A brand-spanking new thoroughbred horse racing season gets underway in Hot Springs at Oaklawn Racetrack Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. Everyone gets all gussied up and the horses seem more handsome than ever on Opening Day. And, then we are all off to the races! OK, that’s about all the horse references I can write in one paragraph.
On a little more serious hoof, the racetrack offers some of the most competitive racing in the U.S. with more than $20 million available for purses and a multitude of popular promotions fans look forward to every season.
Photo finish at the races
Excitement at Oaklawn
Views from Oaklawn
If you’ve never been to a horse race, or never been to a race at Oaklawn, or if you come every year – there are so many reasons to give Oaklawn a try again and again this season. Some of the highlights are:
Jan. 11: Opening Day
Jan. 12 $.50 corned beef sandwiches and $.10 soft drinks
Jan. 21: Free Oaklawn Cap Giveaway/$100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes
March 16: Boat and Truck Giveaway/$500,000 Rebel Stakes Day
April 10: Racing Festival of the South
Of course, we want you to stay at Lookout Point when you come to the races making your experience more enjoyable. When you stay two nights in January on race days, you’ll receive complimentary admission to the exclusive members-only Jockey Club (dress code enforced).A comfortable bed, delicious breakfast and other guests at the inn discussing the day’s race events (some of it exaggerated, of course) – what could be more fun!
Just give us a call at 501.525.6155 to make your reservation.
There is such beauty and awe when winter comes. The cooler temps and occasional snow move us more indoors but give us plenty of time for genuine reflection and true guidance. I especially love winter at the inn. Inside it’s warm and toasty with a wonderful fireplaces; mugs of coffee, tea and cocoa; and time for quiet conversation and snuggling.
Winter Solitude
The beauty of the outdoors is certainly different from the warm months on the lake, and it makes us pause, enjoy the majesty of stark trees and soaring eagles, and watch the birds searching for food, seemingly oblivious to the cold. Such a spectacular time of year!
Henry David Thoreau said, “There are from time to time mornings both in summer and winter, when especially the world seems to begin anew.”
I hope I’ve convinced you to come and visit Lookout Point during the winter. It’s definitely a change of pace and a wonderful opportunity to spend time considering all that life has to offer.
Check out the website for our Winter Splendor Package or just make plans for a few days of rest and relaxation with us at the inn. Hot beverages, warm bedding, wonderful fires and gorgeous birds are waiting. Bring your journal and camera. (This morning a guest captured the frost on a bloom.)
We’ve just started to see a few leaves turning, and usually peak season is the end of October or early November. Lookout Point has been privileged to receive great publicity lately, in USA Today and The Huffington Post.
In USA Today, “This 12-room lodging in the Ouachita Mountains overlooking Lake Hamilton offers leaf-peeping from private decks. Peak foliage may not be happening till late October or in November.
Lookout Point was named one of the top ten B&B’s (by The Huffington Post) for enjoying fall foliage from the comfort of your own porch at the inn. The blog from The Post states: “Indulge in deep relaxation at the Lookout Point Lakeside Inn which is surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains and overlooks placid Lake Hamilton. Enjoy your morning coffee and the foliage view from your private deck before taking a walk along the labyrinth waterfront trail.”
We are honored to be included in these prestigious publications! If possible, come to the inn and enjoy some beautiful fall foliage in Arkansas!
When Lookout Point was just a speck in our eyes, Ray & I discovered the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) and quickly became members. We were delighted to discover a comprehensive industry surrounding innkeeping, and the amazing on-going learning opportunities through PAII. More than 10 years ago, we attended our first Innkeeping Conference in Chicago–learning great stuff to make us better, and more professional, innkeepers.
Since that time, we continue to grow and learn through the many offerings of PAII. Not only do we learn from PAII and the wonderful network of Innkeeper colleagues, but we began volunteering.
CEO Jay Karen, and Board Chair Kristie Rosset
Over the years, Ray & I have led workshops & webinars, introduced speakers, and served on planning committees. It’s a joy to give back to the association that continues to teach us so much! Ray & I agree that volunteering brings an additional layer of joy to our lives! Yes, volunteering takes up precious time, commitment, and money–but the investment is worth it.
A few years ago, I was elected to the Board of Directors. Then in January, 2012 I was elected Chair of the Board of Directors of PAII. We recently moved PAII’s headquarters from New Jersey to Charleston, South Carolina. Last week featured a series of leadership meetings, and it was my pleasure to visit for the first time our new headquarters.
