Top 3 things to do IYO?

Go to bathhouse row. It is worth checking out and there is a nice drive above that with some hikes if you like that sort of thing. There is also what is supposed to be a nice lake close to there with cabins, etc.

http://www.magicsprings.com/

I'm not sure if it's a top three but the mountain tower is worth going to:
http://www.hotsprings.org/things_to_do/attractions/default.aspx?detailID=333

[This message has been edited by texashornfan (edited 7/27/2009 10:50a).]

the tour of bath-house row is pretty cool.
they have a big horse race track (I haven't been).

north of Hot Springs is the Buffalo River - excellent for canoeing. Google will find you outfitters. I did it this spring & it's excellent.

I took a city tour that was fun. It went through all the touristy things, like bathhouse row and what not. It also drove by Bill Clinton's boyhood home and pointed out the building which was the inspiration for the Daily Planet in the Superman comics. It ended up at mountain tower which is a really nice area; a good lookout over the city and what not.

Definitely bring empty jugs for filling up with Hot Springs mineral water (empty milk cartons, 5 gallon jugs, etc).

Bath House Row - definitely take a tour of the Bath House Museum, I think it's free and VERY interesting (think Road to Wellsville with Matthew Broderick) Also check out the historic

Duck Tour - I believe this is on lake hamilton, or rent a boat and cruise on the lake for the day, or do the river boat tour on Belle of Hot Springs

Hot Springs Mt Tower

Mid America Musuem is pretty cool too if you have children

My grandparents retired there so I have been there more times than I can count... beautiful place

Happy Hour at the Arlington Hotel is always interesting if you like to people watch.

And I second all of the above recommendations.

There is also a magic show just a few blocks south of bath house row that is pretty hokey which makes it a lot of fun. I think it was my kids favorite thing that we did last summer in Hot Springs.

My family loves Magic Springs...

Magic springs is great for younger kids. Not huge rides, all fairly tame for kids. Water park is included. I thought it was kind of expensive, $40 per, and they don't allow to bring in food so you're hostage to their food prices. But it's an enjoyable park. never too crowded, plenty of shade. We used to have season passes.

We're staying at the Mountain Harbor Resort on Lake Ouachita, near Mount Ida. Its not far from Hot Springs (~40 miles) but, we have no plans to visit Hot Springs. Our eight year old is ready to hunt quartz crystals at a nearby mine and we'll probably do a lot of boating.

All our trips focus on entertaining an eight year old boy and a three year old girl.

BTW: Thanks for the Magic Springs tip. I'll have to check that out. The kids love water parks.

[This message has been edited by HECUBUS (edited 8/4/2009 4:10p).]

We didn't make the water park. Lake Ouachita was beautiful, kind of like Lake Travis thirty five years ago with pine trees instead of cedar. Great fishing and man eating flies. We had the most fun digging crystals. We didn't realize how lucky we were to have lakefront until we did a lap around the lake. There is only one place with lakefront. I don't think it got above 88 degrees the enitre week and the rain missed us. I don't know if we'll go back but, it was a great little trip. Now, what the heck to we do with all these crystals?
The best thing about the drive from Austin was going through West. I forgot how good the Ole Czech Bakery kolaches are. Now, the kids are hooked also.