My family spends Thanksgiving week at our lake house in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  My ancestors on my mother’s side first moved to this area in the 1800s.  The old family home where my great Grandmother and Grandmother were raised still stands today, beautifully restored by the current owners, and it is tradition to go by and pay our respects.

Hot Springs National Park is the oldest federal reserve in the country and has been a popular destination because of its thermal spring waters.  In the early 1900s, Major League Baseball would bring the teams to Hot Springs for pre-season training and the likes of Babe Ruth could be seen walking around town.  Once gambling became established, The Arlington Hotel became a favorite retreat for gangsters like Al Capone.  In more recent years, Hot Springs became nationally known as it was the boyhood home of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton.

About seven years ago, my family bought a house on Lake Hamilton to give us a place where we could all come together in this town that we have come to enjoy so much.  There is something transforming about being at the lake.  It is a constantly changing canvas.  Every day brings another layer of peace and tranquility.

Days may be spent talking, reading, or visiting some of the local attractions, like the Alligator Farm and the historic bath houses.  Evenings are spent having dinner with friends or cooking gourmet feasts, always accompanied by many bottles of fantastic wine.

In my next post, I will share one of my favorite things to enjoy while in Hot Springs – barbeque.