This was one of the highlights of our Arkansas trip while visiting family from our Florida home…read morebase. For anyone unfamiliar, this is the only diamond mine in the world open to the public where you can actually keep what you find. Some surprisingly large diamonds have been discovered here over the years, so there's always that tiny bit of hope that keeps you searching. What surprised me most was the layout. For some reason I expected caves or mining tunnels, but it's actually a huge open field where visitors search, dig, sift, and surface hunt. We paid $45 total admission for 3 people and thankfully already had equipment provided by our rental house (checkout Punkin's place in Murfreesboro, Arkansas on Airbnb) because you can absolutely spend extra renting tools onsite if needed. We started with wet sifting before moving into dry and surface searching. There were a few muddy sections from recent rain, but overall the conditions were great during our May visit. Slightly overcast skies with an occasional drizzle made the weather perfect for being outside. I honestly can't imagine doing this in the middle of a blazing hot summer afternoon. I had read reviews from people saying they left exhausted, but we approached it a little differently due to some back and shoulder limitations. We worked smart, paced ourselves, and still had a fantastic time. We didn't find diamonds that day, but we did leave with some beautiful rocks and a really fun experience. We would absolutely do this again!

Walking into crater of diamond state park my nieces, sister and I did not know what to expect. I…read morehave to say it was a great experience and everyone was so nice and other diamond searchers were extremely nice as well! If you have a chance come to CDSP!

The Historic Washington State Park is absolutely incredible! A jewel of a historic park that…read morereminds me of some of the preserved colonial settlements I visited in my childhood in New England. The park has buildings representative of some of the state's important eras, a surrey ride with two gorgeous and enormous beast of horses, a delicious restaurant with some southern cooking staples I'd missed from my childhood, well-curated exhibits and tours, and a friendly, passionate staff I want to bring home with me. Oh! And a bed and breakfast in the old jailhouse! And it's one of the loveliest pleases I've stayed. This is a great weekend trip. The only downfall is that there's not much else for many miles around, but it truly doesn't matter because there's enough to do in the park that you don't need to have anything else to do. Ive had such a wonderful time the 24 hours I've been here and I have about 16 more. Hot tips: byob and eat at Big Mac's and make sure you try the ribeye (only on Fridays) and the brisket.

So much history and old buildings to see. When you step into the visitor center you are greeted…read morewith a friendly face with lots of information about the history. Be sure to sign up for a tour and give yourself plenty of time to soak it all in. We took the the horse and buggy tour. The guide was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the park and friendly while sharing the history. The horses pulling the carriage were Black Percheron. Was able to give them some scratches on there head and they were quite friendly. Will have to go back and spend more time soaking up the town.

Check out the new inclusive playground. This Boy Scout Eagle Project had deep pockets for this…read moreamazing playground. Well done Scouts and contributors!

Having kids you value a good playground…read more On the way back home from the Holidays it was time to let our seat-bound for the past few hours jittery kid to get our and stretch her legs. This is a wonderful playground any kid would love to de-jitter at.

Great path to walk on elevated walk and connects to paved drive to connect both East and West…read moreBringle. Lots of wildlife. If you visit please clean up after your pet (doggy bags are available at the parks) and take your cups, bottles, and trash with you. Receptacles are close by so take it there instead of tossing it here. Preserve the beauty and nature trail.

I go here to trail run. The main walking trail runs out to the lake and is about two miles out and…read moreback. The lake views by the spillway are worth the hike which is entirely wooded so that helps tremendously with the summer heat. Its very easy walking and I've even seen people on motorized skateboards. There are biking trails also but hiking/running them is permitted if you go against the bike traffic. These are pretty hilly and narrow and you need to watch your footing and listen for bikers if you're on foot. The trails overall are a blast to hike and run. Depending on which bike trail you take it is two or four miles. Whether you take a bike trail or the main trail once you get to the spillway you can keep following the trail which runs through the woods, around the golf course and dumps you out onto University Blvd about a mile and some change west of the park. That route including getting back to the parking lot is about six miles. There is also back road I believe that gets you close to the spill way if you don't want to hike.

Nice and we'll maintained park. The area used for horse riding and camping has recently had the…read moreshower/restroom facilities burned. Other than that it is a great place to stay and experience some of the unique experiences of the area.

Very nice place to stay & relax. Super quiet place and very home like…read more My husband works for the power company; he works long hours and some times he works on Saturday. This is a very pleasant place to stay.

Very atypical but super cool national park. We loved visiting the baths and enjoying the natural…read morebeauty and history. It was very rainy when we were there, so we didn't do much outdoors aside from shorter walks, but what we did was very nice. Locals were very helpful and nice, and the people working in the various restaurants and shops were great.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and experience it beyond simply driving by. Hot Springs National Park was one of the most unique parks on our journey because it is unlike any other national park we have visited. Rather than protecting vast wilderness, this park preserves the history and natural thermal springs that gave birth to the city of Hot Springs. For centuries, people believed the mineral-rich waters had healing properties, and during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the area became one of America's premier spa destinations. The beautifully preserved Bathhouse Row is a reminder of that era, with historic buildings that still define the character of the park today. The park itself blends seamlessly into the city, making it feel less like a traditional national park and more like a living historic district. Personally, I see it as being closer to a national monument than the expansive wilderness parks most people picture when they think of the National Park System. But that doesn't diminish its value, it is simply a very different experience. I spent quite a bit of time hiking the surrounding trails, which were peaceful, scenic, and offered beautiful views over the town and the Ouachita Mountains. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how much nature surrounds the historic district once you begin climbing into the hills. The town itself is charming, full of history, unique architecture, good restaurants, and an easy pace that invites you to slow down. Between exploring the bathhouses, learning about the fascinating history of hydrotherapy in America, and enjoying the trails, we found there was plenty to fill a full day. Overall, Hot Springs National Park is beautiful in its own way. It may not offer towering mountains or dramatic wilderness, but it preserves an important chapter of American history while still providing opportunities to enjoy nature. It is certainly worth visiting with an open mind and an appreciation for both history and the outdoors.