If you have ever dreamed of becoming an innkeeper, I urge you to check out PAII to learn everything possible before making the jump. And come stay with us at Lookout Point– we’ll gladly share information with you.
We urge you to volunteer in whatever arena brings you joy and fuels your passion for life.
No vacation is complete without a trip to the amusement, theme or water park in the area. In Hot Springs that special place is Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
Magic Springs Fun in Hot Springs
(What a great name for an amusement park – full of magic and fun!) And we’ll save you money with discounted tickets to the park.
Many of guests at our Hot Springs’ lakeside inn enjoy a special day at Magic Springs when they are visiting the area. This summer in addition to the Thrill, Family or Kids Rides and Water Park, guests can plan a trip around special concerts featured at Magic Springs.
Upcoming concerts include:
Kris Allen June 30
Gretchen Wilson July 7
Switchfoot July 14
Brandon Heath July 15
TESLA July 21
Creed July 28
The added bonus for all the concerts is that they are included with the price of the one-day general admission ticket or Season Pass. Free seating is on the lawn or VIP Reserved Seating can be purchased for $10 or Regular Reserved Seating is available for $5.
As guests of Lookout Point Inn, we’re always glad to help you plan a fun day!
Our lovely city is famous for outstanding visual and performing arts. Visitors to Hot Springs June 3-16 are in for an awesome treat with “The Spice of Life”, presented by the Hot Springs Music Festival. <a href=
With 20 concerts and 250 rehearsals open to the public, music spices up a trip to Hot Springs during the festival. One really unique concert, on Saturday June 9, features a moving concert along Bathouse Row in the Hot Springs National Park.
Lookout Point is proud to be a sponsor of the 2012 Music Festival. We hope you’ll come stay at the inn, and enjoy great music!
in Bentonville, Arkansas, this summer. The highly-touted museum opened in November and has masterworks ranging from the Colonial period to current day and includes such well-known artists as Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe and has received significant funding from the Walton Family Foundation.
For those planning to visit the museum, why not add a couple of days onto your trip and boogie on down to Hot Springs – only 200 miles from Bentonville? We’d love to have you stay at our luxury inn on Lake Hamilton and play in our town at the many fun, interesting places in the area.
One of my favorites is the Garvan Woodland Gardens, a spectacular outdoor botanical nature area featuring gorgeous flora and fauna, 4 ½ miles of wooded shoreline on Lake Hamilton and the beautiful floor-to-ceiling glass Anthony Chapel situated inside the gardens. There is nothing quite like it!
Of course, there are other fun things to do in Hot Springs as well, including:
Pairing a visit to the world-renowned Crystal Bridges Museum with a trip to Hot Springs and a stay at Lookout Point Inn would certainly seem like the perfect vacation.
In a stroll through the gardens on this fine day, the blooms are truly eye candy. Besides the magnolias, hydrangeas, gardenias, Brazilian verbena, lilies, and butterfly bush, our feathered friends provided amusement.
Cardinals, ducks “Ricky & Lucy”, finches, mourning doves, robins, and scores of other birds were feasting, playing, and bathing in the gardens. The nest of baby robins will soon be empty.
We invite you to come enjoy a splendid space for relaxation and beauty at our Hot Springs B&B!
The Garvan Gardens Boat Show, March 30-April 1, features antique and classic boats. These boats,
Antique Boats on Display
lovingly restored by proud owners, value over $1 million. Owners from across the country are available to discuss the process for restoring these beautiful and priceless vessels.
If you’re bringing a boat to enter in the show, Lookout Point offers a complimentary boat stall during your stay. Right on Lake Hamilton, our Hot Springs B&B is only minutes from Garvan Gardens–by boat or land.
expecting to see the last of the daffodils. Instead, we were treated to a feast for the eyes: seas of tulips in early bloom. The sight is breathtakingly beautiful.
The riotous colors tickle the senses, and invite us to stop, pause, and just take in the wonder.
As an added bonus, the handsome peacocks were strutting their colors at the entrance to the gardens. Doesn’t get much better than this on a lovely spring day!
If you can getaway on March 7 or 8 to see the tulips, Lookout Point has a special offer. We also have a very few rooms remaining available for Friday, March 9 (one night stay).
Music Fills the Air in Hot Springs in June
Romantic Dinners to Remember in Hot Springs
Thrills and Thrilling Concerts at Magic Springs, Hot Springs!
