Hot Springs National Park
December 13th, 2010
When planning for a day out people always choose a rendezvous that has water, shade, flora and possibly fauna and a perfect climate. Hence water is the main attraction of picnic planners because it makes up the best part of the day besides food and beverages. There are many water games that people play and enjoy being in the water. However, not when the temperatures are freezing that people like to play in the cold water! The Hot Springs National Park is an answer to this. The water here is naturally hot.
Fondly known as “The American Spa” this national park encircles the entire northern end of Arkansas known as the city of Hot Springs. The water from these springs is considered not only to be refreshing but medicinal too. Dating back to more than 200 years ago people from all walks of life come here to have a bath to be relieved of all illnesses.
It is interesting to know that the water that runs down the hot springs is heated when it is at a depth of about a mile before it starts its journey towards the surface passing through a fault. The flora and fauna form an interesting part for the park’s visitors. You can enjoy sights of animals like chipmunks, possums, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and foxes with a wide variety of birds like woodpeckers, cardinal, blue jays, mockingbirds and warblers. During spring a wide array of attractive colored flowers like may apples; wild roses, spiderworts and wild iris don the forest amidst the dogwood trees, redbud trees, pine and oak trees and many more.
The climatic conditions at Arkansas City are split into four seasons ranging from humid to hot summers and mild temperatures in fall and spring with varying temperatures during winter ranging from extremely freezing to a high of 60 in humidity. However, visitors should be prepared for very cold weather during winter at the Hot Spring National Park.
Since 1912 visitors have been having a bath at the Buckstaff Baths and even today this traditional bath is the peak attraction for visitors who can’t resist having a bath here on their visit. The Buckstaff Baths is considered the park’s concessionaire or the modern spa of America.
You can take a tour of the entire park on your own or engage a guide but don’t miss the many attractions like the park’s museum, the Fordyce Bathhouse and a lot of activities for children. They can earn Junior Ranger badges by taking part in many activities mentioned in the booklet’s program.
The park operates on all days of the year with exceptions on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year day, from 9a.m. to 5p.m. The best summer visit months are from May 28th to August 7th when the closing hours are extended from 5p.m. to 8 p.m. for the convenience of visitors.
The Hot Springs National Park at Arkansas City invites you to join their friends club that has been functioning since 1987. The purpose of this is to sustain the rehabilitation of the splendid landscapes and the historic bathhouses. This is a non-profit organization and hence donations and fund raising events are conducted to raise funds for the park’s maintenance.
Hot Springs National Park Quarter is quite famous and sought after among the experts. Click here to know more about America the Beautiful Quarters
Categories: National Parks
