Hot Springs Convention Center – Kid-Friendly Attractions

Famous for the natural hot springs it’s named after, Hot Springs, Arkansas, has been a popular vacation destination for over a century. It has also played a significant role in baseball history ever since the Chicago White Stockings traveled there to prepare for the upcoming season back in 1886.

Because of Hot Springs’s longstanding reputation as a tourist town, it only makes sense that it’s home to a convention center. Centrally located in the heart of downtown Hot Springs, the Hot Springs Convention Center offers more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. An additional 30,750 square feet of space is available at the adjacent Bank OZK Arena.

With so much emphasis being placed on the resorts that Hot Springs is famous for, you might be under the impression that it’s a place only for older folks looking for some R&R. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

There are actually plenty of kid-friendly attractions around Hot Springs, which is good news if you’re traveling with your family when you go to visit the Hot Springs Convention Center. Read on to learn about the kid-friendly side of the city known as “America’s First Resort.”

Escape Hot Springs

No, we’re no suggesting that you “escape” Hot Springs. Rather, Escape Hot Springs is the name of an escape room that has quickly become one of the city’s most popular attractions. And it’s only a five-minute walk down the street from the Hot Springs Convention Center!

If you’ve never been to an escape room before, the concept is simple: a group of people are locked in a themed room and try to escape within a set time limit by discovering clues and solving puzzles.

At Escape Hot Springs, they give you one hour to escape and three rooms to choose from. Discoveries Through Time is an educational historical adventure where players make their way from the Dark Ages back to present day. In the Hot Springs-themed room, The Bathhouse & Gambler, you cannot escape “without a bath and a bet.” Lastly, there’s Cold Case, a murder mystery where it’s your job to identify the killer and victim, as well as figure out how to escape.

The Galaxy Connection

Are your kids fans of all things Star Wars and superheroes? If so, then they’re going to love The Galaxy Connection, a unique, interactive museum that features a mix of both. Conveniently located less than a half-mile from the Hot Springs Convention Center, it’s easy to make time for a visit while you’re in town.

Everything on display at The Galaxy Connection is from the personal collection of sci-fi superfan Jon Cowers. Some highlights include a handmade X-wing Starfighter and life-size statues of characters like Yoda and Spider-Man.

There are two tours to choose from at The Galaxy Connection. The cheaper of the two is the regular guided tour, which takes 30 minutes and includes photo ops with toy-grade props. Upgrade to the VIP tour and you’ll be treated to a 60-minute tour, complete with behind-the-scenes facts, photo ops with high-grade props, and a commemorative mini poster. After your tour, take a look around their one-of-a-kind gift shop.

4D Adventure

If you’re looking for a fun way to kill a half hour or so, head to 4D Adventure. There you can experience a variety of different rides in a state-of-the-art 4D simulation theater. Getting to 4D Adventure from the Hot Springs Convention Center takes a little over 10 minutes on foot.

What sets this 4D theater apart from its 3D counterparts is that its seats move in sync with the on-screen action. It’s basically a movie theater and roller coaster all rolled into one.

In terms of rides, they’ve got something for everyone at 4D Adventure. There are more than 10 rides to choose from, ranging from kid-friendly to downright scary. Best of all, the prices are affordable and the rides don’t last super long; that way you can go on multiple rides in a single visit.

DeSoto Rock & Gift Shop

Budding geologists will feel right at home at the DeSoto Rock & Gift Shop. Located on the ground floor of the historic DeSoto Hotel, the DeSoto Rock & Gift Shop is about a 15-minute walk from the Hot Springs Convention Center. There you’ll find an assortment of eye-catching minerals, as well as home decor, jewelry, and more.

That’s not all you might find at the DeSoto Rock & Gift Shop, though. Past visitors have also reportedly witnessed paranormal activity going on there, which seems plausible considering that the DeSoto Hotel has been around since 1926. Ask one of their staff members to show you the photos of the “ghost orbs” that supposedly haunt the place and see for yourself… if you dare!

Hot Springs Mountain Tower

While pretty much all of the attractions on this list are primarily geared towards kids, this next one, Hot Springs Mountain Tower, amazes visitors of all ages. That’s because it offers panoramic views of Hot Springs National Park and the surrounding area from 216 feet in the air.

Hot Springs Mountain Tower has been a landmark since the late 1800s, believe it or not. The current tower hasn’t been around that long, though. The first incarnation of Hot Springs Mountain Tower was erected in 1877 and stood 75 feet tall. This tower was eventually struck by lightning and burned to the ground. It was replaced by another tower in 1906, which was then torn down in 1975 due to instability. The current tower opened eight years later in 1983.

To get to the tower from the Hot Springs Convention Center, you can either take a scenic, 10-minute drive or walk up the 1.5-mile trail that starts on Fountain Street. Once there, you’ll take an elevator up to the lower observation deck. This deck is enclosed and features exhibits about local history.

For the full Hot Springs Mountain Tower experience, though, you have to head up to the open-air upper observation deck. Up there, you’ll be at 1,256 feet above sea level and able to see 140 miles out into the distance. Don’t forget to commemorate your visit with a souvenir from the gift shop located at the base of the tower!

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf is the place to go if you’re looking to stir up some friendly competition with your family. It’s located five miles from the Hot Springs Convention Center and features two 18-hole golf courses.

They go all out with the decorations at Pirate’s Cove, which makes playing through their courses really feel as if you’re going on an adventure. In addition to classic mini golf features like footbridges and waterfalls, Pirate’s Cove also has a full-scale pirate ship, mountains with caves, and more.

The two courses at Pirate’s Cove, Captain’s Course and Blackbeard’s Challenge, vary in difficulty, with Blackbeard’s Challenge being the more difficult of the two. It costs the same to play on either one, and for a few dollars extra you can set sail on the 36-Hole Adventure.