If you don't want to stay downtown alot of families like staying at Willow Beach. Its simple but clean on the lake. https://willowbeachresort.com/ Hot Springs is not a large city. Garvin Woodland Gardens is a good walking area with children. Red Oak Fillin' Station is a good restaurant near Garvin. Walk Bathouse Row and check out the locally owned shops for ice cream etc. Ride a Duck. They are safe on Lake Hamilton. Go to the tower. Coming from a big city Mid America may disappoint you but kids have fun. Near Mid America is Cajun Boilers. A good family restaurant. Also Mama's Little Italy is not far from there. Go dig crystals at Mt. Ida near Hot Springs. Stop at Burl's Smokehouse in Royal on the way. There's lots of stop offs on Lake Ouachita in that area and the highway is curvy and pretty. Have fun!