[title subtitle=”words and images: Catherine Frederick
Garrison Avenue image: courtesy Benjamin Bandimere
Splash pad image: courtesy Benjamin Bandimere”][/title]
History, arts and culture, boutiques and antiques, delicious foods and specialty cocktails, a Ferris wheel (yes, that’s right, I said Ferris wheel), a splash pad for the young and young at heart, a bustling, growing farmer’s market, and annual festivals and events—downtown Fort Smith has something for everyone. I challenge you to open your mind and GO LOCALLING! I guarantee it will change the way you think about this ever-growing town I’m proud to call home.
Recently, my son and I went localling and explored downtown like we were tourists. We fell in love with downtown all over again. What we discovered is that there’s much more to see and do than meets the eye.
We began at the Fort Smith National Cemetery, established in 1867, where over 16,000 members of our armed forces and their families are buried. Then, just around the corner, we checked out the Fort Smith Trolley Museum and jumped aboard the trolley for a historical tour of downtown.
The Fort Smith Museum of History houses more than 40,000 artifacts. We toured the museum, enjoyed a delicious root beer float from the old-fashioned soda fountain, and checked out products from a 1920s-1940s pharmacy.
From the museum, we drove down to the Arkansas River and took a stroll on the Greg Smith River Walk, a 1.6-mile trail which connects Harry E. Kelly Park to the Rice Carden Levee Trail.
At the westernmost end of the avenue is The Park at West End where you can enjoy food, a spin on the carousel (hand-painted in Treviso, Italy) and take a ride on the Ferris wheel from the 1935 World’s Fair in San Diego. If you need to cool off, take a run through the Splash Pad, located just a few steps away.
Across the street from The Park at West End, we walked past Pen-dergraft Park and stopped for photos of The Bass Reeves Monument, a larger than life piece of art that honors the famous lawman.
On Tuesday and Saturday mornings, you can’t miss the Fort Smith Farmer’s Market! It’s filled with delicious jams, homegrown produce, grass-fed meats, gorgeous flowers and arts and crafts.
There are several dining options on the Avenue, from Cuban to Mexican, to burgers, pizza, and ribs. There’s something for everyone. We decided on sushi and popped into Sake Sushi & Martini Bar – I highly recommend the Crazy Tuna!
We headed east up the avenue and found plenty of reasons to shop! I fell in love with an Arkansas Razorback top at Simply Couture. Along the way, we stopped to take in the grandeur of the amazing murals painted on local buildings, thanks to
The Unexpected Project – Ana Maria is one of my favorite artists!
Enjoying this day with my son reminded me that life really is worth living in Fort Smith! And now, more than ever, is the perfect time for all of us to spend a lot more time downtown.
For activity and event details, including hours of operation for venues listed, please visit individual websites. FortSmith.org is a great place to start!
DINING
AJís Oyster House
21 West End
Bricktown Brewery
Creative Kitchen
Doeís Eat Place
Emmyís Restaurant
Garrison Pointe Market & Cafe
La Huerta
Landryís New Orleans Cafe
Neumeierís Rib Room
Nickle & Dime Diner
Papaís Pub & Pizzeria
Rolandoís
Sacred Grounds
Sake, Sushi & Martini Bar
Savoy Tea Co.
Talianoís Italian Restaurant
Tammyís Tamales
SHOPPING
Belle Starr Antique Mall
Crane Clothing
Creative Kitchen
Fort Smith Farmer’s Market
Indie
Magnolia Boutique
Mama Says Emporium
Simply Couture
The Popped Popcorn Co.
The Valley
ENTERTAINMENT
ACCA Live!
ArcBest Performing Arts Center
Blue Lion ñ UAFS
Clue Masters Escape Room
Fort Smith Little Theatre
Fort Smith Regional Art Museum
Fort Smith Symphony
Garrison Commons ìPocket Parkî
Splash Pad
Spray Fountain
The Park at West End
The Unexpected Murals
NIGHTLIFE
Core Public House
Roosters
The Sound Room
Wishboneís Music and Chicken Joint
HISTORY
Bass Reeves Monument
Belle Grove Historic District
Fort Smith Museum of History
Fort Smith National Cemetery
Fort Smith National Historic Site
Fort Smith Trolley Museum
General Darby Monument
Miss Lauraís Visitorís Center
