Looking for pet friendly, cabins or hotel on lake or river
where you can smoke. Alot to ask I know. Any ideas
would be greatly appreciated.
tp
okc
Lake Hamilton Resort in Hot Springs Arkansas 866-712-8606 accepts pets for a 15.00 a night charge and every suite has a balcony with a lake view. They do have smoking suites or you can smoke on balcony in non-smoking suites.
My husband and I will be in Little Rock in a week in order for him to take some of his clients to dinner as a thank you gesture. Any suggestions on a restaurant with great food and atmosphere would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Here%26#39;s five excellent restaurants:
In the River Market
Sonny Williams%26#39; Steak Room
http://www.sonnywilliamssteakroom.com/
In Hillcrest
Ferneau%26#39;s
http://www.ferneaurestaurant.com/
In Riverdale
Brave New Restaurant
http://www.ferneaurestaurant.com/
In West Little Rock
Imagine
http://imaginearestaurant.net/
In North Little Rock
Ristorante Capeo
http://www.capeo.us/
OldCPA is right on. He has suggested some fine choices.
Of these, Brave New Restaurant would be my first choice. It offers about everything...great view of the river, attractive decor, a good variety of food from mixed grill to fresh fish, and friendly service... Very consistent place. Rarely does it disappoint. If you go there, be sure to get explicit directions and carry their number to call from your cell...it%26#39;s right in the middle of town but sort of complicated to find. In great weather, nothing beats an outdoor table by the river.
I agree with Brave New Restaurant, too. I love everything about it, and with the mild temperatures we%26#39;ve been having, it%26#39;d be fun to sit out on the deck. I%26#39;m not sure the size of your group, but if it%26#39;s more than 6 they may take reservations.
I just realized that I posted the wrong URL for Brave New, here%26#39;s the correct address:
http://www.bravenewrestaurant.com/
It is a little difficult to find the restaurant but the web site has a good map.
Thank you everyone! All of those places look great.
I have never visited Little Rock--I%26#39;m looking forward to it.
Suzy
Can%26#39;t believe Cajun%26#39;s Wharf, along the river, with live jazz, hasn%26#39;t gotten mentioned yet. Also Gaucho%26#39;s Brazilian stye restaurant.
Herk Driver -
Welcome to another poster from Little Rock! (And a well-traveled one at that!)
I didn%26#39;t mention Gaucho%26#39;s because our experiences with it haven%26#39;t been very positive - though I do like Jerry Bakarat%26#39;s other restaurants, especially the Terrace.
To me, Cajun%26#39;s Wharf seems more suitable for singles or young couples looking for a night on the town than someone entertaining clients. If SuzyTraveler%26#39;s husband has clients who fit that category, more power to him - and them! Cajun%26#39;s was a regular haunt of ours decades ago, but I haven%26#39;t been in recent years. Our adult children (in their 30s) go now.
This report took me two weeks to remember to write--sorry!
We spent two nights at the Rosemont in the Dickinson suite. The inn is very pretty, well maintained, and quiet. The breakfasts were not too impressive--pancakes seemed full of oil and the omelet was very heavy. Still, this place is a terrific value and the wireless internet worked great. That was very important for my husband to keep in touch with his office and I could still check my email.
We had decided--with help from advice on this forum--to take my husband%26#39;s clients to Brave New Restaurant. However, THEY chose Sonny Willams Steakhouse--so steak it was. It was fine, but nothing new or unusual. For eight people, the total bill was $440 w/o alcohol or appetizers. I would not say it was a tremendous value.
The highlight of our trip was the Clinton library. We were very impressed with the ';green'; building and with the vast amount of knowledge found in it. The entire place is very well done. If you go, plan on about two hours--more if you want to read everything.
We enjoyed Little Rock%26#39;s warm weather and very friendly people. The river area was nice and it%26#39;s clear that a lot of time and money has been spent to bring people back downtown.
Thanks to all for their help in planning our trip.
Suzy
Thanks, for the review....Glad you came when the weather was nice..
Thanks, Suzy!
I%26#39;m sorry - but not real surprised - that your food at Sonny Williams was unremarkable, but your clients were pleased - the most important thing! Maybe you can come back sometime and try Brave New Restaurant sans clients!
I%26#39;m pleased you enjoyed the Clinton Library, too. I agree it takes at least 2 hours - preferably more than one trip - to begin to absorb the availble material.
Glad you were here for the good weather...we%26#39;re in the process of having another cold spell :(
We will be traveling on I-40 in Aug with our kids and pets. Memphis is a good stopping point. We need a hotel on or close-to I-40. Money is not really an object, as the office is paying for our relocation. Any ideas? Marriotts and Sheratons seem to be booked. Need accomodation for 5 plus dog/cat.
There are several in memphis, I can%26#39;t tell you if they are on I-40 , But here is a link for pets in hotels
http://www.bringyourpet.com
My husband and I are planning a trip to Norphlet, Arkansas to visit a dear elderly auntie. Norphlet in outside of Little Rock and we would like some ideas as to what to do on the way - we live outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota and it will be a long drive unless we find something to break up the drive. Had considered stopping in Branson, Missouri for a day. Neither one of us have ever been there. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!
What to do on way down to ArkansasOh, do stop in Branson, There are so many things to see and do there...A couple of good places to stay is, WHispering hills, and Branson best, or savannah house,
All three come with a 22 item breakfast and ice cream and cobbler in the evenings, All three are really clean and are priced well.
http://www.whisperinghillsinn.com/
http://www.savannahhousebranson.com/
http://www.bransonsbest.com/
Will you be coming thru springfield?
Try to eat at lamberts. they are the home of the throwed rolls, and they passaround pans of vegtables and other goodies besides your food you order.
http://www.throwedrolls.com/ozark.html
I am interested in places in Hot Springs that offer massages and spa treatments, but I don%26#39;t want a public bath house. My mom, sister, and I may get a chance for a girls day out for Mother%26#39;s Day weekend, and I thought something like this might be just what we need. Thanks!
There is a place called something like Subia? We stayed at www.wildwood1884.com and they booked us a couple massage as part of a package. Both places are the best we have had and this was our third trip to Hot Springs.
My husband and I are currently planning a trip to Eureka Springs in late May, and were looking for any advice on where to stay with our elementary age child, and infant( 5 months at time of travel). We travel quite a bit, and are used to staying in all kinds of accomodations from bed and breakfasts, luxury hotels, and family run motels; however having a newborn is a new twist for us, as we didn%26#39;t begin traveling with my other child until he was 5 years old. We will probably spend 2-3 days in Eureka Springs and then I have 3 nights reserved at Big Cedar Lodge for the remainder of our vacation. I have checked out the Coach House Inn ( which is within walking distance to town) and Sherwood Court ( which sounds like the trolley would be more conveniant); both sound great. I am leaning towards Sherwood Court because they have freestanding cottages, which might be more private with a baby. Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated, as we have never been to Eureka Springs before. Thank you in advance for your replys!
How exciting that you are about to expierence a truly magical place!
The Coach House is your Basic motel we have stayed there before and would reccomend it to friends and family. It isnt fancy but it is clean and close to the DT area. I also like the fact you have 2 doors-one facing the parking lot and another in the back of your room facing the balcony area-I do believe the tubs there are jetted.
another place you may want to consider is Sleepy Hollow http://www.estc.net/sleepyhollow/
It has one of the BEST locations in town, imho
The Bodie House is another option you may want to consider
http://www.eureka-net.com/bodie/
located further down spring st but still a nice couple blocks stroll to the shops
Lastly try sweetseasons www.sweetseasons.com there are several cottages and townhouses that would accomodate your family, the ones that come to mind are The Little Chateau, %26amp; Wishing Star.
My pick would be for lodging downtown-it is fun to ride the trolly but we just prefer to walk out our door and walk to the shops.
However if you really want to trolly expierence I would check into http://www.treehousecottages.com/ hillside haven cottage it is beautiful.
Hope that helps and I kno you are going to have a wonderful time!
Thank you Pastasalad for all of your great insight on lodging in the Eureka Springs area! I have been a busy bee the last couple of days, getting info. on the places you recommended. I just heard back from the innkeeper at Sleepy Hollow, and she will allow our age of children to stay there. It looks like a great choice, but I can%26#39;t find any reviews on it. Also the Hillside Haven cottage will gladly accomodate our family as well- and it has favorable reviews on tripadvisor. Choices, choices. After reading your post, I%26#39;m thinking maybe staying downtown would be easier. Any thoughts on the choice between Sleepy Hollow and Hillside Haven cottage? We are a family that loves enjoying the atmosphere of our accomodations, problem is they both look terrific! Thank you in advance for your reply!
I love Eureka Springs, and have walked everywhere once the trolley drops me off. 2 things that I will just bring to light is:
1. check with your final decision downtown as to WHERE is your parking. With your youngster %26amp; infant it may not be reasonable to have to your car 6 blocks to 1 mile away.
2. The trolley system is the best %26amp; the drivers are very considerate of all the hands %26amp; feet when traveling with small children, buy the passes to get on %26amp; off all day long. There are several routes that take you different directions so it isn%26#39;t the same thing everytime you get on, but they do not run at night.
Have a great trip, you will go back.
