Monday, July 15, 2024

Starting mileage: 14,930, Distance travelled: 315

The day started with a quick snack to get us from bed to the nearest Waffle House, the next chain restaurant on our bucket list. As far as diner food goes, we were pretty pleased, but the service is what put Waffle House on our thumbs up list, well, and the pecan waffles, which were pretty delicious. Dad’s dissenting opinion was not recorded. Our next stop was Memphis. We passed over Graceland and the Pyramid Bass Pro Shop to visit the National Civil Rights Museum, located in the Lorraine Motel, in the very spot where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. The museum was incredibly well designed and integrated into the motel building.

It was surprisingly easy to get in and out of downtown Memphis, even in our big van. David thought it was super cool to learn they were restoring their trolly car networks we saw a workin trolley while we were downtown. We caught a glimpse of the Pyramid Bass Pro Shops as we got on the bridge to cross the mighty Mississippi into Arkansas.

We arrived in Hot Springs National Park just at dinner time and arrived at our second historic hotel of the day, Hotel Hale, the only functioning hotel on Bathhouse Row. After a bit of a struggle with the valet parking on a very tight street with no pullout, we got checked in and had a delicious dinner at the Superior Bathhouse Brewery next door, which uses the mineral spring water to brew yummy beer and root beer. We walked through the downtown after dinner and got ice cream in the historic Arlington Hotel and Spa.

Look who we found I downtown Hot Springs? This time I got the kids to pose with him.

If only we had found this parking when we arrived…or maybe not. Look closely

Once we made it back to the hotel, everyone took a turn soaking in the mineral spring water that was piped right into our room. Very relaxing! We captured some shots of our unique hotel room that incorporates original brick and wood from the bathhouse era.