Hiking trails ring the scenic mountains, rivers and lakes and the visitor center hosts a gorgeous panoramic view of the Arkansas River. You can watch the live honeybee colony at the visitor center until you discover the more invigorating things the park offers.

Our personal favorite is the horseback trail rides on the west side of the park. For $25 a person, you and your guide explore woods, water and open fields. This tour is anything but the typical sleepy trail ride… steep inclines and water crossings give such a diverse and exiting experience.

The park also offers guided kayak and canoe river tours. While the guides are nice and attentive in their standard river kayaks, the “teacup” ride is not. Teacup meaning the infernal spinning of mis-ordered white-water kayaks and paddles that gayly flip even the most experienced kayaker at the slightest wind gust or paddle stroke.

Four hours of spinning was only righted by our discovery of Buster’s Real Ice Cream shop turning right on Cantrell Street leaving the park. Particularly, Buster’s Key Lime Pie ice cream, is well worth the trip.

Hot Springs, Ark. is the place to visit for a great bath.

If Hot Springs, Arkansas where it’s own country, the national bird would be the “rubber duckie.”  Yes, Hot Springs can rightfully claim the status of “Bathing Capital of the South.” And just to prove we’re not blowing bubbles, the area remains Arkansas’ #1 tourism attraction, with more than 2 million visitors annually.

The city is indeed charming and accessible. Several filling stations along Bathhouse Row on Main Street let you to fill up bottles and jugs with fresh spring water for free. Take an afternoon stroll down Main Street, which is broad, very walkable and lined with boutiques and antique shops. At the north end of Bathhouse Row is the inimitable art-deco styled Arlington Hotel, which offers mineral bath guestrooms for only $105 in the off-season.

Crystal blue bathing waters at the newly renovated Quapaw Bathhouse located on Bathhouse Row

Despite the squeaky clean visage, Hot Springs is a city with a steamy past. Politicos, movie stars, sports heroes and gangsters alike rolled through here in the 1920s and 40s to soak their bodies and entertain their vices. Gambling, racketeering, violence and prostitution ran rampant before lawmakers cracked down on all illegal activity in the 1960s, ending the mischief – and consequently, the mystique.

Trips to Hot Springs now are usually connected with some element of nostalgia: family reunions, weddings, anniversaries, etc. Modern fat cats looking to blow a ton of dough on spa retreats usually turn to the fancied likes Palm Springs; Sedona, Arizona; or Hawaii, areas that blend hydrotherapy with spiritualism or outdoor pursuits.

That’s not to say Hot Springs, as a destination, is forever stuck in a powder-blue leisure suit (even though one of the hotel owners does drive an old Excalibur). You’ll always meet tons of nice folks and enjoy a great meal here. The Brau Haus is still our favorite place to grab brats and kraut.

Some other reasons to like Hot Springs:

Quapaw Bath & Spas 413 Central Ave. Hot Springs/501-609-9822 The recently reopened and restored, Quapaw is a bathhouse situated in a beautiful 1920s era Spanish-colonial mansion. Features a mosaic-tiled central dome and several private soaking rooms. In addition to massage and facial treatments, you can soak in one of three gigantic community pools.

Bathhouse Soapery and Caldarium 120 Central Avenue, Hot Springs/ (501) 318-0997. This place makes soaps and sundries that smell delicious and look good enough to eat. They also have a healthy assortment of salt scrubs, lotions, and performs, all of which is handmade right there in the back of the store. It’s scrub-a-dub good.

One of several creative displays at the Poet's Loft on Main Street, Hot Springs

The Poet’s Loft 514-B Central Avenue, Hot Springs/ (501) 625-7704. This local haunt is actually a renowned center for local, national and international poet alike. In addition to open-mic Wednesdays, the Loft hosts several annual poetry competitions and showcases local singers and songwriters. The coffee bar serves up terrific Joe, plus soups, salads and desserts.

Janice next to a majestic California redwood at Muir Wood National Monument

Long-term travel will certainly change your perspective on things. Take Muir Woods National Monument, for instance. Redwoods are the gentle giants of the forest world. One glance at a tall, melancholic redwood is enough to turn even the hardest city dweller into a mandolin-strumming crunchy.

Example: Was in an office supply store the other day and saw shelves of printer paper. You know; those heavy, thick packs of 8-1/2 x 11 paper that look like neatly wrapped gifts. After strolling the hallowed grounds of Muir Woods, but I was horrified to think about defenseless trees, chopped down, ground into pulp, mixed with water, and turned into paper – bulk paper, wrapped in more paper. Seems downright inhumane. No offense, International Paper.

From now on, though, we’re thinking about buying paper only made from tree alternatives: hemp, plastic, eco-friendly products. One Ventura, Calif.-based company called Ecopaper is making paper by spinning fibers out of things like sugar cane, coffee and bananas. There you go. Put those fruit peelings to good use.

Volcanic beds and Crater Lake, Klamath Falls was an unusual route to take from northern California. We enjoyed some much-needed springtime rest in the lush Oregon countryside, oblivious that the small streets contained a big geo-thermal secret until this article.

