Hot Springs!!!

Hot Springs National Park

 DOWNTOWN HOT SPRINGS

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Hot Springs is the smallest and oldest of the parks in the National Park System, dating back to 1832, when Congress established - 40 years ahead of Yellowstone - the first federally protected area in the nation's history. Hot Springs Reservation - which was renamed Hot Springs National Park in 1921 - originally was created by Congress to protect the 47 naturally flowing thermal springs on the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain.

 HOT SPRINGS REHAB FACILITY

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Although it's small there is plenty of things that kept me busy during my travels through the National Park.  The  world famous Bathhouse Row, is located right in the heart of Hot Springs' Historic Downtown District.

FORDYCE BATHHOUSE

Restored Fordyce Bathhouse (currently also the Park Visitors Center) right in the middle of Bathhouse Row. Tours through the marvelous building give a quick understanding of where the thermal waters come from, how they are used and how the federal government protects the 700,000 gallons of thermal water that gushes uninterrupted from the earth every day.

There are display springs that let you feel just how hot the water really is (148 degrees Fahrenheit), and the beautiful cascade of thermal water at the northern end of Bathhouse Row lets you dip your feet in the thermal waters as you relax and enjoy the beauty of Arlington Lawn Park.

A twisting scenic drive up Hot Springs Mountain behind the bathhouses takes you to breathtaking Hot Springs Mountain Tower. Elevated 1,256 feet above sea level, overlooking 140 miles of beautiful Arkansas countryside, including Hot Springs National Park and the Ouachita Mountains. A concessionaire of the National Park service where you'll be whisked by elevators to the top and a spectacularly beautiful view of the city, mountains, forests and lakes that surround Hot Springs 40 miles in all directions.

 VIEW FROM WEST MOUNTAIN OVERLOOK

An extensive 26-mile network of hiking trails that range from the easily negotiated Grand Promenade to some challengingly rugged mountain treks crisscrosses the park.

MY ADVENTURES

Arriving in the early afternoon I toured through downtown seeing the historic buildings and walked down Bathhouse Row. It was like walking down a street with these fancy high class spas from the 1920s but all on one street together competing for business. I could just close my eyes and imagine what it looked like back in the hay day on Bathhouse Row. 

 

I walked through Fordyce Bathhouse and it has been restored to look as it did in the 1900s- it was pretty cool. Plus they had pictures displayed in each room in the bathhouse to display clients relaxing and enjoying their stay at the spa.

Then I continued down Main Street towards Arlington Hotel and the cascading thermal pool. The water is really hot!! Like hotter than a bath or hot tub hot!! But it was nice to put my hands in a splash the water on my face. 

Next, I walked through Arlington Hotel which has a "mall" in the lower level. It is just spa type shops selling soaps, candles, and other good smelly things for baths or relaxation.

Finally I made my way to the trails up Hot Springs Mountain!! Went on a 3-mile hike in the dense forest which was perfect timing to avoid the stinging death heat rays from the sun. While hiking I discovered some new wild flowers that I had never seen before!! 

 

Afterwords I went to the east side of the park & toured Hot Springs Mountain Tower. It is 21 stories above the city and I climbed up every one of them just so I could stop along the way to take pictures!! It was super windy and a bit chilling up at the top when compared to the 90 degrees at the base.

California back to Texas :(

So Julie left Monday am for San Antonio. I stayed in Fresno, Cali hoping to get a new assignment in the area soon!! After 2 days with nothing to do in the fruit farm capitol of California and the only job prospect being in LA I left Fresno and went to Carmel.

Seaside Beach- Monterey State Beach

There I stayed with my grandparents wonderful friends- the Bigbee's. Last time I was in California over 3 years ago I stayed with them at their home. They are a wonderful couple with a great big heart! They let me just spot by and stay with them for 3 days!!!! I am soo thankful for the warm bed and delicious meals and time with them!!

Laguna Seca- Monterey County

Thursday I went the Monterrey Bay Aquarium- which is absolutely amazing and I highly recommend to everyone! Last time in Carmel I made a visit to this aquarium and I was totally impressed! This visit there was a special exhibit about seahorses- which was just beautiful and breath taking!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

For lunch I left the aquarium and went down the pier for fresh fish lunch- fish and chips. I can honestly say I have never had before and it was delicious. After lunch I had 2 telephone interviews in LA hospital. Both interviews went great and I was offered the position . . . but by now you all know that I am not in California or in LA.

Monterey California

Then on Friday I waited by the phone all day talking with my recruiter hoping to hear all the final details about the job in LA . . . waited and waited and waited. Finally at 530pm my recruiter called with the sad news that the LA hospital requires additional background check and drug screen and the next date for orientation after those items are completed is in 3 weeks. I could wait in Cali for 3 more weeks but I would be on my own for housing and meals. That was something I was not willing to do and wait. So I decided to head back to Texas and just wait there for a new assignment. There at home I would be with family and friends and a have free place to stay.

I left California Friday night. Saturday making stops in Phoenix Arizona at the Capitol, Tucson at Sagauro National Park and dinner in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Phoenix, Arizona- capitol

Saguaro National Park

Sunday making stops at the Sonora Caverns and finally arriving back to San Antonio.

