Take the kids on a vacation they will remember this summer. Nestled in the safety of a small mountain town is a unique and wonder filled destination. Why go to Disney when you can experience the real thing? Explore the authentic little village of Eureka Springs with its twisty streets, historic businesses and colorful characters. Here are some ideas for how to have fun on a three day vacation: eureka springs summer vacation

Make plans to stay downtown. Some people miss out on experiencing the thrill of staying downtown because they don’t know how to handle parking. It can be a challenge if you don’t have the inside info but the Basin Park Hotel makes it easy. Just pull up in front of the hotel to unload and check in then park in the hotels secured and lighted parking. You won’t need your car for the rest of your visit. The Basin Park Hotel shuttle will take you where you need to go. To really know the town, take a walk. The Basin Park Hotel sits in the heart of downtown overlooking the famous Basin Spring Park.

Getting settled…Your first night.
Basin Park Hotel’s newly renovated rooms offer relaxing space with arts and crafts era decor and furnishings blended with the latest amenities. Make your way down to basin Spring Park. It’s a great place to people watch and it is the staging area for a variety of activities and live music from the band shell. Grab a bite at one of Eureka Springs unique downtown restaurants.

As the sun sets, take the shuttle up to one of the highest points in town, the Crescent Hotel. With a reputation as America’s Most Haunted Hotel, the Crescent specializes in haunted tours. You may want to reserve your crescent hotel ghost tours in advance on Reserveeureka.com. They are usually sell-out tours most nights. (If you are doing a ghost tour, consider dinner at Sky bar Gourmet pizza on the top floor of the Crescent Hotel).

Buy your Crescent Hotel Ghost Tour tickets!

Day 1
On your first full day in Eureka Springs wake up to some extreme fun with a Zipline tour. Ozark Mountain Ziplines in Eureka Springs has the longest, highest lines in the state. Even though it is considered an extreme sport, ziplining is a very safe when guidelines are followed. Will and Kendra will get you geared up and feeling confident before you zip and the acclimation course will have you prepared for the real fun. Buy your Zipline tickets! After a bite of lunch, relax with a trolley ride through the historic district or take a van tour. You can even send the kids on a tour and spend some time in Serenity spa. End the evening with a great meal overlooking downtown at the Balcony Restaurant. The Balcony has a diverse menu with some local specialties and also has a full bar so the adults can enjoy their favorite drink. After dinner, prepare to be amazed at Intrigue Theater. Buy your Intrigue Theater tickets!

Day 2
Just steps from your room are dozens of interesting shops and galleries. Have an old-timey family portrait done at Judge Roy Beans, find the perfect gift or memento and just have fun exploring the downtown shops. From the kiosk in Basin Spring Park, join up with the Downtown-N-Underground Tour. It’s a mildly adventurous tour with access to some neat spaces and colorful history of Eureka Springs. After lunch, take a trip to Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and spend some time with hundreds of big cats, bears and more then settle around the campfire for haunted stories and Flickering Tales. Buy Turpentine Creek tickets and Flickering Tales tickets!

Hot outside? Spend the day on Beaver Lake. Starkey Marina is located next to the Belle of the Ozarks. Grab some pizza and a cold drink before you rent a boat.

Day 3
After breakfast, plan to spend an inspiring day at the Great Passion Play. The Great Passion Play “has become a touchstone of Christian culture,” writes the Los Angeles Times. Walk through gate to Jerusalem and tour the Holy Land, set in biblical times. Self-guided tours through the Holy Land take visitors through full-scale replicas of the Eastern Gate in Jerusalem, the Tabernacle and more. View one of the most extensive collections of Christ-centered art in the Sacred Arts Center. Works range from the 9th century to present day and view over 7,000 bibles in 625 different languages. Ancient parchments, an original King James Bible from 1611 and a page from the Gutenberg Bible are some of what is on display at the Bible Museum. Of course, no visit to Eureka Springs is complete without a photo of the Christ of the Ozarks. At 67 feet high with an arm span of 65 feet, the Christ of the Ozarks stands overlooking the mountain village. As the evening arrives, grab a bite before The Great Passion Play begins. See hundreds of costumed characters and live animals perform the “Greatest Story Ever Told” in an unforgettable way. Buy tickets to the Great Passion Play!

Eureka Springs summer vacations are fun. For more ideas on things to do visit the EurekaSprings.com blog or see the Official Eureka Springs Calendar of Events. Staying downtown is convenient. Just park your car and let the shuttle or trolley take you where you need to go. No worrying about directions. Purchase your attraction tickets early and everything will be ready for your arrival. Want to stay somewhere else? See more Eureka Springs lodging.

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