Is this National Park the perfect getaway?

We are National Park purists. We think that in order for the National Park Service (NPS) to categorize somewhere as a National Park (capital "N," capital "P"), that place needs to meet certain criteria. All national park sites in the US are special in their own way, but the cream of the crop should check all of the boxes: Unspoiled land, cultural and historical significance, and optimal opportunities for public recreation. This document gives a good idea of the paramount features a region must possess to be labeled a National Park, protected by the US Department of Interior:

This is why we weren't thrilled with Cuyahoga Valley National Park, built into civilization with businesses grandfathered in to allow for continued operation, or the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, for obvious reasons. Both areas should absolutely get some type of recognition and protection, but we want to keep the National Park title coveted. It is, after all, America's best idea.

So when we planned a trip to Hot Springs National Park, we did it for the pin.

We booked two weeks in Crystal Springs, less than a half-hour from Hot Springs. This gave us plenty of opportunities to venture into the park...can we call it a park, or should we just say "town" instead? Because of our lack of enthusiasm, we didn't do much research before we arrived. We did try to keep an open mind, however. Considering the Arch was our last National Park visited, we could only go up from there, right?

We lucked out when our paths crossed with our RV friends Sleepy Adventure, and so we all got our bearings in the park together. We explored along Bathhouse Row on Central Ave, the main stretch of road through the park, where all the old bathhouses boast traditional exteriors, but only one remains open and operational. The other bathhouses are either not open to the public, or have been repurposed. You can find hotels, museums, gift shops, restaurants/cafés, and a modern day spa. We went to the Fordyce Bathhouse, which houses the park's Visitor Center and has multiple levels of museum exhibits, showcasing the various bathhouse equipment and teaching about the history of holistic healing with the spring water. For thousands of years, both the Natives and later the European explorers would flock here to experience the benefits of hydrotherapy, a practice that evolved along with the times. The land that is now the National Park initially became US-owned as part of the Louisiana Purchase. It was protected under the NPS as soon as the agency was developed in 1916, later becoming a designated National Park in 1921. So, despite the park not looking for feeling like a typical National Park, the history and cultural significance in relation to national park development is readily apparent.

The Fordyce Bathhouse was considered the most elegant of all the bathhouses when Bathhouse Row was fully functioning. The creation of the Visitor Center here helped to restore the aesthetic, giving today's visitors a glimpse into hydrotherapy spas in the early 20th century.

A lot has changed in the realm of healthcare since the days of traditional hydrotherapy, but we could all stand to adopt the holistic mindset of healing: The notion that "health" is not just to be rid of illness, but rather an all-encompassing way of living that focuses on wellness. As one of the displays in Fordyce described:

"Healthful living [is] more than simply going to the doctor. It is also eating healthy food, exercising, and getting enough sleep. ...Doctors recommended soaking in the hot water in addition to activities such as hiking, socializing on the Grand Promenade, and taking a walk. Even though you no longer need a prescription, these activities are still available at Hot Springs National Park today."

This is where it all came together: The history, the nature, and the culture.

We all spent the rest of our visit exploring the Grand Promenade, a beautiful brick walkway that runs behind Bathhouse Row, and the Arlington Lawn, the location of the Hot Water Cascade, the largest visible spring in the park.

We left the park feeling pretty positive. It's definitely a different National Park, but it packs a lot of punch. We like to visit National Parks to learn science and history, and to immerse ourselves in nature. The science and history education we got, and we also got a little bit of nature on the Arlington Lawn and Grand Promenade. We looked forward to our next visit, where we planned to get our nature fix even more, trekking one of the popular trails up Hot Springs Mountain.

A short but steep hike, the Peak Trail gets you to the summit of Hot Springs Mountain in the Ouachita Mountain Range. The hike felt miles away from busy Central Ave, despite being only a short climb up from the Grand Promenade. The top boasts an observation tower with gorgeous views of the mountains and the town below. Our plan was to hike the trail up to the tower (you can also drive) and pay the admission to ride up to the top of the tower.

Even if you don't want to pay for the Tower, the views from the top of the mountain are still pretty great.

The tower is managed by a concessionaire, but they offer discounts to National Park Pass holders. The bottom level is a gift shop, along with a cute patio dotted with traditional tubs as photo ops.

Level 2 is an enclosed observation deck with tons of information on the history of Hot Springs, from the Native American tribes that used the waters, all the way to the area being a staple in Major League Baseball. And here we thought "Spring Training" only had to do with the season!

