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Up Town Attractions
HOT SPRINGS AR VACATIONS...will certainly be required to include the Up Town area. Complete Hot Springs AR vacations will include all the areas listed on the Area Attractions page. Read on for the virtual tour of Up Town.
Allow me, if you will, to clear up what I said elsewhere about the Up Town area. This is Central Avenue, heading South from Grand Avenue to the Highway 270 West By-pass. I said we "the locals" don't really call it Up Town so what do we call it?
Well, it doesn't really have a name but rather a locale reference. We
say, "Over there on Central" or "Over by the track" or it's "Across from
the track"....that's all Up Town.
But you have to be aware that Central Avenue runs all through
the
city of Hot Springs, and therefore provides a central vein from
which all traffic flows and all good things are found! Reckon that's
why they call it "Central" Avenue?
Need a
MAP
to help keep you on track?
So everything Up Town is North of the track, or across from the
track, or down the street from the track
....hmmm.
The track this, the track that!
What is this track that is so well known that it provides a
directional reference for everything else around it?
It is the one-and-only Oaklawn Park.
Oaklawn has provided visitors with excitement in the form of
thoroughbred horse racing for over a century! Yep, it was Feb.
24th, 1905 when the very first racing
card was presented to a
crowd of 3000 or so. They say the Mayor of Hot Springs gave
the whole town a 1/2 day off just for the occasion!
(Wonder why don't they do that anymore?)
100 years later and Oaklawn Park continues to bring the very best
of thrilling racing action to Hot
Springs. The 2006 season has been
entertaining to say the least! You better hurry though, the big finale
is theweekend of April 15th!
My wife thinks it's a real kick and I love her description of the
over-all experience: "You're a little nervous
if it's your first time. Then
you gather the courage to place your first bet (a whopping $2 minimum)
and
go back to watch the race. The tension builds, the gates open
at the bell a-a-a-n-d they're off! Your pulse
starts racing, your
heart starts pounding and before you know it you're up, on your
feet jumping and
screaming like everybody else!"
That's excellent phraseology, "Over-all experience", if I do say so
myself. That's what it's all about at
Oaklawn Park, not just the
horses, or the people, or their famous corned-beef sandwich!
(Now that
son-of-a-gun is good I tell you!)
It's a combination of all the above that creates the perfect
atmosphere
for a great time! It's actually difficult to describe
effectively...you just gotta try it.
Family-friendly Hot Springs AR vacations
Ok, as I said earlier, "down the street from the track" you'll find
more family-friendly things to do in case the Brady Bunch isn't
quite ready for the ponies!
There's these ultra-cool go carts that look just like little Indy cars
at the Family Fun Park. They run on a challenging,
full 1/4-mile
track. Guys,
you can outrun your Dad! Or better yet, your sister!
Girls, it's your chance to put the pedal-to-the-metal and show the
boys who's boss
behind the wheel!
Plus they've got indoor bumper cars, an arcade and a great
miniature golf
course. There's great fun at the Family Fun Park.
Hot Springs AR vacations can include a movie, right?
Movie-goers take heed! Imagine a cinema with your choice of 10 theaters!
Take a deep breath and you can almost smell the popcorn. The Central City
10 Cinema is located directly behind the Central Station Marketplace.
Central Avenue is busy, busy, busy. Better to go around "the back-way"
where you can for quicker, easier access and Higdon Ferry is the back way
for everything from where it meets Central Uptown (across from the track!)
to where it comes back to Central on the South end.
It's the back-way to Oaklawn Park, the mall and other shopping centers,
Wal-Mart, and oodles of restaurants along Central Avenue. It's also where
you will find St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center. I certainly hope you don't
need them but it's good to know!
Hot Springs AR Shopping Vacations!
I mentioned the Central Station Marketplace, that's our favorite flea market.
It is housed in a former supermarket building so you can imagine the size of
it!
Now don't go there without a little money and comfortable shoes because you
WILL find something you want and you WILL walk your butt off finding it!
Shopping
thrives Up Town with antiques and specialty shops along Central Ave.
My wife mentions in particular, Sa'voir, just a few blocks "south of the track".
They offer a wide variety of women's goodies; handbags, jewelry, accessories
and a really extensive collection of reasonably-priced perfumes. Dive in Ladies!
Hot Springs AR vacations Eating Guide
Now, I mentioned elsewhere a "literal Sea" of eating establishments in the
Up Town area. Well,
let's eat! The possibilities include all your favorite fast
food joints
and franchised "Family Style" restaurants like Colton's, Dixie Cafe
and Perkins.
Quite a few of those great "little-knowns" I spoke of can be
found at...
Places to Eat
Be sure to check out the other areas for attractions in Hot Springs AR.
Ready to move on? Try one of these...
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