June 9: I drove from Magnolia to Hot Springs, AR this morning to experience Hot Springs National Park. I walked into the visitor center (got my stamp, Woot, I remembered) and jumped on a tour of the Fordyce Bathhouse as it was starting. The tour was interesting enough to 1.) give a little history of the city (Al Capone loved it here), 2.) learn the different techniques the bathhouse used to relax/heal their patrons (passing a low voltage current through the water to stimulate your nerves and muscles was one, would not advise), and 3.) step back in time to see what a spa was like 100 years ago (check out this gym).
After the tour, I walked down Central Avenue and it reminded me of an Old Western town. Quaint but busy with classic western architecture, both sides of the street lined with shops, restaurants and bars. I stopped in at Superior Bathhouse, the local brewery, for a beer and Cuban sandwich. The brewery is actually in the National Park and it uses the thermal water to brew its beer. The Outlaw IPA was very good.
Factoid for the day: The water discharges out of the ground at ~143 degrees F
Bonus factoid: The thermal water that is coming out of the ground today, fell to the ground as rain 4000 years ago.
I wanted to get to my campsite and go on a hike so I forwent actually experiencing the hot springs. Maybe at the end of my trip I’ll find some hot springs to relax in.
The campsite is about a 5 min drive from the visitor center and brewery. I parked my car, put some essentials in day bag and headed out on my hike…