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Rejuvenate your body and soul in Eureka Springs
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The Palace Hotel and Bathhouse
As we saw in part one and part two of this feature series, there are so many things that draw folks to Eureka Springs – the natural beauty, relaxed atmosphere, welcoming people, artisan lifestyle, wealth of shopping opportunities, wonderful accommodations and soothing spas, among them.
It’s easy to see why Eureka Springs has been named--several times--as “A Top 25 Arts Destination in the U.S.” An estimated 250 working artists live and work in the area, and in the downtown area alone, there are numerous art and fine craft galleries representing more than 1,000 local, regional and national artists. From pottery and sculptures to woodcarvings, jewelry, handmade furniture, home decor accessories, glass, artistic clothing, photographs, musical instruments, painting and more, you will find it here.
Another notable accolade is that Eureka Springs is one of the few places that offers a wealth of shopping sans malls, mega stores and shopping centers. Most of the shops and boutiques here are within walking distance of each other, each offering its own unique style and flavor that aptly melds into the surrounding ambiance. You could literally spend a few days wandering the gently sloping and meandering streets, stepping in and out of every shopping “genre” imaginable.
America's Medicine Teepee
Health and wellness are mainstays of this Ozark Mountain paradise, as evidenced by the number of spas, bathhouses and holistic healing centers that have been part of the livelihood here since the natural springs were discovered by the Native Americans.
Today, in the “The City that Water Built,” both residents and visitors alike take advantage of a wide array of services from reflexology to mineral baths, manicures and pedicures, steam treatments, facials, massages, aromatherapy and so forth.
For example, Suchness Spa--located in the Historic New Orleans Hotel--incorporates a variety of “evolving body care cultivating spirit” practices including Crown Chakra lightwork, Thai herbal steam and green tea glow treatments. The New Moon Spa features water therapies, body wraps, massages and scalp treatments in a uniquely serene setting inside of the historic Crescent Hotel, the oldest hotel in Eureka Springs.
This time around, my traveling companion and I temporarily gave our bodies, minds and spirits over to the massage therapists at The Palace Hotel and Bathhouse. North Arkansas’ only operating historic bathhouse and located near the Historic Harding Spring, the Palace highlights mineral baths in the original claw-foot tubs, as well as eucalyptus steam treatments in wood barrel steam cabinets, just as they did for travelers at the turn of the century.
The eucalyptus steam was fabulous, followed by an invigorating one-hour couple’s massage that also included a Bentonite facial mask treatment---aaaaah! Other services offered there include mask-clay treatments, aromatherapy for your mineral bath or massage, head and face rejuvenator treatments, facials and glycolic peels.
In town, there are a few places where you can take a bit of your spa experience home with you, including at the Bath Junkie, The Spa Shop and Feather Your Nest, among others.
More than just a place to sleep
Lodging options in Eureka Springs run the gamut from historic hotels to cozy cabins and cottages, intimate bed and breakfast settings, lodges, major chain hotels and motels.
In addition to receiving massage services, we also stayed at The Palace Hotel and Bathhouse, a boutique National Historic Register property featuring all-suites. Each roomy suite has been carefully and lovingly restored and furnished in Victorian antiques with a king-size bed, wet bar and refrigerator stocked with sodas, mineral water, and welcome mini-bottle of champagne, chilled glasses and yummy snack plate, and a water-jet spa tub for two.
Guests here will also enjoy a delicious continental breakfast with coffee, juice, fresh pastries and fruit plates—delivered to your room—as well as evening turn down service. No children or pets are allowed, which makes it a truly peaceful, romantic experience. Staying and "massaging" here was a genuinely delightful experience.
Another Eureka Springs lodging treat is the Treehouse Cottages, where you are devinitely one with nature at its best!
Warning: If you are not already in love with the one you're with before you get there, you will be by the time you leave! Experiencing a difficult time in your relationship? Well, this is all the therapy you will need!
The first thing that cross my mind was, "Oh My God!" The second was, "Can we tell the kids we'll be gone another night and call in sick to work the next day without getting in trouble?" That's how captivating the environment is once you see one of the cottages.
Designed and built by owners Terry and Patsy Miller, Terry possessing over 25-years of experience restoring Victorian homes and Patsy, an incredible tilemaker, designer and Jill-of-all-trades, the Treehouses are drop-dead gorgeous!
These cabin-like cedar cottages are set amidst the trees some 22-plus feet above ground with stunning views of the surrounding 33-acre Ozark pine forest. Only a mile from downtown and just a stone’s throw from busy Highway 62, they are also a world away from the hustle and bustle of life.
After leaving the highway, the woods are the only thing you see as you follow the meandering gravel pathway to your private, unique, one-of-a-kind “home” for the length of your stay. From your parking spot, you saunter along a boardwalk path to the stairs to your heavenly abode, taking note of the flora and fauna around you (at their second location, walking distance from town, there is a cottage with ground-level access).
Each treehouse is beautifully and comfortably decorated, each with its own unique flair and color scheme. For two adults only (except for one cottage that sleeps two adults and two children), the cottages are the ultimate in luxury, while also awash in simplicity and the theme of togetherness and getting back to nature.
Inside you will find a fully-functioning HVAC system, magnificent king-sized bed, quaint fully-furnished (with pottery handmade by Patsy) kitchen and dining nook, spacious living room with leather furniture and stone fireplace, and the pies-de-resistance: a huge bay window with heart-shaped, jetted Jacuzzi tub for two.
Outside there is a wrap-around deck with bistro table and chairs and gas barbecue grill. And no matter what time of year, you are completely out of sight from the neighboring guests. Need I say more?
The Millers treat each guest as if they were family by providing welcome amenities such as fresh flowers, handwritten notes, champagne and chocolates for those celebrating special occasions such as honeymoons and anniversaries, complimentary snacks and beverages including homemade bread, and for your bodies--fine linens and Egyptian cotton towels. If you must keep in touch with the outside world, there is also Satellite TV/DVD/CD/WiFi connection and a free movie library.
The Treehouse Cottages are an absolute MUST!
We’ve got one last go around in Eureka Springs, in an upcoming feature.
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