Intuitive Value: May 2014

Our favorite place 40 years ago was where we were married - Preparation Canyon State Park near Moorehead, Iowa. The outdoor wedding was appropriate to our lifestyle which included true love that could be found in a natural, uncomplicated environment surrounded by like-minded people who came together to celebrate our union. It is no wonder that Keith and I would grow together and find another place that complimented our common interests as we celebrated our 40th Anniversary.

It all began at Preparation Canyon State Park...

Beti & Keith married May 11, 1974

The Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas

We first discovered Hot Springs as a family back in 1992 when we took our two children on an adventure to hunt for diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfeesburo, Arkansas. On our way back to Missouri, we stopped at The Arlington Hotel as we were in need of a nice bath after mudding around looking for diamonds. We didn't find any diamonds. What we found was more than just a bath. We discovered what is known as the "taking of the waters." This had such an impact on Keith and I that we returned years later for health reasons and continue to make the trip a part of our lives for about the past nine years. We hope to return each year and make this our favorite vacation spot. There are many things to see and do and each time we come, we find something new. Hot Springs National Park is just across the street. It is our nation's first national park. Technically, it was called a reservation because the National Park system didn't exist in 1832 when the federal government took the unprecedented step of setting aside four sections of land to protect this natural resource. Because of claims on the boundaries, it wasn't settled until 1877. So it was first a reservation and then by 1921, the new National Park first director, Stephen Mather, convinced Congress to declare the reservation the 18th national park. The eight bathhouses were already there and very popular. The Army-Navy Hospital was built in 1933 and is now a rehab facility.

Beti at the hot water fountain outside the Fordice Bathhouse on Bathhouse Row. The Arlington Hotel is the multistory building at the beginning of Bathhouse Row which has magnolia trees all along Central Avenue on one side and unique shops on the other side for several blocks. The National Park is located to the rear of the bath houses and has several levels going up the mountain. The hot water comes out of the ground in several places freely and is capped and channeled for use in about 47 places.

The Magnolia Trees line Central Avenue and were just beginning to bloom the second week of May. They are in full bloom by mid-June. The scent is intoxicatingly wonderful as the warm breezes carry throughout the area!

Open hot water spring pools at the base in the landscaped park just across from The Arlington Hotel.

View of the open hot water spring pool from the first level walkway above overlooking the city and The Arlington Hotel.

In recent years, Keith and I would ride around the downtown Hot Springs area in a horse and carriage at night. It certainly is the best way to experience the lights, smells, and sounds of night life in the city on a Saturday night. It is one of the services provided at The Arlington Hotel.

Our favorite restaurant nearby is the Belle Arte Ristorante serving good Italian cuisine.

There was a large Farmers Market near the old railroad station in what is now the city park. It has a large variety of vendors and, of course, we found a plant or two to bring home to add to our garden. As a special treat, we enjoyed listening to a blues band that played on site.

Another place we have visited several times is the Garvan Woodland Gardens which is a short drive outside the city limits. There's about four miles of trails that make for a wonderful walk full of a variety of plants and landscapes. I took so many photos and noted so many new ideas for gardening and landscape inspiration. What a wonderful way to spend a morning!

Beti and Keith on Millsap Canopy Bridge

Glass Chapel hosts many area weddings. Reminds me of another outdoor wedding location!

Millsap Bridge over Singing Waters

Bridge of the Full Moon

As a special treat, we drove one day about an hour north to the Little Rock area to attend the P. Allen Smith Garden Home Tour. We became familiar with this place from the show P. Allen Smith has on PBS. It was impressive especially knowing it all started only six years ago. The tour took all day which included a nice lunch and free time to roam freely anywhere on the estate. Again, I took many more photos than I could possibly include here!

P. Allen Smith Garden Home on Moss Mountain overlooking the Arkansas River near Little Rock

Beti at a rock wall in the greeting area.

Beti and Keith with the Arkansas River to the rear facing the back of the house.

Beti and Keith with the back of the house to the rear facing the Arkansas River.

Beti in the kitchen admiring all the Viking appliances and equipment used on the PBS show for the cooking segments. P. Allen Smith is all about the complete garden home influenced by Thomas Jefferson era concepts with modern conveniences.

One of several cottages around the house is an Art Studio admired by Keith.

Many different pathways connect a variety of "garden rooms" throughout the estate.

On our last full day at Hot Springs, there was a parade on Central Avenue the length of Bathhouse Row. It was the 9th year of The Running of the Tubs. That busy Saturday morning, the street was closed off and water balloons and other water-shooting devices could be seen gathering in piles all along the way. The crowd joined in as the tub-runners made their way to the finish line. Of course, it was not to be just a race…there were stopping points along the route where the races had to perform all kinds of tasks such as "ring around the tub" where all contestants had to get out and run around the tub or do push-ups, or whatever the judges could think of as the spectators pelted them with water. It appeared that it was the judges that were the target of many of the water balloons! All the time, the tubs had to keep 10" of bathwater inside and follow an outrageous number of rules to qualify all in fun. This year there were eight contestants.

It was a great ending to our wonderful 40th Anniversary Celebration!