Destination 14
Eureka Springs, AR
The View
The 4.5 hour drive from Oklahoma City began with a barrage of trucks on the interstate, but thankfully ended with a peaceful and scenic drive through the Ozark hills to charming Eureka Springs, AR, a quaint Victorian town, founded in 1879 as word of the area's "miraculous, healing waters" spread throughout the region. The historic downtown loop of Eureka Springs is narrow, hilly, and packed with restaurants, small shops and, on the warm July weekend we were there, plenty of visitors. It almost looked like a small European village, but with Americans and our larger cars. We spent the morning exploring these shops and galleries.
Full disclosure - I am not much of a shopper, and the number of stores lining the streets of downtown Eureka Springs was a bit overwhelming for me. That said, there were a number of places we enjoyed, including Tee Rex Toys, where Johnny was enchanted by the nostalgic, whimsical and original tees, toys and vintage collectibles. I enjoyed browsing for pottery at The Town Shop (9 Spring Street) and chatting with other Eureka Springs visitors about their family traditions of visiting the town every year.
Also Check Out
Midday, we made the short drive to Thorncrown Chapel, an architectural award-winning, yet serene and emotive, wooden and glass sanctuary nestled in the forest several miles outside of town.
The Room
Our first bed and breakfast of the trip was 5 Ojo Bed and Breakfast, situated on a lovely residential street about 15 minutes by foot from the main shopping area. We booked the Tree Top Suite, which was the entire second floor of one of the three small buildings which make up this homey and comfortable property. We enjoyed time visiting with friends in the cozy common parlor, and had two of the best breakfasts of our trip while at 5 Ojo. The frittata, baked french toast and chocolate "breakfast bread" with lime sherbet were all wonderful (who knew you could have sherbet for breakfast?), as were the friendly and helpful owners. I highly recommend this property.
Great Meals in Eureka Springs
In addition to the satisfying breakfasts at 5 Ojo, we enjoyed:
Cottage Inn. This fine dining establishment doesn't look like much from the outside, but was pleasant on the inside. I had a very well-prepared steak, and Johnny ordered a braised lamb shank. The meal was tasty, although I did add a bit of salt, so this might be a good location for someone who prefers a low-salt diet. One of our dinner companions required a gluten-free meal, and Cottage Inn had an unusual number of specifically-identified gluten-free entrees and desserts.
Ermilio's Italian Home Cooking, in a historic home a short walk from 5 Ojo, was busy but worth the wait. My Tuscan chicken pasta, with salad and bread, was fantastic and the service friendly and quick.
