Today’s Central Arkansas {Kid-Friendly} Showcase is a guest post from Melissa Stover at afamiliarpath.com where she writes about her life in Small Town, Arkansas. She doesn’t get out much, but when she does, this is one of the few places she likes to go.
We have been going to Garvan Gardens in Hot Springs for many years now. Though we live about 95 miles from Hot Springs, this is a trip I’ll make with my kids at least once a year.
Our favorite times to go are in the spring when the tulips bloom and in the fall. Both seasons offer beautiful scenery and opportunities for pictures. We have been once at Christmas when they have a walk-through trail of lights. This is also a great time to go if you can stand the cold.
The 2.5 miles of landscaped area can take quite a while to get through when you have kids that want to stop and explore, or when you are pausing to take pictures or feed the fish in the koi pond. When we go, we always plan to spend the entire day. Here are some helpful tips on making the most of your time in the gardens.
1. Pack a snack. This is especially important if you are bringing children. Take some time to sit down and have lunch. The gardens offer an outdoor cafe which serves sandwiches and hot dogs, but we have always brought our own snacks. They have a designated picnic area, but do not allow ice chests or lawn chairs, so come prepared to sit on the ground or a picnic table. You can visit Garvan Woodland Gardens’ frequently asked questions page for more info.
2. Use a stroller. You know better than anyone what your children can endure, but I’ve found that even my 5 year old sometimes wants to sit in the stroller. Plus it gives you a good place to store that snack. The trail is rocky in some places, but mostly smooth. A jogging stroller makes pushing easier. The terrain is also up and down hill, which can quickly tire out the little ones (and the older ones).
3. Bring a change of clothes for the kids. In the times we have gone we have experienced a rain shower, dusty, dirty clothes and one child falling into a shallow pool of water. There are several places they can get wet. Have a change of clothes in the bag or in the car just in case.
4. Bring reinforcements. If you have several children you may need help keeping up with them and watching them around dangerous areas. There’ is a lot of water, rocks and opportunities to run out of sight. It’s a natural setting, the great outdoors, I’m not trying to scare you away, but more than a couple of kids can be a challenge.
The Children’s Area. We looked forward to the completion of this section of the gardens for years. I imagined an enclosed, safe area for kids to run and play and parents to sit and rest. It’s not what I expected. There’s a lot of water and a lot of rocks and that’s about it. It’s quite a ways from the rest of the garden, downhill to get to and a fairly exhausting uphill climb to leave it. It’s not a safe place for young kids. My older kids, however, loved it. There’s a small cave, waterfalls and lots of places to climb.
Admission. $8.75 for adults, $4.50 for kids 6-12, 5 and under free.
To see more places in Arkansas and just how kid-friendly they are check out my other Central Arkansas {Kid-Friendly} Showcases. And to read more of Melissa’s small town life go visit her blog: A Familiar Path.
