| The Scenic Beauty of Arkansas, the "Natural State" | |
|
When your daily life is in the middle of the traffic and crowds, and you always walk on concrete, breathe smog, and come to believe there are only 3 or 4 stars in the night sky, you must live in the city.
After 30 years in Dallas, we appreciate that the city offers jobs, plenty of shopping, a wide variety of restaurants and every conceivable kind of entertainment. But once in a while one gets tired. There is a need to leave the fast paced urban environment to find a slower pace, to find a breath of fresh air, to get back in touch with nature, and, most importantly, with ourselves. A very few hours from Dallas, Austin and Houston, from Oklahoma City and Tulsa, from St Louis, Memphis, and Shreveport, there is such a place. There are forests and mountains, clear lakes and clean air. There is relief from noise and hurry. There is Mountain Thyme Bed and Breakfast Inn. Located on Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 barely a quarter mile outside the Ouachita National Forest in the Ouachita Mountains, Mountain Thyme is superbly situated for those who seek some tranquility. And since we specialize in relaxation, it is the perfect place from which to take a day trip into the mountains, to one of Arkansas beautiful state parks, or to a beautiful, clear, quiet lake. Here are some places to go that we highly recommend. | |
|
Garvan Woodland Gardens.
This is a beautiful 210 acre botanical garden located just southeast of Hot Springs on Lake Hamilton. You could spend all day walking the trails and seeing the huge variety of trees and plants, not to mention the streams, waterfalls, and pools. It just keeps getting more spectacular every year! Their latest major addition is an extraordinary wedding chappel located on the grounds outside the botanical gardens. Be sure to see that! Any season is the right season to see this place. But especially renown are the more than 100,000 daffodils from 327 varieties blooming in February, over 70,000 tulips blooming in March and the million plus lights, animated characters, and hand-made structures displayed from late November through the year end. The Gardens host many unique special events throughout the year, so you have to get on their mailing list, or check back often, just to keep up. | |
|
Lake Ouachita
Pronounced "wash-i-taw", this is the largest lake in the state at over 48,000 acres and is purportedly the cleanest lake in the United States. It has very little construction on its shores which, no doubt, helps it maintain its purity as well as makes for a much more "natural view" of the shoreline from the water. Mostly what you see are forests, mountains and its over 100 islands. If you enjoy boating in a serene environment, this is the lake for you. It is also one of the few fresh water lakes popular with scuba divers because of its clarity.
Lake Ouachita State Park
Hiking
Three miles south of Mountain Thyme is the Ranger Information Center for the Ouachita National Forest. Located there is the "Friendship Trail", an easy 1 1/2 mile wheel chair accessible "hiking trail" over easy terrain. One mile north of us, just inside the forest is the Iron Springs Recreation Area and trail head for "Hunt's Loop", a 3.8 mile trail loop, the first part of which is a switch back up the side of the mountain. For the truly adventuresome, Hunt's Loop also intersects the "Ouachita Trail". This trails runs from Little Rock along the ridges of the Ouachita Mountains into Oklahoma. |
Scenic Drives
State highway 7 was re-designated as Scenic Byway 7 because of the beautiful scenery to be found along most of its length. Just 1/4 mile north of Mountain Thyme, you enter the Ouachita National Forest. For the adventuresome, there are miles of gravel or unimproved roads in the National Forest, many leading to areas of great scenic beauty not easily matched on paved roads. The Flatside Wilderness area includes Flatside Pinnacle, a 1550 high rock outcrop as well as views of the 1650 foot White Oak Mountain and the 1350 foot Forked Mountain. Continuing north, Scenic 7 winds through the Ouachita Mountains to the Arkansas River Valley. A few miles south of the river, you can turn west and travel a short way to Mt Nebo, or to Mt Magazine State Park, which boasts the tallest point in Arkansas. Or you can turn back east and travel a few miles to Petit Jean State Park. The beauty of Scenic 7 continues north of the river as it makes it way through the Buffalo River valley and into the Ozarks in the northern part of the state. Petit Jean State Park
|
|
Mountain Biking
More information on this can be found at this National Forest web site link | |
What to do
You know you're doing something right when...
guests who meet here arrange to return at the same time the next year.
- Hot Springs
Natl Park
- Scenic
Drives
- Hot Springs
Village
