Top Reasons to Go to Arkansas

Hot and Cold Running Water: Bathe in the thermal waters of Hot Springs National Park—the nation’s first federal preserve, predating Yellowstone by 40 years—or dip a toe in the cold springs of Eureka Springs, a Victorian village in the midst of Arkansas.

All that Glitters: Arkansas may be "The Natural State" aboveground, but underneath, she’s a virtual jewelry vault of diamonds and crystals. Dig for both at Crater of Diamonds State Park and several quartz crystal mines in central Arkansas.

52 Choices: If you visited one a week, it would take a full year to see all of Arkansas’s state parks. They preserve some of the best the Natural State has to offer—including diamond and crystal formations, lakes and rivers, Ozark Mountain folkways, Native American heritage, as well as Civil War and other historical sites.

Fiery Foliage: Autumn landscapes in Arkansas are blazed with brilliant color: saffron, apricot, scarlet, paprika, vermillion, cinnamon, and eggplant. Scenic drives crisscross three national forests and two mountain ranges, as well as the timberlands of south Arkansas and the Delta region to the east.

Waterworks: More than 9,700 miles of rivers and streams in Arkansas provide ample opportunities for water lovers of every skill level to canoe and kayak. White-water rafting depends on spring rains. The less adventurous can still enjoy getting wet at themed water parks around the state.

State of the Arts: The opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville pushed Arkansas to front and center of the art world. Communities around the state stage monthly gallery walks. Eureka Springs and Hot Springs are nationally recognized small arts towns.

Native Sons: Arkansas is home to President Bill Clinton, whose presidential library anchors downtown Little Rock. Singer Johnny Cash grew up in the Arkansas Delta. His boyhood home is being restored as a museum in the town of Dyess.