| there's a bistro and a martini lounge, plus a rooftop outdoor pool, and a day spa featuring thermal baths. a ballroom and terrace are available for events. the quaint rooms have traditional-style decor and cable tv, plus free wi-fi and coffeemakers; many have balconies with views of either downtown or the surrounding national park. check-in time: 12:00 pmcheck-out time: 12:00 pm. set in a national park, this low-key hotel and spa in the historic arts district is also 1 mile from downtown. parking is free
Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport 1 hr 1
Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum (4 min)
Museum with life-size wax replicas of historical & fictional people, plus gambling paraphernalia. Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo (3 min)
Old-school attraction since 1902 displaying 100+ alligators, plus a small petting zoo. Garvan Woodland Gardens (21 min)
Huge, kid-friendly botanical garden on a woodsy shoreline with small waterfalls & an airy chapel. Mid-America Science Museum (12 min)
Splashy exhibits, such as a giant Tesla coil, mix education & entertainment in a kid-friendly venue. Gangster Museum of America (8 min)
Museum with guided video tours on relationship between local area & notorious American gangsters. Hot Springs Mountain Tower (11 min)
216-ft. tower with an elevator up to an observation deck offering expansive views of the mountains. Magic Springs (10 min)
Expansive water & theme park with roller coasters, kids' rides, waterslides & summer concerts. National Park Aquarium (1 min)
Compact, vintage aquarium with fish, reptiles & amphibians from around the world & a gift shop. Lake Catherine State Park (25 min)
2,240-acre lake park offering fishing, boating & hiking, plus waterfront cabins built in the 1930s. Fordyce Bathhouse (6 min)
Grand 1910 bathhouse featuring stained glass & marble, with exhibits & films about the baths. Lake Ouachita State Park (23 min)
Fishing, boating & swimming on a 40,000-acre lake, plus camping, cabins & historic springs. Hot Springs National Park (3 min)
Urban park featuring a historic row of early 20th-century bathhouses built atop natural hot springs. Tiny Town (6 min)
Family-run attraction showing a series of handmade miniature villages & interactive model railroad. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (8 min)
Live horse-racing track & casino with table games, video poker, slots & a Creole restaurant. The Grand Promenade (8 min) | 
