More entertainment, restaurants and shopping opportunities await you in the section of Hot Springs that’s sandwiched between downtown and the lake district.

The jewel of this area is Oaklawn Jockey Club, a Thoroughbred horse track. While horse racing is conducted only from January through April, Oaklawn is open year-round for off-track betting and electronic gaming, such as poker and blackjack.

Further west, just off U.S. Highway 270, is the Mid-America Science Museum, Arkansas’ largest hands-on science center, where families can experience a wide range of interactive science exhibits, including a virtual reality simulator ride on a roller coaster and the chance to explore an “underground cave.” The museum, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, has many permanent exhibits as well as field trips, camps and classes.

Additionally, several antique stores, nationally acclaimed restaurants and shopping areas, including Hot Springs Mall, can be found throughout this area.

WE RECOMMEND

Places to Shop:
Destinations Day Spa &
Hot Springs Laser Institute
Hot Springs Mall
LUXE

Places to Eat:
Don Juan’s Authentic
Mexican Restaurant
Jose’s Mexican Restaurant
Rod’s Pizza Cellar
Stubby’s Bar-B-Q
The Big Chill
The Purple Cow        

Places to Play:
Garvan Woodland Gardens
Mid-America Science Museum
Oaklawn Racing & Gaming
Rod’s Pizza Cellar
The Big Chill

Places to Stay:
Candlewood Suites
Places to Relax:
Destinations Day Spa &
Hot Springs Laser Institute