Could I Live in Hot Springs? (Hope, Malvern: 2014, apartment, rentals)

Quieteskimo · 06-26-2013, 03:32 PM

Hello,

I am a 29/f from NYC looking for a place to call home for the summer, and possibly longer. I have lived in several different cities, but am searching for somewhere more scenic where I can bike to a hiking trail and live near the woods. Hot springs looks beautiful, and I could really use some time in the country. The problem is, I don't have a car. I am a freelance writer, so I would likely not need another job for the time being.

I looked it up on Walk Score and Hot Springs ranked as "very walkable." I wonder if I could live there without a car though (I would have a bike). Also, I hear it's sort of a retirement community -- are there any younger people? I'm not really a party person, but I am social and also fairly liberal, socially, so it would be nice if there were at least a handful of similar people.

Any advice would be much appreciated!

ArkansasSlim · 06-26-2013, 04:24 PM

I don't live in H.S. but have worked there several times and love it. I don't know how "bike friendly" it is but there are lots of places to walk/hike, depending on where you actually live. I think that will be a key element to what is available. There is someone who lives in H.S. and occasionally Posts here. Hopefully he will chime in here and give you some info.

ArkansasSlim · 06-26-2013, 08:19 PM

Eskimo, search the Web for "Hot Springs AR Chamber of Commerce" and they may have your answers. I just checked it out and they have a great, informative, Web Site. Good Luck.

texanista · 06-27-2013, 09:54 PM

There's so much to do downtown HS that I've always thought I could easily live there in a loft apartment or one of the old hotels, and be perfectly happy spending days on end in that charming historic district. But even if downtown living appeals to you, not having a car would make it tough for when you wanted to get away.

rmissourimule · 06-27-2013, 10:48 PM

If you don't have a car I suppose you might consider Hot Springs Village. It is the largest gated community in the United States. That's a very scenic area. I would think there would be many places to bike there. If you live in Hot Springs, I have to question how bike friendly it is. I think a car would be advantageous but I understand where you are coming from in that you live in NYC where a lot of people rely on cabs and the subways, etc.

I may get some flak over this but I would look to the south end of Hot Springs although the north end is where the historical area is located. Where I currently live, there is virtually no crime (pretty much a retirement sub-division) but I would not call it bike friendly. Too many hills and I have a bike myself but have never used it.

But if you want scenery, Arkansas has plenty. It is largely unknown to most people but we constantly marvel at the scenery. If you have a car, put the bike on the roof and bike near one of the many lakes.

It's a little warm today but expected to cool off. Weather doesn't bother me here although we could use some rain. Hate droughts. My $0.02.

nmnita · 06-28-2013, 04:58 AM

It would be hard to survive in AR without a car, the state is nothing like NYC. As for HS Village, though it is nice, it is very different from Hot Springs. How anyone would live there without a car is beyond me and I don't think a 29 year old would do well at all.

As for Hot Springs, there is a lot to do and things to see, but bike friendly? That is not what I would call it. You probably could survive without a car though.

jtsanda · 06-28-2013, 08:06 AM

The only place I remember seeing dedicated biking lanes was in downtown. There could be others though. If you get an apartment in downtown, you will be close to the mountains, trails, and parks. Also, there is a decent grocery store several blocks away (E. Grand and Malvern).

nmnita · 06-28-2013, 09:11 AM

op, I notice you are looking at other options as well. One thing you need to consider, short term rentals are not easy to find, so take that into consideration when you decided where you want to spend a few months. BTW, what summer are you talking about? We are already in summer, so I guess you are thinking 2014, right? What will you be doing for a living?

Nita

ArkansasSlim · 06-28-2013, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texanista

There's so much to do downtown HS that I've always thought I could easily live there in a loft apartment or one of the old hotels, and be perfectly happy spending days on end in that charming historic district. But even if downtown living appeals to you, not having a car would make it tough for when you wanted to get away.

Your thought was my fantasy when I was working in H.S. It never happened, but I fantasized about it.

There was an OLD two and half or three story vacant home next door to the old St. Joseph Hospital where I worked and I fantasized about buying and restoring it and happily living there the rest of my life.

Oh well

texanista · 06-28-2013, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasSlim

Your thought was my fantasy when I was working in H.S. It never happened, but I fantasized about it.

There was an OLD two and half or three story vacant home next door to the old St. Joseph Hospital where I worked and I fantasized about buying and restoring it and happily living there the rest of my life.

Oh well

Never too late!?
Your fantasy was at least more realistic than mine....I had my sights on the old medical arts building!