THE DIAMOND LAKES AREA & THINGS TO DO NEAR OUR CABINS

We offer numerous activities on site at Lone Cedar Cabins for your family to enjoy, AND we live in a great area with much to offer including Hot Springs National Park, DeGray Lake State Park, and more! One of your best resources is here. If you want our opinion, here’s a short (well, maybe not so short!) and sweet summary of our favorite things. As usual, due to COVID-related cancellations and policies, it’s best to check directly with a venue before heading out.

Breweries and Winery

  • Superior Bathhouse Brewery brews the world’s only thermal water beer. This is a very cool place on Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs. Good food too! 501-624-2337.
  • The Winery of Hot Springs. Who doesn’t love a free wine tasting? 501-623-9463.
  • Slate Rock Brewing. They are neighbors (Amity, AR) and just a scenic 11 mile drive from us. They also have a food truck with outdoor seating. Support our local watering hole!

Canoe Rental and Caddo River Float Trips

  • Caddo River Canoe Rental will be your closest in Glenwood, AR. They provide canoe, kayak and tube floats. 888-300-8452 or 870-356-5336. 
  • Arrowhead Canoe Rentals is in Caddo Gap, AR. They also provide canoe, kayak and tube floats. 870-356-2944.

Crystal Digging

avantmining.com Avant Fisher Mountain Mine is the closest mine to us. 32 miles through the country. We loved this mine, super friendly with a rock and coffee shop. Go prepared to get dirty, knee pads help tremendously. Some tools & buckets are included (bring your own or borrow ours!). You get to keep all you find! Family friendly. Bring water and sunscreen. Public mining open Tues-Sun, 9 to 5 (weather permitting). Rock shop open everyday except Mon. 870-985-9988

Ron Coleman Mining is in Jessieville, AR. Mining and tour packages available. Again knee pads help tremendously. Bring your own tools and buckets or you can buy them there. Gift shop and Zip line! Family friendly. Open everyday. 800-291-4484

Diamond Hunting

Crater of Diamond State Park is in Murfreesboro, AR. It is the only diamond-producing site that is open to the public. You keep what you find! Again, be prepared with water, tools, etc. Your best diamond hunting is after a rain and only 45 minutes away. 870-285-3113

Flea Markets

Although it’s a small flea market we now have one in Bismarck! It’s called Linda’s Place Flea Market, at 6488 AR-7 in Bismarck. Phone number is 501-865-2661. Yours truly has a small booth there, check out booth V12! Right next door is a nice little deli called Bismarck Deli and Market.

There are several flea markets in Hot Springs, these are the three we hit the most:

  • Central Avenue Market Place. 4330 Central Ave H, Hot Springs, AR 501-623-4484.
  • Central Station Furniture Flea Market. 333 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR. 501-781-3492.
  • Sunny Lane Flea Market. 5444 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR.
    501-424-4635

Garvin Woodland Gardens

Garvin Woodland Gardens is a must. We’ve been many times and will go many times again. It is a 210-acre botanical garden owned by the University of Arkansas. There is an admission fee but well worth it. The holiday display is astonishing. If you think this is all for adults, think again ~ they have a new Children’s Adventure Garden. It is made for exploration. We have been to Garvin Woodland Gardens in all seasons and see something different every time. 800-366-4664 or 501-262-9300.

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Arkansas Riding Stables operates out of two state parks here. The closest is at DeGray Lake State Park. This is a fun and pretty ride, and we loved it. 501-865-2820. They also offer riding in Lake Catherine State Park. 501-262-0777.

Horse Racing

Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs is the longest continuous live thoroughbred horse racing in the states. We loved seeing the beautiful horses. It’s also fun to go and see all of the ladies in their hats. The season is December through April.

Hot Springs National Park/National Historic Landmark District/Downtown

The historic district was set aside in 1832 to protect the Park’s primary resource – the hot springs. History abounds here. Whether it be from the bathhouses, to the hiking trails (26 miles), to the restaurants or shopping, to the breweries, to the thermal water, to the Promenade, to the Mountain Tower, to the Alligator Farm, to the free Fordyce Bathhouse Museum, to the massages, to the Mountain Valley Spring Company, etc. etc. etc. We love it!

Kids to do list

Lakes

Night Life

  • The Big Chill is our favorite! Cozy hangout for cocktails, American grub and live bands playing blues, rock and country.
  • The Ohio Club is downtown. Since 1905, Arkansas’s oldest bar. Great hamburgers! Live music too.
  • Bubba Brews Pub and Grill. A new place on Lake Hamilton. It’s pretty impressive. They cater to all ages and have a floor for families with kids as well as an over 21 floor.

Ouachita National Forest

Although we are in the foothills, Ouachita National Forest officially starts a little west of here and goes into Oklahoma. It is one of the few mountain ranges that run east and west. Talimena National Scenic Byway (54 miles long) running from Mena, AR, to Talihina, OK. It is a breathtaking drive and a noted motorcycle route. 501-580-6402.

Massages

I don’t think there is a “bad” massage to be had in Hot Springs! But Buckstaff Bathhouse, built in 1912, is the only spa on Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park still in operation. Prices start at only $40 and the Traditional Bathing Package is $89. If you love history and tradition this is your place. 501-623-2308. But because they don’t take reservations, we also like either the Chrysalis Day Spa, 501-520-5400, or Destinations Day Spa 501-525-4300.

Restaurants

Of course, Hot Springs has all the chain restaurants, but don’t miss out on these family-owned favorites: