A soak in the Baths

When I first began planning our trip to OKC was determined to make this one stop...Hot Springs Arkansas. Many of you are probably asking "Why???" but my friends I wanted to sit and relax in the natural hot springs of the Ozark Mountains.....and keep in mind after traveling in the car for four days you would want a nice soak too!

When we first pulled into Hot Springs I wasn't too impressed....the town was very run down and I was a bit skeptical. But then we hit the historic district lined with the many bath houses built in the 1900's. There were cute shops and restaurants as well as interesting architectural buildings.

So the next morning

and I went to soak in the original Buckstaff Baths which were built in 1912. I chose this bathhouse because I wanted to experience the traditional baths instead of soaking in a large pool of natural spring water. In this bath house men and woman are separated, men staying on the first floor and women on the second floor.

The first step in this traditional style bath house was to soak in your own individual tub filled with the hot water coming from the springs. All I can say is it was heavenly! Next, you are wrapped in a sheet and transported to a Sitz bath, which looked like a little tub that we would use for pedicures. But nope.... your feet don't go in this tub....instead your bottom does! Apparently these baths are good for lower back pain and hemorrhoids....hahahha. Let's just say this one wasn't my favorite.

Next I was wrapped back into my sheet and brought to a chamber that looked like a shower stall with a bench in it. This was the steam room. There were metal doors with a round cut out for your head to stick out of. I was instructed to sit on the bench while she closed the doors around me. Only my head was above the steam and a towel was wrapped around my neck. At first it felt wonderful...hot steam all over my body....but then I became too hot! And then I became cluster-phobic because I felt like my head was disconnected from my body! It truly is a weird sensation to have your head separated from your body! I lasted about 15 minutes before finally escaping the steam chamber!

Wasn't too sure what was coming next but I figured my hour was almost be over so how bad could it be! But the last step turned out to be lovely. I was wrapped back in my sheet and told to lie down on a padded table. Then my body was wrapped in hot towels and a cool compress was placed on my forehead. I laid there for a while slowly drifting off to sleep. I have never felt more relaxed! Unfortunately they only let you lie there for about 20 minutes!

I am now convinced I will be returning to Hot Springs in order to experience all the bath houses! What a unique experience and wonderful way to learn about a historical pastime of the early Americans.

FYI: The pictures of me in the tub, steam chamber, and benches are in a museum....I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the actual bath house....too many naked bodies:)

Oh and of course I found a cupcake shop...the name was quite fitting.....