Hot Springs, Arkansas is about a four hour drive from where we live. Many people share how wonderful it is to visit this old town and enjoy the natural springs. We had been wanting to visit and decided it was time.
The springs are not heated from volcanic activity, so they do not have the sulfur sent. Which is really nice. They are also super crazy hot. Which means people are not just sticking their feet into a spring on a hike. Visiting a bath house where the water is cooled a bit first is the best choice.
The downtown, where the bath houses are located, is super cute. Little stores, bath houses to see and visit, and walking paths galore. We also went hiking in the mountains, which was wonderful. The larger town felt like any other southern town and was uninspiring.
Before we got on the road I did all my regular research of where we could eat. Armed with a list of possibilities, I was excited.
There are various vegan options. However, vegan and gluten free was almost nonexistent. We attempted a few restaurants. At one, the menu had changed and no longer had as many options that were vegan or vegan and gluten free. At another, Hubby was very worried about food poisoning. We did not get sick. Woo hoo! A third was just okay. The server had to really help us order. Thank goodness for her.
Luckily we had a kitchenette and I cooked most meals during our stay. Not as much fun as encountering great food, but we ate well.
If you are thinking about a visit to Hot Springs, be aware that the vegan options are few. If adding another layer of restriction like gluten free, it’s challenging. Try to stay somewhere you can cook for yourself.
An Everyday Vegan 