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

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.

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.

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.

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.

It was my daughter's first trip to Hot Springs so of course we had to stop here! We had a blast!…read moreFrom holding a baby gator, to feeding the gators "biscuits", to playing with the baby goats, to feeding the silly donkey that opened his mouth and leaned his head back for more, there wasn't a part we didn't enjoy!

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 place is a total blast from the past! We took the VIP…read moretour which was informative, educational (not only for the young audience), and also helps children in need (you can hear more about it when you take the tour.) So many items, toys, games, it's hard to believe just one person collected them all. Take lots of pictures. It was fun!

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.

Goodness Gracious! The Ohio Club may have been the HIGHLIGHT of our trip to Hot Springs! My…read moregirlfriend and I visited all of the bathhouses and other attractions, but kept coming back to our great memories of the Ohio Club! Located across the street from Bathhouse Row, the Ohio Club has had a long history in this town, having served gangsers, famous baseball players, and other celebrities. I can see why...I mean, they like great food and good drinks just as much as everyone else! The atmosphere is off-the-charts incredible and feels as if one is stepping back in time to 1920s America. Combine this with an amazing food menu and incredible drink selection, and you've got one helluva experience! Service was stellar...friendly and prompt. She was also very helpful with menu selections and drink choices, knowing exactly where to steer two virgins of the Ohio Club experience. We chose to share the Reuben, which was a great choice because it was so big. For drinks, we opted for the Ohio Rum Sour and Berry Ohio...never looking back as they were both delicious! WE...WILL...BE...BACK!!!

This is a great place and we always stop in whenever in Hot Springs. This trip didn't disappoint…read moreand we visited twice. We always strike-up an interesting conversation with people sitting at the bar. Several local beers on tap and we had the Space Force, an IPA, on both visits....very good. We split a Reuben sandwich with fries and it was excellent. I also ordered a side of fried okra, which was delicious and so hot, I had to let it cool before eating. The bartenders are always friendly and will talk if time allows. The whole place has a great vibe. Speaking of the okra, I noticed that on my bill I was charged $13 and change for it. I thought WOW, but gladly paid the bill. The more I thought about it, I figgered it must be an error. On our second trip, I mentioned it to the bartender and asked if it were possibly an error. It was an error and she asked me how to make it right (there was a logical explanation for the error). I made it clear that I was not complaining, just wanting clarification. She asked if a complimentary order of fried okra was OK....certainly! Great place and a Hot Springs icon. Highly recommend and dont skip it.