Thank you for the info. on the trolley system. That will indeed help in making my final decision.
IMHO I think both are FANTASTIC choices-it really depends on what location you want
I Like Sleepy Hollow because it has a great location-you literally wake up,walk out your door and you are right downtown, not to mention you have your own ';private'; driveway/parking spot a rareity! SH is more victorian and is full of antiques plus it is 3 stories-just some things to consider with children...being right downtown is a dream for us-so i am more partial to this location...
HOWEVER Hillside Haven is a beautiful lil oasis in its own right. and would give you the opportunity to use the trolly to get around town(I agree get the all day passes for the trolly-if you go this route). It has both a jacuzzi and outdoor hottub and is only 2 levels. Hillside Haven is not victorian-more modern so keep in mind what is asthecically pleasing for you also.
I really dont think you could go wrong with either lodging choice Oh let us know where you decide and all about your trip-you are going to LOVE ES!
hope that helped a lil bit
The Coach House Inn has been sold and is no longer a motel.
Sherwood Courts are very nice.
There are a couple of places that would be cool with the kids. One is Livingston Cabooses. These are cabooses that have been converted. Kids love staying with them. Best Western Inn of the Ozarks is a great place for kids because of the pool and game room, kids like it there.
Eureka Suites has a full kitchen which makes traveling with children much easier especially with an infant.
All of these places are on the trolley route.
Thanks to everybody for their insight! I booked our stay in Eureka Springs at the Sleepy Hollow victorian cottage. We are really looking forward to staying there and exploring the town!
Consider Scandia Inn. We have stayed at the Scandia Inn twice and absolutely love it. It is a bed and breakfast in an old 1940s style cottage complex. The food is excellent. The cottages are very private. They accept pets (one of the reasons we go there) but the cottages are very clean. The owners are great. We feel like we are visiting friends when we stay there. The inn is not downtown and offers lots of parking, but is close enough to walk if you are not in a hurry.
You may want to consider Best Western-Inn of the Ozarks! The 8 year old would love the mini-golf and pool!
To the person that recommeded Livingston Cabooses. Are you nuts? These cabooses are: 1. cramped 2.It%26#39;s hard to climb up the steps. 3. The space heaters are not safe. There are lots of sharp corner%26#39;s and unsafe things for children to get into. I stayed in one of these cabooses and was very disappointed!!!! I can%26#39;t imagine staying there with children! Bad idea!!!!
Hi
Whats the best place in town for massage and spa treatments? thanks!
My pick The Works @ The Palace Bath house, it truly is an expierence and one you wont forget!
I%26#39;m partial to the New Moon Spa at the Crescent Hotel.
Gryphon%26#39;s Roost would be my choice!
I plan to have a 2-3 days vacation in mid of april 07. I will drive from Dallas.
Just wanted to hear your opinion between Quachita lake and Degray lake. Which one is better? We plan to do some fishing, kayaking..etc. we have kids and other family joining with us.
Or other lakes /national park that you can recommended for our trip is welcome! :)
Thanksss.
Lake Ouachita is much nicer IMO. Lots of fishing, and Kayaking areas. Very nice resorts to stay at. Check out Mountain Harbor resorts or Brady Mountain marina.
Just want to know is there a casino there ? TIA
Is there gambling in Hot spingsNo, But they have games of skill in the horse track, Which look just like slot machines, and poker machines,, It is their way of getting around the no casinos in arkansas law.............
That%26#39;s as close as your gonna get.....
Anyone ever stayed at the cabins at ';five points lake hamilton';. I have reservations there for one of the one bedroom cabins. Wondering if anyone has ever stayed there, and if it%26#39;s as nice as it looks from pictures.
I actually live in Hot Springs and work for the Visitor Bureau. Five Points are very nice cabins. They are family owned and operated, and they are right on the waters of Lake Hamilton. The owner%26#39;s name is Skip Houston and he is extremly nice and accomidating to his guests. This is also a pet friendly property, which is hard to find now a days.
We traveled here to Mountain View, Arkansas in the fall of 2005; we really enjoyed the beauty and laid back lifestyle here. We especially enjoyed parking our RV and staying at Sylamore Creek RV Park.
We found a cabin/land package deal here in Mountain View being sold by a local builder/contractor, and to make a long story very short, we ended up getting financially ripped off, and some of the work to be done by the builder/contractor was never completed.
This builder has since been indicted on 2 felony counts, and has left behind other scam victims.
We believe newcomers, as we once were to this beautiful area should be made clearly aware of the fact, there are some in this community who will prey upon those who are unfamiliar with this area.
We recommend you ask around in great depth, check court house records, and check the Better Business Bureau, prior to making any land/cabin purchases here, as we know all too well, it will be in your best interest.
newcomers are more than welcome in Mountain View Arkansas. Contractors, Locals and everyone else who do anything they can for newcomers. The newcomers that come into the town of Mountain View are treated fairly. The touble makers are the ones that are not liked. When lawyers have to be hired to take care of the contractors from newcomers trying to make a buck and is agreed to leave the contractor alone and that is not being done what else are the contractors supposed to do.
newcomers are more than welcome in Mountain View Arkansas. Contractors, Locals and everyone else who do anything they can for newcomers. The newcomers that come into the town of Mountain View are treated fairly. The touble makers are the ones that are not liked. When lawyers have to be hired to take care of the contractors from newcomers trying to make a buck and is agreed to leave the contractor alone and that is not being done what else are the contractors supposed to do.
Hi
Visiting Arkansas next month for 3 weeks. Will be based primarily around Ozark,Ft.Smith,Paris area.
Looking for general advice on where to stay, what to see, what to avoid. Will have a car and hoping to see lots of the state and maybe others nearby.
I am 50 yr old Englishman travelling alone. Do have friends in area mentioned above but not limited to that. Not on poverty line budget but by no means unlimited.
Have visited States before but only to areas with more foreign tourists i.e New York and Florida. So this a step into the unknown for me.
Grateful for any advice or tips.
Thanks
First of all , you will love northern arkansas, the ozarks are beautiful.
I would go into little rock for a day and see the river market area, It has the president clinton library/museum. And there also is the old state house and surrounding museum, There are a few good hotels in that area, like the peabody, the doubletree,
Little Rock has three replica vintage trolleys operating on the 2.5-mile route. The River Rail route includes Alltel Arena, the Statehouse Convention Center, the River Market itself, both state houses, the historic Argenta neighborhood, numerous restaurants and hotels, the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Museum of Discovery, the main branch of the Central Arkansas Library System, two Chambers of Commerce, courthouses, the Robinson Auditorium Concert Hall, the Riverfront Amphitheater and more. Hotels that can be reached on the River Rail include the DoubleTree Hotel, the Capital Hotel, the Peabody Hotel (home of the ducks) and the Courtyard By Marriott.
I also would suggest a day in hot springs national park, The city is called a national park, because of it%26#39;s bath houses and it%26#39;s natural hot water springs, It has alot of old gangster history , like gangster Al capone, ...And it%26#39;s The oldest national park in the united states.
http://www.nps.gov/hosp/
The older hotels in the historic district are kinda pricey, but are rich in history.
And don;t miss out on Eureka springs , It is , a 19th century Victorian village nestled in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, is known for its numerous bed and breakfast inns.
Look around and you can find alot out about eureka springs.
And Branson Missouri Ir just a few miles from eureka springs and it is A las vegas like city without casinos and crime. They are based on music theaters, they have a strip like in las vegas with theaters and hotels, there are some great places to stay , and you can stay really quite cheap.
I can suggest some places to stay in branson,
There is a group of sister hotels , that are great priced and have breakfast included , as well as ice cream and cobbler, with cookies in the evenings, they are really clean,
http://www.whisperinghillsinn.com/
http://www.savannahhousebranson.com/
http://www.bransonsbest.com/
There are some real good shows in branson from country to hits of the past to comedy.
Here is a web site to get some good info on the shows, sign up on the forums and ask away, there are alot of locals on the forum,,
www.1branson.com
The worlds largest titanic museum is in branson, and many other fun things to do and see.
you will find that the people of arkansas, and in branson are warm friendly people , just sit back and talk to them and you will see. Feel free top ask anything you need to know..And have a great trip...
Thanks for that Fordarama. Will make a note of your suggestions. Thanks for replying.
What are your interests? There are many varied attractions in Arkansas as well as surrounding states. For example Northern and Western Arkansas are mountainous and have several state parks with wonderful lodges, Little Rock has many historical buildings and museums, and fine old residential neighborhoods. The Clinton Library and Little Rock Central High School are also here. Hot Springs is certainly worth a day or two. A side trip to Memphis might be in order to visit Graceland and Beale Street. Let us know your interests and so we can give better advice.
Thanks oldcpa.
I wil be spending the majority of my time in Western Arkansas so hope to see lots of that. Also already factored in a trip to Little Rock. I Have looked at a lot of literature about Arkansas and browsed websites. It looks ideal for covering my interests which include photography, fishing, walking and visiting museums,art galleries etc.
I suppose what I am after, is local knowledge of anything of interest that the mainline tourist brochures and websites miss out. Also would like to know of any particular areas that should be avoided for whatever reason.
Have thought about a trip to Memphis. Will see how I get on with driving on ';wrong'; side of road, for me, first.
