After several failed attempts (mostly due to different weather conditions) over the years to make it out to Hot Springs, AR, we finally embarked on the Bill Clinton hometown over Spring Break!

Got there around dinnertime and don’t we gotta be all Asian and try the local Chinese buffet in Smalltown, USA? :)

His first time inhaling Bluebell… not in TX! Haha.

Our AirBNB was sweet and quaint. :)

Delish little coffee shop for breakfast the next morn.

We need more of these independent holes in Dallas.

They had their hearts set on pancakes so they walked to a diner while Mommy did some shopping. :)

Ambled along Bathhouse Row.

We toured Fordyce Bathhouse, once a fully operating bathhouse, and now a restored museum and also the Visitor’s Center for Hot Springs National Park.

People came with all sorts of ailments for the “healing waters.” Some were in such dire condition they had to be lowered on that wooden stretcher.

After therapeutic treatment, many of the patrons would be asked to go exercise in the private gym.

Daddy was really interested in an educational talk one of the guides was giving but this one was ready to move on so Mommy followed him outside.

Then inside. Make up your mind, fella. ;)

‘Course we had to dip into the springs. Yes, HOT!

Then off for a hike!

Yawning already?

We walked past the Grand Promenade to the Dead Chief Trailhead, part of a historic fitness trail for those who had come for the thermal waters. Daddy of course had to pick one of the strenuous ones. :P

It was quite steep…

But we stopped along the way to ‘lax (as E calls it).

The path joins up with the Hot Springs Mountain Trail which we wanted to follow to go up the Hot Springs Mountain Tower.

Met all kinds of friends along the way.

Views from the small pavilion beside the tower.

Then we went up!

Ambitiously, we took the stairs all the way down!

Hiked back to the bottom via Gulpha Gorge Trail.

This is a popular fountain where people fill up their bottles and gallons.

On our way to grab a late lunch, we stumbled on this interesting antique shop with all kinds of knickknacks. Daddy talked up a storm with this retiree that was working there.

We were all pretty famished so even this sort of sketchy taco place had to do.

Took it to-go and it was the real deal. ;-P And tasted cactus for the first time — it’s okra-like.

That long and winding hike wiped E out. He napped for 3+ hours!

For dinner, we tried this authentic and homey German resto.

Ice cream from Kilwin’s for dessert.

Nice quiet morning from our balcony.

Back at Kollective for breakfast. The bathhouses don’t allow children so Mommy let Daddy go try a soak since his back has been bothering him.

HIS breakfast was a Fat Bottom Girl’s cupcake (as seen on Cupcake Wars and FoodNetwork!).

Wah, he picks like the worst one — a Trolls cupcake???? Okay, no judgment.

He savored every bite of that colored baby. ;p

Then we hung out for what seemed like forever at Toy Chest. What a neat toy shop, though — been there for years and the owners/workers were just dolls!

Daddy finished up and he wanted to try another local coffee shop before we headed to Mid America Museum. The owner roasts his own beans here and their whole family lives right next door. Oh and his wife makes soaps, which we bought some.

Chill and laid back vibe.

We got kombucha on tap, coffee (of course) and a bagel.

On the way to Mid America Museum, we saw a sign for West Mountain, which we had wanted to see the day before but he napped too long and we couldn’t make it before dark.

Pretty views of the city on a clear day.

Then they did some climbing amongst the rocks.

Mid America Science Museum is nestled in the woods and it turned out to be both a serene and educational place to visit.

Cranking The Wheel was one of his favorite things there.

Sand art.

He wasn’t quite as crazy about this as previously in other museums.

He wasn’t too sure about entering the dark cave maze that explores the state’s underground but he felt so accomplished after coming out! It was hard on Mommy and Daddy’s knees to climb through that thing. ;D

He was mesmerized by the interactive 3D topographic map that would change in color and landscape as you moved the sand around.

Conducted his own story time in the cutest tree trunk reading nook. Number in attendance: 1 (Mommy). Hehe.

It was one of those places where it’s much bigger inside that you thought when you walked in.

Special little touches throughout.

We ventured outside to the skywalk and forest canopy.

The tree house was most inviting!

They lounged on the ropey-hammock and enjoyed the natural beauty around.

He said we were pirates. :)

Made us think of our Gymboree days!

He technically wasn’t tall enough for this structure but insisted on trying.

It was getting late and Daddy wanted to stop by at this food joint he had been eye-ing on Yelp before we hit the road back home so we had to call it a day. We easily could have spent more time there, though! E was disappointed to leave.

Next Level Kitchen was in an unexpected location but it doesn’t matter when people seek out your food!

Daddy was most blown away by the brisket waffle sandwich. :)

Y had a playoff game the next day so we made it back to TX later in the evening… Polished off the rest of the Next Level Kitchen goods and called it a night. Wish we could’ve stayed longer but Daddy’s team won the Winter League championship so we suppose it was worth coming back for. :D