12 Fun Family Activities in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Occasionally called Spa City and Valley of the Vapors, Hot Springs operates as the county seat of Garland County and is the 11th biggest city in Arkansas.
The city is broadly well-known for its hot springs, therefore the name.
Hot Springs receives a notable 1.5 million guests yearly, most remarkable for its natural hot spring waters.
Besides that, the city features magical panoramas and diverse entertaining places and activities great for people who wish to restore a connection with Mother Nature.
That being said, enjoy Hot Springs for yourself and bring your loved ones on your next vacation.
Are you questioning what is waiting for you in this incredible city?
Don’t stop reading to explore some of the most exciting activities to do in Hot Springs with children.
- Garvan Woodland Gardens
Founded in 2002, the Garvan Woodland Gardens is a flora garden that exists on 210 acres of land.
The park includes a remarkable display of unique trees and shrubs, like roses, magnolias, and camellias.
Why Your Family Should Go
If you’re into learning about plants, the Garvan Woodland Gardens will be a perfect place for you to go to.
You’ll spot beautiful structures within the area, including the Anthony Chapel, Sunrise Bridge, and the Spring Tulip Extravaganza.
What to Do with Kids
Take the little ones to the Evans Children’s Adventure Garden, where they’ll enjoy exploring the man-made cavern at this 1.5-acre part of Garvan Woodland Gardens.
A tour of this gorgeous garden is a perfect addition to your list if you know little about what to do in Hot Springs with children.
Recommended Ages
Everybody is allowed to admire the gorgeous views of the Garvan Woodland Gardens.
- Bathhouse Row
A common strip that guests frequent in Hot Springs, the Bathhouse Row includes bathhouse buildings built in diverse types like renaissance-revival, neoclassical, Italian-style, and Spanish.
It has been part of the NRHP since November 13, 1974.
Why Your Family Should Go
If you’re into exploring wonderfully created structures, go to the Bathhouse Row and explore some of the most wonderful bathhouse buildings, featuring the Maurice Bathhouse, Lamar Bathhouse, and a lot more.
You’ll be amused that all the bathhouses at the spot are similar in scale, tallness, and size.
What to Do with Kids
The kids will love strolling through Bathhouse Row and watching all these diverse period-style architectural structures.
They’ll unquestionably desire to get their pictures taken in front of those extraordinary spots.
Spending a couple of hours of bathhouse-hopping at this well-known tourist place is one of the most wonderful activities to do in Hot Springs with kids.
Recommended Ages
Residents and guests of all ages will love these outstanding bathhouses and know about the history of those structures.
- Fordyce Bathhouse
one of eight bathhouses in Bathhouse Row, the Fordyce Bathhouse, presently serves as a guest center and is the biggest bathhouse on that strip.
3 main floors, a basement, and 2 courtyards are what the building comprises.
Why Your Family Should Go
If you want to know about the history of the disreputable strip that includes the bathhouses, the Fordyce Bathhouse is the perfect spot to begin.
You can decide to join a guided tour or just do one on your own to sightsee the area.
Ins this bathhouse, you’ll see many stalls, tubs, and other artifacts that include information about the city’s history.
What to Do with Kids
The children will love seeing all the various bathtubs found on all the diverse floors of the Fordyce Bathhouse.
They can additionally catch the thoughtful films that the facility plays every half an hour.
A trip to the Fordyce Bathhouse is one of the most wonderful free kid-approved activities to do while you’re visiting Hot Springs.
Recommended Ages
The Fordyce Bathhouse is broadly available to everyone of all ages.
- Hot Springs National Park
The spot that best highlights the city, the Hot Springs National Park, boasts the hot springs that made Hot Springs well-known in America.
That tourist spot additionally houses the disreputable Bathhouse Row — a spot within an attraction.
Why Your Family Should Go
You want to visit Hot Springs, AR, so you can experience the hot springs, correct?
If so, you can do it at the Hot Springs National Park!
Regardless of the thermal springs, you can additionally go hiking on their trails, such as the Sunset Trail, the West Mountain Trail, and the Hot Springs and North Mountain Trails — one of the most wonderful activities to do in Hot Springs with children.
What to Do with Kids
Take the little kids to the thermal springs, the spot where they can explore the Hot Water Cascade and The Display Spring — some of the park’s main highlights.
This is an excellent method to teach them to love the calm and peaceful effect of nature.
Recommended Ages
All tourists and citizens are very welcome to explore the infamous Hot Springs National Park!
- Anthony Chapel
A gorgeous structure within the Garvan Woodland Gardens, Anthony Chapel is a common wedding place and tourist spot that boasts a fifty-seven feet high ceiling.
The structure’s materials contain glass, local wood, and stone.
Why Your Family Should Go
Do you desire to admire one of the simplest yet amazing chapels you’ll ever explore?
If so, go to the Anthony Chapel and admire this amazingly structured location.
Besides the beauty of the chapel, the tranquillity is dreamlike and is great if you desire a calm place to pray or just meditate.
What to Do with Kids
Stopping by the Anthony Chapel will be perfect for the children because they can have a couple of minutes admiring the calm ambiance away from the regular loud crowds and city.
They’ll have something to pray for as well, and this spot is the perfect way to do so.
Recommended Ages
All guests are welcome to have an intimate and calm, quiet time at the Anthony Chapel.
- Lake Catherine State Park
Recognized as one of the most wonderful parks in Arkansas, Lake Catherine State Park is on 2,180 acres and provides many open-air entertaining things to do enjoyable for all visitors, like swimming, paddling, boating, and more.
Why Your Family Should Go
Lake Catherine State Park is a post you must visit if you love great views and love staying lively.