Caverns of Sonora

Roadtrip SATURDAY pics

Julie & I in Death Valley

me & Julie in Death Valley
at the Salt Flats

me

sunset in Death Valley

dinner in Lone Pine

Motel 6 in Carson City

Roadtrip FRIDAY pics

grand canyon

julie and i at the grand canyon

fountains at the bellagio

margaritaville

dealertainers at imperial palace

Roadtrip to Cali . . . SATURDAY

plan- drive to Fresno late Sat night, Sun all day in San Francisco


Wake up in Vegas!!


Julie and I decide to stay in Vegas most of the day seeing more hotels and casinos and just relaxing. Julie has been to Vegas many times before and I have only been once before. Wander the Flamingo hotel and see all the flamingos outside!! Over breakfast Julie and I look at the maps and decide maybe we'll go to Death Valley then over to Fresno.


On the road again . . .


While driving to Death Valley my Aunt Zanne calls and asks how we are doing and if we would be interested in staying at their time share in Napa Valley. I told her that we were planning to sleep in Fresno tonight but thanks for thinking of us. After getting off the phone and pulling over to get more gas before going into the valley Julie and I discussed a new plan.


Why were we going to Fresno tonight?? It had never occurred to us to not spend the night there. So we looked at the maps again and decided that we could just drive to Sacramento via Carson City and Lake Tahoe and spend the night there then enjoy all day in San Francisco without waking up super super early. Going from Death Valley to Sacramento would be a long drive but we would stop in Lake Tahoe area at the gas station to get t-shirts and magnets. Just so we could say we had been there.


DEATH VALLEY


I know it might sound like a huge desert with nothing to see but Julie and I decided that if it's a national park there MUST be something to see there! And we were right, its absolutely beautiful!!! Mountains, deserts, hiking trails, sand dunes, salt flats, and more mountains.

Did you know??
- Death Valley is the driest and hottest spot in North America.
-- Less than 2 inches of rain annually
-- Recorded high of 134 degrees
- Death Valley is the lowest point on the continent
-- 282 feet below sea level
- Over 1 million people visit each year


After spending several hours in Death Valley we made our way out of the 3.4 million acre park and headed towards Lake Tahoe! Driving out of the park was a 9 mile stretch up the mountains at 11% grade followed by a 11 mile stretch down the mountain at 9% grade . . . lots of brakes!!! After coming down the mountain we stopped at the salt flats.


Continuing to drive out of the park we noticed these giant mountains all around us. It seemed like every minute there was a different view and bigger mountains. We stopped to watch the sunset over the Sierra Nevada Mountains- it was beautiful.




Lone Pine, California


Dinner at local diner. It was only once were here did we realized that the mountains we had been driving though were home to Mount Whitney- the tallest point in the continental US at 14,494 feet. After dinner and a quick stop at a souvenir shop we headed towards Carson City, Nevada.


Driving through the mountains at night was uneventful. We could see the giant trees in the darkness and snow covered mountains but we knew that if we wanted to spend Sunday in San Francisco we had to keep driving! All the roads were clear, no ice, no snow, and not much traffic but our late night in Vegas caught up to us.


We decided to stop in Carson City, Nevada to get some much needed sleep and then we would be able to see Lake Tahoe during the day!!

Roadtrip to Cali . . . FRIDAY

goal- see the Grand Canyon

Julie and I enjoyed continental breakfast from the hotel and were off to the Grand Canyon!

Grand Canyon
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Located in northwestern Arizona is the Grand Canyon. The canyon is 277 miles long and averages 10 miles across. Elevations range from 1,200 feet on the canyon bottom to 9,000 feet on the north rim. Yearly over 5 million visitors come to the Grand Canyon.

Arriving just after 11am we were both surprised to see only a few other visitors and empty parking lots. The weather was perfect- few clouds and sunny and the grounds were covered with snow!! First stopping point was the Yavapai observation station, which was really cool!! They had binoculars inside and maps of the canyon everywhere as well as tons of information about the canyon, rocks, and the Colorado River. Next we made our way to Market Plaza to get souvenirs and I got a t-shirt for only $9!!! Then we tried to make our way towards the watchtower but got lost inside the park and ended up near all the lodges and Kolb studio. So we got out and took a couple dozen more pictures and then headed in the right direction. The Watchtower was built in 1932, is 70 feet tall and built from stones in the canyon. From the top there are excellent views of the river, the canyon, the desert, and the forest!!! Just wonderful!!!!

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After 6 hours we had seen enough and taken hundreds of pictures we headed out of the park.

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Williams, Arizona

Population 2,842 Elevation 6,752 feet

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Dinner on Route 66 at the Route 66 café and it was wonderful!! Over dinner we discussed our next route and plan. It was decided that we would drive to Las Vegas and stay either downtown on Fremont Street or on the strip. After calling several hotels and all having available rooms we decided we would just figure it out once we got to Vegas.

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Hoover Dam

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Built from 1931-1935 in Black Canyon on the Colorado River for flood control and water storage, it impounds Lake Mead- one of the largest man-made lakes in the US.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Population 478,434 Elevation 2,174 feet

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Highlights from the night

<!--[if !supportLists]-->* <!--[endif]-->Fountains show at the Bellaigo

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<!--[if !supportLists]-->* <!--[endif]-->Margarita at Margaritaville at the Flamingo

<!--[if !supportLists]-->* <!--[endif]-->And the rest stays in Vegas!!

Finally made it to bed around 3am and slept at the Flamingo hotel & casino!