(This is us in the lower left)
Little Rock is directly across the river and was very accessible via the Bill Clinton Pedestrian Bridge which was directly behind us (last trailer in the left):
A very unique campsite.
We took a day trip to Hot Springs National Park:
Kind of different for a National Park because the main sites are the bath houses along Bathhouse Row and the town itself:
The main drag is loaded with stores and shoppes to buy a bunch of crap you don't really need. A Duck Boat tour is available also:
The Fordyce Bathhouse is now the Visitor Center:
This is the only bath house that is in its original state inside.
In Hot Springs the bathing industry was en vogue in the early twentieth century as well as gambling and speakeasies during Prohibition.
The back bar was carved from a single piece of mahogany in Cincinnati and floated down the Ohio River on a barge, off loaded somewhere nearby and placed on a specially built railroad car then brought by horse drawn cart to Hot Springs where the front of the building was removed to bring in the behemoth.
We took advantage of the bridge and walked to town for The Fourth of July. We did some sight seeing in Little Rock and stopped for a cold one at the Flying Saucer in the Downtown Market District.
Next we were off to the old State House and Museum:
This is a great free attraction in Little Rock. I would recommend a few hours to see the entire museum.
Afterward we returned to the Flying Saucer for a late lunch/ early dinner. I also wanted to catch the Pirates and Phillies playing on the Fourth of July on ESPN. The Bucco's were victorious after a rain delay in the eighth.
We walked back to the RV park and settled in for the fireworks with a cold beer and a patriotic stogie.
Everything was nice until the hood rats on the bridge starting throwing down and disrupting the moment.
We left Little Rock the next morning in driving rain. We had to stop to get a new tire on the trailer because there was a nasty bubble on the inside wall of the rear passenger tire. Luckily we found a tire shop on our way out of town and got a new one.
We made it to our next stop at Thousand Trails Lake Tawakoni near the town of Point Texas. In the middle of nowhere.
Our first excursion was to Dallas and the Sixth Floor Museum. First though we needed some lunch. Our tradition for years has been to dine at a Hard Rock Cafe and we found the Dallas franchise very disappointing.
The interior decor was very sparse as far as memorabilia goes, and then the service was awful. Our hostess seated us and said Brad would be our server. After several minutes a young lady waited on us. We ordered some adult beverages and waited again. The young lady returned with two glasses of water and said "I have some water for you until the bartender shows up." A few more minutes went by and we left. No bartender in sight!
We proceeded to Dick's Last Resort. And let me tell you the name is very appropriate. I won't be going to one of those again.
We finished our marginally edible meal and proceeded to Dealy Plaza. Our destination was the Sixth Floor Museum in the old Texas School Book Depository where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed President Kennedy:
What a must see destination. There is so much history here. No photography inside but here you can see the window, the last on the right; second from the top, where Oswald fired his weapon.
An x marks the spot in the street of the first shot:
Another x for the fatal shot:
The grassy knoll:
Abraham Zapruder's vantage point was atop the square pedestal next to the steps.
The Houston St. triple underpass that Kennedy's limousine sped under after the shots:
For me the most interesting aspect of the museum is the area next to the corner window, which is behind glass and recreated to appear as it did when Oswald was aiming his rifle on November 22, 1963. The view of Elm St. and Houston St. is just surreal. Next to that is an interactive computer display that depicts the motorcade and traces the route.
There are many other displays documenting the years, months, and days leading up to Dallas on that fateful day.
Useful tip: don't pay the $10 to park at the museum. There is a lot by the Hard Rock for $2 and it is only about a 10 minute walk.
A few days later we took another day trip, this time to Fort Worth to see the Historic Stockyards:
The Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame and Texas Trail of Fame:
A classic western town:
We stopped for a cold one at Booger Red's in the Stockyard Hotel. Home of the saddle bar stools:
The cattle drive takes place every day at 11:30 and 4:00:
We ran into Wild Bill Hickok. He looks pretty good for 180 years old!
We finished off the day at Cattlemen's Steak House:
A delicious steak and a perfect Old Fashioned:
Unfortunately our trip has not been without difficulties. We had to get a new tire for the trailer in North Little Rock and we have been combating an ant infestation since leaving Alabama. Hopefully the ants are subsiding and no more tire issues will occur.
Next stop: Oklahoma City
Love going along with you guys as you travel.
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