As the song says "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" and one of my favorite places to go to get into the holiday spirit is Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas.The moment you pull up to the entrance of the gardens your greeted by nearly 4 million lights that spans over 17 acres complete with holiday animated displays throughout the grounds. One of my favorite memories was stopping at the Chipmunk Cafe and enjoying complimentary Hot Chocolate while sitting around an open fire pit to stay warm.

The holiday light display opens this Friday, November 23 and runs through December 31 (closed on Christmas Day). In addition there will be various holiday concerts and visits from Santa Claus on selected dates in December. A special Christmas concert from Nashville recording artist Erica Lane on December 10 in the beautiful glass and wood Anthony Chapel.

Admission: adults $10; $5.00 for children (6-12 years); and FREE for ages 5 and younger. Golf cart rides are available on a first come, first served basis for a fee of $10 per person in addition to Holiday Lights admission.  Members Free.

I highly recommend you take the short drive to Hot Springs and visit Garvan Woodland Gardens this time of year. It will be a memory that will last a lifetime for you and your family.

Garvan Woodland Gardens, the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas. Nestled in the picturesque Ouachita Mountains of Southwest Arkansas, the Gardens are a wonderful gift to all people from local industrialist and philanthropist Verna Cook Garvan.

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