Appreciate your time
Thanks
There are a few casinos just south of memphis, I just thought I would mention them.
There are some wondeful state parks in arkansas, and I think you will be surprised at the beauty. You should check out Devils den state park, It is breath taking, and would offer some great trails, and photo opps....
www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/park.asp…
Oops, I see you like fishing, Some of the best trout fishing in the world is in branson on lake taneycomo, it runs right thru branson,
Lake Taneycomo has the characteristics of both a river and a lake for anglers to enjoy. The shallow colder water, located near the Table Rock Dam, averages 48 degrees F, resembles a river and permits wading and bank fishing for trout. The average temperature of the water gets warmer and the depth of the Lake deepens to depths in excess of 50 feet near Lake Taneycomo and the Power Site Dam in Forsyth. When Table Rock Dam is generating power its current is very strong throughout its whole length, its water temperature drops, and for all practical purposes it becomes a very deep, cold, fast running river. Exactly how deep, cold, and fast depends on how many generators are being used to generate electricity at Table Rock Dam.
I just thought I would add it in... you may have to add a few weeks more for all that there is to see.
Thank You for the further information. It all sounds wonderful. I think yor last comment is probably true. I could do with extra weeks to cover everything. But alas not possible at this time. But if I like Arkansas there is always next year to carry on exploring.
Thanks again
pwac50
The NW section of the state has two state parks that might be of interest for their scenic beauty; Devils Den and Mount Magazine.
To the north of Ft. Smith visit Fayetteville, the home of the University of Arkansas%26#39;s Fayetteville campus. Beside the University the town offers a number of fine restaurants. On the campus is Carnell Hall, a former dorm converted to a guest house. It has comfortable rooms and a good restaurant.
East of Fayetteville is Eureka Springs. It%26#39;s an old resort town with an atmosphere unlike anyplace else in the state.
South of Ft. Smith, on the Oklahoma border, is Queen Wilhelmina State Park. Once again natural scenic beauty and, like the two Parks mentioned above, lodging is available for overnight visitors.
Southeast of Ft.Smith is Hot Springs with its three lakes and National Park. This town is unique with the Park%26#39;s bathhouses, its arts community and historic hotels.
Little Rock is the state capital. Located here, in a very compact area, is the River Market, the Clinton Library, The Old State House Museum and the Historic Arkansas Museum. There are hotels and restaurants within this district and all can be reached on foot.
Nearby is the Arkansas Arts Center is an easy walk away.
Certainly the things I%26#39;ve mentioned are by no means and exhaustive list. Here are web sites with maybe more information than you need but usefull neverthe less:
http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/
http://www.mountainstateparks.com/
http://www.hotsprings.org/
http://www.littlerock.com/
http://www.experiencefayetteville.com/
http://www.eurekasprings.com/
One other thing. You don%26#39;t have to leave Arkansas to experience some of the best fishing in the country. Northern Arkansas has several large lakes located on the White River. These Lakes were created for both flood control and power generation. Today they fulfill their initial purpose plus providing recreation both on the lakes and in the rivers below the dams. Google ';fishing in arkansas'; for many fishing sites.
Unless you enjoy theme parks and man-made attractions I%26#39;d avoid Branson, Missouri. It%26#39;s sort of Las Vegas without the gambling. Entertainment by performers, many of whom are long past their prime, is the primary feature. Branson is just over the Missouri line so a quick drive up and a tour of the strip would likely tell you if you wanted to spend more time there.
Once more the only out of Arkansas trip I recommend is Memphis which is only two hours from Little Rock.
http://www.agfc.com/fishing/default.aspx
www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/index.html
My family and I are heading to Eureka Springs in June. We have an 8 year old and a 4 year old. They are both very mature and enjoy historical things ect. As I am planning our trip, I am worried I am going to plan and miss out on one of the MUST SEES. Could you all tell me the absolute best things to see and do while we are there so I can make sure I get them on our Itenerary.....thanks!!!
Oh also, could you tell me how long to plan for the Abundant Memories, Turpentine Creek, Cosmic Cave, Quigleys Mansion ect???
Thanks Again!!!
I think the average tour for Cosmic Cave is a little over an hour and you%26#39;ll want to allow some time to look through their giftshop. There is also Onyx Cave right in Eureka Springs, which has a self-guided tour and takes under an hour to see. You can expect at least an hour or two for Turpentine Creek. They have a self-guided tour through the main compound and then every hour on the hour they have a guided tour around the natural enclosures. Quigley%26#39;s Castle is probably between 1/2 - 1 hour. They have the house as well as the gardens to walk through. Abundant Memories is not as easy to pin down. You could spend from an hour to several hours looking at everything they have in the Heritage Village. They also have a Historama Patriotic Program they perform each day.
Eureka Springs also has a wonderful Historical Museum located right downtown on Main St, as well as the Bible, Sacred Arts and Earth History museums out at the Passion Play, where you can also so the Christ of the Ozarks statue. There is also Blue Springs Heritage Center which has beautiful gardens, the largest active spring in the area, historical artifacts and the kids can even feed the trout in the lagoon.
The Eureka Springs downtown area is all historical as well. They have a 5 mile historic loop where you can see the old Victorian homes, churches, sites of the springs (which first brought the people to Eureka Springs), art galleries, pretty park areas and great shops. There are 2 hotels with nightly ghost tours that they kids may like. There are also 2 great music shows in the evening.
And don%26#39;t forget the outdoor activities like fishing, swimming, horseback riding, float trips, picnicing and hiking!
Thorncrown Chapel is one of the most famous buildings in the world and is just outside of town. It should be a definite ';don%26#39;t miss.'; My favorite part of ES is just walking the town. You never know quite what you will find walking the historic downtown or the historic residential neighborhoods. But it can be steep climbing.
It%26#39;s always nice to stop at the many springs dotted throughout the town. When exploring the town wear some comfy walking shoes-you never know where one path may lead you.
My husband and I are flying in to Little Rock on Memorial Day. Can anyone suggest things we might be able to do? I%26#39;m having a hard time gauging what might be open and what might not. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Memorial Day in Little RockTo bad you are not going to be in little rock the day ahead, It is the end of our riverfest three day festival in the river market next to the clinton library.
It is a great weekend and it ends with a awesome fireworks display..
Now to answer your question, I am pretty sure most restaurants will be open, as well as most stores...
Is there any thing you are interested in seeing or doing?
www.riverfestarkansas.com
http://www.rivermarket.info/about.html
www.oldstatehouse.com
Feel free to ask if you need more info
Memorial Day in Little RockThanks for the info Fordarama. I%26#39;m happy to hear that you think most restaurants/shops will be open. We will definitly visit the River Market and park. The museum also looks interesting, especially the First Ladies%26#39; Gown collection.
Thanks again!
Has anyone been to the Little Missouri River and the Cossatot River? Me and my family are interested in going hiking at these two rivers. Are there any neat swimming holes? Where is the best place to hike? Do you have any pictures you can send me? We are planning on going in June 2007. We plan on tent camping at the Daisy State Park. Thanks for any information you can provide to me.
Pete
Pete,
I have camped hiked and Kayaked the whole lengh of the Little Missouri and Cossatot River. If you plan on hiking or kayaking both then I would recommend staying at Alberts Pike Campground rather than Daisy State Park. Alberts Pike will put you right on the little Missiouri and there are a lot of great swimming holes for the fam to enjoy within the park. Cassatot Falls State park is also a must see and will give you a great idea of the power of the river. At the end of the falls if you make the hike there is a great swimming hole and some cliffs that you can jump off of. I def recommend you check those area out. I will be up there in Late may conducting some whitewater trips on both the Little Mo and Cossatot. If you want more information I would be glad to fill you in, just drop me a line and I should be able to answer any of your questions. Pray that we keep getting a lot of rain and the river will be amazing!!! The little mo is one of the most beautful floats I have ever done and would recomend it to anyone. If the water is high I would not attempt it if you are not experienced with whitewater. Other area%26#39;s of interest would be Little Mo Falls, Window Rock, and Winding Stairs. Hope this helps
Sincerely
James D.
I keep reading that Buckstaff is the only place still open. Does anyone know a hotel with a mineral water hot tub?
The Arlington has premium hotel rooms with large bath tubs piped to the springs. They also have a bath house in the hotel. So you might price out how much the bath service in their bath house is and what you get for that, vs how much the premium rooms are.
My husband and I are going to be in Eureka Springs the end of June. I see a lot about canoe trips, but are there any guided rafting trips or tubing?
I don%26#39;t know of any rafting or tubing on any of the rivers or lakes in Eureka Springs. As far as I%26#39;ve seen, there is only canoeing and kayaking...which are great fun!!
There was mention of a great place to dine in Oklahoma close to the Rogers/Springdale/Bentonville/Fayetteville area. Anyone know of the place that may have been suggested. Also opened to great places to eat.....not necessarily fancy. Plan to be there for a few days in early June.
I%26#39;m a broken record for recommending James at the Mill (Johnson AR very near Fayetteville). It is not only our favorite restaurant in NW Arkansas but pretty much our favorite in the country. If you are there solo, it is a lot of fun to sit at the bar and watch and talk to the chefs working in the open. It is pricey if you get tasting meals and wine, but you can get out of there reasonably if you are selective.
