Blue skies and fall color line this stretch of road known as Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway.

State 7 runs through the middle of downtown Hot Springs, our nation's first national resort town.

A NOTE TO OUR READERS:
"This Road Rules!" is from the November 2005 issue of Southern Living. Because prices, dates, and other specifics are subject to change, please check all information to make sure it's still current before making your travel plans.

Start a love affair with the open road, and the unexpected is bound to run wild. Take Arkansas's State 7, for example. Go there for the scenery, and you will find some of the state's best shopping and activities.

Start Your Engine
Follow the road to downtown Hot Springs, where the route is known as Central Avenue.

The Buckstaff Bath House ([501] 623-2308) makes your first stop a relaxing one. The only operational facility on Bathhouse Row is easy to spot by its blue-and-white awning. Opt for the traditional package complete with a thermal bath, whirlpool, Swedish massage, and loofah mitt for $47.

Sustain your bath-time bliss with a trip to Essentials ([501] 624-2025). Must-have selections include Victoria's Egg White Facial Soap ($19 for a box of six) from Sweden. At World Cargo ([501] 624-5968), handmade hardwood furniture from China, Indonesia, and India adds an exotic element to your trip.