Central Arkansas: Guide to 4th of July Weekend Fun

Hot Springs, Arkansas has been my hometown for years. We moved back here about 2 years ago, to be near my aging parents. We are known as the tri-lakes area, because within the city limits of the town, we have, you guess it: 3 lakes. Lake Ouachita, Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine.

There are dozens of places to spend some good, quality family time, not only here in Hot Springs, but several other cities that are within a 2 hour drive from Hot Springs. Let me introduce you to a few of them!

Magic Springs and Crystal Falls: Amusement Park and Water Park...all rolled into one. www.magicsprings.com/
Ride the rides, ride the waves: it's your choice. Located just a few minutes from downtown Hot Springs, this great park has all the entertainment your family could want. Including two great concerts on the weekends, before and after the holiday! June 30th...the Manhattans roll into town for some great R& B music and July 7th, country music fans will rock the house with Tracy Lawrence!

For those faint at heart: you can relax in the wave pool or in Kodiak Canyon's Lazy River. Take a turn around the pond on a paddle boat or cool off on the Magic Swings. There's a carousel, Bugga Booga Ferris Wheel, Kit and Kaboodle Express Train, and Fearless Flyer Planes , as well Bear Cub Bend Splash Pool for the kiddos.

Those with a bit more stamina will enjoy thrill rides such as The Hawk, The Gauntlet, The Arkansas Twister, Big Bad John and of course, The X-coaster...which was recently the subject of David Letterman's famous "Top 10 List:" www.cbsinsider.com/latenight/lateshow/top_ten/index/php/20070611.phtml
Or enjoy a wild ride down one of the 7 new water slides at Crystal Lagoon!

Want the cool of the water, but not the heat of the amusement park? Travel just an hour to the nearby Arkansas capital city of Little Rock, and you'll find another water park.

Wild River Country (www.wildrivercountry.com/) is Arkansas' largest water park with 9 thrilling slides with heart-lurching names like The Vortex, The Sidewinder, Black Lightening, Vertigo, The Pipeline and The Cyclone, which is a 4 man raft ride! Their website has video of all of their larger slides so you can take a look before you go at what you have to look forward to!

The park also has a Tad-pool for the little ones, sand/beach volleyball courts, and an activity pool for those who prefer to simply swim and splash.
As with most water parks, there is a Lazy River area and of course: the wave pool. Grab a raft and pretend you're in the ocean, as the waves crash around you.
Picnic areas are available outside the park, as well as several restaurants inside. These include my personal favorite: Dippen Dots! Ice Cream of the Future!
(have some Chocolate mint dots for me would you?)

Don't want to get wet? How about a nice, relaxing trip to the Zoo?

The Little Rock Zoo (www.littlerockzoo.com/) began in 1926 with just two animals: a timber wolf, and a circus trained brown bear. It has grown over the last 81 years into one who now houses over 700 animals from more than 200 species...many on the endangered list including a black rhino, who is one of only 750 left in the world.

They have a brand new giraffe exhibit and big cat habitat which features two beautiful lioness' named Nyla and Sydney. The old and young at heart will all have a great time watching these two play and pose for pictures.

Be sure and visit with Ellen..the African Elephant who has lived at the LRZ since 1954 and Mary, her companion who joined her in 2001. Both of these beauties are Senior adults...but have the spunk of a teenager!

Ever been on a duck tour? I'm not talking about watching a mallard in flight, or feeding bread crumbs in the park..but actually climbing aboard for a tour of the city? Why walk when you can Waddle? is the slogan for the National Park Duck Tours. www.rideaduck.com/ducks/index.php
Climb aboard one of the World War II era ducks and head out for a 75 minute tour of the city of Hot Springs, while your carriage transforms from a land rover...to a floating tour boat.

Catch some of the fascinating sites of Hot Springs, including Oaklawn Race Track and the historic Hot Springs High School, where President Bill Clinton (and my very own mother) graduated in the 1960's.

Roll up your sleeves and get dirty...while digging for crystals. Arrowhead Crystal Mines (www.arrowheadcrystals.com/) is in Mt. Ida, just 20 minutes from Hot Springs. Recently, a friends daughter went digging with her 5th grade class and brought back a beautiful Blue Phantom Crystal, that was worth 3 times the price she paid for her dig admission.

It isn't unusual for diggers to come up with Quartz Crystals that are clear and weigh at least 8-10 pounds. Besides, it's just fun to dig in the dirt. And this time, you won't even get in trouble for playing in the mud!

The Central Arkansas area has dozens of mines, all open most of the year, for your digging and mining pleasure. Check out the Mt. Ida Chamber of Commerce website www.mtidachamber.com/yp_crystals_copy.htm for a list and description of the mines, as well as links to those with websites..

How about a Champagne Brunch, Relaxing Lunch or Romantic Dinner...complete with music and the gentle lapping of the Arkansas River...with a bit of Arkansas history thrown in for good measure? Get aboard the Arkansas Queen and head out to do just that. www.arkansasqueen.com/

Launching from the Riverport in Little Rock, this elegant riverboat will take you down the shores of some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the country, while musicians entertain you, chefs cook you exotic meals like duck l'orange and the stars come out over the capital city skyline.

Or stay in Hot Springs and enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Belle of Hot Springs. www.belleriverboat.com/ This 220 passenger River Boat offers succulent meals such as prime rib and baked shrimp as you patrol the shores of historic Lake Hamilton. The captain will keep you entertained with his stories of Al Capone and other infamous historic figures as he shows you multi-million dollar lake homes and private islands. Dance with the one you love on this 15 mile cruise as the sun sets over the mountain. (two of the decks are even air conditioned)

Bring your family, bring the ones you love and play in Central Arkansas over the Fourth of July Holiday.
You can also check out the websites for the Hot Springs and Little Rock visitor's bureau's..for even more family fun on your vacation.