Hot Springs — Travelrags

Smithsonian MagazineSep 2, 2026

Before Vegas Became Vegas, Hot Springs Was America's Sin City. Now the Arkansas Spa Town Embraces Its Colorful and Seedy History

A life-size statue of Al Capone greets downtown visitors, and you can stay in his hotel suite. The town where gangsters once vacationed with movie stars and athletes is still open for a getaway

12 things in this story

Hot Springs National ParkNature reservehistoric bathhouses enclosed within it
Al CaponeSightstatue outside a downtown bar with cigar
Gangster Museum of AmericaMuseumfounder and director Robert K. Raines
Arlington Resort Hotel & SpaHotelCapone rented entire fourth floor
Happy Hollow Amusement ParkSightCapone rode donkeys here
Ouachita RiverSightCapone kept a fishing cabin on it
Southern ClubSightpremier gambling venue Capone frequented
Ohio ClubRestaurantCapone, Siegel, Luciano, Ruth frequented
Oaklawn racetrackSightdraw in Capone's day, now has casino
Buckstaff BathhouseSight
MauriceSight
Elsewhere
Cotton ClubBarNew York, United StatesMadden owned this famous Harlem club

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OutsideJun 22

Arkansas' MTB Capital Just Got Its First Lift-Served Bike Park. I Was One of the First to Ride It.

This mountain bike hub just reached a new level with its first chairlift-served bike park, featuring 20-plus gravity trails open year-round for all levels. Our columnist Graham Averill gives a full report.

7 things in this story

OZ Trails Bike ParkTrailBella Vista, United StatesWorld-class bike park spread across 200 acres.
Walton FamilyPlaceNorthwest Arkansas, United StatesInvested $75 million in mountain bike infrastructure since 2007.
Mena Mountain Bike ParkTrailMena, United StatesWill have a lift serving 1,100 vertical feet.
FirestarterTrailBella Vista, United StatesPerfect beginner mountain bike trail, long and winding.
Archimede’s FlowTrailBella Vista, United StatesFull of rollers to pump and swift, steep berms.
Mission ControlTrailBella Vista, United StatesLong jump line featuring 30-foot jumps and optional drops.
Critical MassTrailBella Vista, United StatesSignature double black line with multiple options over boulder drops.

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Condé Nast TravelerDec 19, 2025

The Best Places to Go in the US in 2026

For retro road trips, outdoorsy getaways, and citywide revivals.

25 things in this story

Hot Springs National ParkNature reservebubbling thermal waters
Elsewhere
The Nickel HotelHotelCharleston, United Statesfull kitchens and luxe details
The Charleston PlaceHotelCharleston, United Statesretooling of lounge, suites, rooftop pool
MerciRestaurantCharleston, United Statesnew kid on the block oozes charm
Bintü AtelierRestaurantCharleston, United StatesBintu Atelier is a West African restaurant with a splash of nomadic flavors.
KulturaRestaurantCharleston, United StatesThe dining room's main feature is the bar, which the restaurant treats like a community table.
OZ Trails Bike ParkTrailBella Vista, United Statesfirst chairlift-served downhill park
Ouachita MountainsSightOuachita, United StatesThey are formed by a thick succession of highly deformed Paleozoic strata constituting the Ouachita Fold and Thrust…
The Trails at MenaTrailMena, United Stateslargest lift-served mountain bike park
Delta Heritage TrailTrailArkansas, United States84.5 miles of hiking and biking trails
Crystal Bridges Museum of American ArtMuseumBentonville, United Statestwo new galleries, 114,000 sq ft
The ComptonHotelBentonville, United Statesnewly opened boutique property
Buffalo WaterfrontSightBuffalo, United Statesrestoration plan with trails
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. ParkSightBuffalo, United Statespedestrian bridge links west side
Highmark StadiumSightBuffalo, United Statesworld's largest heated roof
Hispanic Heritage Cultural InstituteMuseumBuffalo, United Statesopening on Buffalo's west side
GraycliffSightBuffalo, United Statesnew visitor center at Frank Lloyd Wright's home
Lipsey Architecture CenterMuseumBuffalo, United Statesnew home on Richardson Olmsted Campus
Catalina CasinoAttractionAvalon, United StatesArt Deco gem built in 1929
Trans-Catalina TrailTrailAvalon, United States38.5-mile hike
Lover's Cove Marine ReserveSightAvalon, United Statessnorkel turquoise waters
Mt AdaHotelAvalon, United StatesWilliam Wrigley Jr.'s former mansion
Hotel RichemontHotelCharleston, United Statessuites with full kitchens
The Dunlin, Auberge CollectionHotelCharleston, United Statesset on the Kiawah River
Ozark National ForestSightOzark, United States

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Condé Nast TravelerOct 13, 2025

The Best Airbnb in Every State Across the US

From sea to shining sea, we’ve surfaced palatial mansions, tiny houses, and everything in between.

