Beautiful on the lake. My dear wife Karen picked a great spot for our stay in Hot Springs Village, a condo backed by a pretty lake. One gorgeous late morning/early afternoon, we wound our way along the trail with sister-in-law Jana for lunch at a lovely little marina restaurant. Yes, the boats were still out.

In Syracuse, we call them the Razorbacks. While my dear wife Karen and I poked our visiting eyes here and there during our vacation in Hot Springs, Ark., I expected to find gear for the state’s big college squad. Back home in Syracuse, I’m accustomed to the media calling the SEC team representing Arkansas the…

Step right in. The second time my dear wife Karen and I strolled through downtown Hot Springs, we were more schooled in what folks did back in the day to make the so-warm baths that bubble from our Earth so popular. Sister-in-law Lynne pointed out a museum across from her store Dapper & Debonaire that…

Take a soak? A long stretch of downtown Hot Springs includes a row of hotels and bathhouses that feature the hot springs. Yes, hot water indeed bubbles up from the recesses of our Earth. Folks have soaked in its warmth for healing purposes for centuries. Tomorrow we’ll take you inside the Fordyce, set aside as…

Pockets of cool. Our eyes were open as my dear wife Karen and I appreciated with downtown Hot Springs offered during our vacation to visit her family. An arts district! We’ll be back to look more during the big downtown extravaganza that involves the stores owned by Lynne, Stormy and Kimi.

Familiar and not. We have a convention center, I thought, as my dear wife Karen and I strolled through downtown Hot Springs. We have a <em>Bridge Street Live</em> local morning TV news magazine show. And, I thought, I had made the comment that Central New York and this part of Arkansas looked similar for water…

Marquee. This Mark has always been drawn to a good marquee. The Marco’s caught my eye as my dear wife Karen and I strolled the main street of downtown Hot Springs, Ark. Talking with Karen’s sisters and my nieces and their spouses during our vacation, it eventually soaked in that this main artery is actually…

Honoring cool and famous folks. Strolling the main street of Hot Springs with my dear wife Karen, I keep my head on a swivel. I looked down for the Arkansas Walk of Fame. No, I didn’t know that many of those honored called this state home. The Man in Black. I did have an inkling…