TripAdvisor, the granddaddy of travel review sites, named Lookout Point to the TOP TEN B&B/Inns in the country!

We learned of this honor from various Arkansas guests, offering congratulations after seeing it on the TV news.

Thanks to everyone that took the time to write a lovely review on TripAdvisor! We are honored, and always look forward to your stay at our Hot Springs B&B.

At Lookout Point, we are committed to taking care of the environment in every way possible. We recycle,  we built the inn with green products, our cleaning products are eco-friendly, we use CFB’s, and the list goes on.

Last year, we partnered with Clean The World, shipping the unused portions of guest soaps to Clean The World. Instead of throwing unused soaps away, we now pay to ship them to Clean The World. These soaps are collected, sterilized, recycled and distributed to 48 countries to stop the spread of preventable diseases.

Every day 9,000 children around the world die from acute respiratory illnesses and diarrheal diseases that could be prevented

Recycled Soaps Clean the World

with simple handwashing. In 2011,  97 bars of soap were made from the little bars of unused soap from Lookout Point guests!

It’s an honor to do small tasks that can make a big difference in people’s lives.

As a member of the 8 Broads in the Kitchen, I was delighted to see our food blog covered in the Boston Examiner this past week. You’ll find some great holiday recipes on the site, including Evil Toffee (so named because it cannot be resisted, it’s so darn good).

The 8 Broads formed to create a fun food website, where we could offer tips and recipes to share with other foodies. In the process, we’ve become fast friends. In addition to the blog, we write for magazines, teach food demos, lead webinars, and have done radio shows.

I just posted to the blog my mother-in-law’s fabulous Christmas butterscotch marshmallow bars.

Butterscotch Bars

Only made at Christmas, these treats remind us of long-ago times in Winnipeg, filled with laughter and bitter cold weather.

What holiday foods bring back memories for you?

New Year’s weekend is a great time to celebrate life and love at our Hot Springs B&B! At midnight, we’ll have a glass of bubbly sparkling wine

New Year's Toast

(our guests love the Toad Hollow Risque that we serve) for your toast, and even a pot of black eyed peas for extra good measure.

Create a memorable start to the New Year with your loved one. Here’s our suggestions for a perfect weekend:

Friday: arrive at Lookout Point & begin relaxing. Dine at Luna Bella (reservations recommended)

Saturday:  After your gourmet breakfast, visit the downtown Hot Springs National Park, and take a soak in the thermal waters at the Quapaw bath house. Explore art galleries and museums downtown

Return to the inn for the afternoon Innkeeper’s Reception (refreshments plus wine/tea). Take a little nap.

Visit the final evening of the Lights on the Landscape at Garvan Woodland Gardens with a lovely stroll through the gardens.

Enjoy a late dinner at Bohemia (continental cuisine). The New Year’s Eve special is 4 courses for only $24! Great food, and friendly service. Reservations required, and we’ll take of all concierge for you.

Midnight: celebrate at the inn with a complimentary toast and some black-eyed peas.  The night is still young! What a great way to welcome 2012.

Our silken microfiber sheets

Lookout Point Sheets

make great gifts for Christmas or wedding presents, especially for those folks that seemingly  have everything.  Who cannot use a great night’s sleep on luxurious sheets?

We use these sheets at our Hot Springs B&B, and at our home. They get softer and softer as they age, the sheets wick moisture, and look like new for years to come. (Guaranteed by the company–if ever there is a problem, just let us know and we’ll take care of it!)

The sheets are available in white, ivory, tea green and chocolate colors. The Queen sets are $165,  King $179 and shipping to your home is free!  The set includes a deep-pocket fitted sheet, flat sheet and 2 pillowcases.

If you would like to order these sheets, just give us a call at 866.525.6155.  Happy Holidays!

Ahh, sitting outside on a warm evening, enjoying a great scoop or two or three homemade ice cream.

Triple Ice Cream scoops

Here’s our favorite ice cream spots in Hot Springs:

1.  Nom Noms, Mexican Grill-N- Chill. Who would have thought a Mexican grill rates with fantastic homemade ice cream? In a non-descript former fast food building, this place rocks. I tried the strawberry sorbet with cake batter, and Ray had nutella heath icecream.  Smooth as silk.

2. Scoops Ice Cream. Scoops is probably the better known, and is a very popular ice cream spot.  Great flavors and friendly service.

When you stay at our Hot Springs bed & breakfast, we promise to send you to ALL of the best spots in the area.

We are absolutely delighted to be featured in an article from American Lifestyle! The article, titled “A Bit of Home- Joys of Bed and Breakfasts” pinpoints a paramount fact about the qualities of bed and breakfasts.

“…despite their differences, they all offer a unique hospitality experience which modern travelers appreciate now more than ever.”American Lifestyle

We invite you to come experience our bed & breakfast. The room pictured is the Hot Springs King Suite.

Our Hot Springs bed & breakfast hosts many significant birthday celebrations, and we love the joy and laughter surrounding the events.  This spring, two different groups of life-long friends celebrated in big ways.

The East Side Girls of Little Rock

The East Side girls, all formerly of Little Rock, gathered from across the country to renew friendships and celebrate.   Friends since junior high, many of these women were the first graduation class from the Little Rock Central High School following integration.

You’re invited to celebrate a birthday at Lookout Point, whether in a romantic fashion for just the two of you, or with your dearest friends.

Meeting the needs of our guests is the top priority of Lookout Point. More and more travelers seek to stay fit while enjoying a vacation, so we’ve partnered with the nearby Hot Springs Health & Fitness. With the negotiated discounted rate, our guests will save some money, too.

With a certificate from the inn, our guests may participate in day long activities at the fitness center, from yoga and zumba classes to the wide array of exercise equipment and weights. An added bonus are the two outdoor pools (one for kiddos and a larger pool, including lap lanes).

Of course, you’re welcome to swim in the lake. Beach towels provided. Or nap in the hammock.

Yesterday we welcomed an ornithologist to Lookout Point.  Within an hour of his arrival at the inn, David spotted :

• Canada Goose
• mallard
• great blue heron
• turkey vulture
• mourning dove
• chimney swift
• bank swallow
• barn swallow
• purple martin
• red-headed woodpecker
• tufted titmouse
• American robin
• cedar waxwing
• great crested flycatcher
• blue jay
• northern cardinal
• red-winged blackbird
• brown-headed cowbird
• common grackle (these could go away!)
• rose-breasted grosbeak
• song sparrow
• chipping sparrow
• house finch
• house sparrow
• carolina wren

Many of the birds are now nesting on the property, including the mallards.  Watching the birds helps me to not take life too seriously.  Somehow, I feel lighter.  Thank you, David, for identifying some of our feathered friends.

Kristie