We're in Hot Water

Wednesday, April 6th – Hot Springs, Arkansas to Cedar Hills State Park, Dallas, Texas – Day 57 

 We woke up and packed up. Travel day to Dallas, a five-hour drive. We finished junior ranger books for Arkansas State Parks. 

 A woman from a neighbouring campsite recommended a trail with a waterfall and a wobbly bridge very close to where we were staying. The trail was about 2 miles long and it was great. We went up a small stream that was lazily going down around trees and rocks, before moving more significantly up hill. On the down slope we met another small stream that was slowly trickling its way down. We thought we were on the wrong trail but eventually we met the waterfall. There were a series of rocks that allowed you to hop from one side of the much more significant river. Following the path, we met the wobbly bridge and the kids had fun just running back and forth over it. Shortly after, we came back to the parking lot. It was a lucky thing we went the way we did because if we had met the wobbly bridge and waterfall immediately we probably would have skipped the rest of the hike. The hike up and over the hill with the trickling stream was less grand but very pleasant. 

 We went into the town of Hot Springs and found that the National Park was in the town and consisted of these old bath houses. In the early 1900’s people would come from all over the country to relax in the hot springs. They were said to cure diseases from tuberculosis to syphilis. The neat thing about the town was they have public fountains where you can fill up your containers of water with hot springs water for free. We visited the visitors centre and Gen came up with a plan on how we would spend the afternoon. 

 First, we went to the Fordyce Bath house that is used by the National Park Service as a museum. At this point, Gen and Mary jumped ship on the plan when they found out there was a bath house open and they could soak in a hot spring hot pool. The kids and I received our junior ranger booklets and started moving through the museum. The museum led you through an old bath house with showers, steam chambers, sitz baths, massage tables, sitting rooms and more. In the basement you could see the original hot spring still pushing water to the surface and find out more about the process that creates a hot spring. Interesting fact, the water takes 4000 years from when it falls as rain to reach the surface again. 

 After we finally finished the package and got our Hot Spring badge we proceeded down the street to a public park that has a hot spring in it. You can put your hand in the pool and feel the hot water but be careful because too long and you can get scalded. After spending a few minutes asking to pet every dog in the park (Charlotte and John are dog crazy right now), we went back to one of the bath houses for a bite to eat. 

Each bath house is owned nationally but rented out to companies for restaurants, bath houses, a Starbucks, etc. This one was a brewery and restaurant so we sat down for a drink, some homemade root beer and a few kids chicken finger meals. Eventually Gen and Mary, looking refreshed, joined us and we got some more food and drink. 

We finally finished and went to the car to start our 5 hour drive. We arrived late to Cedar Hills State Park, set-up, bed.