A Little Valentine's weekend trip.

Since my husband had to bowl in Hot Springs on Sunday, we decided to turn it into a little weekend getaway. Now, I have to be upfront—this wasn’t a camping trip. However, I’ve already found an awesome campsite that I’m planning to visit later this spring.

Right now, our camper is still winterized, and with the unpredictable weather, we didn’t want to risk any issues with frozen water lines. But when the tulips bloom at Garvan Woodland Gardens, I’m hoping to book a spot at Gulpha Gorge Campground. We stopped there for lunch at the picnic area and took a walk through the campground. The sites look great, and there’s a beautiful little creek running alongside the area—perfect for a future camping trip!

 Later that afternoon, we took a scenic drive up the mountain road in Hot Springs and visited the observation tower. Even though I’ve lived in Arkansas my whole life, this was my first time going up there. We took some great photos and enjoyed the incredible views!

The next day, we visited the Gangster Museum—a must-see if you’re interested in the history of Hot Springs and, by extension, Arkansas. Some aspects of Hot Springs’ past had a significant influence on the state's political climate between the early 1920s and the mid-1960s, making it a fascinating place to explore.

Of course, the museum also has some really cool artifacts. Hubby couldn’t resist snapping a picture with the Tommy gun!

I’m really looking forward to camping season this year. I’d love to take some short trips around the state and check out a few new spots. There are several state parks and Corps of Engineers campgrounds within a 5-6 hour drive that we haven’t camped at yet, and I can’t wait to explore them!