My husband and I are a middle aged couple traveling all 50 of the states in the US. We seek to visit the sights of each state that give the unique flavor of that state (something we couldn't experience in other states.) For example, In New York we enjoyed Ellis Island and Liberty Island. In Louisiana, we enjoyed New Orleans and a swamp tour. In Illinois, we enjoyed various venues in Chicago and the Lincoln museum. Well, you get the idea.
Please advise the best places to visit in Arkansas that would fit the criteria I mentioned above.
Thank you.
S.
The best of Arkansas that is unique to Arkansas alone!
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I'll give this a shot since I live here! Lots of people love Hot Springs. It's got the hot springs, lots of beautiful lakes, bathhouse row (and you can experience the hot baths), just to name a few. In Little Rock, we have the Clinton Presidential Library. I actually toured it myself for the first time this past weekend and found it very enjoyable. Whether you're a Clinton fan or not, there's so much history there to see and read about it.
Going north, there's a beautiful new lodge up on Mt. Magazine that lots of people just rave about. Great views, beautiful rooms, etc. Petit Jean mountain, more in the Central AR area, has a great hike to a fabulous waterfall. AR does have tons of natural beauty (we are the "Natural State" after all!), so if you check out some of our state parks, you can see it for yourself. I hope you enjoy your visit here! And tonight, let me just add "GEAUX SAINTS!"
agree with what previous poster said. Mt. Magazine, Petit Jean are great. I love the Buffalo River area. If you are into hiking these are fantastic places. We hike several times each year in these areas.
Might also consider some of the historic sites in Ft. Smith.
Crater of Diamonds State Park is quite unique.
In Little Rock, the Clinton Library and Heifer
International. http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.204586/?msource=kwg538&gclid=CKuGgYrbv58CFRRN5QodwWLQzw
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.mmKTJbNUJrF/b.5018143/k.BDA0/Home/apps/nl/newsletter2.asp?msource=kwg538
In Eureka Springs, Thorncrown Chapel (one of the most remarkable buildings I've ever seen) http://www.thorncrown.com/
In the north central part of the state, there is a town called Mountain View. Musicians gather nightly in the courthouse square to play folk music/hill music. You wander from group to group to listen or even join in if you wish.
http://www.ozarkgetaways.com/courtsquare.html
Also, there are some beautiful caverns at Blanchard Springs
http://www.fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/recreation/caverns.html
It is a beautiful area.
1. Buckstaff Baths in Hot Springs
2. Raft down Buffalo National River
3. Eureka Springs
I've lived in Arkansas since I was 17 at the U of A in Fayetteville. I'm 66 now.
My husband and I have been in Little Rock for decades and I think the advice you've been given is great.
Thank you all for your advice. I will check back periodically to see if you have anything to add.
Sue
The advice given already has been great. I was born and raised in Arkansas, but now live in San Diego. I visited last summer as a "tourist" with my husband who had never been. By far, our greatest experience was on the Caddo River. We rented a small cabin in the woods on the bank of the caddo. We took a canoe down and it was fantastic. We also fished for smallmouth and I caught a whopper! There was a hammock that I lazed in and watched the fireflies at night. We can't wait to go back there again.
If you like to fish, Arkansas has got the best places to do it. It's full of lakes and rivers...and the clean water and scenic views are amazing. (Though we also went to Lake Hamilton and it was dirty...very disappointing.)
If you'd like more info from me, feel free to ask. I'd gladly recommend that cabin
Someone mentioned the Buckstaff Baths in Hot Springs. This is actually in Hot Springs National Park and is one of the old elegant bathhouses once popular with people who were "taking the baths" for their health. Today one bathhouse is a NPS museum, two are operating as spas and one is an art gallery. If you want something unique to Arkansas, this might be the place. Also, Hot Springs is a vibrant artists community with lots of galleries. In October, we have a Documentary Film Festival that brings in screenwriters, producers, etc.
The largest gated community in the US is Hot Springs Village, just 15 miles northeast of HS. You can rent a house very cheaply for a short stay and play any of the 8 golf courses. HSV is 50 miles from Little Rock, so you could take a day trip there to see the Clinton Museum and the Civil Rights Museum (Little Rock Central High).
http://www.villagevillas.com/rates_packages/
Arkansas used to have and may still have a wonderful state park system. We stayed at Petit Jean and at Queen Wilhelmina (in a wonderfu lodge). If I were going back, and I might, I would organize my tour around these. My SIL loves Eureka Springs.
There are A+ ideas suggested on here. I've lived in Arkansas almost my whole 31 years of life but have lived and spent time in almost every state. My top spots in Arkansas that I enjoy, in no particular order are:
1) Pinnacle Mt. in Little Rock. Provides best view in Little Rock and a perfect excercise hike.
2) Petite Jean State Park and Cedar Falls trail
3) Whole Hog Cafe _ BBQ in Little Rock area that won #1 in the World at Memphis in May. Unique to it's apple wood smoked pork, ribs are my favorite, but pulled pork and beef brisket will also change your life.
4) Clinton Library and Heifer project
5)River Market district (next to Clinton Library and Heifer project)
6) Buffaloe River
7) HOt Springs (boyhood home of Bill Clinton) - Must see's are the Arlington Hotel, Ride the Ducks tour, get a massage and hot mineral bath on Bath house Row in downtown, and if your a water lover, you must go out on a boat on Lake Hamilton or Lake Ouachita (2nd cleanest lake in the nation).
8) Eureka Springs - This is like a little European town in the middle of Arkansas. Crazy I know, but one of the most unique get away spots in America. What to do there? Great Passion play and stay in a bed and breakfast in downtown. Only one way to get there...
9) Hwy 7 from Hot Springs going north to Eureka Springs. (one of Time Magazine's most scenic drives in America). Best time to go is Fall. If you've ever been to Boston in the fall (and I have) you will see something even more beautiful and colorful.
10) Trout Fishing in Mountain Home, ARkansas where the white and red river meet. This is home of Guiness book of World's records Largest Brown Trout ever caught... Here are a few of my favorite places in Arkansas.