Ah, what can you say?!?! Maxwell is a great guy. We actually are return visitors, first visit was…read moreyears ago at the old theater. If you go in with the expectation to have a good time, you will. Is Maxwell the best illusionist we have seen? no; however, his personality & love of the art is palpable. He does play some Elton John covers and tells a lot of stories, which I really find enjoyable. The people in charge of the sound could really help TONS by getting the kinks worked out. The music is so loud at times that it is miserable. The volume drowns out the pleasure of the intent. I would recommend, as long as you go in with an open mind and understand that it's a bit of a variety show....not a Vegas level production.

Went to see Johnathan Earlandso, loved the show. Very fun and entertaining the grandkids enjoyed it…read moretoo!! It was in a smaller theater so we really got to see the tricks up close. He was funny and interacted great with the audience. Would go again!!

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.

I am in heaven!! The variety of gems and jewelry is amazing!! The people are so kind and caring…read more Extremely knowledgeable about all the different sculptures and pieces they offer.

This is the place to go for incredible crystal, rocks, handmade jewelry and natural wonders. They…read moreoffer incredibly large geodes and other rock specimens for sale as well as handmade art and imports. I bought an amazing art mosaic for my home. Kudos to the staff, Mary and Lisa who were very friendly and helpful. I will definitely be returning on my next trip to Hot Springs.

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.

Options for autumn when Canada was "closed" (1 of 2)…read more - - - - - Covid may seemingly be a thing of the past, but, for some, it will never be forgotten because it affected them or their loved ones in far more serious ways. It changed how we interacted, shopped, circulated, and even limited our options as to where we could travel. For a while, Canada was closed and it always comes to the top of my list when it comes to fall colors. That said, other options became New England, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and the Ozarks. Garvan Woodland Gardens is located just outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas, thus in the general Ozarks area. Hot Springs itself was already on the map as place of touristic import. Along a major avenue there is nationally registered "Bathhouse Row," a string of private spas in ornate mansion-sized facilities that rose to fame during the 20th Century. Its most famous visitor may have been Al Capone. I came to learn that Capone died a natural death. One might have thought otherwise. I vaguely knew about these gardens - the Garvan Woodland Gardens. However, if in town and you ask questions about things to do, their existence, and their details, become front and center. It's an easy drive from the small city of Hot Springs. The gardens began as a private garden that then flourished when they were donated and "privatized," or realistically operated by the University of Arkansas. As such, there is an admission fee. As can be expected, the gardens are segmented and themed. The most notable might be the Japanese Garden and the manicured plantings that go with that. There are also other themed areas, including some areas which are a little natural, or scruffier, if you prefer that word. There are other areas such as a toy railroad sort of old town, walkways abutting the lake, and odd contraptions that serve as stairs, bridges, and tree houses. Then, there are some areas with art installations of sort that look sort of granola. I didn't have time to read every placard explaining the logic, if any, of some of these things. There is also a non-denominational chapel on the grounds and it closely resembles the state's Thorncrown Chapel designed by the University of Arkansas's famed alumnus E. Fay Jones. I had already seen that chapel in Eureka Springs, but, if you can't make it to its remote corner of the state (actually just south of and somewhat close to Branson, Missouri), this one will almost enable you to check Thorncrown Chapel off your list. Seasonal blooms will affect what you see. Note that, if seeking fall color in the state, it will come later than other parts of America owing to the more southerly latitude. In the fall, it won't be as "flowery." The forested lands in which Garvan Wooodlands Gardens sits appear to be studded in Southern pine, and reminded me of the vegetation surrounding the Atlanta area. The employees on hand were very helpful. Note that, in this state, your bucket list ,at the very minimum, would be about 3 state parks, 2 more rugged natural areas, the historic areas of Little Rock, Eureka Springs, and Hot Springs, which would include these gardens. The beauty of everything you see may exceed your expectations. Just about everyone is giving Garvan Woodlands Gardens 5 stars. For its context and area, it should fetch 5 stars. However, compared to other places with a similar admission fee, I felt it was closer to 4 stars. It is nonetheless impressive and recommended and you should also consider the month in which you plan to visit. However, it could also be that the few hippie-dippy things there made for an eye roll. They always do.

This was our second visit, and it's a lot of fun! The staff is nice and the prices are very…read morereasonable, even with the extras for feeding some of the animals. They also have alligator feedings on certain days. The zoo has wolves, raccoons, alligators, peacocks, and a few other animals for guests to enjoy. For the petting zoo portion, there are goats, emus, birds, turtles, and rabbits you can feed. You can even hold and feed a baby alligator! Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo has been around for decades, and it shows in a few areas. There are a few enclosures that could use some updates. Other than that, I definitely recommend this place if you're in town.

All of the staff members were super friendly and gave us a ton of information about the animals…read more They have a good handful of animals here. Kids loved this experience. You can feed the goats, sheep, donkeys and Emus. You get one free cup of feed per person addition feed you'll have to pay. The gift shop has so many great items to choose from. They have parking in the back and are open everyday. Such a fun experience. Would definitely recommend and I'll be back.

What was once a historical bathhouse now turned into an interactive play place for kids, it was…read moreclear that this place is desperate for money. The minimal effort put into creating an immersive experience for anyone was pathetic. Not even my 7 year old daughter was impressed. If anything she was dying to leave and visit someplace else. All of the activities could've been easily replicated with household items at home. With that type of experience, you would expect for tickets to be less than $60 (for an adult)! A literal experience that lasted a maximum of 10 minutes was $60. This was definitely a tourist scam.

We enjoyed it. We opted for the couple private bath, which was 20 minutes in the bath. It was a…read moresmall tub, big enough for two people. It was very relaxing, we had no idea how much time had elapsed. After we were provided cucumber water and a cold peppermint towel for our face. Staff were very professional and helpful.

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!

We went for apps and drinks and had the best time. Such a cool spot. Definitely worth checking out!read more

Where to start? Let's talk about the staff, greeted at the door and immediately sat upstairs. Ryon…read moretook care of us and was very helpful. Gave my wife recommendations on flavored lemonade, she went with strawberry lemonade and it was fantastic! We got fried pickles as an appetizer and they were perfectly breaded. The house made ranch was fantastic. My wife got the Hangover burger, its was juicy and delicious. I got the Reuben and it may have been the best Reuben I've ever had Asked our server for "best ice cream around" and was told Mamoo's... they were absolutely correct! The old gangster's bar feel was fantastic. There's a stage upstairs and the giant bar downstairs. Overall, it was a great experience.