//
Photo: Kimberly Vardeman, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
A tranquil lake setting with a number of waterfalls where one can submerge in pools below and just frolic in general. But also you can arrange boat rentals or horseback rides on the premises. Or camp in a tent, yurt, or cabin.
Lake Catherine State Park is a 2,180-acre (880 ha) public recreation area located on the south shore of Lake Catherine, eight miles (13 km) southeast of Hot Springs, Arkansas. The park was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Three stone-and-wood cabins, a former concessions building, and a bridge constructed in the Corps' rustic architecture style are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
A place to float or kayak down a semi-turbulent stretch of the Ouachita River. Watch out for hooey bathrooms though.
Garvan Woodland Gardens. Learn more about its natural flora and fauna.
An amusement park with water and thrill rides such as roller coasters perched high above the Ouachita Mountains, outdoor concerts and more.
From January through April, Oaklawn is the place to be in Arkansas. Watch and wager on live top-quality thoroughbred racing, enjoy delicious food served up at restaurants and stands and participate in contests and promotions. Oaklawn also offers simulcast racing action year-round, plus live casino games and slots (thanks to casinos being legalized in the state in 2019). Some Arkansas Derby winners have also won one or more of the Triple Crown races in Kentucky, Maryland or New York. During the live racing season, children may enter Oaklawn accompanied by a parent or guardian; children attending during the simulcast season must be at least 48 inches tall to be admitted.