EUREKA!! Springs, Arkansas

I've been to Eureka Springs lots of times living only 45 minutes away. In fact, my husband and I stayed here our wedding night before we flew out the next day to Key West (check out that journal entry). Eureka Springs has something for everyone. I've taken girl's getaway weekends here, Valentine's weekends here, and family getaways with our extended family, and every time we go, there is something new to see and do.

My favorite thing about Eureka Springs is the feeling of being far away from the world, stepping back into the days of horse-drawn carriages and Victorian mansions. My favorite place to go in Eureka is the New Moon Spa in the Crescent Hotel. This spa knows that people deserve to be treated like kings and queens. They use all Aveda products, and I've had a lot of their services, which are all great. Another great place in town is the Herbacy; it’s like an all-natural pharmacy - no prescriptions here, but you can have the all-natural doctor check you out and provide some great solutions to some common ailments.

Long story short, any reason you come here is a good reason. Wanna have an ultimate spa experience with any of the more than 10 spas? Wanna shop in eclectic shops you won't find anywhere else in the world? Wanna have a romantic getaway complete with horse-drawn carriages, heart-shaped Jacuzzi tubs, and Victorian mansions? Then Eureka Springs is the perfect getaway for you.

Quick Tips:

Eurekasprings.org is a great website for coupons and special packages. Eureka-net.com is another good one to help you plan your whole trip. There you will find all the information you need on all the lodging choices. But I have a several good choices for you, too.

Best Way To Get Around:

There is a trolley that runs through the whole town, but I've never ridden on it. Every time we go, we drive. If you stay in the heart of town, where all the shopping is, you can walk everywhere.

A neat experience is just stepping into the lobby of this grand hotel. You are met with friendly staff and the neatest eerie feeling that you can sometimes sense a presence. This hotel claims to be haunted, and though I never saw anything, you definitely get an eerie sort of feeling. It enhances the whole Crescent experience. Legend has it, from what I've been told, this hotel used to be a hospital back in the 1800s. The story goes that a nurse who worked at the hospital committed suicide by jumping off the top of the building and landing in the courtyard below... or was she pushed? Interesting.

The hotel itself is eclectically decorated, yet the rooms are a bit small. As far as accommodations go, there are better places to stay, but the Crescent is great for other reasons. For a neat romantic experience, horse-drawn carriages will pick you up from the Crescent and take you through the whole downtown area. Cuddled under a warm blanket with your loved one on one of those is a must in Eureka. The New Moon Spa is a part of the Crescent on the bottom level and my favorite place in Eureka Springs. You feel relaxed just entering the spa. They offer all kinds of services and packages, and all of them are heavenly. They are an Aveda salon and spa, so every service they provide is all natural. All in all, the Crescent Hotel and Spa should be on your list when you visit Eureka.

Before my husband and I got married, we took a day and went to Eureka Springs to look for the best place to stay on our wedding night. After looking at many different accommodation choices, we decided on Dogwood Cottages. This place is right off the main drag, yet very secluded in the woods. The cottages are the perfect size, with a kitchenette, a living room with a Jacuzzi, a big bedroom, and a nice-sized bathroom. There is a big porch with a swing to relax on, and the whole place is just very peaceful. And for such a great place, the price is right! The staff is very accommodating. When we told them we would be spending our wedding night there, they upgraded us for free! If you want a secluded getaway cottage that is still close to everything, this is the place for you.

Unless you are going for a convention here, I wouldn't make this my lodging choice. My girlfriends and I stayed here one weekend for a girl's getaway thinking it was an affordable, fun place to stay. Don't go by what the website says about it - it’s not like the pictures portray. I'll give it one positive: the pool was heated and nice and big in a nice open atrium. Other than that, there are much nicer places to stay in Eureka.

My reasoning? When I stay at a hotel, I always do what I call the bed and bath check. When I check in, the first thing I do is pull back the covers and check for hairs and makeup stains, and then I check the bathtub for hairs. When I pulled back the covers at the Victorian, I found hairs and makeup stains! So then I went and requested another room, and although the beds in the next room were clean, the bathtub had a few hairs, but by then we just let it slide - we wanted to get to our relaxing. The decor is old, there is an odd smell, and the heater in the room sounds terrible when you are trying to sleep. So unless you have to for a convention or something, I wouldn't recommend giving this hotel a whirl.

Beautiful works of art welcome you as you enter the romantic atmosphere of this restaurant. We were given a seductive little table right by the window. The food was exquisite, an artwork in and of itself. The price is a little out there but worth it. For a romantic rendezvous in Eureka Springs, Rogue's Manor should be on your list. I've never stayed at the hotel that is associated with this restaurant, but I've heard good things about it. Just don't miss the restaurant.

Eureka Springs is always available for the taking, but there are different times to go for different reasons. For the budget-minded, go in early winter, like January and February. That's basically the off-season, when lodging prices are a steal. You can even bargain with some lodging places, as they need the business. For those looking for the most fun time to go, July or August is your best bet. There are always local events and lots more to do in the summer. For Corvette lovers with a need for speed, the annual Corvette show is usually in September and the Corvette Run is not to be missed. Motorcycle lovers will enjoy the great Ride Rally Ride week in March. For whatever reason, Eureka Springs will be a getaway you won't soon forget.