You sort of need a compass to find Eureka Springs. I’ve never followed such a convoluted route to get somewhere in my life – twisty, winding, pretzel-like roads, bridges, commercial properties, and backwoods residential areas. You name it; it had it. I wouldn’t exactly call it a scenic drive, but it was darn sure interesting. And then suddenly, there it was.
Eureka Springs was established in 1938 by botanist Albert Greenburg. He wanted it to be a botanical garden for rare and tropical plants. It’s not a big park but it’s worth a trip if you like small, tucked away treasures. It has a small orchid room that is undoubtedly more interesting in the spring and summer (I went in January) but there were still a few things blooming and they were beautiful.
One of the best things I found was the staff. The sole employee I spotted was pruning roses and was happy to stop and talk about the park. She even offered advice about my own roses – Epsom Salts. She read that a little sprinkled on the ground around the roots would produce vibrant flowers. She said she tried it on her own and it worked. Guess what I’ll be adding to my flower beds come spring.
In addition to the garden area, Eureka Springs has a boardwalk that’s well maintained and winds around the park for a half-mile walk. It’s great if you want quiet and solitude. As much as I love nature, however, I found the view a bit monotonous. I didn’t even see much in the way of wildlife. After about five minutes of maples, cypresses and ferns, I was ready for some variety.
The boardwalk is nice enough if you like wild, unstructured green, but there’s no place to sit and take it all in. A bench or two might’ve encouraged me to stay a bit longer.
For me, the loveliest spots were near the entrance and right outside the orchid room. That’s where the rose garden was located, along with interesting little nooks and crannies.
Eureka Springs would be a nice way to start your day. Then you could plan lunch and an afternoon excursion – just probably not nearby. Remember that convoluted drive I mentioned? I didn’t see any fine dining spots along the way but on the drive out, I couldn’t help but notice the peacocks meandering across the road and the odd Buddhist “temple” sitting in the middle of nowhere. But that’s the fun part of my explorations. I never know what I’ll find.
- 6400 Eureka Springs Rd., Tampa
- Open 7 days a week from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- 813-744-5536
- Parking is $2
- Wheelchair accessible but be aware that some parts of the path transition from cement to gravel and back.
Lisa Browder 
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