James at the Mill is great but it can be budget busting;-). If you want to support the local establishments is F-ville, you have choices galore: Green House Grill, Hugo%26#39;s, Emelia%26#39;s, Theo%26#39;s and Bordino%26#39;s. Folks love the 36 Club on Dickson, and Jose%26#39;s. There is Ella%26#39;s in Carnall Inn on the U of A campus.
Noodles and Pesto Cafe are other great local places. Noodles has an Olive Garden vibe and a nice patio seating area out back and Pesto is more of a small casual bistro place. Great service at both. Enjoy your trip!
I would love some suggestions for Sunday brunch in Hot Springs. I%26#39;m a huge fan of the Arlington%26#39;s brunch, but for this upcoming trip, we%26#39;ll have a 1 year old and 2 year old with us. Can we go to the Arlington with little kids?
If you have any other brunch suggestions in the area (maybe casual places) with great food, please let me know. In addtition to the kids, there will be 6 adults so we%26#39;re quite a big group. Thanks!
Sunday brunch in Hot Springs?
Try the Pancake Shop right across the street from the Arlington on Central, Av.
Sunday brunch in Hot Springs?We took our daughter to the Arlington brunch when she was a baby. They are not picky about who comes in there and would be happy to get a table of 6 adults with or without kids. I%26#39;d reserve a big table there and have fun. If they still have the donut maker, our kids liked that a lot.
Thanks for the replies. I have eaten at The Pancake Shop once several years ago and it was good. I love the brunch at the Arlington so much, so I am glad to hear that kids would be ok. I guess my family will just have to decide if we want to go for the more expensive option or not!
If anyone has other brunch/breakfast suggestions for a Sunday morning, I%26#39;d still love to hear them. Thanks!
we have taken my nephew to the arlington brunch since he was a little baby...and now he is 4 and a half...we never had a problem...in fact, the pianist played itsy-bitsy-spider for jack and let him sit on the piano...we all clapped along (discreetly of course) and we have some wonderful pictures of our family gathered in this beautiful historic place...by all means, take your children,,,introduce them to history, culture, ambience and the joy that special places can play in your memories for years to come.
Yes, many young children eat at the Arlington for Sunday Brunch. It is by far the best brunch menu in Hot Springs.
Trumpets which is located 2 blocks North of the Arlington serves a very nice brunch also, and is less than half the price. Children are welcome also.
Porterhouse which is South of the Arlington serves brunch but not every Sunday.
China East has a great brunch if you like chinese and very inexpensive.
Personally I love the Brauhaus which is German downtown.
The other hotels and places I know (I live here and have eaten everywhere) are pretty medicore.
We are planning a trip to LR for a medical appt on Kavanaugh Blvd. Where do you suggest staying? My mother is 84 and I need a nice place nearby... Markahm Suites has been suggested or Guest House Inn. Any tips????
Markham House Suites is convenient to any place on Kavanaugh. It has been recently remodeled, here is its web site.
http://www.markhamhousesuites.com/
Hey all!
We are planning a road trip and would love some suggestions.
Our trip currently has us going from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, through:
Savannah, Ga
Charollote, NC
Asheville, NC
Nashville, TN
Memphis, TN
Oxford, MS
Hot Springs, AR.
Are there any stops we are missing along the way? Any detours we should make? We love national parks, bike riding, hiking, live music, festivals, local food and drink, great restaurants, etc. and don%26#39;t want to miss the good stuff along the way. Any suggestions of places to camp our airstream (nice rv parks, county parks, or state parks) would be fantastic!!
Any specific Hot Springs info? We%26#39;ve never been and have heard great things.
Any advice is appreciated!!
Thanks:)
Lavendula
www.roadtrip.cc
CHARLESTON, SC!!!! Beautiful historic district (which is basically all of downtown. Lovely beaches, plantations, farmers market.
May I ask if you%26#39;ve been to Charlotte before?
Eureka Springs is an awesome little resort town about 5 hours north of hot springs, hit that area if you have a chance.
We just arrived back from a trip to Crater Diamond State Park. Which I might add was a beautiful park to stay in. We did not find a diamond, but memories that will last a life time.
On our way back home we drove thru Hot Springs. We drove a 31%26#39; RV. Check your trip guides, we found that we were not able to take the RV in most places. They have a 30%26#39; limit because of the switchbacks. All so, we found only one place were we could park the RV on Central Street. We only planned on staying for a few hours; well it was more like 5-6 hours. Remember to bring empty jugs to fill with the hot spring water. The one public parking for RV%26#39;s (which is not marked, right next to the Visitor Center) is right in front of a public water area. It was great, no carrying the water around. The Visitor Center has a Vacation Guide that has some great coupons too. The parking area for RV%26#39;s and Buses was easy to pull in and out of too. We found that only 2 of the Bath houses was open, one is a museum (Fordyce Bathhouse) and no cost to enter, I might add a must see. The Buckstaff House you can pay for a bath. We now wish that we had done this. We did not take the Duck Tours, but now wonder if we should have to see more in the little time we had. When you drive into Hot Springs you may think you are in the wrong location for only about 3-5 blocks are for the tourist, you will know when you are in the correct location for the drastic change in your surroundings.
Have a great Time !
Hi:
Looking for a great B%26amp;B or place to stay with a friend in Eureka Springs and Branson, MO and recommendations on day spas, and any night life? Thanks!
Wel, there is very little party kind of night life in branson, there is a wonderful new pub in the branson landing that has good music and good times...
As far as good places to stay try the bradford inn, It is a new england style Inn, that is a B%26amp;B... They owners serve you a wonderful breakfast cooked in the general store/office...
The rooms are all themed, and the view is wonderful..you can see for 50 miles, it over looks the 76 strip on a bluff........
http://www.bradfordinn.us/
The branson landing has some really good shopping, and is a wonderful new outdoor upscale mall, with street entertainers, a water feature designed by the same people as the one in vegas at the bellagio.......
As far as eureka springs goes, there are alot of really good B%26amp;B%26#39;s ..Just do a search on the B%26amp;B%26#39;s in eureka on here,,,,It will give you them from 1 to ??
Ah, the last poster hit my button on staying at the Bradford B%26amp;B Inn. Absolutely wonderful place that sits on a bluff, with a view that is breathtaking. The prices vary according to what room you choose. There are two buildings...North %26amp; South. I prefer the south. We are staying in room #28 ';mt. view'; 2nd fl. It has a balcony off the room facing out back. The money you pay for those rooms are well worth the dollars, because the breakfast is AWESOME! Served made to order and plenty of it to eat. The owners and staff are polite, warming and extremely helpful and go out of their way to make you comfortable. Plus, it away from the strip and that%26#39;s important to us.
We travel alot so I make it a point to express the quality of each establishment.
We%26#39;ve stayed at the Welk-Resort once. Except for all the memoribilia in the theatre building....I wouldn%26#39;t stay there again. The rooms are so so and we were very disappointed in the plainess of the decor. Grounds were OK, but nothing to write home about.
Now if you are really on a budget, may I suggest ';Branson%26#39;s Best'; on Green Mountain Rd. the rooms aren%26#39;t like a Marriott, but the breakfast (incl. in price) is phenominal...and the evening snacks are GREAT! www.bransonbest.com
Night life in Branson is basically shows. So it%26#39;s your reference as to what you like. I do suggest you go to see ';Titantic'; exhibit. AWESOME!!! ...you%26#39;ll be glad you did.
Eureka....I tend to stay away from B%26amp;B%26#39;s in the town. We prefer cottages or cabins away from the hussle and bussle of noise and traffic. Two great places are ';Sherwood Court'; %26amp; ';Oak Crest Treehouses %26amp; Cottages'; off W. Hwy 62...and on the trolley stops at each place. there about 1½ miles from town. So park your car and take the trolley. Parking is almost impossible in the city to find. Look up the websites, you%26#39;ll be glad you did.
www.oakcrestcottages.com and www.sherwoodcourt.com
Sherwood is a fabulous place and super clean. If you like nostalgic places, this is the one for you. The grounds are spotless and its so peaceful there. We are staying at Sherwood in November.
Oak Crest is really nice to and they have some great stone cottages...Just go online and read what they offer.
Oh, and don%26#39;t forget....make sure you see ';Thorncrown Chapel'; out on W. Hwy 62.....such a peaceful and serene place. It will definitely leave an impression in your memory. If your going before Oct. 30,,,you%26#39;ve must see the grounds and the Passion Play and the Holyland.
Sorry I don%26#39;t have any day spas to recommend. Nightlife in Eureka is either in pubs at hotels or 2 highly recommended, funny, and hilarious shows. Pine Mt. Jamboree %26amp; Ozark Mt. Hoe-down.
Have a GREAT and Bless time.
We are planning a trip to HS last week of June.
The kiddos wanna do magic springs, do they have multi-day passes?
We heard Loverboy will be @ MS that week can anyone confirm?
When we were there in March we didnt realize we would be considering HS for a summer vacation destination and didnt really take note of hotels/motels with an outdoor pool close to Magic Springs. Can someone give me some options for lodging that has an outdoor pool and possibly breakfast included?
