Arkansas is known for their rustic scenery and the in the winter months it becomes even more beautiful. There are numerous outdoor and indoor activities to take advantage of in February whether you are on a family vacation or just looking for something interesting to do.

After a day at the races you may need to head down to the Hot Springs Bath Houses to defrost and relax. The Ouachita Mountain Valley has produced thermal springs for centuries. The waters are thought to heal the body and many people will visit on a regular basis for water therapy. The Fordyce Bathhouse Museum and National Park Visitor Center is a resurrected bathhouse that offers tours of what the bathhouse looked like in the early days as well as provides informational videos on taking the baths. There are several bathhouses available so you can experience the thermal waters firsthand.

The National Park Aquarium in Hot Springs is another great site to visit in February. This Arkansas’ largest fish and reptile exhibit. They have on display a variety of Arkansas fish, saltwater species, and many reptiles. There is even a 90-pound snapping turtle. No trip to Hot Springs is complete without a trip to Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum. The attraction features seven different worlds with 30 settings. The museum is open year round and great for getting out of the cold. You will see everything from celebrities, to royalty, the pope and even Da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” They also have added two exhibits featuring the New York City’s Firefighters during 911 and the late Princess Diana.

To remind us of the Valentine’s Day spirit, don’t forget about the Chocolate Lovers Festival in Eureka Springs. The event is held at The Auditorium and features and art auction, chocolate and Champaign and delicious chocolate delights. There will be chocolate tastings, dipping fountains, wine and “Best Of” chocolate events. Contests include both Professional and Amateur Chocolate contests in sculptures, decorated cakes, chocolate cookies and best chocolate cake recipes. The event is held at the Best Western, Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center.

More than 600,000 acres of lakes and 9,700 miles of rivers and streams fuel Arkansas’ excellent angling reputation. Anglers will find fantastic bass, crappie, bream and cat fishing opportunities, as well as some of the nation’s best trout streams. Yes, believe it or not, Arkansas has some of the best trout fishing in the country! Three of the current world record fish were caught in Arkansas.

Methods and regulations vary by area, so check your local rules to see what type of fishing is legal and what types are considered illegal. One of the best methods fopr presenting live worms or salmon eggs is a set of gang hooks. In the case of salmon eggs, a set of #10 gang hooks enables the angler to present twice the bait that they normally would. You see, a set of gang hooks is simply 2 small hooks tied in tandem. And gang hooks are the most natural way to present a live worm, there’s no question about that. Just make sure you check your local regulations before using them. In some areas and bodies of water, live bait and/or gang hooks is considered illegal.

A resident fishing license is only about $12, which is a great deal, and if you plan on fishing for trout, a trout stamp is needed, which will run you another $5. These are great prices, as far as fishing licenses go. Non resident anglers can expect to spend around $40 for a license and if you’re just visiting there are 3, 7, and 14 day licenses available for a discount. All in all, Arkansas is a very affordable state to fish in, their fishing license prices are some of the most reasonable in the entire country.

There is some very good striped bass fishing in many of Arkansas’s lakes, with 20 pounders being a fairly common occurrence. If you’ve never had the pleasure of catching a big striper, it’s something that you may want to look in to. Stripers are caught that are in excess of 40 pounds. When’s the last time you caught a single fish in excess of 40 pounds? Most people don’t get to catch fish this large very often. In the great state of Arkansas, an angler can do this very thing.