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Courtesy of In the Trees
January is statistically the coldest and often snowiest month in Arkansas. Rather than pining for the warmer days of spring, why not take advantage of winter hikes, followed by spa treatments, hot tubs and cozy fires? Because it’s generally considered the off-season in Arkansas tourism, you can also often score discounted rates, making January and February the perfect time for winter weekend getaways.
Courtesy of 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. Photo by Edward C. Robinson III
Eureka Springs
Winter is the quiet season in Eureka Springs. What you might miss with some restaurant and store closures, you make up with fewer crowds and a generally slower pace. This allows for more leisurely shopping and antiquing.
The governor’s suite at Crescent Hotel, appointed to the Victorian era, features a balcony and Jacuzzi tub. The treetop cottage has a large private deck in the trees and a jetted tub, while the trailside cottage features a large private deck and hot tub, along with a jetted tub.
And who wouldn’t want to take advantage of the hotel’s “swimming pool that turns into the largest hot tub in the country in the winter”? The 90-degree-plus relaxation hot pool is prepared for evenings from noon to 8 p.m. You can also enjoy two traditional hot tubs, a heated dressing area and an infrared sauna — a private unit for one or two people that is complimentary to all spa and salon guests.
Courtesy of 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. Photo by Turner 2024
If you want to be reminded that it’s winter, you can take advantage of Crescent Ice Park for the Winter Carnival Extravaganza. Every Saturday night starting at 5, Crescent Ice Park transforms into a winter wonderland offering ice skating, DJ music, yard games and winter activities such as snowball target toss and hockey wrist shot, and treats such as cupcakes, cookies and s’mores by the campfire. Ice skating is free for hotel guests, and non-guests pay just $5.
Other weekend activities at the resort include yoga, rubber stamp carving, hiking tours and candle craft. Off-season rates may also apply to services at the hotel’s New Moon Spa, which includes massages, body treatments and facials.
Hot Springs
Horse racing season is ramping up at Oaklawn, which makes Hot Springs a natural weekend destination this time of year. If horse racing is not your thing, the Ouachita Mountains offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature. Treehouses are having a moment in Hot Springs, and they are much more modern and glamorous than old-school rustic cabins.
At Starlight Haven, you can take advantage of discounted winter rates through Feb. 28. Just eight minutes from Hot Springs National Park, this resort offers treehouses, geodesic domes and safari-style tents, along with creekside fire pits, onsite walking and hiking trails, and private decks with hot tubs and grills.
Courtesy of In the Trees
Billed as a mountain treehouse resort, In the Trees, also in Hot Springs, ups the cozy factor, as every unit features a private hot tub, outdoor fireplace and amazing views. The Couples Canopy Treehouse opened earlier this month. At In the Trees, you can enhance your stay with charcuterie boards or s’mores boards delivered to your cabin, indulge in an in-cabin massage, or rent e-bikes for exploring the Northwoods and Cedar Glades trails.
Longbow Resort
Although you have to be a bit more flexible to take advantage of last-minute deals offered on their Facebook page, Longbow Resort in Edgemont is an ideal destination for leaning into the urge to hibernate. The resort features four secluded, custom-designed cabins built to blend with the surrounding landscape.
Longbow cabin amenities include a private waterfall and natural swimming pool — the latter of which you’ll probably want to return to in the summer — along with a private stone patio with hammock and private Longbow Falls Trail. Sovereign provides a private deck and balcony, along with a private outdoor four-person hot tub and indoor waterfall. Bushmaster offers a private walking bridge and stream, private deck and patio with hammock, private trail and jetted tub.
There is no Wi-Fi, and cell phone service is not guaranteed, which provides a bonus opportunity for a digital detox retreat on your weekend winter getaway.
Arkansas State Parks
Arkansas State Parks is also offering a discount on getaways through March 1. Find warm escapes for winter days and enjoy 15% off all overnight accommodations. That extends to lodge rooms, cabins, camping, camper cabins, rent-a-RV and YURTs. The promo code is WARM15.
Mount Magazine is a personal favorite for weekend winter getaways. Lodging amenities include a 1,325-square-foot indoor swimming pool featuring a small area for children, a lap lane and a hot tub. Lodge suites feature balconies, jacuzzi or spa tubs and fireplaces. Cabins at Mount Magazine include a fireplace and hot tub.
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