A Beautiful, Quiet and Safe Place to Live
Written: May 24 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful scenery
Wonderful climate
Various swimming, boating, fishing options
Planned activities
Eight golf courses
Cons: 90 degree temps in summer
Health club is too small
RV's in RV area only
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a place to live that's warm, fun, scenic and safe choose Hot Springs Village, Arkansas.
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| suzii's Full Review: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas |
We have lived in what is locally called, "The Village" for five years. We feel odd locking our doors; we feel so safe here.
The Village has four iron gates. Two of them are manned with a person who gives visitors directions on how to get to their relative's home or to other places. On the two that do not have a person you use a card with your photo on it, wave it over a glass screen and the gate slides open. The local Police Department has a copy of your card and they are responsible for activating the card.
The Village has a big indoor swimming pool used for water aerobics and a small workout room. You pay about $3 to use these facilities each time you arrive. We also have
a wooded area with three outdoor swimming pools: a beautiful adult pool, a shallow one and a baby pool. The adult pool uses lifeguards. They have lockers and showers and are either free or close to it. These pools are sparkling clean and are also used by our tiny residents in our small, excellent daycare center. Near the front gate is a small sandy beach at the inlet of a lake. There is a big sandbox and those round things that float on top of the water to warn of the depth. No lifeguard. It is free. We do have school busses traveling all over the village on school days.
We have a small library, tennis courts and several lakes. My favorite lake is Lake Balboa. There are big, lovely homes with boat docks lining the lake, a marina and gas station with limited groceries and sandy beach. No lifeguard, though. This lake has a picture postcard appearance with mountains as a backdrop behind the quiet, blue waters.
Everyone pays dues to live here that pay for upkeep of the excellent roads, water and trash collection which is now once weekly. We pay an extra $4 a month to have the pickup at our garage instead of at the curb. The dues are about $28 per month. We were paying about $100 a month in Sun City, Texas.
The Village has several places to eat. We have the Balboa Club that has a buffet each night for about $9 per person, cocktails extra, or you can choose from the menu. Very casual with two dining rooms and a basement with a weekly "sock hop" with drinks. There is the 19th hole cafe, and another place to eat that's newer you can eat in or outside overlooking a golf green up on a little hill. The newest place is right on Lake Balboa next to the marina. It has a fully stocked bar and booths to sit in for lunch or dinner. It is very popular.
A new WalMart SuperCenter is being constructed outside the main gate and down about half a mile. In that same location is a big post office, an acupuncturist who is said to restore vision in those with macular degeneration,
a gift shop or two, a lovely motel, and a tiny enclosed shopping area for womens wear, jewelry and hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. There is a beauty salon, a medium sized grocery store, Walgreen's Drug Store, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Dominoe's Pizza, another gift shop--all outside the front gate.
I am crazy about the climate here in Central Arkansas. We get the four seasons with a cool spring, cool fall, hot summers June thru mid-September and a fabulous winter with snow falling for usually one day in February!!
The scenery is wonderful. Heavily wooded for the entire 15 miles length of the village. Last fall we had deer right in our backyard, in our front yard and raccoons in our side flowerbed climbing up the tree. You have to be up about six thirty a.m. to see this wildlife.
In 25 minutes you can be in downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas if you like the malls, bathhouses and art galleries. Downtown is unique and lovely with Plenty of room for everyone to enjoy. Enjoy golf? We have nine golf courses--good ones--right here in the village. Like fishing? The fishing isn't very good here but we have five beautiful, clean lakes. It's a really nice place to live.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Seniors
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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Epinions.com ID:
suzii
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Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 0 members
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