Hot Springs Arkansas with kids

grateful head pizza and deluca…two of the better pizza places around. Do the town during the day, evacuate prior to dark. Get a place up on the lake to stay. Plenty of great hikes in the park.

We took ours to Magic Springs Theme and Water Park last year and they had a blast.

The botanical gardens are great
Lake Catherine state park has a cool short hike to a waterfall that we always do
Bubbaloo's is a great spot right across from the bathhouses. Burgers, fries, milkshakes. Owners are super nice
Kayaking/canoeing was enjoyable but I went when it was 75 degrees out on a 6 mile float trip
Deluca's was mentioned already, great pizza

Rocky’s has the best pizza- it’s across the street from the racetrack

Dinner at Fisherman’s Wharf. Beautiful views of the lake and the kids can feed the ducks crackers.

There are a ton of really cool antique stores in and around the town. You can't really walk into a bad one, definitely worth checking out.

The Buffalo National River is not a very far drive and is absolutely beautiful right now. I just went on a 3 day camping trip there and the water was crystal clear and felt great. Buffalo River Outfitters is who we went through, they offer a bunch of day float trips.

I would also suggest taking a ride out to the Lake Ouachita State Park. They have a couple fairly easy hiking trails and a big lake as well.

Everyone that posted about the pizza places are correct, never would have thought Arkansas would have top notch pizza, but Delucas and Grateful Head are really exceptional. Pancake shop for breakfast is a hot spot but you gotta get there early.

Definitely go check out the race track if they are running horses. The Ohio Club is worth checking out. They shouldn't have any issues with the kids coming in before 6pm. It is the oldest operating bar in Arkansas since 1905. During the prohibition days, they built in a false wall and renamed themselves into a cigar store while still operating as a bar in secret along with in house gambling. They have since taken all the old roulette tables, poker tables, etc.. and made them into bar tables with plexiglass on top. Really neat place with a ton of history.

Edit: Don't forget to bring some jugs to bring home some of that hot springs water! There is a filling station in town where the locals go to fill up.

Go up to Lake Ouachita. Rent a walk in tent spot for the day (10 dollars), check the ones with their own lake front, and you will have a nice spot on the lake not overly crowded. It is a beautiful lake and much better than Hamilton.