Vacationing in Beautiful Eureka Springs, AR

A vacation in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Arkansas can be an exhilarating and wonderful experience. It is a wonderful reprieve from the daily rat race. Life here is peaceful and happy. You will carry home memories that will last a life time.
Many of the attractions that you can find in the Ozark Mountains include fishing, hunting, skiing, canoeing, mountain bike trails, hiking trails, and shopping. There are museums of the rich history of Arkansas, tours of historic homes, formal gardens, civil war battlegrounds and historical sites, majestic caverns, old grist mills, and many festivals. Arkansas is renowned for its numerous little craft shops that line many of its roadways.

Eureka Springs is an absolute treasure trove of history and distinct atmosphere. There is no place on earth quite like Eureka Springs. It has an air of peacefulness to it that is illuminated by its seclusion in the mountains. The streets of downtown are lined with historic shops and homes that are hugging cliffs along winding streets. Block after block you will find numerous shops, boutiques, antique shops, museums, arts, music including folk, jazz, blues, country and many others.

The areas main attractions are: The Great Passion Play, The Crescent Hotel, the Trolley rides, Horseback riding, Cave tours, and numerous spas. There are many bed and breakfast inns, hotels and rustic cabins. Eureka Springs is located 49 miles from the Buffalo National River, 58 miles from Fayetteville and 48 miles from Branson, MO.

Eureka Springs offers a daily trolley service. It has many routes and areas of pickup and drop-off. It is a very inexpensive way to see the city.

The Great Passion Play is a live portrayal of the life of Christ with the use of live animals. This spectacular event which has a cast of hundreds has left many inspired and forever changed. Other attractions at the site of the Passion Play include the New Holy Land tour, Christ of the Ozarks, Bible Museum, Sacred Arts Center, Parables of the Potter and the Museum of Earth History.

The Crescent Hotel and Spa was built in 1886. The view of the Crescent is one of grandeur and luxury. The hotel itself sits high above Eureka Springs. You can enjoy a ride on the horse drawn carriage, relax in the New Moon Spa, or saunter through the garden. It has an excellent restaurant, lounge and rooms with spectacular views, some of which you can see The Christ of the Ozarks as he stands overlooking the valley below with his outstretched arms. The Crescent has been host to several businesses. It was once a hospital that claimed to cure cancer and a private college for young women. The Crescent is steeped in a rich history.

Turpentine Creek is another favorite attraction. It is a big cat refuge that takes in and houses abandoned, abused and neglected tigers, lions, leopards and cougars. They have a wonderful facility and are constantly building natural habitats for the animals.

Caverns of interest: My favorite was the War Eagle Cavern. It's like entering the caves you see in the movies. One thing worth noting is that the cave scene from the movie "Frank and Jesse" with Rob Lowe and Bill Paxton was filmed at War Eagle Cavern. While you are out that way, you should also visit the War Eagle Mill which is still in operation.

Another nice cave to visit is Cosmic Caverns located on Hwy. 21 N, out of Berryville. This is a short trip from Eureka Springs but worth the drive. Cosmic has the largest underground lake in the Ozarks, many rooms to view, and an underground bridge. This is one of America's top ten "must see" caves.

The Blue Spring Heritage Center is a beautiful garden and lagoon. The Indians stopped there on the Trail of Tears. It is also rumored that when fighting tribes of Indians came to the springs at the same time, they would not fight because the springs were sacred and had healing powers. This is a wonderful site to visit, especially in late spring and early summer when various species of flowers and plants are in full bloom.

Eureka Springs offers many attractions and something to please everyone. It would be impossible to cover all its amenities in a single article. The best way to experience Eureka Springs is to go there. I promise you will want to return year after year.