We are thinking of doing the horse races one day and then visiting an animal park-cant think of the name. Can someone suggest other fun things that a family of 5 would enjoy in or around the HS area.
thanks so much for your reply
The knights inn is within walking distance, It is older, but it does have a pool, free continental breakfast,
knightsinn.com/KnightsInn/…
one more place that has great prices is willow beach motel, they are on the lake, and they have a beautiful view from the rooms, as well, as kitchenettes, and a washer and dryer on the property, they have a pool and it would give the kids some room to roam..
www.willowbeachmotel.com/willowbeach.html
I know it is not next to magic springs, but it might be worth the short drive back and forth...
Thank you for the info on willow beach-the website looks nice...have you stayed here? I like the views and patios from the rooms and they have a pool and the guys could fish-this may be just what we are looking for...
Hi pastasalad!
Magic Springs does not offer a multi-day pass, you either have to do day passes or buy a season pass, which is good the entire season, but a waste of money if you don%26#39;t plan on coming back the rest of the season. Loverboy is preforming at the Timberwoods Ampitheater on June 23rd., here is a link to their website which has their prices and a complete list of the concerts this year.
http://www.magicsprings.com/concerts.html
The person who posted before me suggested the Knights Inn, which is a clean, older motel very close to Magic Springs, there is also The Rodeway Inn, which has been recently remodeled and updated. They have an outdoor pool and hot tub. If you want something more upscale, there is also an Embassy Suites that would put you about 5 minutes from Magic Springs. They have an indoor pool and full buffet breakfast that is included with their room rate. I beleive the Rodeway might serve a continential breakfast, but to be positive I would call them and ask.
The horse races will not be going on in June, the live racing season ended on April 14th and will not start back up until January 08.
Other than Magic Springs, Hot Springs is surrounded by 3 lakes, so there is plenty of water activity, boating, jet ski rentals, houseboat rentals, fishing, and there are 2 state parks in addition to the national park, there is plenty of camping and hiking. In our downtown area there is a wax museum, aquarium, art galleries restaurants, there is a science museum, mountain top observation tower, botanical garden, tour companies that will take you on guided tours around hot springs, and plenty of shopping.
Here is the website for visitor information that will list hotels, and all the attractions I just listed.
www.hotsprings.org.
If you need any more advice or information, just let me know!
Jenni Robertson
I stayed at willow beach a few years back, but they were clean, and nice... I do think you wil enjopy them a bit more than the others, just because of the lake and room to roam......
If you stay in town, I%26#39;d consider Embassy Suites over the various older motels if the budget allows. It is real near MS. My kid loves it...great cook-to-order all you can eat breakfasts, nice indoor pool, great two-room suites. But I agree that the lakes are fun in the summer. We often rent lakeside condos which have pools plus full kitchens and plenty of space. Have rented several and all are about the same with neat lake views and nearby boat rentals. Google Hot Springs vacation rentals.
I%26#39;ve been to Hot Springs several times and now am planning on moving there. We always stayed at the Arlington. I don%26#39;t know what your budget is, but when I called them last week the rooms were running around $94/nite. Since we are going for 5 days, we opted to rent a little cabin on Lake Hamilton which sounds great but we haven%26#39;t tried it yet. I found this place on www.cyberrentals.com, however, if you are looking for a pool, this probably isn%26#39;t the place for you. This is on the lake and has a boat ramp but very reasonable. The Arlington you will love. There are two pools, one lower one that is more shallow for younger kids and the above pool is deeper and a huge hot tub is adjacent to the upper pool. The hot tub is great (seats about 20 people) and naturally fed. If you feel adventurous you can hike the trails behind it. Al Capone and his men used to take up a whole floor at the Arlington. You can get a package that will include the wonderful breakfast buffet and hote fare (the buffet is great and something for everyone). If you can swing it, you%26#39;d do well to spend at least one night at the Arlington probably not the day you are doing Magic but perhaps on the more relaxing day. BTW, if you like you can also book a thermal bath and massage at the hotel for about $25.00. (at least the price last time I went) They have separate areas for men and women and you go up a small private elevator so no one has to see you in the bathrobe. Also, if you decide on this hotel, ask to be on the 7th floor (pool level). Then you don%26#39;t have to fuss with the slow elevators. Enjoy your trip. We will be there on June 1 looking for condo%26#39;s to lease prior to purchasing one.
I just wanted to say THANKS for all your replys.
We decided on Willow Beach Motel-my guys REALLY like the fact of being right on the water for fishing,they have a pool for my girls, and we just realized WBM is close to the Hot Springs Mall so we will be able to do some back to school shopping also.
We are really looking forward to our trip~Thanks again for all your help.
Cajun Broilers is a great place to eat. You also have to go downtown to check out bath house row.
We are planning a trip to Little Rock in the spring. We have never been there before and are wondering what part of the city is the safest. Little Rock or North Little Rock. Also, we enjoy hotels located in quiet areas (away from traffic noises). We also enjoy suite type of hotels. Any ideas for hotels that would work best for us?
What part of Little Rock to stayWhat are your plans while you%26#39;re in Little Rock? What attractions are you wanting to see and visit? Traffic noise isn%26#39;t a big problem in LR unless you%26#39;re next to an Interstate highway.
What part of Little Rock to stayWe are actually planning to tour the whole state, staying a couple of nights in Little Rock. We hope to visit the Clinton Museum and possibly take a city tour. We do like to stay at Country Inns while traveling. Any input on the one in Little Rock?
My suggestion is that you consider the Courtyard-Downtown which is a short walk to the Clinton Library. This hotel is located in the River Market District where you%26#39;ll find good restaurants and nighlife. Close by, also within walking distance, are the Old State House Museum and the Historic Arkansas Museum. There is a local tour company, here%26#39;s its web site: http://www.littlerocktours.com/. I also mentioned the Rosemont B%26amp;B which is a little over a mile from the River Market.
Embassy Suites in West LR is nice, with a Japanese steakhouse next door and a Starbucks. Butcher Shop premium steakhouse is a few blocks away. In the spring, you should hit the Farmer%26#39;s arket in the River market area. It is THE place to be on a Sat morning. Also runs on Tuesday morning. West LR is the nicer part of town. About 10 minutes away from the Clinton Library along I-630. NLR is not as nice as WLR, and adds unwanted traffic issues. If you go to NLR, there is a Holiday Inn and Suites next to Baptist Hospital, at the McCain Mall exit off of 67/167 at Exit 1. Both areas are generally safe, in fact the only part of town I wouldn%26#39;t recommend is the south side just south of 630 in downtown. WLR or River market areas are your best bet, avoid NLR. We live in a bedroom community in Cabot 15 minutes north of LR.
One more thing, are you bringing kids, because I can clue you in to the kid scene, we hit all the kid friendly spots with our 2 year old.
Herk_Driver .. I would be grateful for any recommendations for Little Rock for kids. I will be visiting there in June with a 3 year old. Thank you.
I%26#39;m from nearby and spend summers in Little Rock often. West Little Rock is my choice as far as safety is concerned. I%26#39;m only 21 and usually stay in extended-stay hotels alone and feel very safe around Col Glenn and I430, also Chenal Pkwy., or Shackelford %26amp; Kanis areas. Downtown is great, but would avoid it in terms of lodging. My car was broken into in North Little Rock. Also, my internship is actually around Markham St. and University Ave. area (UAMS) but I certainly prefer to drive from Col. Glenn each day than stay in the area.
Regardless of what the young UAMS intern says west Little Rock has little to offer a visitor unless you like to spend time in big box retailers. The Rivermarket hotels are safe as is the entire area.
In the River Market, there is the Museum of Discovery for children. Burn%26#39;s Park is a wonderful free park for the kids to play in. It has mutiple play areas. You can%26#39;t miss the space shuttle slide and playground. Pinnacle Mountain is a great place to hike and explore. It has a welcome center and playgound for the kids.
A few of my favorite places to eat are The Flying Fish and Big on Toyoko in the River Market area and the Faded Rose on 1615 Rebsamen Park Road.
Hello,
Looking for a restaurant near or short drive from Courtyard Marriott on Pres. Clinton.........steaks/seafood or variety...........nothing fancy but good food..........
Thought of Brave New Restaurant but not sure how far that would be....will have drivin in from texas and really want something not difficult to find
Thanks!
Bosco%26#39;s would be my first choice in the Market area. It is right across the street and down a half block from the Courtyard. Ask for a table on the terrace. They have their own microbrew, plus a variety of good food for reasonable prices.
If you want to go upscale, Sonny Williams Steak Room is right next door. It gets great reviews.
Another upscale seafood place around the corner is Vermillion Water grille. They specialize in fresh fish flown in. Very attractive place.
Downscale but fun and right next door and very popular is the Flying Fish Cafe. They are heavy on the fried. You stand in line to order then pick up your food when it is ready.
For lunch try Boulevard Bread Company in the market food court area.
Bosco%26#39;s would be our whole family%26#39;s first choice in the River Market for dinner, but Brave is first choice in town...it%26#39;s only 10 minutes away!
I agree with everything jimjade said. Bosco%26#39;s is close and the food is very good. I absolutely love Brave New Restaurant but if you%26#39;re tired and don%26#39;t want to drive the extra 10 minutes, Bosco%26#39;s is a great choice only steps away.
