Location: Hot Springs
Top Things to do in Hot Springs
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Hot Springs, Arkansas (AR)
Hot Springs is the eleventh-largest city in the state of Arkansas and the county seat of Garland County. The city is located in the Ouachita Mountains among the U.S. Interior Highlands, and is set among several natural hot springs for which the city is named. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 35,193. In 2015 the estimated population was 35,635.
Restaurants in Hot Springs
1. Lake Ouachita
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 509 reviews
The largest lake in Arkansas covers 48,300 acres.
Reviewed By heidilore1976 - Prattsville, United States
This lake makes Lake Hamilton look downright silly. Crystal clear water, great beaches, and quartz all over! Highly recommended..
2. Historic Downtown Farmers Market
3. Crystal Ridge Distillery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 35 reviews
We are the first legal distillery in Hot Springs, AR. In our distillery you will have a huge selection of moonshine, bourbons, whiskey, vodka, and several products coming soon! Come for a tour/tasting to see our production and product and add us to your list of things to do while traveling to Hot Springs.
4. Bathhouse Soapery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 96 reviews
Reviewed By TammiDee
So this was actually my second visit and I am in LOVE with the Pineapple Coconut scrub. It was made fresh and I even got some extra????. I love this place and the owners are an amazing couple. If you visit Hot Springs PLEASE make and B-line to this special little place on earth❤
5. The Bath Factory
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 38 reviews
The Bath Factory is located in historic downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas. We specialize in creating luxurious bath and body products that are indulgent and pampering ... while still being affordable for every budget. Almost everything is made right in our store in our tiny soap studio, using high quality ingredients including fruit oils, fresh herbs and botanicals.
Reviewed By Stay617432 - Dallas, United States
We stopped in this adorable little store last weekend. The beautiful fragrances called us in from the sidewalk. My husband is very sensitive to a lot of smells. Most places like this will give him an instant headache. Not this one. He actually suggested we go in which shocked me. Boy were we surprised! They have multiple fragrances for men that are not only upscale but unique. My husband loved the Black Gold, Smoke and Leather and Wild Thing. I loved the Hot Southern Nights, Breathe (eucalyptus and peppermint), Girl Crush, and Sensual. We bought several soaps, shaving soaps, Bath Salts, Cologne, lip balms and OMG the Sugar Spa Face and Body Scrubs are like none I have ever used before. They left our skin feeling like silk! The owners explained how they make the soap with the mineral water right there in the store. She was actually making soap that day. It was so cool to get a glimpse of the process. They were so nice to explain everything. They both work full time jobs and own their own business. I can’t even imagine. It was obvious how passionate they are about making quality products and giving great service. I always buy handmade soap but this is the best I have ever tried and I buy it every time we find a place that sells it. I will be ordering from here from now on. We absolutely loved everything we bought. The quality is phenomenal! The packaging is simple and environmentally friendly. They use essential oils and good quality fragrances that are paraben and phthalate free. That’s why my husband didn’t get an instant headache while we were there. We were in heaven when we got back to our hotel room. We didn’t even need to schedule a spa day, we had everything we needed to have one right in our room!!! Did I mention we purchased some amazing massage oils? It was the best weekend we’ve had in a long time and we owe it to The Bath Factory. Thank you guys for all of your help and for making such great products. Do yourself a favor. Go in there or order online. You will love everything just like we did!!
6. Garland County Library
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By NO2HUNGER - Hot Springs, United States
Our great library has it all, but if you can't find it they can usually get it for you. Friendly, helpful staff is happy to help. Great selection of books, movies and books-on-tape
7. Dapper & Debonaire
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 28 reviews
Dapper & Debonaire was born of the thought that somewhere between cheap box store brands and high-end department store brands lay a wealth of wonderful artisan, vintage, and small-batch products that are both luxurious and affordable.. We are located in beautiful downtown Hot Springs Arkansas.
