With outdoor recreation and small-town charm, Arkansas is a getaway
By Joe Frye
Often overlooked, Arkansas may be best known for housing the headquarters of one of the world’s largest corporation, Walmart, or for the perennial question of why it’s pronounced differently from Kansas (Arkansas comes from the French pronunciation of the same Siouan root word). However, The Natural State is home to outdoor adventures, exciting cities and towns, and rich history that make it well worth a second look.
Little Rock
From its modern-day neighborhood to its colorful past, Little Rock—Arkansas’s capital and largest city—is the state’s main attraction.
Representing the historical side of the city are numerous museums such as the Old State House Museum, where tourists can see where Arkansas became a state and later seceded from the Union on the eve of the Civil War. Offering more recent history is the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, housing artifacts from the 42nd president’s two terms. For fashion lovers, the Esse Purse Museum, one of only two purse museums in the world, showcases a wide collection of purses from the 20th century.
Of course, the centerpiece of the city’s historical offerings is Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. A pivotal site in the Civil Rights Movement, it’s now a national historic site with a museum featuring interviews, documentary films and immersive exhibits that highlight the experiences of the Little Rock Nine. Outside of the museum exhibit at the state capital is “Testament: The Little Rock Nine Monument,” which honors the students with life-size bronze statues.
After a history lesson or two, exploring Little Rock’s neighborhoods reveals a vibrant mix of food, culture and shopping. Downtown is the city’s premier entertainment district, with highlights like the Little Rock Farmers Market in the River Market Entertainment District, which runs from May through August and allows for some shopping for fresh and local goods. On the other side of the city, The South Main neighborhood, or SoMa, is full of art galleries, eclectic boutiques and vintage shops and innovative restaurants.
Eureka Springs
In the northwest corner of the state, nestled in the Ozark Mountains, lies Eureka Springs, a Victorian-era town that first drew visitors in the 1880s for its healing natural springs. Today, it draws tourists thanks to the well-preserved architecture and its proximity to a number of outdoor experiences.
Eureka Springs is home to some of the best mountain biking in the mid South. The OZ Trails system of Northwest Arkansas offers beginners and experts a chance to ride through the Ozarks. Numerous hiking trails also allow visitors to explore the area on foot. The 1,610-acre Lake Leatherwood City Park features 25 miles of trails along the spring-fed lake for both hiking and biking. Likewise, the newly built Black Bass Lake boasts 3 miles of trails, including a half-mile accessible trail.
In downtown Eureka Springs, historic hotels like the Elmwood House and Palace Bathhouse and Hotel allow visitors to lodge like 19th-century tourists. There, you can explore the city’s two main strips, Spring and Main streets, to uncover the city’s many locally owned stores and restaurants.
Crater of the Diamonds State Park
Located in Murfreesboro, in the southwest corner of the state, Crater of the Diamonds State Park allows visitors a chance to mine for the precious gem. The centerpiece of the park is a 37-acre field where tourists can search an eroded volcanic crater for rocks, minerals and gems. Allowing guests to take whatever they find, the park is the only place in the world where the public can search for diamonds in their original volcanic source.
In addition to mining, at the Diamond Discovery Center, visitors can learn more about rocks and minerals found at the park and diamond-mining techniques. Other features of the park include walking trails, picnic sites, campsites and Diamond Springs Water Park, a 4,166-square-foot wading pool open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
