This year for Mason’s break from school, we decided that we would just stick around home. We had a lot of jobs to get done…and we were waiting to hear Mason’s National Board test results. The day we found out that Mason had passed, we suddenly had the desire to head out on a trip. After Mason’s parents insisted(thanks!!!) that we go somewhere, we quickly packed our bags, booked a hotel and were out the door within an hour headed to Hot Springs Arkansas.
Hudsie fell asleep like this in the car. Doesn’t look very comfortable to me. And, kinda looks like he faking it!
Audrey kept herself entertained by playing with the kindle. It definitely helped as the trip that was supposed to take 2 hours ended up taking 3 1/2 because of traffic.
We see commercials all the time advertising Hot Springs as America’s first resort. It also holds the countries first protected park…the hot springs.
We got in Hot Springs just in time to check into our hotel and relax for the night. Audrey and Hudson were both so excited. I’m pretty sure Audrey was thinking that the hotel stay was our vacation.
We left home with no plans whatsoever so when we got to the hotel, we each picked up about 20 brochures advertising things to do in the area.
This is the view from the back patio/dock of the hotel we stayed at. The front desk also gave us fish food so we could feed the fish and the turtles. Again, I’m sure Audrey would have been just fine if we’d have stayed in the hotel for the entire trip.
In the morning we decided that we would check out the national park first. We were expecting a park like we have back home in Utah, with a big entrance and lots of land. What we found was a row of bath houses. Not really what we were expecting, but still cool.
We went on a tour through this bath house. Audrey was not a fan, but I really liked it. It was still the same as when it was used in 1908 or so.
Behind the bath houses are some trails that the people who came to the bath houses for therapy would use as part of their treatment.
This fountain is water from the hot springs. It was actually so hot that I didn’t want to touch it. It was steaming even in the 80 degree weather.
We found this little spring on our walk.
The kids loved going fast down the steep trails!
Across the street from the hot springs, we found this really cool waterfall. I was surprised when it was cold!
After we saw the springs, we went on top of the “mountain” to the lookout. It was actually a lot higher than I thought it would be. The plaque said that you could see 140 miles in the distance.
The view from the top.
Haha…it sure doesn’t look very high, does it?
Audrey and Hudsie made their own fun. I don’t think they were too impressed with the lookout.
After the lookout we went to the Mid America Science Museum. It’s a children’s museum by the Smithsonian Institute.
Audrey saw a white coat and goggles and told us that she was an eye dr.
So, she gave Mason and eye exam.
Hudsie needed to give him one too!
After the museum, we ate lunch and headed home. It was a really quick trip, but it was a lot fun and just what we needed!
After Mason found out he passed National Boards, he went through his notes and threw most of them away. Before he tossed them though, he stacked them all up and had a photo op!
Those are all 2-3 inch thick binders. Yuck! That’s a lot of notes!