This particular morning is where we got to fully experience traveling in an RV. Blake and I got up and decided just to pull out and head 5 miles east to the Petit Jean’s Grave Site that we had heard about. We explored the gorgeous Arkansas River River Valley from the top of the mountain and had the entire place to ourselves. The kid's leisurely woke up and came out to explore with us.
After the relaxing morning, we loaded up and headed south again towards Hot Springs, Arkansas. This was one of my favorite moments driving in the RV with Blake, we got a new card game called "Our Moments" for both the kids and us and Blake and I just asked one another random fun and serious questions that made for such great conversation that morning.
Since the Hot Springs RV park we really wanted to stay at didn't accept reservations, we went straight there and found a spot, met our RV neighbors who told us the must go pancake place in town, and explored the stream about 4 feet from the back of our RV. Then it was off to explore the unique town of Hot Springs, AR, which is Arkansas' only National Park. Hot Springs is a city in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. It’s known for its naturally heated 47 springs, with water coming out at an average 143° Fahrenheit. Hot Springs National Park is the only unit of the national park system that is mandated to give away its primary natural resource to the general public in an unending and unaltered state. Drinking the hot springs water is perfectly normal, even encouraged. The water is good to drink when it arrives at the surface of Hot Springs Mountain. Thousands of visitors highly endorse the good quality of the hot springs water and fill bottles to take home. We saw many locals filling up dozens and dozens of gallon water containers off main street. Bathhouse Row has 8 bathhouses from the 19th and 20th centuries. These include Buckstaff Baths, with thermal baths. The elaborate, stained-glass-and-marble Fordyce Bathhouse has a lobby fountain and houses the park’s visitors center and museum.
First, we stopped and ate some delicious banana and apple pancakes and then explored the natural springs, stopping to let the kid's put their hands in the 143 degree water. They tried to see how long they could hold their one finger in the hot water. Addison's face tells the story and I don't think they could feel the tip of their finger after 90 seconds. It was interesting to see the steam come up from the mountainside, where the springs came to the surface, and to picture it the early 1800's before it was developed.
While Blake, Carter and Delaney toured the Fordyce Bathhouse, Addie and I went to go experience it!
We stripped down completely. There is no point in modesty here.
We slipped into a tub filled with thermal waters upwards of 100 degrees. Soaked. Sipped on hot, Hot Springs water to regulate our body temperature. Listened to the drip from the faucet and engine of the turbine creating a whirl pool in the antique cast iron bathtubs. We watched the second-hand on the wall clock tick, listening to the soft hustle and bustle outside our room, until we were removed from the tub (20 minutes in that tub!) You look at the old marble tile, the white marble walls, the wear and tear on the plumbing and piping, the pasty mint-green walls. Addie and I were in separate tub rooms and it was both an exilterating and relaxing experience, proving that is possible.
Just before draining the tub, my attendant came in and used the loofa I had purchased and scrubbed my back, arms and legs.
We exited the tub and move to a padded table where scalding hot towels are draped on your back, abdomen and legs. This separates the men and the boys, so to speak. If others can hang, you can hang too. "No pain no gain—no pain, no gain!" They cooled the towels down for Addie, of course.
We plunked into a sitz tub. This scalding soak occurs in sort of a chair-like bath tub, enfolding only your midsection. This segment of the ritual is maxed out at ten minutes because of various reasons that I failed to unearth but I will say the water was even hotter than the bath water.
Unfortunaltey, both the steam chamber and needle shower were closed down temporarily per the National Park Services.
At this point, Addison was wrapped back up in a sheet and escorted to her changing area, where she took the old elevator back downstairs and Carter was waiting for her, while I wrapped in a sheet and was escorted to separate area of the bathhouse 2nd floor and was given a 25 minute full body massage. It was wonderful. Simple and wonderful. My last massage in my 30's didn't disappoint.
There you have it, a typical service at the original spa just two doors down from the Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center on Bathhouse Row. What an amazing experience Addie and I got to share!
We all came back together at Superior Bathhouse which has been turned into a restaurant and brewery. We explored the national park and where the springs come out at while they kid's completed their National Park Junior Ranger Badge program, before heading have to the RV site, having some dinner and get cozy for our evening ritual of a movie.
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