Acknowledging the fact that our lives are insanely busy, Peter and I decided to escape the madness sans kids, for a little R&R. On a Wednesday. My fabulous parents stepped in to provide overnight childcare, and we hopped over to Hot Springs, Arkansas. Famed for its mineral water baths and natural springs, this town is actually built around a small National Park which features these steamy creeks and waterfalls. Some of the hotels in the area capitalize on this water by offering thermal baths, spa treatments and the like. We checked into the Arlington Hotel, which has one such bath inside and an expansive porch overlooking the park entrance and the town's main drag. Within an hour, we were basking in mud mineral baths, followed by sauna, hot towel wraps ("human burrito treatment," we called it) and a full-body massage. Perfect. After our pampering, we shopped the main streets, landed in a lovely restaurant for dinner, drank some rich wine (which goes straight to one's head after a spa treatment, perhaps due to some level of dehydration or detoxification?), played some pool and listened to live acoustic music. The next morning, we explored the National Park, which was painted bright yellow and orange with autumn leaves at their peak. It was a rainy, foggy morning, so our plans for a hike were overtaken by a leisurely drive on the scenic loop. We stopped at a couple of antiques shops & a winery on our way out of town and made it back in time to welcome the big girls off the bus from school. Short but oh-so-sweet.
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