The third floor led to the open-air observation deck. We had beautiful weather and clear skies that allowed us to see for miles.

We had come to appreciate the nearby civilization when we worked up an appetite from our hike. All we had to do was pop across the street, where we had a plethora of restaurants to choose from. We had lunch at Grateful Head Pizza, which is built into a hillside and has a lovely patio. The food and service were great.

We spent some time walking along Central Avenue, shopping for gifts and souvenirs. The shops are absolutely adorable and the owners were all so welcoming to all of us tourists.

We ended our day with a guided tour that's offered on the NPS app that shows the hidden springs of the park. Granted, they're called "hidden" for a reason; most are underground. However, we started our tour at Display Springs, which is one of the visible springs near the Grand Promenade. Look at the steam coming off the water! We were getting tired, so we didn't do the whole tour, but instead walked among a few of the locations and then used the app to read about the rest of the springs.

On our first two visits to the park, we noticed how dog-friendly the area was. Dogs were allowed on most of the walking trails, and tons of the shops and restaurants were dog-friendly! It had been a while since we took Tanner on a National Park adventure. In his old age he mostly wants to sleep, but we thought he might enjoy a park that is smaller and not too intensive in terms of walking. We had our sights set on the Superior Bathhouse, which is now home to the only brewery located in a National Park, and whenever we walked by, we thought the patio looked delightful. Dogs are allowed both inside and out, but Tanner loves dining al fresco, so we made sure to get there on the early side so we could grab a table on the patio. Typically, the brewery offers a dine-in menu with waitstaff inside, or an order-at-the-counter menu for the patio. The day we went was on Eclipse Weekend, so they were offering a limited menu. We enjoyed two Bavarian pretzels, Anthony and Tanner split a burger, and Anthony and I got root beer floats. The pretzels were by far the best part. Otherwise the food was decent but nothing spectacular. We weren't surprised; the restaurant is a tourist attraction. What's really cool though, is that the beer is made with water from the springs. You definitely go for the experience if you visit here.

The park was bustling with eclipse-related activities, which really added to the vibe. Arlington Lawn was set up with tons of tents, and rangers had various astronomy exhibits to teach kids the science behind the wonder we were all getting ready to experience. It felt like a holiday weekend. Everyone was excited, and everywhere we turned we saw eclipse paraphernalia, from shirts and tote bags, to pins, to eclipse glasses.

That weekend, All Trails had teamed up with One Tree Planted to celebrate Earth Month by planting up to 100,000 trees, one for each hour of activity an All Trails user recorded in the app. We knew we'd be slow moving with Tanner, but we invited him to help plant a tree. We spent an hour walking along the Grand Promenade and up to Tufa Terrace, a trail that runs a little higher up the hill. The terrace is where you can see most of the underground springs, closed in by green boxes. We had a nice, leisurely walk among the blooming dogwood trees. It was a perfect spring day.

Hot Springs National Park may not be a quintessential, meeting-all-the-criteria park, but it left a soft spot in our hearts. We may be purists, but we also appreciate uniqueness, and there is plenty of that here. After all, it's not every day one can go to a brewery in a National Park! We would have also loved to book a spa service at the Quapaw Bathhouse (the modern, not the traditional), but because it was such a busy week (Spring Break and the upcoming eclipse), no spots for couples' services were available. If we had done a better job planning for our visit, we could have booked the recommended 2-3 weeks ahead of time, but we didn't. Now it's a reason to go back, because we'd also like to experience a spa day at a National Park. Hot Springs is filled with the types of activities that fall under the "do it once so you can say you did it" category. Go to the Superior Bathhouse Brewery! Get a spa service – and if you're brave, do the traditional soaks at Buckstaff! Drink the water!

But beyond these, you will also get aspects of a pure National Park experience. If you want the educational visitor's center, it's there. If you want museums, they're there. If you want hiking trails, they're there. If you want special geographical features, they're there. Looking at the park as a whole, there is truly something for everyone. We noticed that it appealed to our many sides, from the outdoor enthusiast, to the foodie, to the bougie shopper. Perhaps it's this multifaceted framework that makes the park a surprisingly perfect getaway. Did it top our list of National Parks of the 23 we've been to? No. But do we look forward to returning someday? Yes. We are glad we put our purist beliefs aside to give this park a chance. It's got something special.