In July, my husband and I took an out of nowhere road trip up to Hot Springs, Arkansas which turned into a trip to Memphis, Tennessee as well. To return home we drove down through Mississippi, in essence making a full “round trip- road trip”. It was the most spontaneous 993 miles of my life!
We stayed 3 days in Arkansas and spent a day in Tennessee. It wasn’t a very long trip, but we jam packed so many activities into those few days. One of the most interesting things to do in Hot Springs was explore Bathhouse Row.
Bathhouse Row is the more historical part of the town. There are many small cafes, eateries, and gift shops but the most interesting thing to explore were literally the bath houses! In the 1970s, these bath houses were built to function using the natural hot spring water from under ground. The natural spring water runs out at about 140 degrees and contains many natural minerals and vitamins. The bath houses became very popular in the higher levels of society at the time for a more holistic way to cure ailments and prevent diseases.
Today, some of the bath houses still function as just that. You can bathe in the natural hot spring water and feel completely revitalized. There are many different packages, some including massages and other amenities.
Many of the other bath houses have been converted into museums, some of them even selling natural body sprays and soaps. The whole area itself smells very clean and invigorating. For history buffs, there are many signs in the area displaying facts and pictures of the beginnings of Bathhouse Row.
While walking down Bathhouse Row, you might run across one of the natural hot spring water displays. I must warn you though, as previously stated this water exits the ground at a very hot 140 degrees! Some of the displays even allow you to collect water in containers for natural drinking water.
Even though I could have easily explored Bathhouse Row every day we stayed in Arkansas, we found ourselves at the Garvan Woodland Gardens. The gardens are located on 210 acres of protected property that is now owned by the University of Arkansas.
The main trail is about two miles in length, but there are more than 5 miles of trails on the entire property. We spent roughly four hours exploring the entire thing! The trails feature bridges, water and rock displays, and koi ponds.
One part of the trail opened up over a ledge and you could get a beautiful view of the lake that adjoins the property. You can view many boaters and view the distant mountains in all their glory.
There are many architecturally pleasing pieces throughout the premises as well. One of them is a fairly new giant tree house that is a grand attraction for children and adults of all ages. You can climb to the top and get a great view through the forest.
Another very intriguing piece of work is the Anthony Chapel that displays amazing architecture and glass work. It is a fully functioning chapel, complete with pews and air conditioning to house the most beautiful of weddings. Seeing this amazing chapel was such a beautiful way to end this part of our trip.
After exploring Arkansas, we rested up for a night and rose early to head to Memphis. We arrived around noon, so we ate a hearty meal of Memphis classic ribs and moved on to explore one of my favorite places in the entire world- zoos and aquariums!
The Memphis Zoo has held rank in the top five zoos of the nation for many years. It is one of only four U.S. zoos that house giant pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le are their two. It has many different activities for all age groups. Myself being a near expert on zoos and aquariums, this particular park had many exhibits I had never seen before.
The walk ways were constructed very well with great signage to designate which direction leads to which exhibits. The maps were easy to read and the park was very clean. As for the exhibits themselves, they were spacious for the animals and I didn’t see over crowding. As a lover and advocate for animals, this is always a big concern for me.
The park features many concession stands and splash pads for young children to beat the heat. There are many sitting areas, train rides, and interactive animal experiences. It was one of the most comfortable zoo experiences I’ve got the pleasure of enjoying.
After the zoo, we went to the famous Beale Street, which is pretty much Memphis’ equivalent of main street. This street would be great for those that love the night life, but we enjoyed it during the day until about six at night. Even during the day this street was flooded with people!
Beale Street is known for music, making nearly every other business music related. From CD shops to bars with live music, this is a rock and roll lovers dream! We explored a couple shops and went sit in a couple bars to listen to live music. It was interesting to see so many people of different backgrounds become one to enjoy the rhythm.
After spending several hours on Beale Street, we finally headed back down south to return home. Completely exhausted yet revitalized, we arrived home some time after midnight. This was one of the most spontaneous and much needed trips that I’ve taken in a long time.
With the everyday duties of life, we often lose sight of who we are and what we need. This trip allowed my husband and I to reconnect not only with each other, but with our inner selves. I’d highly recommend any of the above mentioned places. And if you are just as spontaneous as us, take the whole trip yourself and feel free to share your adventures with us!
Feel free to follow me on Instagram!
Stay positive, be positive.
Very simply, Sky. 