Hot Springs National Park | Road Trippin’ with My Pup! 🐾🚗

Escaped the warm Texas winter and headed to Arkansas—where my husky finally got to see (and sniff!) snow for the first time! ❄️🐺 Let’s just say… his brain rebooted the second his snout touched the powder. 😂 Hot Springs’ downtown feels like a cozy bathhouse district—reminiscent of the Northeast 🧖‍♀️🍂. The main street is small and walkable, with cute shops and historic spas. Keep an eye out for street signs! A simple right turn might lead you to a hidden trailhead winding up into the quiet, forested hills 🏞️🧭. We visited Garvan Woodland Gardens, and honestly? It was a bit underwhelming. The holiday lights were pretty but sparse, and we only spotted a few peacocks 🦚✨. The real star was the Anthony Chapel tucked inside the garden—a true architectural wonder! ✨🙌 While Gothic design often feels heavy with stone, this chapel felt light, modern, and sacred all at once. Its glass walls blurred the line between indoors and the surrounding forest 🌳🪟, and the wooden ceiling arched like interwoven branches—as if the forest itself was holding up the roof. Nearby in Little Rock, we made a quick stop at the Old Mill—a charming historic site featured in Gone With The Wind 🎬🌾. We also loved walking across the Big Dam Bridge 🌉🐕 at sunset. Its rust-colored steel stood stark and beautiful against the winter sky, and it was the perfect peaceful spot for some off-leash vibes with the doggo! Before heading back, my husky was officially sworn in as a Bark Ranger 🐾🎖️! He got a cute little bandana and absolutely basked in all the attention—what a legend 😉. Red’s Pro Traveler Tips: 1️⃣ Hot Springs’ main strip is small and very walkable—no car needed! 2️⃣ Skip most of Garvan Woodland Gardens unless you’re there for Anthony Chapel. It’s a meditative & photogenic gem. 3️⃣ Big Dam Bridge can be crazy windy in winter—bundle up! 🧣 4️⃣ Hold tight to your husky on hikes… I may have let go twice .😅 #USA#LittleRock#HotSpringsNationalPark #TravelWithDogs #HuskyAdventures #Arkansas #RoadTrip #BarkRanger