Susan, the only complaint I have heard about Bosco%26#39;s is that it can be noisy. With a bar in the middle and bare wood finishes, I have found that can be true, but with kids myself, it never bothered me. Terrace seating can avoid the noise and offers a great view of the river and park. Bosco%26#39;s will accept reservations (but won%26#39;t accept them after 4:00 pm on the same day.) Since the last couple times we have been there it has been packed, Sammy might consider making reservations from home and asking for a terrace table. The wait staff has been real nice to my family. Last visit I asked for a real light beer and they offered to bring three little carafes for tasting, at least one of which was not on the menu. They allowed me to select one and then brought a full glass. If Sammy selects Brave, (and it is in a different league than Bosco%26#39;s) I also recommend dining on their terrace. The only complication is the route to the restaurant. I understand they have pretty good directions on their website, and you can stay in touch with them by cell if need be to follow the directions. Brave is VERY close to the River Market but the route can be confusing.
I think maybe you should try some of the river market restaurants, since you will already be there, There are a couple of really nice ones, as well as a couple of hipper, younger type crowd restaurants like sticky fingers, and even the under ground pub, they have wonderful fish and chips, and the burgers are great , even though they are a pub.... Sonny williams has good steaks, Like you said nothing fancy, but good ...Sonny williams is the pricest...
It is a shame you won%26#39;t have time to go out west of little rock towards Petit Jean, It is beautiful and the west side of little rock has some beautiful scenery, And Pinaccle mountain is out the same way... Have a nice and safe trip....
WOW thanks everyone!
i think we will try bosco as recommended on our arrival day and maybe try to squeeze brave in on the next day...we are only staying overnight.....................i didn%26#39;t realize brave was only 10mins away....so probably doable
thanks again for ALL of the helpful information!
The Flying Fish is right next door to where you are staying. It%26#39;s one of my fave places to eat. The Crawfish Chowder is to die for. YUM!
Hi -
I am hosting a group of about 12-13 for lunch in downtown Little Rock and wondered where you would suggest we go. We will be at a conference at the Peabody, and would like something relatively close walking or trolley distance. Any ideas would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
Some possibilities:
Flying Fish: Popular, crowded and heavy on the fried but fun and esay on the billfold. No reservations
Clinton Library, Cafe 42: A good walk but amazing building. Food is ok but the building is memorable. I have seen long waits. I don%26#39;t think they reserve but call them.
Vermillion Water Griille: Very high end but gorgeous place. You can reserve space here.
Nu: Same price range as Vermillion. You can reserve here too. Never had lunch here. Impressive place.
Bosco%26#39;s. Lots of people like this place. Mid range. Varied menu. I think they will hold tables for 12.
Food Court at the River Market: Lots of fun, cheap. Everyone finds their own local vendor...Middle Eastern, Japanese, soup and salad etc. Hard to find chairs sometimes.
You%26#39;ve gotten some great suggestions! Are you looking for fine dining, fun, or just good food? Both Vermillions and Nu are fine dining, but unless I%26#39;m mistaken, Nu isn%26#39;t open for lunch and our meals at Vermillion have been sketchy. I%26#39;m a fan of Boscos...you can check out their menu at boscosbeer.com. It%26#39;s not as upscale as Vermillions but not as casual as the Flying Fish (where you have to stand in line to order). All these places - with the exception of the Clinton Library - are VERY close to the Peabody...just a couple of blocks.
Oops Susan is correct, Nu is closed at lunch. Thanks, Susan.
Nu is closed for good. I think it will open next year as something else. I would suggest the Flying Fish or the River Market vendors. Big on Toyoko is great.
We%26#39;re (60%26#39;s) driving from Hot Springs to Branson in July for about 7-8 days and would like the best route to see Eureka Springs and end up in Branson. We enjoy golfing (would like a lodge) and also maybe a canoe or easy rafting trip. Thanks!!!
My boyfriend and I go to Eureka Springs usually once a month if we can swing it and we always take Highway 23 (the pig trail) from Ozark. It%26#39;s beautiful this time of year. We%26#39;ve stayed in the Crescent and the Basin Park, but never in a lodge. Beaver Lake around Eureka has been on our list of places to go, but have never done it. Have a safe trip. Hope I helped!
Krista
Where are you staying in branson??
There are some good golf courses in branson ,
Although they are a bit pricey...
here is a great link for branson golf...
http://www.golfbranson.com/
a couple of them have condo%26#39;s you can rent in the same area....
as far as eureka springs goes, here is a link for lodges..
www.eurekasprings.com/lodging/index.html
Thanks for the replies. A friend told me today the mountain roads are really dangerous and they have signs posted declaring the number of deaths on the road...that%26#39;s scary! We didn%26#39;t just want to golf, just wanted to take a drive and see the scenery and stop in some little towns of interest for sightseeing.
my husband and I are making the plunge and moving from a big city to Hot Springs. We%26#39;d like to lease for a year before considering purchasing anything. Most of the realtors seem to focus on short term, vacation rentals, rather than longer term leases. We%26#39;d love to stay on Lake Hamilton and find a 2 bedroom condo on the water. Can anyone recommend #1) a good prop manager or realtor that focuses on longer term leases, and #2) which locations on Lake Hamilton would be preferable (nothing too pricey) but nice and well maintained. Thank you.
Eureka Springs was our first destination on a week-long trip in late September.
For those unfamiliar, Eureka Springs is a tiny resort town built on both sides of a valley. I cannot imagine how they ever surveyed that town or built some of the buildings. You%26#39;ll be hard pressed to find any two streets that intersect at right angles or that run straight for more than a few blocks. Everything curves. If not right or left, then up and down. It%26#39;s a fun place, but more so for adults than children. Lots of small shops to browse (we spent a day doing that) and little restaurants to enjoy. My only complaint, if we can call it that, is the lack of free parking. If you only drive downtown for a meal, you have to pay to park. At least there is lots of parking space available, but you could spend quite a bit for parking if you were to come and go several times a day. We walked down from the Crescent Hotel to enjoy seeing some of the quaint old homes and buildings along the way. Walking downhill in Eureka Springs is one thing. Walking back up takes much longer. Still, it didn%26#39;t kill us and I%26#39;d do it again. We both liked Eureka Springs and look forward to going back again.
Someone had asked about how Eureka Springs, AR, Branson, MO and Gatlinburg, TN compare. The closest comparison I can come up with is that of Eureka Springs to Gatlinburg although Eureka Springs is much smaller and there%26#39;s more to do in Gatlinburg. But they%26#39;re two very different places, each with their own appeal. Branson is more like Pidgeon Forge, TN on steroids than either Eureka Springs or Gatlinburg.
We didn%26#39;t do everything you can do in Eureka Springs, but here are some of our observations:
The Crescent Hotel
We spent three nights at the Crescent and enjoyed our stay. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. The hotel is an old limestone building with uneven floors and exposed cables and conduits high on the walls in the hallways. It doesn%26#39;t look like it%26#39;s unsafe, just unattractive. Then, it%26#39;s probably the best you can do with such an old structure. Our room (319) was a king parlor with a shared veranda. The room was clean, but the decor was dark green with gold stenciling on the walls, and carpet that wasn%26#39;t installed yesterday. I was struck by the need for renovation in some areas, particularly on the veranda. For all the articles posted in the lobby about how the new owners spent several million dollars renovating the building, it still looks like it could use some work. We were there in late September and it took an awful long time for the window air conditioner to cool the room to a comfortable level. I%26#39;d hate to think of being there in July. Heat is provided by radiators which we didn%26#39;t need to rely on. Although it may sound like like we didn%26#39;t enjoy ourselves, we really did. My wife had the best assessment: If you don%26#39;t appreciate the character of a 119-year-old hotel, you%26#39;ll probably hate it. We did enjoy the character and would definitely stay there again.
We chose not to eat in the Crystal Dining Room because we had other plans. I had occasion to be in the room twice and neither time was it even approaching half full. That could have to do with our timing. Late September isn%26#39;t exactly the height of tourist season, I%26#39;m sure.
We did opt to have dinner at Dr. Baker%26#39;s Lounge one evening because we thought it sounded like a fun thing to do and we didn%26#39;t have a lot of time. The lounge has an outdoor seating area that overlooks the garden and downtown Eureka Springs. The menu promised some special concoction served in a beaker, all keeping with the theme of Dr. Baker and the hospital he ran in the building in the late 1930%26#39;s. The lounge may be fine for cocktails, but we were unimpressed. The promised concoction tasted like grape kool aid without the sugar and the beakers were no longer available. Instead, my wife was served the drink in a plastic fair-type container (one of those half yard of ale glasses). The menu is very limited: A few appetizers, a hamburger, a croissant club sandwich and a couple of pasta dishes. All in all, we wouldn%26#39;t recommend it.
We did take the ghost tour at the Crescent. It was fun but I thought a little silly. We did learn that our room was the supposed scene of an apparition some years ago, but we didn%26#39;t see anything unusual (much to my wife%26#39;s disappointment). If you believe in ghosts, take the tour. If not, well you can decide if it%26#39;s worth $35 (for two) to hear ghost stories for an hour.
