RV life can sometimes be challenging. One of those times is when you get all packed up, car hooked up AND....one of your slides won't go in. Your check out time is noon and the rv park manager is breathing down your throat to get out of your spot and the repair guy can't make it until the next day. Luckily for us, we found a different rv repair guy who came out and fixed the problem all within about an hour. Since it was around 5pm already we decided to stay one more night (in a different spot) in Memphis.
Unfortunately, that night would have been better spent at Hot Springs National Park. This place is very hard to describe so bear with me. Usually when we go to a National Park we go to the visitor's center the first day, get ourselves oriented and figure out what we are going to do. Well, this is not the case with this park. Hot Springs became a national park to preserve what is now known as "Bath House Row". Back in the 1890's the first bath house was built so people could enjoy the hot springs baths that were bubbling up from the ground. It became a very popular thing to do and people would come from all over for relaxation and also the "health benefits" the water provided. When the Chicago White Stockings (as they were known then) won the world series one year, they were asked to what they attributed their success and they said they started their season by going to the bath houses. After that the row exploded and there are about 8 houses now. When you go today, there are 3 or 4 still in operation. They have become spa retreats where you can soak in the hot springs, get massages, facials etc... and just relax.
We rolled into town and went to the visitor's center only to figure out that this national park is like no other we have been to. After speaking with the friendly park ranger, we got it all figured out and went next door to the nearest bath house and booked a soak and massages. Since it was the end of the day we were lucky enough to book the last 2 massages. Afterward we just walked around on the main street, went into a few of the little boutique shops and called it a day.
The next day we drove into the "park" and checked in to our house. We were given warm towels and robes and we quickly changed to get into the hot pool. It was heaven! The bath house we visited had public soaking pools and they also had private baths but since we only had one day we could visit, all the private baths were booked so we took what we could get. The various pools range in temperature from 96-105 degrees F but when the water comes out of the ground, the water is 143 F. Thankfully they cool it as it comes into the pools. After a great soak and an even better massage, we were so relaxed and feeling like noodles. :) I mentioned that there are about 8 houses but only 3 or 4 are spas. Two more are being renovated, one is the park visitor center, one is a store and one has been turned into a brewery! We just HAD to go visit since this is the only brewery that sits on National Park land AND it is the only beer to be brewed with hot springs water. We ordered beer flights and appetizers and enjoyed everything immensely. A perfect ending to a perfect spa day! We will definitely be back!
No comments:
Post a Comment