We love the ending quote from the Klamath County museum manager …”I’ve always said the city should adopt a slogan, `City ofWarm Sidewalks,’” he joked. “But I’ve been told we’ll get every hobo in America who will be drifting into town.”

Well, thank you, Klamath Falls, for hosting two Texan tumbleweeds for a few weeks. :0)

Downtown Vancouver near Seymour Street

If you’re in town for the games, you might notice Vancouver’s ultra-hip residents and bus system. BC Transit is how many Vancouver residents get around town. The service is super clean and runs like clockwork. If you can’t figure you’re way around, you can contact BC Transits hotline (250) 382-6161, which provides operator assistance until midnight.

Oh, did we mention: most of the downtown dwellers wear dark, grey or otherwise muted colors, sharply offset by their gleaming white earbuds. This city is hooked on their iPods, MP3 cellphones or other music devices that mutes the urban din and preserves personal space. But in the rush to look hip, the earbuds makes everyone look a bit alike. It’s very Orwellian …. So, when’s the next bus run? Oh, just after midnight. Mmm, say about 13 o’clock.

The Paul Mitchell Partner School in North Dallas

Stress-free affordable Valentine gift ideas, sexy savings to enjoy at your leisure.

Nothing says says “I love you” like a spa package, especially when you get 6 facials for the price of 1-2 luxury facials. How to snag this miraculous deal? The Paul Mitchell Partner School on Midway in Addison, TX offers buy 5 get one free packages for just $200. Facials range from pamper-me to dermatological grade resurfacing and micro-dermabrasion.

Want to save the tip? Buy 15% off Great Spa Escapes gift cards at your local Sam’s Club and Yes, you can book via their reservation line (that’s an extra 15% off $40-50 facials).

Afternoon tea at Patti's Place Tea Room & Bakery serves homemade teas

From “me”-time to tea-time, schedule a tea party with the girls or with Mother’s Day just around the corner-plan a mother-daughter tea. Patti’s Place Tea Room in Plano, TX offers $25 gift certificates for their five-course afternoon tea with a Texas twist, served Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m by reservation only. Just want the goodies? Drop by for tasty tea and fresh-baked desserts at a fraction of the cost. The bakery offers tea, coffee and goodies for home consumption as well, open daily.

Gratuity is optional at Paul Mitchell while Patti’s assesses a 20% gratuity per person for their high tea (real cost $30 per person). Outside Texas? Most major metros have similar schools and tea services, so check your local listings.

One of several haunting and gorgeous landscapes near Yellowstone's Midway Geyser Basin

Our trip through Yellowstone National Park still has us talking. Because of road closings and altitude, our visit was confined to the geysers and thermal pools of the southwest. We’ve still yet to see the Yellowstone Grand Canyon and surrounding terrain in the northeast. According to the park rangers, the grasslands north of the park are the best area for grizzly bear and moose sighting. We can’t wait to go back and see more. Read more.

Jellyfish are the "Mona Lisa" of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Constantly swarmed by fascinated onlookers.

If you’re in San Francisco ever, take a day trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium. Only a 1.5 hour drive and well worth it. This world renowned attraction ranks among the world’s finest aquariums and it definitely gets high marks from us. You can see more Monterey Bay Aquarium highlights on our most recent hiptravelreview story. Here’s a peak:

Our seven-month tour of the Western U.S. in the Hip Travel Mobile (click the image for a larger view)

Seven months and 7,700 miles. Funny thing about that string of 7s. We had no accidents, flat tires, breakdowns, collisions, incidents or otherwise that would have halted our trip. Luck was on our side – that, and a little help from above. We definitely had our share of thrills and close calls. Thanks be to God for His protection. We had His guardian angels working overtime.

As I look at this map, I’m reminded of all the breathtaking scenery and of all the new friends: the Dorrell family in Montana who helped us unthaw our RV pipes, the Claridge’s in Montana who introduced us to bow-hunting deer; the Radke’s in Kirkland/Seattle and their six acres and words of wisdom; the Walkers in S. Oregon and RV hookups behind their house. We’re so thankful and blessed to know all of them.

Janice and I would’ve been happy to reach Northern California or Oregon, if that’s as far as our travels would’ve taken us. As it were, we saw Seattle; Victoria, B.C.; big sky Montana; Yellowstone; Hot Vegas; Zion National Park; the south AND north rim of the Grand Canyon – places she’s never been, places I’ve never been.

We’re hoping that we’re blessed enough to embark on another tour – this time covering all Eastern states. Neither of us have ever been to Michigan, Maine, North Carolina, Tennessee. With fingers crossed (and a little luck) we just might make it.

Just an aside: The total RV mileage doesn’t include the 6,000-plus miles driven while sightseeing in the Acura. I tried to include all those smaller routes, but the result was fairly messy. Will have to do a separate posting for that later.

Video contains some terrific footage of us helping to assemble the balloon, as well as some neat aerials overlooking Page and Glen Canyon. Bill pushed it to the extreme so we could get excellent close-ups of Glen Canyon. Thanks, Bill! And thanks to the Page Lake Powell Balloon Regatta Committee and Balloonmeister, Bryan Hill, for the fantastic balloon event.