Something interesting about booking your room there: Their web site is a little confusing with price ranges instead of exact prices for what you can book. I called the hotel about a month before our trip to see what we could get. The front desk clerk could only quote a $123 rate for a king room. Lower rates, even those shown on their web site, were not available, she said. They also have a name-your-own-price option on their web site, so I tried that. Three nights, king room, balcony, overlooking the garden. I offered $250 and they took it! As it turned out, the hotel was anything but overbooked but the desk clerk is evidently not authorized to deviate much from the standard rates (whatever they are). I highly recommend making an offer like we did.
The Crescent was featured on the SciFi show Ghost Hunters last week. It was fun being able recognize some of the places they showed but I%26#39;m thinking the price of a room probably just went up after that show aired.
Cafe Santa Fe
In two words: Don%26#39;t bother. We ate there the first night we were in town. After checking into the hotel, it was late and we decided to drive through downtown to see what was available for dinner. Not much after 8:00 on a Sunday evening. I recalled a Tex-Mex place on Main street (aka Mud Street) from my previous stay several years earlier. It%26#39;s still there, but what I recall as Jose%26#39;s is now Cafe Santa Fe. The food was mediocre. We%26#39;ve had much better at Chevy%26#39;s or any of a number of other similar places at home.
Mud Street Cafe
Thanks to the recommendations of Beckers and others on this forum, we tried this cozy little cafe for lunch. It was very good. Had we not wanted to try several restaurants on our trip, we would have gone back for dinner or breakfast. My wife had quiche and tomato bisque soup, I had a prime rib sandwich. Both were excellent and the bill was under $20.00! We had trouble finding the place because we kept looking for Mud Street on the map. Only after we were directed there, did we learn how Main Street came to be called Mud Street due to muddy run off in teh city%26#39;s earlier days.
Ermilio%26#39;s
Beckers recommended this place and she didn%26#39;t steer us wrong. It%26#39;s a home converted to an italian restaurant within (level) walking distance of the Crescent Hotel. They open at 5:00 p.m. We got there a few minutes early and there were already a dozen people waiting. Dinner and service was good. My wife had outstanding filet mignon and I had slightly over done but still very good tuna steak. The pasta side dish wasn%26#39;t as good as I%26#39;ve had elsewhere but we live in St. Louis with lots of authentic Italian restaurants. We spent $100 for dinner including a bottle of house cianti and tiramisu. Overall, it was a very good meal and one of the best we had in Eureka Springs.
Thorn Crown Chapel
This chapel just north of Eureka Springs is worth the short drive. It%26#39;s a beautiful building but there isn%26#39;t much to do there except see it and that doesn%26#39;t take much time. It%26#39;s free, although there is a voluntary collection box on the wall as you might expect for a chapel or church.
Blue Springs Heritage Center
If you like gardens, you%26#39;ll like this place. It%26#39;s also just north of Eureka Springs. The garden includes a lagoon stocked with trout (no fishing), a large spring fed pool and lots of paths, some gravel, some raised wood decks. The trail is about a mile long but we found it a very enjoyable stroll. We paid a reasonable $15 for the two of us to get access to the garden and paths.
Quigley%26#39;s Castle
Okay, it%26#39;s not a castle, but more of a quirky touristy thing to do. Quigley%26#39;s Castle is south of Eureka Springs on Highway 23. It%26#39;s an odd home built by what were probably an equally odd couple. The gardens contain LOTS of rock and concrete ';scupltures'; and bottle trees. You can read about it, but for $5.50 a person, just go see it. It%26#39;s better than the largest wind chime erection which you%26#39;ll happen to pass on your way to Quigley%26#39;s Castle anyway.
Next stop: Branson and Silver Dollar City
Trip Review - Eureka Springs %26amp; The Crescent HotelNice report, thanks. Years ago we stayed at the Crescent and thought it was pretty awesome. There just arent many hotels like that around anymore. We poked our heads into the Crystal Dining Room about noon one day and found a lavish cold-cut buffet. This is not for everyone, but I sure chowed down and lip smacked!
Trip Review - Eureka Springs %26amp; The Crescent HotelI have stayed at the Crescent many times. This is an accurate and truthful review. However, $250 for one of their rooms is the most I have ever heard of them charging! You could have stayed in the Governers Suite for $229! It is a huge two room suite with 2 king size beds. The decor is as the rest of the hotel. I recommend staying at the New Orleans Downtown for the best location.
The $250 was for all three nights total - not one night. That%26#39;s a good deal for the Crescent.
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, all three nights! then that was a good deal! party on!
FLAG DOWN A TROLLEY.........You can flag a trolley anyplace in Eureka that you see one. Just make it plain the you want them to pull over by motioning to them. Wave largely. One can get off most places by telling the driver before. You can purchase a day%26#39;s ticket to four different trollies on different routes for one price. It is cheap and keeps the car traffic low for the true inhabitants of the town. Some of them also ride the trolley as there is not much parking. Remember Eureka is a working town and we go into their ';living rooms'; so to speak. It is not new all over and the first people that renewed Eureka were people in the 70%26#39;s that did not want to be in a place like Branson or a Disney type situation. Eureka is a real antique town with real inhabitents that live and work there. Very few of them live out of Eureka while working there. Enjoy what it is which is not new, shiny and with every aminity that we may see other places. That is why it is appreciated, for it%26#39;s oldness and charm.
QUIGLEY%26#39;S CASTLE....Long ago in the late 60%26#39;s I met the then old woman who came up with the idea of the house. Firstly her husband built a new chicken house and barn which to his idea housed the animals which made them money. The family had to make do. The old woman did not accept this and moved her family into the new barns and the animals into their then as she thought not so nice house. She put her family to work cutting the trees on the property, took them to the local saw mill and had them cut into boards. They built the house two stories high with the beams of the second floor very large and the second floor not meeting the walls but stopping short by about two feet. This construction made available from the wood burning stove on the first floor the heat to rise along the walls upward. The front had very large openings for the dream of later putting glass into them. They did not have that available on the farm so had to purchase it later. In the mean time the first winter they put up gunny sacks to cover it. Gunny sacks are made of hemp string woven. As the winter got colder they soaked the sacks in motor oil to seal them and put more to cover the open areas. The cold got colder and they put more sacks on. As you would know that was one of the coldest winters in a long time just shows that the weather can be contrary. They finally got windows. In the mean time they cut more trees and the old Lady Quigley had a cabinet maker build her a round dining table and chairs. It was the round top and one large round column fashion. It was nicely carved and very well done. On the outside you can see little rocks and big all put on by the family. There are fossils of turtles and other interesting rocks which the Lady Quigley proudly pointed out and told of finding them. There were plants growing downstairs close by the large windows which climbed up into the second story. Lady Quigley was told by someone that she should patent the house as it was so unusual. This was in the I think 30%26#39;s and she did send off to Washington proudly to patent her dream house. It cost something to file a patent and she was told by the patent office not to worry because they had never every seen anything like it. Now , Frank Lloyd Wright move over. I hope you; go and see this because just like the little old lady that was so humble and at once proud to show it great things are in little packages. You will not be disappointed if you go with this story in mind. The things the Ozark people have done with not much money but with a whole world of immagination and commen sence is endless. Even our government%26#39;s patent office thought so. At the time she had the letter from them.
We spent one night there last week, and for the first time in my life, I was seriously considering getting out of bed and sleeping in our car. Our room was filthy and disgusting -- at $179 plus tax and svc . charge -- a total of $207. We cancelled the rest of our stay early the next morning.
It isn%26#39;t that we don%26#39;t appreciate historic hotels; far from it. We%26#39;ve stayed in them in the US and in Europe; and when we lived in London for four years, we leased a flat in a historic building from the same period. The Crescent was shabby and dirty; its only charm was in the lobby. The photos the hotel published must be the owners%26#39; suite; we saw nothing like that, and we were able to glance into several rooms that were open while they were being serviced.
Our room was dark and furnished with ';early garage sale'; items from every period imaginable, the carpet was grimy and filthy, and the decor was more ';Star Wars'; than Victorian.
The porch overlooking the gardens (which were lovely) was equally unappealing, with stained red carpet, ashtrays full of stale cigarettes, and rocking chairs of raw, unfinished wood, some missing arms and/or slats.
The window in our room was grimy and the bedspreads and duvets were dirty (and the stains on those duvets weren%26#39;t rust stains, either!) The hair dryer had melted, and the ring-type hand towel rack was loose and about to fall off the wall. The heavy dark-green shower curtain had white toothpaste-like stains on both sides and a burn mark on the side hem.
We were furnished with one flimsy plastic glass, half a roll of toilet tissue, and one *damp* hand towel for the two of us, which I left it to dry on the shower rod while we were downstairs. To be fair, there were two bath towels and washcloths, and we later found an open supply closet where we could grab a roll of toilet tissue for our bathroom and, a box of tissues for our friends%26#39; room.
Our worst fear was being burned alive in our sleep. The place looked like a fire trap to us, and I didn%26#39;t see a chance that we%26#39;d be able to escape all the way to the first floor. There was some sort of smoke or heat detector on the ceiling, but no sprinkler systems. Our fourth-floor room was located near the stairwell by the kitchen, and that stairwell ended at Level 2; it resumed in some other area on that floor -- I%26#39;d had difficulty finding it that afternoon, so I knew I%26#39;d never find it in a panic situation.
