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Hot Springs, Arkansas: 5 free things to see and do

By WTOP Staff

KRISTI EATON
Associated Press

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Hot Springs is a history-lover’s dream. Over the years, visitors to this city of 35,000 in central Arkansas have ranged from baseball stars to notorious gangsters, all drawn by one thing: the naturally occurring warm mineral water that gives the area its name.

Here are five free things to see and do while visiting Hot Springs.

FORDYCE BATHHOUSE

The Fordyce operated as a bathhouse from 1915 to 1962, then later reopened as the Hot Springs National Park visitors center. It’s the largest bathhouse building on Bathhouse Row and offers exhibits about the springs’ history, going back to Native Americans who were the first to use the water for healing. Other exhibits explore, among other things, what relaxation meant to visitors in the early to mid-20th century and how segregation laws affected African-Americans using the baththouses. Watch for the room where women got their blisters removed. For details on visiting the Fordyce, go to http://www.nps.gov/hosp/historyculture/fordyce-bathhouse.htm.

THE SPRINGS

There are 47 springs but only 27 of them are used and on display. The rest are capped to keep the water from becoming contaminated. Two of the most readily accessible springs are located on Central Avenue, just outside of the Fordyce. At an average temperature of about 143 degrees Fahrenheit (62 Celsius), the water will feel surprisingly warm on your fingertips.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY SPRING COMPANY MUSEUM

Pharmacist Pete E. Greene and his brother John Greene started selling Mountain Valley Spring water in 1871. After changing hands several times over the years, Mountain Valley returned to Hot Springs in 1987 and moved into a two-story classical revival style building on Central Avenue. Constructed in 1910, the building now houses a visitors center where you can see how bottle design changed over the years and sample some of the water, http://www.mountainvalleyspring.com/ .

THE BASEBALL TRAIL

Did you know some of Major League Baseball’s most famous players spent time in Hot Springs? The area was one of the first locations used for spring training, and hosted the likes of Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner and Jackie Robinson. Players and teams were attracted to the hot mineral baths, raucous night clubs and beautiful scenery. The Historic Baseball Trail guides visitors to spots marking important moments in the city’s ties to the sport. Learn about where the players gambled in their off-hours or see the field where 18-year-old Hank Aaron played in the Negro League World Series in 1952. A documentary film about spring training in Hot Springs is also in the works. Details on the baseball trail at http://www.hotspringsbaseballtrail.com/ .

HISTORIC HOTELS

In addition to Bathhouse Row, which is a National Historic Landmark District, Hot Springs is home to a number of other historic properties. The Arlington Hotel opened in 1875 as the area’s first luxury hotel. It was razed about two decades later to make room for a new property. The third and current Arlington Hotel opened in 1924 and has hosted guests including Joe DiMaggio, Yoko Ono and gangster Al Capone, who favored room 442; http://www.arlingtonhotel.com/ .

Just down the street from the Arlington is the Ohio Club, said to be Arkansas’ oldest bar. Open since 1905, Capone and other gangsters are counted among its many visitors; http://www.theohioclub.com/ .

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Follow Kristi Eaton on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KristiEaton.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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