Hot Springs, Arkansas: Natural Beauty And Peace In Zip Code 71901Hot Springs, Arkansas: Natural Beauty And Peace In Zip Code 71901 Whether you're basking in natural beauty or soothing yourself in thermal waters, a sense of peace is easy to come by in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Everyone in Hot Springs remembers the glory days—whether they were around for them or not. In the 1920s and '30s, "taking the waters" was de rigueur for the glamorous set, and the streets of this small Arkansas town were strolled by everyone from Babe Ruth to Al Capone. Thermal-water-fed spas promised to cure nearly every ailment in the book, while downtown casinos and restaurants provided upscale nighttime diversions.
These days, that glamour has faded a bit—all but one of the bathhouses on Bathhouse Row had closed by the early '80s, and swanky casinos gave way to tourist shops and wax museums. But thanks to some dedicated locals, "Spa City" is starting to recapture the spirit of its halcyon past. "Two buildings really started the renovation of downtown," says local architect Bob Kempkes, referring to the restored 1910 headquarters of Mountain Valley Spring Water, as well as the Fordyce Bathhouse, which now houses a visitor's center and museum. Meanwhile, his firm is turning the Quapaw Bathhouse into a spa that will merge traditional thermal-water soaks with modern spa treatments. The community of Hot Springs hasn't forgotten its recent history, either—the love affair between the town and native son Bill Clinton is decidedly mutual (statues and signs dedicated to the 42nd president abound; Clinton often requested fare from local barbeque joint McClard's on Air Force One), and quirky events like the World’s Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Running of the Tubs have injected a sense of humor into the serene town. Then there's the natural beauty, which has remained unchanged throughout the years. Hot Springs National Park, which surrounds the city itself, is the oldest member of the National Park system. (The land that makes up the park was designated a protected area 40 years before Yellowstone was named the first national park.) Meandering along the park's 26 miles of trails, punctuated by trickling streams, it's easy to forget that you’re mere steps away from downtown. The national park doesn’t have the monopoly on natural attractions, though. About 30 miles west is Lake Ouachita, a popular recreation area situated in the Ouachita National Forest. Near the Mountain Harbor Resort, you'll find another network of trails, the toughest of which will take you up to a towering bluff overlooking the island-dotted lake. Meanwhile, just south of the city on Lake Hamilton (the area's other big lake) sits Garvan Woodland Gardens, a University of Arkasas-run botanical garden that features an awe-inspiring wooded chapel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protégé E. Fay Jones. "People who come here often say, 'It’s so peaceful,'" says Robin Steigler, the Gardens’ sales manager. “That kind of solitude is harder and harder to find in our busy world." Except, it seems, in Hot Springs. More: Timber Home Decor Ideas
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