Things to Do (Given to me by a coworker):
1. Shop & stroll downtown.
a. Parking is pay $5 for 3hrs and is limited & very hard to find on Summer weekends.
b. Stop in the East by West store and a bunny rabbit will give you the receipt if you buy something.
2. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.
a. It is a few miles South of Eureka Springs.
b. They have a ton of rescued tigers. (Even some rescued from the notorious Oklahoman who made the Netflix show “Tiger King.”)
3. Gaskin Switch shopping along hwy 62.
a. Carolines collectibles. Also has bunnies that will give you your receipt if you buy something.
4. Passion Play
a. Portrays the last days of Jesus. It is a very well down play. Open seasonally and usually on the weekends.
b. They also have a tour called “Holy Land.” It takes you to replicas of several things in the Bible.
c. Their Bible museum is very interesting.
d. On the same grounds, be sure to drive out to the point where the very large “Christ of the Ozarks” can be seen even from downtown Eureka Springs several miles away.
5. The Palace Hotel & Bath House. Spa:
a. The Deluxe package is expensive but totally awesome! First they have you sit in an old fashioned steam barrel with your head sticking out of the top of the barrel looking out at the beautiful wooded hillside. Then they have you soak for 15 minutes in a claw footed bathtub. Then comes your massage. 30, 60, 90minute massage. (We loved the 60 & 90 minute.) You can tell them if you want a soft relaxing massage or a harder deep tissue massage.
6. Eureka Springs tram tour. It is a guided tour that tells you about the city.
7. Eureka Springs also has a trolley system. If you stay at a hotel near a trolley stop, it is cheaper to ride it than to try to find a place to park downtown.
8. Visit all of the historical hotels:
a. Crescent Hotel: see if you can find their cat. Paid Haunted ghost tour that also tells the interesting history of the hotel.
b. Basin Hotel: great bar on the second floor. Paid Haunted ghost tour.
c. Walking ghost tour of downtown Eureka Springs
9. Melonlight productions. Intimate, very small venue with excellent acting.
10. Intrigue Theater: Magic show. Small audience, but even up close you won’t know how they did their amazing act.
11. St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. (Because it is built on a hillside, you enter through the bell tower to get to the church.) Very beautiful and historic.
12. Onyx Cave. Several miles from Eureka Springs. Nice small guided cave adventure.
13. (Do not go to Pivot Rock or Natural Bridge) This is a tourist trap and not worth the time.