The staff was courteous and helpful, though I still wonder why the bellman told us and our friends, who were equally dissatisfied, that we were given two of the nicer, renovated rooms, since the ones assigned to us hadn%26#39;t been ready. Surely we don%26#39;t look that stupid and naive!
You said you cancelled your stay at the Crescent. Did you find another, better place to stay? My husband and I are going to Eurkea in July and want to find the best place to stay. Of course we don%26#39;t want to spend a fortune but we%26#39;d rather spend more for a nicer place. I have seen a lot about Cliff Cottages, Beaver Lake Cottages. We will have a car. I don%26#39;t know if it would be best to stay in town or out a bit with a view? I don%26#39;t think we will be spending a ton of time in our room however we%26#39;d like a nice bed and bathroom and spacious enough.
marlommm check out the Benton Place Inn%26#39;s Benton Suite-it is lovely,romantic,roomy-I could go on %26amp; on-the pics dont do it justice on the website,especially if you want to be right downtown ES. Not that there is anything wrong with the lodgings you listed-just thought I would give you a few more to look at...
Some other nice choices/options
Treehouse Cottages are awesome!
http://www.treehousecottages.com/
Evening Shade Inn-a very nice property
www.eveningshade.com
A Garden of Dreams
http://www.eurekavacation.com/gardenofdreams/
And if you REALLY want to splurge
http://www.estc.net/featured/winterwood/
My family (Mom, Dad, and kids 5 and 11) is planing a trip to Branson in July and will be spending a couple of nights in Arkansas along the way. We are going to stop at Crater of Diamonds and spend part of a day there.
We are going to arrive in that area after about 8 hours driving from southeastern Louisiana and will spend the night, hit the park the next day for the diamond fields and water park, and spend another night before going on to Branson. After looking at several web listings for things of interest to us we are thinking of spending some time around Mount Ida browsing the crystal shops and maybe digging for quartz.
Reading the reviews, it seems that the motels in Murfreesboro don%26#39;t consistently rate very well and the lodging near Mount Ida seems to be much better and even a bit less expensive.
Any advice on staying in Mount Ida both nights and driving down to Crater of Diamonds for the day and then back to Mount Ida for a second night before leaving the next day? Good idea or bad?
PS: My wife (and I am as well) is a nut for natural gemstone jewelry. So far she is missing anything quartz.
It%26#39;s only about 50 miles from Mt Ida to Murfreesboro on 2 lane highways. I%26#39;d think it would take you an hour to an hour and a half to make the drive,
Does anyone know of a nice hotel to stay at while we are visiting the Crater of Diamonds State Park? I did some research and the only thing I can find is the Embassy Suites in Hot Springs which says it is about 1 to 1.5 hours away. I am not looking for a cabin or a bed and breakfast, I just want a nice hotel that might be a little closer. We are going to Magic Springs the first day and the Crater of Diamonds the next day, thought maybe we could drive from Magic Springs at the end of the in the direction of the Crater for the next day. Thanks!
Crater of Diamonds is located south of the small town of Murfreesboro. There are no large towns in the vicinity where you%26#39;ll find a ';nice hotel';. My advice would be stay at the Embassy Suites in HS. Get up early, take advantage of the free breakfast and then head out to the park. Have you looked at Trip Advisors page on hotels in Murfreesboro?
Thanks I was looking for a confirmation on the Embassy Suites. We booked a couple days there and plan to go to Crater and the Magic Spings park. What other attractions are there near by? Is the amusment park pretty good? We live by a Six Flags so thinking it will be similar. Is the diamond mine worth the trip? I also heard of Bath House tours??? We are just hoping for a nice not expensive family vacation so any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks
Magic Springs is not as big as Six Flags but does have some thrilling rides. The owners have invested a great deal of money to upgrade it and if you enjoy Six Flags you%26#39;d probably enjoy Magic Springs.
Bath House row on Central Avenue in Hot Springs is an interesting place to visit. The bath houses are owned by the federal government and are a part of Hot Springs National Park. The park service maintains the Fordyce Bath House as a visitor center and offers tours. Here%26#39;s the park service web site:
…national-park.com/sights.htm#bathl
The National Park also offers a number of hiking trails.
On Lake Hamilton the University of Arkansas operates Garven Woodland Gardens. It is a magnificent botanical garden and has become one of Hot Springs%26#39; major attractions.
http://www.garvangardens.org/
Is a trip to the Crater of Diamonds worth it? It consists of a large field which is regularly plowed the purpose of which is to bring to the surface diamonds. To search for the stones you basically dig and sift the dirt. There is no shade and in the summer it is very hot. As you can imagine you will get dirty. Does this sound like fun? Not to me but many, many others think it is. And occasionally a large diamond is found.
http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/
If you enjoy water activities you can rent boats and party barges on Lake Hamilton.
I%26#39;ve found a great motel named Riverwood Inn in Glenwood Arkansas, which is between Hot Springs and the Crater of Diamonds State Park. The motel is american family owned and operated which to me is a huge plus. The rooms were super clean and the service was outstanding! I%26#39;ve found that Glenwood is kind of like a hub for that area. The Crater of Diamonds State Park, the crystial mines in Mt. Ida, and Hot Springs are all within 30 minutes of Glenwood. The motel also has a great pool and was really affordable. It was like staying at a big frachised motel without the high cost. I%26#39;d recomend everyone to stay at the Riverwood Inn. We had such a great time and I can%26#39;t wait for my next chance to go back to that area!
Well Tuesday was the day a large diamond was found. While most diamonds are small a 13 year old Missouri girl found a 2.93 carat stone.
I am looking for a nice hotel with spa and shopping nearby for a girls weekend - any recommendations out there?
To my knowledge, there are no hotels in Little Rock with spas. I%26#39;ve just looked through the yellow pages and don%26#39;t see any mentioned in conjunction with a hotel. In my opinion, the most fun area of Little Rock to stay would be downtown in the River Market area, but the shopping there is limited and doesn%26#39;t include clothing.
The best shopping areas for clothing are either in the mid-town area, (and there really aren%26#39;t any good hotels there), or the west side of town, which is spread out over a wide area but does have a number of chain hotels.
Thanks,
I suppose there are some good spas in the area, just not in hotels. So maybe we%26#39;ll go that route.
What about the McCain Mall? I%26#39;ve seen more recommendations for that over other ones. Anything that an 18 yr old girl would enjoy would be what I%26#39;m looking for.
Thanks again!
The Embassy Suites in West Little Rock might be a good location. From there you can find stores along Chenal Parkway, (my wife likes a place called Chico%26#39;s) and you can drive a very few miles to the new Mid-Town stores at Markham and University (several high-end chains), across the street to Dillard%26#39;s and the Park Plaza Mall, and you could venture up University to Kavanaugh %26#39;the Heights%26#39; where there are some unique locally owned shops. I am definitely no expert in this field, but my wife likes a %26#39;spa%26#39; in the Heights called Caracalla 501-280-0866.
The best mall in Little Rock is Park Plaza. McCain Mall has become tired and needs a facelift. As for a spa, my wife is also a fan of Caracalla. For a hotel consider Markham House Suites. It%26#39;s right down the street from Park Plaza and the new MidTowne Center.
http://www.markhamhousesuites.com/
parkplazamall.com/shop/parkplaza.nsf/index
http://www.midtownelittlerock.com/
http://www.caracalla.com/
Okay, I like the look of those sites you gave me. I am feeling like the River Market district might just be a fun thing to do on the side, instead of staying down there.
Thanks also for the heads up on McCain!
I would recommend Arkansas Healing Arts. It%26#39;s a wonderful and affordable experience in Pavillion in the Park. I usually do a student massage every time I return home for $35/hr.
If you do go there, I%26#39;d recommend lunch at Trio%26#39;s...has a green canopy when you enter.
I would definitely recommend Park Plaza as the better mall.
Unfortunately shopping is pretty limited there and you won%26#39;t find many unique shops other than %26#39;the heights%26#39; area.
If you are in that area stop in to Faux Paux. it%26#39;s a great jewelry store. There are also several more in the area that are unique!
I%26#39;d recommend staying in the River Market area. There%26#39;s more to do within walking distance.
Eat Lunch at Sticky Fingers for me!!
For a very nice, delicious dinner go to Sir Loins Inn on the NLR side of the bridge!
It%26#39;s absolutely delicious and a family favorite for any special occasions. I%26#39;ve gone there for 20 years of my life and is also a %26#39;must do%26#39; when I travel home from Dallas.
Andream I hate to break the news to you but Sir Loins Inn is no more.
I%26#39;ve been gone at scout camp - thanks for the continuing information
!
Thank you for the suggestions. I am also considering staying in Conway at a B%26amp;B, and trying out a spa there, since it is closer. Then if we decide we have to shop, we could drive in to Little Rock. Anyone tried Conway?
I can%26#39;t imagine why you%26#39;d want to drive all the way from Edmond to stay in Conway. Conway is a college town and a bedroom community for Little Rock. It%26#39;s a nice place but not what you would consider a destination for spas, shopping or entertainment.
