Eureka Springs Day Trip for Our 41st Wedding Anniversary

Keith & Beti at the Blue Springs Heritage Center Water Wheel

The Saturday before our May 11th anniversary was the best time to celebrate this year and a day trip to a familiar place was decided.  The last time we were here was in 1999, our 25th anniversary.  Eureka Springs, Arkansas is just about 2.5 hours' drive so we left early and came home late.  It was forecasted to be a day of thunderstorms but as old scouts, we knew there is never any bad weather…only bad clothing.  We were prepared and planned our trip to be as successful as possible.  And it was!

The first stop was a big breakfast at a Waffle House in Springfield; fast, good value, and always delicious.  We drove west out of Springfield and made a quick stop in Monett for gardening items needed before turning south into Arkansas.  We left some rain behind us in Missouri and it was looking good to choose to walk the gardens at Blue Springs Heritage Center which is on the way to Eureka Springs about 10 miles north of the city.  Blue Springs Heritage Center is a National Register Site Native Gardens.

"Blue Spring is a natural wonder, pouring 38 million gallons of cold, clear water each day into its trout-stocked lagoon.  Start your adventure with with an insightful historic film in the Visitor Center, then stroll the handicapped-accessible walkways and inviting garden paths that wind through the 33 acres.  Visit the historic mill site that dates from the 1840s, see the bluff shelter which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and walk along the path of the Trail of Tears.  Resident appaloosas, and abundant native flora and fauna delight visitors and our charming gift shop offers an array of items to keep the experience alive.  Blue Spring is a quiet getaway and a perfect place for group outings, weddings, or any special occasion."

Keith at the entrance plaza area where tickets are sold, gifts are available, and a conference center.  It is also where the water wheel is located.

Keith is feeding the trout from a covered deck area.

Many of the rainbow, brown, and golden trout jump right out of the water for their treats!

I had never seen a golden trout before.

Golden Trout

Copperhead Snake - we saw several in the water.  So fascinating especially from a distance!

From the fish feeding covered deck, we can walk on open decks to the main spring

This is the main spring which is the largest in Northwest Arkansas. There's a film at the conference center that shows divers exploring the mouth of the cave in the summer of 2004.

I enjoyed the peaceful view of the spring and the beautiful native flower beds that are preserved along with colorful annuals added.

Blue Spring is so clear!

Blue Spring flows constantly.

This is the view from the spring pool looking at the covered deck where we fed the trout.

The area above the spring pool is an historic landmark meadow that was used for Indian gatherings for many thousands of years as artifacts have been found in the area.

Sadly, this area was part of the Trail of Tears for the Cherokee.  

In the mid-1840s Blue Spring Mill was built 300' downstream from the spring and powered by water.  It burned during the Civil War and was replaced in 1903 by a new mill.  It was removed in 1943.

What the mill looked like that was built in 1903.

The bluff shelter is the site where artifacts were found dating back 10,000 years and is on the National Register of Historic Places.  

From the bluff shelter, Keith views the mill area below and reflects on the history of the area and the rich American Indian and early settler culture.

The mill area view as seen from the bluff shelter above.

The woodland garden area is the site of native plants such as this Kousa dogwood tree.

This was just outside the Blue Spring Heritage Center as viewed from the road.

We certainly lucked out as the whole time we were at Blue Springs Heritage Center walking around, it didn't rain!  We didn't want to press our luck much further so the plan was to drive towards Eureka Springs and stop for lunch at a place we had never been before.  It was after the regular lunch crowd about 1:00 p.m. and there was still some cars in front of the Rowdy Beaver Restaurant & Tavern, so we checked it out.  We split the pulled pork nachos and each had a wonderful dinner salad.  Excellent choices!  The waitress was also very pleasant and the atmosphere was comfortable.  We will come back for sure.

By the time lunch was over the sky was looking like it could rain any minute.  We drove through the city's narrow streets one time and saw a lively crowd and many places we would like to stop but the parking situation was impossible!  The whole month of May is the Festival of the Arts so it is best to check that link and see all the choices and times available that is of interest to you if you choose to visit.  From previous experience, we know that it is best to leave the care of traffic and parking to the Eureka Springs Transit and Welcome Center located at 137 W Van Buren (Hwy 62 W) to park and get a trolley pass.  There are also narrated tram tours.  You can get on and off a trolley all day and that was the best bet for us as the rain was starting to come down and walking was fine for short distances as we were prepared with rain ware.  For complete information see the online site from the Chamber of Commerce.

The entire Downtown Eureka Springs is on the National Register of Historic Places where the largest collection of Victorian architecture and "gingerbread" homes in the central United States is found.

For one of the heavy rain downpours, we rode the trolley up the hill to The 1886 Cresent Hotel and Spa.  I had been here before but Keith had stayed on the porch in a rocking chair because he felt spooked!  This trip, Keith came with me and really was impressed with the whole thing.  We even checked out staying overnight for a future trip like in October, but reservations that month are booked six months ahead and you have to stay at least two nights which begins at about $600 total.  You see..it is the "haunted hotel where some guests checked out…but never left."  It is considered an "active" paranormal location and was featured in "America's Most Haunted Hotels." Maybe we will check out more events another time.  This time we just hung around absorbing the atmosphere.

When the rain let up this time we got on another trolley and got off at the top of the hill where many shops and art galleries were located and planned to walk our way down hill in the time we had left before going home.  There were stops for fudge and coffee and many interesting shops.  We spent most of the time at Kaleidokites where we played around and bought a turtle windsock and a hot air balloon whirligig.  Keith also bought an amazing hand-crafted kaleidoscope that is a true work of art!  This store was our final stop at the end of our Eureka Springs Day Trip Adventure.  It was pleasantly coincidental that the store owner and her husband were also celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary in May like us!  Like-minded people have a way of connecting wherever they are!