“Road Trip USA 🇺🇸 Part 1 of 6 ~Driving From North Carolina to Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas” October 2024

• November 1, 2024
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

ROAD TRIPPIN

After being back home in North Carolina for only two days, after being gone on a wonderful vacation get-away for ten days, up north, for our leaf-peeking trip, we took off on another cross-country trip. This trip was not a vacation. We moved pretty quickly, never had a sit-down meal, while on the road, and got up each morning at 3AM to get the miles in, but we had fun; we really did. We were together, enjoying each other’s company, and we shared the driving, equally. We felt very accomplished for a safe and successful adventure.

We knew we needed to make this trip to our home in California, before winter set in, after deciding to stay long-term in North Carolina with our family. We could not beat the 10-day weather forecast, for leaving The Whale behind; especially with the kind of Hurricane Season we are in, this year. So we buttoned-her-up, and secured our campsite, then took off in “Baloo,” our trunk, again.

There was no way I could face the steady driving of so many miles and long hours, without some destination goals in mind; to break-up the monotony. I need something to look forward to. In our case, this would mean working in more National Park visits!

Some of the Parks added a few more miles, be side they are rarely “on the way” to many destinations, but every one of them was worth it! I have a saying, since traveling has been my passion. “If Not Now, When?” It’s so true. We aren’t getting any younger, after all!

So go the extra mile, and enjoy!

In 18 days; two back-to-back road trips, we drove over 8,000 miles, visited 8 more National Parks and crossed through around 15 US states, and most of those, twice; going and returning! This brings my total of National Park visits, up to 48; out of 63 total Parks in the system.

I have a commemoration National Park’s water bottle, I picked up. The stickers are waterproof and I’ve been adding to the bottle, steadily! Truth be known, though, the bottle has the spots for the stickers all marked off, but I’m a bit of rebel and don’t conform to all things, so I placed my stickers where I wanted to place them. I filled the front first, and then the sides.

Here are the stickers for the National Parks I want to get to, yet; several are in California, one is Hawaii, 2 are in Alaska that require bush plane flights, and randomly, more are in Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Indiana, and of course the Great Smoky Mountains NP we have tried to get to; three times, now.

Since we were back at our house in California, (we’ve leased our home and a studio out, since we began traveling full-time, in 2016) we also took advantage of the space we had with our truck and brought some items home with us. Daryl wanted more of his tools and I wanted my metal detecting tools and bag. (I have my metal detector, in NC) I also brought back my beautifully carved face mask I bought from a tribe in Papua New Guinea, (actually bought 34 carvings, in total) and got them all the way back to the states, by some miracle; from a canoe trip on the Sepik River, in country.

This particular mask is quite heavy, and when we were moving around  a lot, in The Whale, I was afraid it would get broken ..  but at the same time, I loved having it hanging in our bedroom and I missed it. Well, I’ve got it back on my wall and this makes me very happy. It has real Boar’s tusks, real human hair, and delicate shell beading, throughout.

The tribes of Papua New Guinea believe the masks ward off evil spirits.

Here We Go!
From North Carolina to California

Day 1  

4AM – 6PM

14 hours

919 miles

Super 8 by Wyndham 

Southaven, Mississippi

One Night

Day 2 

4AM -5PM

We finished driving the rest of the way from Southaven, Mississippi, to Hot Springs National Park, in Hot Springs, Arkansas

3 hours

197 miles

HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK 

Congress established Hot Springs Reservation on April 20, 1832, to protect hot springs flowing from the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain. Known for its 47 thermal springs, this National Park is the nation’s oldest, predating Yellowstone, by 40 years.

There are more than 30 miles of hiking trails through the glorious Ouachita Mountains, scenic drives, hot water cascade, picnic areas and campsites at Gulpha Gorge Recreation Area and Campground.

This Park was very different, compared to many of our National Parks. This particular Park encompassed the town of Hot Springs, Arkansas. As we drove through the town there was definitely a feeling of nostalgia for an era when people made the trip to this little town, to soak in the natural hot springs, and enjoy the many bath houses to choose from, back in the day. If we had more time, we might have scheduled a bath time, but it wasn’t a huge priority for us.

Our visit began at sunrise, and not much was opened. I did check, the night before, to see if we could drive the scenic loop of the mountain, to the lookout tower. The info said it would be open by 8AM. The road was closed, unfortunately, past it’s open time. I got a feeling its been closed for a while, though; as in covid-era issue.

Built in 1912, Buckstaff is the only bathhouse on the row to operate continuously for over a century.

Even though there are no soaking opportunities outdoors, Bathhouse Row does have 2 available facilities that offer visitors the chance to fully submerge and relax in the thermal water. The thermal springs are piped directly into both of these bathhouses, offering users a true and authentic experience of the water.

1. Buckstaff Bathhouse Originally opened in 1912, the Buckstaff is the only facility on the Row that has never fully closed, since it first started offering baths.

2. Quapaw Bathhouse offers modern day spa services with amenities like thermal pools, private baths, and a steam cave. 

Built in 1922, a tiled dome crowns a decorative scheme with an American Indian motifs

Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is a significant site in the history of baseball, and is considered the birthplace of Major League Baseball’s Spring Training.

Historic Hot Springs Baseball Trail

 After our early morning visit at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, we continued driving all day, and went as far. as Andrews, Texas.

Click here for Part 2 of this six part road trip:

“Road Trip USA 🇺🇸 Part 2 of 6 ~Driving From Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, to Carlsbad Cavern National Park in Texas, Guadeloupe Mountain National Park in New Mexico and Driving thru Arizona” October 2024