Romantic Getaway to Hot Springs

After much debate about where to stay, I decided Wildwood was the place for us. The reviews were outstanding and the prices weren’t bad either. Neither my fiancé nor I have ever stayed at a bed-and-breakfast, so this was a whole new experience for us and we didn’t quite know what to expect.

Upon arriving, we were greeted at the door by David who gave us the warmest welcome I have ever received. He then proceeded to show us around the house. This house cannot be put into words. It is so gorgeous and detailed that you must see it for yourself. After touring the bottom floor, David brought us to the third floor where our room (the King David room) was. When we entered we were just blown away. They had all the lights turned down with candles lit and rose petals scattered on the bed. It was one of the most romantic moments of my life. The King David room has the nicest bathtub I have ever seen. It was 7½ feet long and very deep. Wildwood is the first house in the county to have indoor plumbing, so this has led them to believe it is the first bathtub in the county. How neat is that?

Wildwood has numerous amenities and small details that make it truly special. They have turned the Ladies’ parlor room into a sort of living/TV area. There is a collection of DVDs to choose from to watch in the DVD player in your room. In the butler’s pantry, there was a never-ending supply of drinks and snacks.

Each morning Rebecca cooks a three to four course breakfast that is served in the dining room. The food was outstanding! We never had to eat lunch during our stay. We usually just got a snack in the afternoon and ate a nice dinner. Each morning brought a totally different menu. It was absolutely perfect. After breakfast, Rebecca did a history tour of the house that I found very interesting. It was really neat to be able to imagine the house in its glory years. The builder of the house, Sarah was an exceptional woman, and you can see her touches throughout.

We loved our stay at the Wildwood and will definitely be going back. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the only place to stay in Hot Springs.

I had never eaten at a Western Sizzlin’ before and I absolutely love steak, so this was a must stop. The restaurant itself is a little away from the downtown area and at night Hot Springs tends to be a little shady. However, I never felt unsafe.

Once inside the restaurant, I noticed it had been a little unkempt. For instance, there were a few tiles missing from the ceiling because of a water leak, there was some trash on the floor, some of the tables were dirty, etc; nothing major, but it was noticeable.

Looks aside, the steak was fabulous, one of the best I have ever eaten. The dessert bar didn’t have too much to offer, but I was full from the main meal anyhow. I think I would definitely eat at another Western Sizzlin’, but I’m not so sure about this particular one.

Bathhouse Row is a must for any first-time visitors. It helps you to appreciate the history of Hot Springs and sets the mood for the rest of the vacation. After our baths at Buckstaff, we spent a little while just walking up and down Bathhouse Row. The only bathhouse you are allowed to enter is Fordyce, which is the visitor center for the national park. The other bathhouses have plaques outside giving a brief history. We went inside Fordyce and did a self-tour. It is beautiful and full of history. We were given a detailed map that showed a path you should follow to get the full experience. There are rooms throughout that have artifacts and pictures, like a museum. Looking at Fordyce really gave us an idea of how far technology has come. Thank goodness we don’t have to go through shock therapy anymore!

When preparing for this trip, I had read somewhere that going to Hot Springs without going to the bathhouse is like going to Egypt without seeing the pyramids. So, we decided it was worth a visit. We both like history, and what better way to learn about it than to experience it?

After registering for our treatments, I was whisked away up an old elevator to the second story and my fiancé was taken to the men’s rooms. Therefore, I will only be able to tell about the women’s facilities. Upon arriving at the second floor, I was shown to my locker and was told to completely undress and that she would be back with a bathing sheet. This was the point were I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Going into this, I really had no idea what to expect. However, I did as I was told. The attendant came back and wrapped me in a sheet that looked similar to a toga when she had was finished.

The wait for the bath was 20 to 30 minutes, so in the meantime I sat by the windows and just looked at the sights. In about 25 minutes the bathing attendant called my name and I went back to the bathing area. Each tub is in a separate “closet” with a sheet that covers the opening so no one else can see you. After getting over the initial shock of someone else seeing me without my clothes, I sat back and relaxed and enjoyed the whirlpool. In about 20 minutes, the bathing attendant came back and scrubbed me with the loofah sponge. I was then escorted to the sitz tubs, where I sat down in a small tub of very warm water. It is supposed to help with lower back pain. This time, there wasn’t a sheet to cover the door, but they do place a towel over you so others can’t see you. After 10 minutes in the sitz tub, I was moved to the vapor/steam closet. This was the hottest part of the entire process. Thankfully, I only had to stay in there for a few minutes. Then I was able to lay down on a padded table, and they asked me where I would like the hot towels (hot packs) to be placed. I chose one for ,y back. They also put a cool towel around your face, so it has a very neat effect. The last step was the needle shower, which lasted about 2 minutes. It was basically a shower surrounded by pipes that have holes in them to squirt the water out. It was really relaxing.

We chose not to do the massages due to time constraints, but if we had, this would have been the appropriate time for them. I was then able to go back and get dressed. Buckstaff provides hair dryers for you to fix your hair if you need to. Overall, I enjoyed the experience at Buckstaff. A few things that I would have done differently is 1) put up my hair before bathing and 2) not bothered with any makeup that morning. I would recommend this to anyone who visits Hot Springs, as it really does help you to feel more relaxed.