Eureka Springs, Arkansas is the perfect place to go for a relaxing weekend getaway.
The road to Eureka Springs, Arkansas is sprinkled with towns so small you wonder who fills the requisite church each Sunday. Signs that say “Bob for Sheriff” are written in marker on posterboard and tacked up on telephone poles. Roads wind through the Ozark Mountains, beautiful vistas reveal themselves around every corner. It’s easy to forget the stresses of the day to day.
Eureka Springs History
Local hot springs attracted travelers back before there was a Eureka Springs. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, a town sprung up virtually overnight to accommodate the thousands of visitors pouring in. Many of the buildings in Eureka Springs date back to that time. In fact, the downtown area is such a well-preserved treasure that it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Eureka Springs Health Benefits
Back in the mid to late 1800s, long before the marvels of modern medicine, most people traveling to Eureka Springs were trying to heal what ailed them. While today’s visitors don’t generally come with a doctor’s prescription, the connections between stress and disease are well documented. A trip to healing Eureka Springs is sure to lower stress levels. Most visitors head to one of Eureka Springs spas, where guests can get everything from massages to mud body wraps.
Eureka's Historic Hotels
One of the most popular spas in Eureka Springs is the New Moon Spa located in the Crescent Hotel. Spa packages are available. Guests can rest assured that, if their massage puts them into a semi-conscious state, they have a short walk back to their room. In addition to being convenient, the 1886 hotel is like a trip back in time. Another trip back in time, and another Eureka Springs favorite, is the New Orleans Hotel and Spa.
Eureka Springs Shops
Streets in Eureka Springs meet haphazardly, colliding more than intersecting. Historic buildings, nestled into the sides of mountains, are filled with small, unique shops. The shops sell everything from fudge, to herbal remedies, to quilts. And shoppers don’t have to worry about wearing themselves out. Eureka Springs is large enough to keep a person busy, but small enough to ensure a stress-free pace.
Eureka Springs Active Pursuits
Of course, for those who want to pick up the pace, there are plenty of activities. Canoe trips on one of the lakes or rivers can be arranged. There are numerous good hikes in the area. And several local stables, like the Dinner Bell Ranch and Resort, rent horses for as little as an hour or as long as a day.
Eureka Springs Restaurants
No matter how visitors work up their appetite, they will find plenty of eating options in Eureka Springs. The Mud Street Café is the perfect place for a light lunch or just a coffee break. For a more substantial meal, Ermilio’s Italian is a town favorite.
The drive out of Eureka Springs is just as beautiful as the drive in, but bittersweet. While vacationers are sure to be heading home relaxed, they are just as sure to be sad to head home.
More on Eureka
For more information on things to do in Eureka Springs and surrounding areas, see Bertha Sutliff's article Christmas Across Arkansas and Linda J. Bottjer's article Ghost Tours of the South.
