After 30 years in Dallas, we appreciate that the city offers jobs, plenty of shopping, and every conceivable kind of entertainment. But once in a while one gets tired. There is a need to leave the fast paced urban environment to find a slower pace, to find a breath of fresh air, to get back in touch with nature, and, most importantly, with ourselves.
Find some peace and quiet!
A very few hours from Dallas, Austin and Houston, from Oklahoma City and Tulsa, from St Louis, Memphis, and Shreveport, there is such a place. There are forests and mountains, clear lakes and clean air. There is relief from noise and hurry. Just outside Hot Springs AR, there is Mountain Thyme Bed & Breakfast Inn.Located on Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 barely a quarter mile outside the Ouachita National Forest in the Ouachita Mountains, Mountain Thyme B&B is superbly situated for those who seek some tranquility. And since we specialize in relaxation, it is the perfect place from which to take a day trip into the mountains, to one of Arkansas beautiful state parks, or to a quiet, clear lake.
Scenic Drives
State highway 7 was re-designated as Scenic Byway 7 because of the beautiful scenery to be found along most of its length. Just 1/4 mile north of Mountain Thyme Bed &Breakfast Inn, you enter the Ouachita National Forest.
For the adventuresome, there are miles of gravel or unimproved roads in the National Forest, many leading to areas of great scenic beauty not easily matched on paved roads. The Flatside Wilderness area includes Flatside Pinnacle, a 1550 high rock outcrop as well as views of the 1650 foot White Oak Mountain and the 1350 foot Forked Mountain.
Continuing north, Scenic 7 winds through the Ouachita Mountains to the Arkansas River Valley. A few miles south of the river, you can turn west and travel a short way to Mt Nebo, or to Mt Magazine State Park, which boasts the tallest point in Arkansas. Or you can turn back east and travel a few miles to Petit Jean State Park, which is our favorite.
All of these are just over an hour's drive from Mountain Thyme B&B on some wonderful mountain roads. We have the maps and brochures and will help you plan a beautiful scenic tour of the Ouachitas.
Petit Jean State Park
This beautiful state park extends along the ridge of the Ouachitas just south of the Arkansas River Valley. There are numerous "auto look outs", a few "short walks" and a hike or two available. One of the prettiest vistas is from the Petit Jean Grave Site where you park and walk 50 feet to see the Arkansas River on one side and lush green valleys on the other. There is Mather Lodge, with a nice little gift shop and a restaurant, Bear Cave, where there is a short walk through rock formations, and much more. Click here to link to the Petit Jean website. And do not forget to investigate the Legend of Petit Jean!Lake Ouachita
Pronounced "wash-i-taw", this is the largest lake in the state at over 48,000 acres and is purportedly the cleanest lake in the United States. It has very little construction on its shores which, no doubt, helps it maintain its purity as well as makes for a much more "natural view" of the shoreline from the water. Mostly what you see are forests, mountains and its over 100 islands. If you enjoy boating in a serene environment, this is the lake for you. It is also one of the few fresh water lakes popular with scuba divers because of its clarity.
Lake Ouachita State Park
This great park is about 15 minutes from Mountain Thyme Bed and Breakfast Inn. It has hiking trails, a swimming beach, picnic grounds, campgrounds and cabins,
as well as a nice marina where you can rent a boat, canoe or kayak. It's a great place for a picnic and a swim, or from which to launch out for the day on a beautiful lake!
Hiking
Great scenery and hiking abound in the area. There are marked trails in each of the state parks mentioned on this page.
And, just three miles south of Mountain Thyme Bed & Breakfast is the Ranger Information Center for the Ouachita National Forest. Located there is the "Friendship Trail", an easy 1 1/2 mile wheel chair accessible "hiking trail" over easy terrain.
And one mile north of Mountain Thyme B&B, just inside the forest, is the Iron Springs Recreation Area and the trail head for "Hunt's Loop", a 3.8 mile trail loop, the first part of which is a switch back up the side of the mountain.
For the hard core hikers, Hunt's Loop also intersects the "Ouachita Trail", which runs from Little Rock along the ridges of the Ouachita Mountains into Oklahoma.
Garvan Woodland Gardens.
This is a beautiful 210 acre botanical garden located just southeast of Hot Springs, Arkansas on Lake Hamilton. You could spend all day walking the trails and seeing the huge variety of trees and plants, not to mention the streams, waterfalls, and pools. It just keeps getting more spectacular every year!Adjacent to the gardens is an extraordinary wedding chappel located nestled in the woods. It's glass and wood beam construction makes it seem to meld with the forest background.
Any season is the right season to see this place. But especially renown are the more than 100,000 daffodils from 327 varieties blooming in February, over 70,000 tulips blooming in March and the two million plus lights, animated characters, and hand-made structures displayed for the Christmas Season from late November through the year end.
The Gardens host many unique special events throughout the year, so you have to get on their mailing list, or check back often, just to keep up.