Beautiful! Secluded! The water was so clean and the campsites were clean. Our family of 6 enjoyed…read moreit.

Beautiful park by a beautiful lake. Quiet, clean, green, and peaceful. This is a must visit if…read moreyou're seeking biggest bang for the buck while also considering natural beauty and cleanliness. Far away from Arkansas' limited urban areas. Camping is a must! Be aware - this is Arkansas with a subtropical humid climate and the most amount of bugs you'll encounter in your life. ... aggressive huge flies that chase you around the camp sight and they bite!!!! Wasps and bees. Spiders and ants. Ticks. Haha. If that's not your thing, bring the Rv and skip the tent.

Love being there. The staffs are friendly, the gardens and grounds are soothing and peaceful. I go…read morethere at least twice a week, maybe 3 times when I can escape from my hustle and bustle. Every time I was there, I feel a sense of peace and joy. Where else can you get that kind of relaxation in a city? It's just beautiful.

Options for autumn when Canada was "closed" (1 of 2)…read more - - - - - Covid may seemingly be a thing of the past, but, for some, it will never be forgotten because it affected them or their loved ones in far more serious ways. It changed how we interacted, shopped, circulated, and even limited our options as to where we could travel. For a while, Canada was closed and it always comes to the top of my list when it comes to fall colors. That said, other options became New England, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and the Ozarks. Garvan Woodland Gardens is located just outside of Hot Springs, Arkansas, thus in the general Ozarks area. Hot Springs itself was already on the map as place of touristic import. Along a major avenue there is nationally registered "Bathhouse Row," a string of private spas in ornate mansion-sized facilities that rose to fame during the 20th Century. Its most famous visitor may have been Al Capone. I came to learn that Capone died a natural death. One might have thought otherwise. I vaguely knew about these gardens - the Garvan Woodland Gardens. However, if in town and you ask questions about things to do, their existence, and their details, become front and center. It's an easy drive from the small city of Hot Springs. The gardens began as a private garden that then flourished when they were donated and "privatized," or realistically operated by the University of Arkansas. As such, there is an admission fee. As can be expected, the gardens are segmented and themed. The most notable might be the Japanese Garden and the manicured plantings that go with that. There are also other themed areas, including some areas which are a little natural, or scruffier, if you prefer that word. There are other areas such as a toy railroad sort of old town, walkways abutting the lake, and odd contraptions that serve as stairs, bridges, and tree houses. Then, there are some areas with art installations of sort that look sort of granola. I didn't have time to read every placard explaining the logic, if any, of some of these things. There is also a non-denominational chapel on the grounds and it closely resembles the state's Thorncrown Chapel designed by the University of Arkansas's famed alumnus E. Fay Jones. I had already seen that chapel in Eureka Springs, but, if you can't make it to its remote corner of the state (actually just south of and somewhat close to Branson, Missouri), this one will almost enable you to check Thorncrown Chapel off your list. Seasonal blooms will affect what you see. Note that, if seeking fall color in the state, it will come later than other parts of America owing to the more southerly latitude. In the fall, it won't be as "flowery." The forested lands in which Garvan Wooodlands Gardens sits appear to be studded in Southern pine, and reminded me of the vegetation surrounding the Atlanta area. The employees on hand were very helpful. Note that, in this state, your bucket list ,at the very minimum, would be about 3 state parks, 2 more rugged natural areas, the historic areas of Little Rock, Eureka Springs, and Hot Springs, which would include these gardens. The beauty of everything you see may exceed your expectations. Just about everyone is giving Garvan Woodlands Gardens 5 stars. For its context and area, it should fetch 5 stars. However, compared to other places with a similar admission fee, I felt it was closer to 4 stars. It is nonetheless impressive and recommended and you should also consider the month in which you plan to visit. However, it could also be that the few hippie-dippy things there made for an eye roll. They always do.

First day in Downtown Little Rock and I checked out the view of Riverfront Park from the Junction…read moreBridge. The views at night were gorgeous and I enjoyed standing there watching the views of the skyline. The park offers well paved walking trails of various lengths as well as many places to sit and ample greenery.

Riverfront Park in Little Rock, AR, was a pitstop we happened upon since our hotel check-in was not…read morefor another hour. It was a sweltering hot day on July 22, 2025, but my daughters, our dog, and I enjoyed this place anyway. The park, named after a for parks and recreation director named Julius Breckling (not listed on this Yelp page with his name), was huge - 39 acres huge. Lol. The cons were: - trash scattered sparingly on the ground - sus characters - some areas that were worn out/ run down - parking fees (see below) - no restrooms available - none that we saw Pros: + amphitheater + dogs on leashes okay + playground area + sculptures throughout + shaded sitting areas + splash pad (there were two of them, but only one was operable that day) + terraces + walking paths + water fountains + nearby pedestrian bridge + The Little Rock monument near the bridge Parking was $3 per hour for 8 hours maximum - enforced 24/7. The kiosk accepted coins or card payment only.