Hot Springs, Arkansas

Lots to do

After soaking up the waters, drive just out of town to the Garvan Woodland Gardens. I strolled through ever-changing gardens featuring waterfalls and hundreds of thou­sands of tulips and daffodils. Kids (and kids-at-heart) delight in the exploration cave, crawdad hole and maze. Architecture fans marvel at the glass walls and angles of the 6-story Anthony Chapel, designed by Maurice Jennings and Fay Jones. I was enchanted by Garvan’s resident peacock. He loves to show off his full plumage when­ever anyone points a camera at him. You’ll need a keener eye to spot Garvan’s other 70 bird species.

The Hot Springs area is full of attractions for a week of family fun. Watch thoroughbred racing at Oaklawn Park, ride a riverboat, go mini golfing and regular golfing, play laser tag, zipline, kayak, spend a day at the waterslides and the immense roller coasters at Magic Springs amusement park, visit the wax museum, and even an alligator farm. Tour the Gangster Museum to learn all about infamous mobsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano who used Hot Springs as a retreat.

Shoppers love the independent shops on Central Avenue selling art, antiques, vin­tage candy, uniquely flavoured popcorn and housewares. Pop into The Savory Pantry for artisanal chocolates, bitters, sauces and jams, and (my favourite) Lambrecht’s southern pecan toffee.

Food and drink

If you want to stay in a town for any length of time, you want there to be great food. Hot Springs does not disappoint.

More than a month after my visit, I’m still craving the pizza from DeLuca’s Pizzeria. Chef/owner Anthony Valinoti brought top pizza techniques from his native Brooklyn. He uses the best ingredients from Hot Springs, including the mineral water, for his classic and creative pies. His pizzas alone are enough of a reason to visit Hot Springs!

Craft-beer fans love Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery. In one of the old buildings on Bathhouse Row, they make beer on site using the national park’s spring water. They serve fantastic non-alco­holic root beer too, as well as lunch and dinner highlighting seasonal locally-grown products.

Famous for being Bill Clinton’s favourite barbeque joint, McClard’s Bar-B-Q serves 7000 pounds of hickory-smoked beef, pork and chicken weekly, all smothered in their secret sauce. This place is so popular they won’t even reserve a table for the Clintons (though they do get invited into the kitchen to eat there).