Reviewed By DeniseL1556
My husband and son went there for a father/son outing while we were camping in Gulpha gorge. I was at the camper and my son called me up and said 'mom, you gotta come over here and get a treatment' knowing, or at the time thinking, it was a gentlemens store, i politely passed on any 'treatments' but my son absolutely persisted, saying it really isnt just for guys, blah blah blah. he went into some details, including hot towels and facial massage. well of course i was going after that. once i got there and got settled into the chair, paul started to explain to me what the treatment would entail. stating this treatment is the exact same treatment a guy gets, except i would get the added bonus of a hand paraffin dip. again, i was all in. paul started with the towels and the deep cleanse and the oils and i was just in heaven, enjoying the incredible music in the background (paul and i share similar awesome music tastes) really glad my son took the extra effort to talk me into this treatment. Paul was idling chit chatting about what he was doing and this and that while all this was going on. time was passing and i was worried that this treatment was going to cost me an arm and a leg because when you are getting this kind of work done in houston, its at least a $90 price tag. Paul didnt appear to be wrapping up any time soon. as i lay back in the chair with my eyes closed, paul explained the next step... (at this point i honestly thought i was done) but no, another step. Microblading. I opened my eyes just in time to see a straight blade coming at my face... whoa whoa whoa... how many of us women have heard once you start shaving, your hair will really start to grow in? i immediately had the conversation with paul voicing my concern, my very real concern...ready to halt the procedure. Paul explained that this was myth, and even took the time to show me that fact on Google. I was still hesitant but i thought what the hell, i am italian, its expected of me at my age to have facial hair, so on we went. Paul was meticulous, gently 'shaving' off dead skin cells. He took his time so i didnt leave the building with 100 tiny pieces of toilet paper stuck to my bloodied face as i was imagining. Not a single nick. Again, very gently and slowly Paul shaved off a few , dare i say, layers of dead skin. Now, I am a 55 year old italian woman, as previously mentioned, who, at one point in my young life thought tanning with Crisco on my face was a great idea. I have the very severe age spots to prove how bad an idea that was. I didnt have much hope that whatever Paul was doing was going to even slightly improve my brown spots on my face. After all, how many hundreds of dollars had i spent over the last 10 years trying to reduce these spots? Paul finished and i sat up in the seat, not really expecting much, if any difference. Ladies... the difference was so apparent and magnificent, I couldn't believe what i was seeing. Some of the darkest spots were significantly reduced in size and much lighter, and the lighter ones were almost unnoticeable. i kept looking at my face and expecting them to start to show back up after Paul had removed the remaining oils and lotions. They didnt. These spots, these unwelcomed and vanity crushing age spots, ( i hate to call them liver spots, so i wont) were looking like they started out like 10 or so years ago. yes, the big major ones are still there, but definitely lightened, and again, the lighter ones were gone. I was amazed and thrilled and even thinking that if a full beard did indeed pop up in a week, i would be ok with it. Two things... I will have to say as a disclosure.. I dont know that everyone will have the transformative results I did, you will have to try yourself, and second, no beard or even a stray single hair ever showed up. I was ready to go for round two immediately to see if Paul could 'shave' off more skin, but he did advise that this treatment should only be done minimum every 3 weeks. I live in houston and I am considering a drive back to hot springs for a follow up treatment because I do not think i would get that same meticulous treatment anywhere local, especially for the amazingly low price Paul charged.
8. Kringles In The Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Experience the joy of Christmas at Arkansas's only year-round Christmas store located in the beautiful Historic District of Hot Springs. Treat your senses to the sights, sounds and smells of a festive Christmas wonderland and prepare yourself for a unique shopping experience for all your seasonal, collectible and Christmas gift needs.
Reviewed By firstladyt
Every visit to our favorite city includes a visit to my favorite shop! Such an amazing selection of my favs Jim shore, old world Christmas & Christopher radko ornaments that you can’t find anywhere else! The They also have great seasonal items! My favorite item is the hanging arrow replacement signs. I buy at least one every visit! I love being able to see them in person before I select one. Kringle candles are my newest obsession. The daylight candles were a big hit as stocking stuffers ????Check out the cutest ‘lil store around!
9. Riley Art Glass Studio
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Hot Glass Studio with live demonstrations. Showroom displaying one of a kind art glass pieces in a variety of price points. Demonstrations are free of charge, check the demonstration schedule by calling or checking website (schedule changes in the summer months).
Reviewed By 337winterb - Hot Springs, United States
We originally went in to pickup some gifts while on our trip. When we went in they told us the guys were working in the back and we could watch if we wanted. My mom loved it! The brothers were very friendly and informative. You could tell they really enjoyed what they do. The glass art they make is gorgeous! We bought several pieces forgot all about gifts we just got it for ourselves!
10. Lake Catherine State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 459 reviews
Offers good hikes, but it can be humid.
Reviewed By Kates9999
There aren't enough good words in my vocabulary to describe what an amazing adventure we had at this state park! We hiked the entire Falls Trail loop, then went back after a rainfall to see a bit more falls action. We walked the ADA-compliant Slunger Creek Nature Trail, & watched the sunrise over the lake from our waterfront campsite. While the site was nowhere near level, & the water access was on the "wrong" side of the camper, the site location was absolutely amazing & worth any inconvenience in getting set up. We chose site 31 in Area B, & had a swimming pier over the water right at our site. The bath house was close to our site, & the facility itself was great. The Visitor Center (& camp store) is open, with a maximum of 3 people inside at a time, but the Nature Center is closed. We also went horseback riding with the separate business on premises. FABULOUS! This park was exactly what we needed to get our nature fix, relax, & re-set.
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