Driving to/from Wisconsin at Christmas with the family, always try to do some fun things along the way.

Those in the know, are there any available hot springs we could go to?

Boys will be 8 and 12.

Didn't go to any hot springs but Deluca's Pizza and Superior bathhouse brewery were fantastic restaurants. Garvan woodlands gardens was very fun as well.

We took our boys (8 and 9) a few months ago and got bored pretty quickly and ended up leaving early to finish our trip in Broken Bow which is a family favorite. We did enjoy a few things however, and I'm sure if we were staying on the lake it would have been a different story. Plenty to do on the water.

We like the Fisherman's Wharf for lunch. Pretty good food and I imagine your boys would love the atmosphere of sitting on the deck above the water throwing fish feed to the geese, fish and turtles. Mine sure did. We also toured a couple bathhouses which was cool for 30 minutes then they were all the same. You can fill up water bottles with the natural spring water, but unfortunately it's warm. We also drove up to the hot springs mountain tower which is behind the bathhouses and rode the elevator to the top. It's a really pretty view. Do not recommend if you don't like heights. They have all sorts of hiking trails around there as well if you're into that.

Only problem will be that it's middle of December while we're there. So the hot water would be nice. Which did you go to? We were seeing age limits of 10 and up.

Did a family road trip this summer and stopped at Hot Springs as an overnight stopping point. One bathhouse allows 10 and up and I think the others are 14 and up. Ours is under ten so we did the Observation Tower (big tower on the towns high point) it was neat enough but nothing too cool.

We did the Alligator farm which I highly recommend for an 8 & 12 year old boy. It's a classic old private roadside alligator zoo. Our 5 year old got to feed little alligators, hold a little alligator and feed big alligators too, but sense your going at Christmas all the alligators will be inside.

https://alligatorfarmzoo.com/

Overall, with an 8 year old, you can't go to any of the bathhouses, which is what all the tourism is built around.

OnlyForNow said:

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Only problem will be that it's middle of December while we're there. So the hot water would be nice. Which did you go to? We were seeing age limits of 10 and up.

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We didn't do any of the "soaking" because it's not outside and my boys weren't 10. When we first decided on the trip we thought we'd be able to actually go and get in a hot spring outside, but there's nothing like that. I think they ended that decades ago. Needless to say we didn't really do our due diligence for this trip. We had a horrible Airbnb away from the lake and didn't know anything about the town. Lol.

Garvan woodlands gardens was great in the Spring. I hear they do a big show with their Christmas lights.

Yeah the Christmas lights at Garvan is pretty neat. Recommend.

In my experience your kids will get bored quick at a bathhouse. I would suggest Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri Ozarks. Probably really cool place to be that time of year.

So there's no places like the Ouray Hot Springs pools up there?

No. Other than a couple of untouched display ones you can't touch they are all in buildings and you sit in a bathtub or hot tub. with the water coming in from a pipe.
Most of the places are geared more toward couples or girls getaway spa type trips,

If you do stop in Hot Springs Gulpha Gorge is the more natural side of Hot Springs NP and the nearby Mid America Museum is really good and most of it has hands on science lesson for kids. As already mentioned Garvan Gardens decorates really nice for Christmas. You have to book a reserved time most evenings.

I would look at Bass Pro HQ and Wonders of Wildlife in Springfield. It is one of the best aquariums in the world has lots of kid activities and the Lewis & Clark Hall is worth going to on its own. Allow plenty of time to tour all of it. Springfield is a surprisingly good and diverse foodie city . If you end up stopping there hit me up for some suggestions.

l don't think Disney decorates for Christmas like Silver Dollar City does.

South of Branson Top of the Rock has some good trails, waterfalls and views you tour by golf cart. All of it is pretty much man made, but they decorate it nice for Christmas. The history museum there is really good with a Native American collection that is large and top notch.

Another option would be Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville . Crystal Bridges, the Scott Family Amazeum Children's museum and the surprisingly interesting Walmart Museum in the original building are all really good and free to go to. In Fayetteville the Arkansas Air & Military Museum has a lot of warbirds, military vehicles etc. you can get close an up close view of. Devils Den State Park has nice rustic cabins and interesting rock formations, caves and fossils you can hike to.

You kinda gotta remember it's Arkansas and take it for what it is. I like it more than broken bow. Its not as clean and new but it's less commercialized. The whole place does a good job of capturing mid century americana.

You can dip your feet into the springs here. but it's very hot.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kb2uiD7MUpaGSBXo9

The mid america science museum is better than the childrens museums in Austin, Dallas, etc. It should be the #1 stop for kids. Worth it just to see the worlds largest Tesla coil.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ASg3VTdsSGx8xuxr7

Falls creek falls trail-

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hLDGuFdMxzRNdFRE6

Magic show is good-

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PF6ajsWcMoz8iiw9A

Good breakfast-

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NNPTjcif1MnRgVSaA

My kids enjoyed digging for crystals-

https://maps.app.goo.gl/RVjWmdrdV3jQgnvR6

Take Scenic 7 from Branson to Hot Springs. It takes a little longer than interstate, but it's a beautiful drive through the mountains.

OnlyForNow said:

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Driving to/from Wisconsin at Christmas with the family, always try to do some fun things along the way.

Those in the know, are there any available hot springs we could go to?

Boys will be 8 and 12.

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Garvan woodland gardens and digging for crystals were the highlights for my kids.

All the hot springs stuff was pretty underwhelming.

McClard's - you can thank me after

Family stayed at the BnB over 4th. Had a great time. Lake access for paddle boards, close to everything,z

I'm m glad I'm not the only one who o ly half reads posts.

The mid America museum at peak fall time is in a beautiful setting. The famous glass church (can't think of the name) is as well. Just know that with the latter you probably won't get close to it unless you're in a wedding. The park is still beautiful.