Downtown Historic Eureka Springs

Hello! Wow, this week sure is flying. I spent my morning catching up on some to-dos for the gym and the blog. I hope you are all having a great day so far!

Before I start rambling, I’ll cut myself off and get right to covering the rest of our day visiting the gorgeous city of Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

(And in case you missed it, see our walk through memory lane leading up to the afternoon!)

 

Downtown Historic Eureka Springs

My favorite hours (apart from the time we spend with Scott’s family) on our trips to Arkansas always involve a day of exploring the Downtown Historic Eureka Springs District.

Eureka Springs is known for its Victorian style and is full of charming gingerbread-looking homes, historic hotels, spas, springs, outdoor activities, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, unique wedding venues, and over 100 locally owned shops!

Scott and I like to make the same loops through town every time we visit. We start by parking near the main strip of businesses and walk from shop to shop, bags of freshly-made salt water taffy in hand.

While there are great restaurants and boutiques to stop into, our favorite part about Eureka is the sights and springs. The city is located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, and the nature just seems to get greener and prettier every time.

The natural springs draw in crowds from all over the country, are still in sight and flowing all over town, and many are surrounded by colorful gazebos and flowers.

Walking or even driving around to discover them is so relaxing. It almost feels as though you walk straight into a page from a childhood fairytale!

Downtown Eureka Springs is part of the National Register of Historic Places, and the elegant architecture of the 19th century buildings add even more charm to the city.

Where most cities wouldn’t mesh into the outdoor spring surroundings, the old time Eureka scenery blends perfectly.

It’s easy to spend an entire day or weekend here. The city is very popular for weddings, honeymoons, and weekend getaways for couples and families. Scott and I always make sure to drive through most of the surrounding streets to see what has changed each time we go.

One thing we haven’t done yet is stay at the Crescent Hotel & Spa.

It was built in 1886 and still has that 19th century feel throughout every square inch, both inside and out.

Like many other buildings of its age, The Crescent Hotel is rumored to be haunted. In fact, it’s known as America’s Most Haunted Hotel and even hosts nightly ghost tours!

Guests have documented sightings while staying on the grounds, and it has a spooky, yet enchanting feel as you walk through it. We would love to spend a full night and see what all the fuss is about down the road!

After we walked the property, we made our way back down the steep hills and back to the main district. It’s crazy to think that people actually live and drive through the dips, hills, and curves year round!

Not sure where to spend the rest of our night around town, Scott called around and found two last minute appointments for massages at a hotel spa. Just as an FYI, everything shop and spa related closes by 5 p.m. in Eureka Springs. The only businesses you will find open in the evenings are restaurants and bars. Coming from a bigger city where everything stays open late, that was strange for us to see!

Our massages at Suchness Spa were fabulous. As expected, several essential oils were used, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt that calm and rested during a massage. Scott said his was just as great, and we haven’t been disappointed with spa services in the city yet. Everything just screams relaxation!

We walked back to the car and started making our trip back to Scott’s mom’s house soon after. Before we made it all the way out, we decided to make a detour for dinner before taking the windy streets home.

As soon as we passed an inviting Mexican restaurant with a huge outside patio, we turned around and gave Pepes Tacos at Casa Solina a try.

We took advantage of being on vacation by starting off with a sangria and strawberry margarita while looking over the menu. We also basically ate our weight in chips and salsa. Pretty standard.

In an effort to not eat enough for five people, we shared an appetizer, entrée, and side for dinner.

The Stuffed Jalapeños were… okay. I appreciated that they weren’t layered with a ton of breading, but they just didn’t do much for me.

The side of Elote corn was also all right. It sure looked pretty, but it was missing the normal coat of queso and/or extra cheese.

The Chiles En Nogada (stuffed peppers), however, were great! I loved the presentation and thought it was full of delicious flavors.

Looking back on our trip, we sure had an eventful week!

Any time spent in Eureka Springs will always have a nostalgic feel for us. I’m so glad we were able to get away for the day, and that I am finally able to share the beauty of this city with you all here on the blog.

All right. I’ve got some work to catch up on before I have to get off to the gym, so I better go.

Thanks for checking in to read about our trip, and have a great rest of your Wednesday!