You’ll enjoy doing water activities like paddling and boating at this infamous, entertaining location.
This park is a family-approved spot, so there won’t be any issues if you’re holidaying with a baby.
What to Do with Kids
There is a small shore region within the properties, where the little kids can refresh up and spend a couple of hours swimming.
Also, don’t overlook having their swimsuits packed before you go to Lake Catherine State Park.
Recommended Ages
Children and grown-ups can enjoy doing exciting and entertaining things at Lake Catherine State Park.
- Lake Ouachita
A place that provides some of the most wonderful family activities in Hot Springs, Lake Ouachita features a gorgeous lake and beautiful views that offer many entertaining things to do for tourists and holidaying families such as camping, hiking, and boating.
Why Your Family Should Go
Are you searching for things to do with the entire family this holiday?
Go to Lake Ouachita and have a day, or even a night, at this amazing spot.
Get your tents and camping necessities and set up your shelter for the evening, all while admiring one of the most wonderful sights in the city.
What to Do with Kids
Following setting up at the camping spot, take the children to the fishing docks and enjoy catching some fish.
This is a perfect chance to let them learn about this underrated fun activity.
Recommended Ages
Every family and tourist alike are welcome to admire the wonders of Lake Ouachita.
- Ouachita National Forest
An open-air fun region that sits on about 1.8 million acres of land, the Ouachita National Forest offers hiking, camping, and beyond.
Why Your Family Should Go
If you desire to spend a lively day outside but still want to be nearby, explore the Ouachita National Forest and be ready for a day of escapade.
Ramble along the Ouachita National Recreation Trail and experience the wonderful atmosphere that nature has to provide.
What to Do with Kids
A day hike on this incredible land is a perfect way to maintain the kids moving and lively.
Specifically, now they devote most of their time in front of computers, devices, and such.
Rambling at the Ouachita National Forest is truthfully a perfect alternative for activities to do with children close to you.
Recommended Ages
The Ouachita National Forest is allowed for everybody who craves a lively day outside.
- Mid-America Science Museum
Founded in 1979, the Mid-America Science Museum is the biggest interactive science museum in Arkansas today.
The museum boasts over 100 hands-on exhibits, featuring the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk.
Why Your Family Should Go
Several museums can be boring sometimes, but the Mid-America Science Museum is not one of them.
So, if you’re searching for a day of enthusiastic learning, undeniably go to this infamous science facility.
Have a glimpse of the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk, where you can have a thrilling time going over the Rope V- Bridge and running on the Rope Bowl.
What to Do with Kids
The Oaklawn Foundation DinoTrek is an exhibit that children will love.
The actual-size replicas of dinosaurs from the Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Triassic eras.
Through the stroll in this display, they’ll know more about every dinosaur’s interesting history.
With this and all other exciting and eye-opening hands-on activities at the Mid-America Science Museum, it’s one of the most wonderful spots to go with kids in Hot Springs.
Recommended Ages
The Mid-America Science Museum is great for everybody who is into learning about the various sections of science.
- Pirate’s Cove
Recognized as one of the best spots for children in Hot Springs, Pirate’s Cove features 2 18-hole mini-golf courses within a detailed and designed pirate-themed facility.
Why Your Family Should Go
Here’s a tip for inexpensive family entertainment — mini-golfing at Pirate’s Cove!
Take the whole gang and have a couple of hours indulging in a healthy and exciting competition.
The 18-hole courses surrounded by everything pirate will be exciting for teens, children, and even grown-ups!
What to Do with Kids
The children will love playing mini-golf, but the design within the place will make this experience 10 times more fun for them.
While swaying your way through the course, take a couple of pictures of the children with some of the impressive decorations, such as life-sized pirate figures, a pirate ship replica, and more.
Recommended Ages
A day of mini-golfing at Pirate’s Cove will thrill and excite guests of every age.
- Display Spring
Behind the Maurice Bathhouse, the Display Spring is one of two thermal springs where you can attentively observe and see the non-stop stream of water.
This is one of the central spots within the Hot Springs National Park.
Why Your Family Should Go
If you’re into knowing how thermal springs work, stopping by the Display Spring is a wonderful place to see it in real life.
Also, this region is hardly crowded, so you can have a nicer sight since it’s a bit more isolated than the Hot Water Cascade, another heated spring at the park.
What to Do with Kids
Taking the children to watch the Display Spring is an exciting opportunity for them to have more information about this body of water and is one of the most wonderful kids’ things to do in Hot Springs, AR.
Recommended Ages
The Display Spring is available and accessible to the public of all ages.
- Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Founded in 1983, the Hot Springs Mountain Tower is an observation tower that stands 216 feet and features some of the most wonderful sights in Arkansas, the Ouachita Mountains, and Hot Springs Mountain.
Why Your Family Should Go
If you’re into charming sights, you won’t be disappointed with the ones you’ll see when you go to the top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower.
You will be taken to the peak of the tower via an elevator, where you can see amazing sights featuring Hot Springs Mountain from the assigned observation decks.
If you’re up for a task, you can take the 306-step stairs to get to the peak of the tower.
Simply be prepared to get spaghetti legs when you do.
What to Do with Kids
After having a good amount of time admiring the extraordinary sight from the observation docks, go back down to the ground level, where you can go shopping a little in their gift shop.
Buy the children and yourself matching hoodies, shirts, and even caps!
They’ll love getting these cute and lazy gear at the Hot Springs Mountain Tower and will recall this part of your trip as one of the most exciting activities to do in Hot Springs with children.
Recommended Ages
The Hot Springs Mountain Tower welcomes all guests and locals to admire the sight and shop from the facility.
