Arkansas - what to see and do
 

As part of my goal of visiting all 50 states and their capitals, I will be visiting AR during spring break, 2007

I don't see much on Fodor's about AR. What is there to see and do? I will also be visiting OK, so I am interested in places west of Little Rock.

Don't miss Hot Springs in AR. And plan to spend more than just a few hours there, as there is a bunch to see and do.

Someone (I think on this site) suggested we stay in Fort Smith instead of Little Rock. We rushed through Little Rock to get to Fort Smith. For the life of me, I have no idea why.

Little Rock: the Clinton Presidential Library.

Hot Springs: National Park Center on Bathhouse Row, Garvan Woodland Gardens (spring is the best season), horse races at Oaklawn until mid-April, Belle of Hot Springs boat trip on Lake Hamilton, take an Adventure Tour that takes you to Lake Ouachita, visit a crystal quartz mine.

Fort Smith: Eat at Landry's (not the chain) for outstanding Cajun food.
Heifer International has Heifer Ranch at Perryville, where you can learn about their projects. http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.201557/

Visit some of our great state parks:
http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/
Closest to Oklahoma would be:
Queen Wilhelmina State Park (near the OK line) has a very nice lodge and restaurant in a beautiful setting. Best season is fall, but spring could also be nice. Petit Jean State Park is also beautiful. Dig for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro. Visit Old Washington State Park for living history.

There's Blanchard Springs Caverns, Hot Springs, Eureka Springs, the Diamond Mine in Murfreesboro, drive through the Ozark Mountians, float the Buffalo River.... Go to the site below and click on things to do. Have fun!!

http://www.arkansas.com/

"Little Rock: the Clinton Presidential Library."

Is that where they display the famous blue dress?

Drive the Talimena Scenic Drive on your way to the Queen Wilhelmina SP.

http://www.byways.org/browse/byways/2485/

From there on your way to the Hot Springs stop in Mt Ida at the Crystal Mine.

http://www.arrowheadcrystals.com/

If time permits the Arkansas Post NM and the Crater of Diamonds State park.

http://www.nps.gov/arpo/

http://www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com/

bigtyke, what do you like to do when you travel? Northwest Arkansas is the prettiest part of the state if you enjoy outdoor activities. The Buffalo River, Beaver Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, the Kings River, the White River- all within a couple of hours of Fayetteville. Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas and has a lively nighttime atmosphere, lots of live music. Eureka Springs is a fun place to visit, very diverse and liberal (much different than the rest of the state).

Having just been 'sequestered' for 3 days in Little Rock to testify at a trial I can only say that you didn't miss anything by rushing through Little Rock.

SAnParis - you were "sequestered"? I'm curious to know exactly what you did in Little Rock to think it was not a worthwhile stay.

trip report posted

The Ouachita mountains are beautiful, very clean! I was so taken by how many stars were in the sky, it was as if you could reach out and grab them. Hot Springs is a great day trip, a once bustling town but still charming today. There are beautiful lakes all around the area, great for boating. Try McClary's BBQ, one of President Clinton's favs, their sauce is incredible!

If I could just tag on to this thread....It sounds like at least one of you live in the area. We were thinking of staying in there area next Mar (08)on our way home from Texas. It would be the first week in March. Is that too early to be able to do alot outdoors and that? Are things open (parks and such)?

i was just there last week. Parks were open. It was 80 a couple of days

Thanks bigtyke. If only I could be so lucky. :)

I can tell you a little bit about the Hot Springs area. This is a year-round destination, so nothing closes that I know of.

In early March, you should be able to visit Garvan Woodland Gardens to see the daffodils in bloom. http://www.garvangardens.org/

Lake Ouachita State Park has ranger activities, such as boat tours of the lake and, in season, tours to see the eagle nests. http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakeouachita

Downtown Hot Springs is a national park. Visit the headquarters museum at the Fordyce Bathhouse and then drive up the mountain and visit the tower overlook. There's also a nice hike between Gulpha Gorge campground and the downtown park.

Horse racing at Oaklawn is always fun, even if you don't bet. The races are from late January to mid-April. The winner of the Arkansas Derby always goes to the Kentucky Derby, so it's a well-regarded race track.
http://www.oaklawn.com/

Other things to do: the "ducks" tour of Lake Hamilton, the Bill Clinton driving tour, the Mid-America Science Museum (great for kids), digging for quartz crystal in a mine, going to an alligator farm. Golf is available at the Hot Springs Country Club. Here's the website:
http://www.hotsprings.org/

If you want more information, contact me at [email protected].

Thank you so much for all your wonderful suggestions. It sounds like we should have no problem finding things to do. I really like the thought of the bathhouse, in addition of course to all the other things. ;)

OK, so I have to go back to Little Rock to now help put the owner of the company on jail...I'll be there for another 3 or 4 days...is there anything to do there ?? at all ??

RedRock's suggestion to search for crystals while you're in Arkansas was a good one. The Arrowhead Mine is a great place to visit.

Check out the village of Altus for some fine regional wine-tasting experiences. The wineries were a delightful surprise on our trip through Arkansas a few years ago.