The town of Hot Springs, a Duck Tour and some Ice Cream!

The same day we went to the National Park we also went into town. The town of Hot Springs is actually built around the park (or the park around the town) so it makes for an interesting and beautiful town!

We took a morning stroll on the shaded promenade behind the bath houses and then walked through and alongside the hot spring bath houses along main street. It was pretty cool!

Then we loaded up and went on a National Park Duck Tour which turned out to mostly be a drive down the main drag of the city with a mini boat ride in Lake Hamilton. We had fun and the girls couldn't believe their car was also a boat, but the fumes definitely did a number on me and we will probably pass on any future duck tours!!!

After that we cooled off with some of the most yummy homemade ice cream in town. It was also at the ice cream place that our entire family was in the bathroom for 25 minutes... not kidding. Ash Ash was having some problems getting it all out :)

To end our tour of the town we filled up our water bottles with real hot spring water. And it was hot but yummy!

Very cool town. Next time Rob and I would love to hit up the hot spring baths!

Mountain Tower

One day we went into Hot Spring National Park and went to the Mountain Tower to get a view of Hot Spring National Park and the town. The girls LOVED being in "rapunzels tower" and loved the elevator ride up and down :)

PS Always have your children go potty before going all the way to the top of a tower. Minutes after getting to the top both big girls had to go. Luckily we didn't have to climb the stairs!

We hiked the tallest mountain in Arkansas!

I am 1 1/3 vacations and 3 weeks behind on this blog..... will I ever catch up???

Back to our trip to Hot Spring Arkansas a few weeks back.

On the way into town we stopped along the route from Little Rock to Hot Springs to hike the tallest mountain (700 vertical feet) in Arkansas; Pinnacle Mountain. We got there as a storm was approaching so as nervous as I was to get struck by lightening, the fact that hundreds of other people were outside in the park and hiking made me feel better about going out and climbing the mountain. And I am so glad we did!!!!

These two are troopers and EASILY the youngest ones out hiking the mountain. They impress me with how much they enjoy it and how fun they have.

They had to do some rock climbing along the way and also after hiking 700 vertical feet!

WE MADE IT TO THE TOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The trail had markers along the way to let you know when you were 1/10, 2/10, 3/10, etc the way to the top. It was an excellent way to mark the trail- the girls LOVED finding the numbers and it was very encouraging to them to keep climbing!

The end result of the hike- a 2 hour nap in the car which lasted through  45 minute pit stop at Walmart for groceries. I guess hiking a mountain is all it takes for my girls to sleep in the car. They NEVER sleep in the car so this was very nice!

So tired she fell asleep with a lollipop in her mouth (above) and it even fell out of her mouth :)

What a big girl!

We are officially in a booster seat! And let me tell you; someone thinks she is pretty big stuff :)

Much Love,
Jenny