23 things in this story

Hot Springs National ParkNature reserveOffers 26 miles of forested hiking trails
Elsewhere
Mount KilimanjaroTrailKilimanjaro, TanzaniaIt is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, at 5,895 m…
Saguaro National ParkTrailTucson, United StatesThe 92,000-acre (37,000 ha) park consists of two separate areas—the Tucson Mountain District (TMD), about 10 miles…
Mesa Verde National ParkTrailMesa Verde, United StatesTour ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings dating to the 1190s
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National ParkHotelVolcano, United StatesHike two active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa
The Basque Museum and Cultural CenterMuseumBoise, United StatesLearn about Basque culture in Boise
The Basque MarketRestaurantBoise, United StatesPintxos, Paella, Spanish wines, and twenty years of family recipes on the Boise Basque Block Choose your visit Walk…
Alla VitaRestaurantChicago, United StatesIn-demand West Loop restaurant known for fresh-made pastas
Pappajohn Sculpture ParkParkDes Moines, United StatesFeatures enormous artwork by famous artists
Clarkson Covered BridgeAttractionCullman, United StatesBuilt in 1904, added to National Register of Historic Places
Anchorage MuseumMuseumAnchorage, United StatesFeatures Arctic Studies Center with First Peoples exhibition
Honeycone Craft Ice CreamRestaurantChester, United StatesEnjoy small-batch, handcrafted ice cream from Honeycone Craft Ice Cream in Chester, CT.
Blue Ridge Scenic RailwayAttractionBlue Ridge, United StatesOld-fashioned railroad runs along the Toccoa River
Fairfax State Recreation Area and Lake MonroeSightBloomington, United StatesOffers beach, boat ramp, and picnic areas
CosmosphereMuseumHutchinson, United StatesSpace museum in Hutchinson
StratacaMuseumHutchinson, United StatesSalt mine museum in Hutchinson
Speed Art MuseumMuseumLouisville, United StatesHosts exhibitions like "Vian Sora: Outerworlds"
The MazantRestaurantNew Orleans, United StatesBywater mansion with manicured gardens and heated pool
Studio BESightNew Orleans, United StatesWarehouse showcasing large-scale murals by Brandan Odums
Camden Hills State ParkNature reserveCamden, United StatesPopular in fall for kaleidoscopic colors
IntegratronSightLander, United StatesDome for healing sound baths in a geomagnetic vortex
Yankee Freedom ferryPlaceKey West, United StatesAffordable way to reach Dry Tortugas National Park
Mount Battie Auto RoadSightCamden, United StatesOffers views of kaleidoscopic colors in fall

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National GeographicMay 1, 2023

9 reasons to visit the American South

The US is a melting pot of cultures, creatures and cuisines. From oysters to Orange Beach, spoonbills to the Smoky Mountains, here are nine reasons to visit the South.

20 things in this story

Hot Springs National ParkNature reserveSafeguards ancient thermal waters and century-old bathhouses.
Hot Springs MountainSightTrail reaches 994ft across the summit.
Honeysuckle TrailTrailConnects to the Peak Trail for more hiking.
Peak TrailTrailOffers panoramas from the 216ft Hot Springs Mountain Tower.
Hot Springs Mountain TowerSightOffers panoramas from 216ft high.
Elsewhere
Buffalo National RiverSightArkansas, United StatesJuts out over the cloud-cloaked canopy.
OzarksNeighborhoodMissouri, United StatesEsteemed chefs melding Appalachian and indigenous flavors.
Highway 61TrailMississippi, United StatesSo-called Blues Highway, turnoff for legendary juke joints.
Great Smoky MountainsNature reserveTennessee, United StatesSample Appalachian cooking in a classic red barn.
North Carolina oystersRestaurantNorth Carolina, United StatesSlurp oysters straight from the sea bed.
seafood safariPlaceAlabama, United StatesEmbark on a safari in the backwaters of Alabama.
Arkansas’ ‘Natural State’SightArkansas, United StatesRippling hills, waterfalls, sky-scraping peaks, stooping caverns.
Ozark and Ouachita mountain regionsSightArkansas, United StatesServe up a feast of natural wonders.
Ozark National ForestSightArkansas, United StatesEnvelops hilly oak and hickory forests and creekside sycamores.
Whitaker Point TrailTrailArkansas, United StatesWends into hardwood thickets, skirt cliff edges, pass waterfalls.
Hawksbill CragViewpointArkansas, United StatesStriking tongue of sandstone juts over cloud-cloaked canopy.
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and PreserveParkLouisiana, United StatesOasis of bayous, boardwalks, and mysterious maritime history.
Barataria PreserveNature reserveLouisiana, United StatesProtects a particularly rich area of swamps and marshes.
Lake Fausse Pointe State ParkParkLouisiana, United StatesGreat base for exploring the waters of the Atchafalaya Swamp.
Cypress Island PreserveSightLouisiana, United StatesSwamp-knitted expanse where migratory species nest.

Read the full piece at National Geographic →