If you’re planning a family trip and want something easy, fun, and walkable, Eureka Springs is a great option. And now, the Basin Park Hotel is making it even simpler for families to enjoy time together downtown with a new activity called Discover Downtown.
It’s a self-guided experience created just for hotel guests, designed to help kids explore, burn off some energy, and enjoy some of the town’s most kid-friendly stops along the way. Each child receives a free trolley pass and a ticket for a free ice cream cone at Colossal Cupcakes & Cones. The rest is all about going at your own pace and seeing what you can discover.
Here’s how the route takes shape:
- Start at the Basin Park Resort Host Desk to pick up your Discover Downtown guide and trolley pass.
- Head to Trolley Stop #81 (near the walking bridge) and take the trolley to Grotto Spring.
- Explore Grotto Spring, one of the original cold-water springs in town.
- Walk the sidewalk back toward downtown and stop in the Carnegie Library to look around.
- Find Harding Spring and take the trail that winds above it.
- Hike through the trees and descend into the gardens at Sweet Spring.
From there, follow the sidewalk back to downtown and visit some favorite kid-friendly shops:
- T-Rex Toy Shop
- The Magic Shop
- Gamemakers
- East by West
- Sugar & Spite
- KaleidoKites
- Mud Street Store
Take the Rainbow Stairs down to Main Street, then turn left and walk to Colossal Cupcakes & Cones, where kids can enjoy a free ice cream cone. This relaxed, self-guided activity is an easy way to explore downtown Eureka Springs without a set schedule. It is not a scavenger hunt or a formal tour, just a simple way to guide kids through town with fun stops along the way.