Eureka Springs in Arkansas unwraps
a “Dickens of a Christmas” festival
By John Gifford

According to legends, Native Americans once found relaxation and healing from the natural springs located in Eureka Springs, Ark. Today’s visitor will find a cure for a humdrum holiday in this charming Ozark city, where the Christmas lights and sights appear in early November. And with northern Arkansas’s mild winters, outdoor activities, such as hiking and golf, can extend into December, adding another facet to this vacation jewel. For travelers afflicted with visions of sugarplums, the journey begins downtown.

Downtown, with its many shops, galleries and restaurants, sparkles for visitors. Arkansas Parks & Tourism photo

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Eureka Springs’ “A Dickens of a Christmas” festival finds downtown and historic districts festooned with lights and other signs of the season. The Great Passion Play presents two nightly Christmas concerts, featuring the Texans, Nov. 9–Dec. 15. Tickets include admission to the Sacred Arts Center and access to the drive-through light display, which will continue through Dec. 31.

The city’s auditorium offers holiday concerts like the Ozarks Chorale (Dec. 8) and Home for Christmas (Dec. 14) that feature local entertainers. Additionally, the Eureka Springs Preservation Society sponsors its annual Candlelight Tour of Homes (Dec. 1). The fifth annual Christmas Ball for the Eureka Springs Historical Museum also will be Dec. 1 at the 1905 Basin Park Hotel. A full holiday calendar is available through the local tourism office.

Making a list, checking it twice

If original art is on your holiday shopping list, Eureka can accommodate. The city is home to a variety of artists, including jewelers, painters, sculptors, weavers, woodworkers and many others. A number of artists display their creations in their own galleries. Susan Morrison’s Signature Gallery (60 Spring St.), for example, is where you’ll find her pen and ink or colored pencil wildlife drawings. Original works by bronze sculptor Mark Hopkins are found at 83 Spring St.

More art galleries and shops are located throughout Eureka’s historic downtown. A Gift for All Reasons (110 Spring St.) features fine gifts, collectibles and handcrafted silver jewelry. Amish Collection (3022 E. Van Bure) offers handcrafted, heirloom-quality furniture. Ten miles east of Eureka Springs in Berryville, Ark., shoppers will find Childhood Memories (116 E. Church), a nostalgic shop specializing in vintage toys and collectibles.

Relax and rejuvenate

Santa greets diners at the Crescent Hotel’s brunch. Crescent Hotel photo

Revive yourself at one of Eureka Springs’ many spa facilities. The Eureka Massage Center at 117 Wall St. offers therapeutic treatments to alleviate pain and induce general relaxation. The Serenity Spa, located in the Basin Park Hotel at 12 Spring St., offers a variety of massage services, including its famous hot stone massage, and features a full-service nail salon. If you’re not sure what you need, then visit the New Moon Spa at Eureka’s historic 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, 75 Prospect. Guests will find New Moon offers spa services for every budget.

Noteworthy restaurants

Complete your healing with a nourishing meal at one of Eureka’s many dining establishments. For Italian cuisine, don’t overlook Ermilio’s (26 White St.), known for its homemade eggplant Parmesan, Italian sausage, meatball lasagna and marinated filet mignon.

Local Flavor Café (71 S. Main St.), with its homemade bread and fruit plates, is perfect for a light lunch. For a formal dinner, don’t miss The Crystal Dining Room, located in the Crescent Hotel. Reservations are suggested.

Room at the inn

Eureka Springs offers lodging for every budget and frame of mind. Try a bed-and-breakfast inn, such as the AAA three Diamond Heartstone Inn & Cottages at 35 Kings Highway, or the AAA three Diamond Inn at Rose Hall, located at 56 Hillside Ave. Down the street, Angel at Rose Hall (46 Hillside) offers AAA four Diamond amenities at its venerable bed-and-breakfast. All of these establishments offer discounted rates for AAA members.

On the other end of the spectrum, an impressive array of hotels and motels are available. Notable are the AAA three Diamond Crescent Hotel and its sister property, the two Diamond Basin Park Hotel that was built in 1905. The Crescent Hotel offers discounted rates for AAA members.

In addition, there are literally dozens of cabins, cottages, inns, motels and other accommodations. Your AAA Travel counselor can help you reserve the right room for your getaway.

A Victorian Christmas

Often called America’s “Little Switzerland” for its location in the Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs is known for its Victorian architecture. Indeed, Eureka features a genuine Victorian ambiance, especially during the holiday season. The city’s grand old buildings and homes, festively decorated and lighted, take on an aura all their own. Visitors may even see merchants dressed in Victorian-era attire during Dickens of a Christmas.

Its Victorian charm, cozy accommodations, interesting shops and special events keep holiday visitors calling at Eureka Springs year after year.

John Gifford is a contributor from Edmond, Okla.

BEFORE YOU GO

For more information, contact the Eureka Springs Advertising and Pro-motions Commission, (866) WISH EUREKA (866-947-4387) or www.eurekasprings.org. Stop by your nearest AAA service office for maps, reservations, TripTiks® and TourBook® guides. Click here for a list of offices. Order free information about Illinois online at http://midwest.ai-dsg.com