Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Hot Springs

"The botanical garden of the University of Arkansas is home to a variety of flowers, plants, and trees. Travel the wooded shoreline and see the rocky inclines where the greenery grows in the Ouachita Mountains. Also, visit the picturesque Anthony Chapel on the grounds."

"Garvan Woodland Gardens is Arkansas' premier botanical garden. It is located on a Lake Hamilton 210-acre peninsula. This is a highly recommended attraction."

"This is a hidden gem that should not be missed by anyone visiting Hot Springs. This is a well-conceived museum that contains plenty of historic elements from the 1920’s through the 1940’s, when gangsters ran entire communities—and, in many cases, economies. There’s no denying the coolness or swagger of these high-stakes criminals who ran dark empires that were only second to their families in order of importance."

"Quaint, small town Hot Springs used to be home to quite a few gangsters in the 1920’s-40’s, drawn to the area by the mineral baths...and the gambling and bootlegging that also went on. Find out how some of the country’s most notorious criminals co-existed with the staid people of Hot Springs, play in the antique casino, and hear the historian recount stories of those times."

"Take the guided tour and learn the history of Hot Springs in the 1920s and ’30s. The town has a rich history with mobsters and how they enjoyed the gambling and thermal waters. It’s fascinating to see how the city was a playground for famous gangsters such as Al Capone."

"Hot Springs Reservation, the first designation of Hot Springs National Park, was set aside by Congress in 1832. This makes Hot Springs National Park the oldest unit in the national park system, 40 years older than Yellowstone National Park. The hot springs flow from the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain, part of the Ouachita Mountain range."

"Hot Springs is near several state parks and it is near three lakes: Lake Hamilton, Lake Catherine and Lake Ouachita. Lake Ouachita is the largest in the state. It's clear water and surrounding forest make it a top choice."

"When your date is asking for some Latin cuisine, make your reservation for Rolando’s Restaurante. With three locations, it’s easy to see why they’ve expanded so much with a delicious fusion of South and Central American cuisines. When you’re ready to order, be sure to check out some of the house favorites, like the Popeye burrito or the fried tilapia."

"Ordered the Pollo Chuchaqui for lunch and a Cuban Sandwich to go. Atmosphere was very nice. The ground was uneven due to stone flooring..."

"Open since 1905, this bar offers live jazz and blues, a menu of solid pub grub, and endless history. Ask a bartender about the gangsters and athletes that once gambled here."

"This place was super cool- I'd highly recommend stopping in for dinner even if you don't drink. The Ohio club is the oldest bar in Arkansas. If features an…”more"

"Since 1902, the Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo houses 150 alligators that people can watch being fed and pet. Visitors can also visit a petting zoo containing whitetail deer, ostrich, llamas, fallow deer, rheas, sheep, and pygmy goats."

"We can’t personally speak for this one, but we had some renters that really enjoyed their visit. Short drive from downtown. We would expect this to take an hour."

"Enjoy a stunning blend of art and nature at the Wildwood Park for the Arts. It’s a quiet, peaceful area with paved and unpaved paths for strolling, scenic gazebos, stone bridges, botanical gardens, a wonderful lake, and a theatre complex. Ask your sweetie out to the park to take a relaxed walk and hide from urban noise, have a romantic picnic or see the performance at the small but quite good theatre."

"Anyone who visits Wildwood Park will love the ability to wander through the botanical gardens. The park is also a place where everyone can learn, imagine, and celebrate, due in part to the Lucy Lockett Cabe Festival Theatre. The 105 acres of the park are continuously used as a phenomenal natural and cultural resource for Little Rock."

"Wildwood Park is a park meant for performing arts and music, designed for outdoor and indoor performances. This park, which sits on 104 acres of land has smaller facilities and many gardens in it. Inside Wildwood, you will find the Butler Arboretum which contains native trees, and daffodils."

"At just shy of two million acres, Ouachita National Forest covers vast expanses of forested and mountain land between the border of Arkansas and Oklahoma. With dozens of miles of trails, numerous campsites and a host of other activities available to outdoor lovers, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s one of the area’s most popular outdoor destinations. Amateur rock hounds are attracted by the huge vein of crystals that runs through the area, and hunters and fisherman are drawn here as well."

"This last location should be experienced with a multi-day camping trip. It’s the type of place you would love to get lost in—as long as you aren’t actually lost/without your phone, of course. Ouachita has something for everyone here: rivers, mountains, forests, lakes, hiking, biking, horseback, and ATV riding."

"The botanical garden of the University of Arkansas is home to a variety of flowers, plants, and trees. Travel the wooded shoreline and see the rocky inclines where the greenery grows in the Ouachita Mountains. Also, visit the picturesque Anthony Chapel on the grounds."

"Garvan Woodland Gardens is Arkansas' premier botanical garden. It is located on a Lake Hamilton 210-acre peninsula. This is a highly recommended attraction."