Hot Springs, AR

Good Morning, Monday!  It is a rainy day here in Tennessee, but it was a beautiful weekend in Arkansas.  We left early Thursday morning and didn't come home till Sunday.  Each trip makes it harder to cross back over the Muddy Mississippi River.

Friday we quit working around noon and went downtown to walk around.  Most of time we go in the evenings and so many of shops have already closed up.  BOY, was there a crowd down there Friday.  I think everyone was on Spring break and in town.

The Duck was every where!  That vehicle that goes about town and then can go right into the water and out on the lake.   We haven't done the duck ride and I don't think I plan on it.

 On the last trip over, we drove out north of town and I saw a restaurant named Fat Jacks, just north of The Arlington.  This trip, I wanted to check it out.  But, first, I  looked them up on the internet and looked at the menu and reviews.  The reviews were mixed, so we decided to try them for lunch first.  I can say.....I think the reviews were probably dead on, a little mixed thoughts.  The atmosphere is rustic, which I like.  They weren't crowded for lunch, so we got a table immediately.  Several servers came by and said something, so I am not sure they had certain tables that they worked.  One of them stops and asked if we had been helped yet and took our drink order, which she brought back pronto.  So, I am thinking, OK, maybe some of the reviews were wrong.  Then we sat...ready to order.  When, she finally made it back to take our order, I had already drank about half my beer.   I ordered a half a dozen oysters and Bob ordered the seafood crepe.  The food was pretty prompt.  A guy brought out our order and I had to ask for crackers and sauce (which he mixed at the table). I thought that was weird.  The oysters were good and a nice size.  Bob's Crepe was really good, but not what we had expected.  It was served in a dish....not sure where the crepe was....but he thought it was in there somewhere.  Then, the waiter brings me another beer without me asking for it......I am thinking....maybe it is two for one.  It wasn't, both beers were on our bill, but it was happy hour.  They seem a little disorganized there.  I am not sure if I will give them another go or not....especially during a busy hour.  Hmmmm....there are a lot of choices in Hot Springs.

After lunch we walked across the street and looked in the shops on that end of the street. We had never walked that far, so it was a good time, since we were parked on that end.  There is an interesting Antique shop down on that end.  Nothing, I need, but fun stuff to look at, like crowns, old jewelry, etc.  When were done, we moved (we in Fat Jack's parking) to a parking lot down by the visitors center.  We have been looking for a nice Racing picture to go above our couch. There are a ton of art galleries in Hot Springs downtown. You would think with this being a Race Track town, that all of them would have racing pictures.  You would think.  No Luck, we are still looking.   I spotted some people coming down from the walking trail that runs behind the bath house row.  I asked Bob, if we could walk it and he surprised me with a yes.  I was quite surprised when we reached the top of the stairs.  It is call the Grand Promenade.  I think it is really grand. The sign says, Closed from 10pm - 6am.......Hmmm, I wouldn't want to be up there in the dark, next to the woods and I wonder....does anyone go up there to check to see if anyone is breaking the rules.  It was warm,  great day, but the little walk had made us want something cold....Yes, there is a Yogurt place right across the street. Yep, a little Strawberry Cheese cake yogurt hit the spot.  It was time to go home, I had walked all I wanted.

Saturday, we got up and worked a Little.....then off to the Races.  OM goodness, we thought we had left early enough.  We got caught up in traffic for miles.....It didn't matter.  We just wasn't expecting it. A lot of friends from home had come over for the weekend as well, so we were excited to have a bunch to hang out with.  It was the best race weekend thus far.  Sunny and Warm!  The in field was open so we walked over, rather under the track to get over there. It is nice over in the middle.  There were Disney characters over there for the kids.  Families had blankets laid out under trees. It was nice!

In-field festivities.

Characters for the kids.

 

 

Sometimes there are celebrities at the races....Bo Derek & John Corbett

  

I didn't recognize him, but one the girls there with us did.   He is the tallest man out there, standing next to the gray headed man. Yes, it is them, they announced it when, she pulled the winning ticket for the boat & truck give away. They were in town for the weekend and he was the Grand Marshal for the Shortest St Patrick's Day parade held in downtown Hot Springs on the 17th.