Western Native American tribes, including the Choctaw, Chickasaw and Quapaw, made regular visits to bathe in the hot, restorative waters found in present-day Hot Springs, Ark. By 1921, the town had become a popular health destination. Now protected by the National Parks system, the thermal waters derive from rainwater continuously heated far below the ground’s surface. Perched like a grand dame at the top of Bathhouse Row in this historic town, the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa is a luxurious address with a long history of famous guests, including a host of stars and presidents. Tea dances are still held in the Crystal Ballroom, celebrating the hotel’s tradition of glamour and glitz.

While the Arlington itself is a beautifully appointed historic hotel, the atmosphere in the spa is decidedly no-nonsense, with a locker room feel. Despite its Deep South address, there’s an air reminiscent of small European spa towns, where healing waters are a constant and prized presence. Locals take the wellness component of the town in stride, making daily visits to the street fronting the historic Bathhouse Row to fill water jugs with mineral-rich waters at the public fountains fed by the springs.

Don’t expect frills, candles or mood music here: Wrapped in a sheet and accompanied by a certified bath attendant, you’ll soak in an old ceramic tub, and then be led through a circuit that includes a sitz bath, a steam in an historic steaming cabinet, a wrap with hot towels, a pressurized shower and, finally, a relaxing Swedish massage. You’ll likely be in the company of dozens of other women (or men, in a separate area) in varying stages of their own bathing circuit adventure. Don’t leave town without taking a tour of the other historic bathhouses, each with its own eclectic style. Plan at least a half-day to visit nearby Garvan Woodland Gardens, with its exquisite themed spaces. The Japanese Zen garden, called the Garden of the Pine Wind, is the perfect spot for a meditation or self-led yoga session.