I'm from Arkansas & my grandparents have a lake house on Hamilton off Airport Rd so I basically live there in the summers.

Oaklawn is real nice, they recently added on & did a great job - nice track. Haven't been to Fairgrounds so I can't compare the two.

Arlington is well known and most of the Spa Houses are located downtown on/around Central Ave. I don't do the touristy stuff but will text my mom and try to get the spa names she goes to tomorrow

We usually cook out but you can check out Jason's, Mcclards, Hawgs, Sam's Pizza, or Roland's. None of those are fine dining but a good time. Go down Central Ave and that's where mostly everything is located. There's bars off Central on the lake (Symly's and a few more). My friends back home and I prefer to get fricked up at Hawgs tbh

There's a duck tour that offers tours of the lake/town too. Not sure if they run in the winter though. There's also the Belle of Hot Springs which is a boat that sails through Lake Hamilton that also offers dinner. However, the food is nothing to write home about. I went on a tour with the fam 3-4 years ago at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Convention and the family night consisted of their sick arse food..the only good part were the views from atop of the boat

Check out the Mountain Tower too. Good views of the surrounding area

Hiking
I've hiked Pinnacle Mountain 10-15 times, it's a good time (WLR)

Clinton Library is cool, very modern. Heifer International is located behind the library which is also cool. The River Market has also improved in downtown LR. Cheers, Cajuns, Trios, Sushi Cafe, Brownings, Brave New Restaurant are some of my favs in LR

ETA: Garvan Gardens is a cool place to take a look at too in Hot Springs. Check out their wedding chapel. It's awesome

Winnamocka & Camp Ozark are my old stomping grounds. Miss it

This post was edited on 1/15/14 at 8:09 am