itself blends seamlessly into the city, making it feel less like a traditional national park and more like a living historic district. Personally, I see it as being closer to a national monument than the expansive wilderness parks most people picture when they think of the National Park System. But that doesn't diminish its value, it is simply a very different experience. I spent quite a bit of time hiking the surrounding trails, which were peaceful, scenic, and offered beautiful views over the town and the Ouachita Mountains. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how much nature surrounds the historic district once you begin climbing into the hills. The town itself is charming, full of history, unique architecture, good restaurants, and an easy pace that invites you to slow down. Between exploring the bathhouses, learning about the fascinating history of hydrotherapy in America, and enjoying the trails, we found there was plenty to fill a full day. Overall, Hot Springs National Park is beautiful in its own way. It may not offer towering mountains or dramatic wilderness, but it preserves an important chapter of American history while still providing opportunities to enjoy nature. It is certainly worth visiting with an open mind and an appreciation for both history and the outdoors.

What a cool , family owned place. Made me feel like a kid again. Slow down from the fast paced life…read moreand drop by here. Support local! Thanks yall!

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.

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.

For about $18, you get over an hour of history about the life and times of the people, notorious…read moreand otherwise, who lived and visited Hot Springs in the long ago times. It was fascinating to see the intersection of crime, corruption, and the natural features that made Hot Springs a destination for people from all walks of life. I'm not quite sure why this museum has only a 3-star average. It was well worth the price of admission. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We've visited Hot Springs many, many times and never had the opportunity to visit. We are very glad we did.

I cannot say this place is amazing but I will say they try very hard. It's amazing to me how much…read morehistory there is that ties the mob to Hot Springs and yet there's only this tiny little place capitalizing on it. So many cool stories that could be capitalized on. They don't have a ton of paraphernalia but the tour guide is very knowledgeable and the videos share a great deal of history and neat tidbits. If I was a millionaire, I'd be all over marketing this as the original vacation spot to the mob and bootleggers... so much that could be done. It's worth the hour here to check it out.