[title subtitle=”recipe: Dwain Hebda
image: Experience Fort Smith, Walton Arts Center, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Little Rock Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, North Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lori Sparkman, Visit Hot Springs, Garvan Woodland Gardens”][/title]
Spring break is a time to celebrate the end of the winter doldrums and recharge for the dash to the end of the
school year.
The good news is that you don’t have to go far to find affordable family fun. From our majestic state parks to all there is to see and do in the city, there are plenty of options right here in your own backyard.
FORT SMITH/VAN BUREN
Fort Smith offers a fascinating mix of frontier history, contemporary art, historic Main Street shopping and big-time cultural entertainment.
Ride into yesteryear aboard the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad passenger excursion. This one-of-a-kind experience takes travelers through the Boston and Ozark mountains. Period passenger cars add to the ambiance.
The Park at West End, is located downtown. All ages will delight in the charming attraction, complete with a Ferris wheel from the 1935 World’s Fair in San Diego and vintage carousel hand-painted in Treviso, Italy.
The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center and STEAM Center at Burnham Woods offer fun, educational opportunities. The Nature Center offers youngsters the chance to learn about the local environment and getting outside. The STEAM Center presents topics on green living that will earn attendant Girl Scouts their Environmental Stewardship Badge.
Check out the city’s famed murals project, The Unexpected, which is a collection of public art that’s been widely copied across the state.
Adults will find music galore in the city’s many bars
and music venues, a sample of which includes University
of Fort Smith venue the Blue Lion, gallery and performance space Underpin, and Harry’s Downtown.
FAYETTEVILLE/BENTONVILLE
Northwest Arkansas offers stunning natural beauty, an incredible array of festivals, museums and other attractions.
Pack your mountain bike and prepa
re to be wowed. The 36-mile Razorback Regional Greenway can be enjoyed in sections or in its entirety, connecting Fayetteville, Johnson, Springdale, Lowell, Rogers and Bentonville’s arts and entertainment districts, playgrounds and neighborhoods. Bridges, creeks and open greenspace punctuate the family-friendly rides.
For something a little more heart-pounding, check out the award-winning mountain biking at Slaughter Pen in Bentonville, Mount Kessler in Fayetteville and Hidden Diversity Trail at Hobbs State Park in Rogers. Don’t have a bike? Rent one at Phat Tire Bike Shop or Highroller Cyclery.
Bentonville’s town square is something out of a movie set with gurgling fountains, live music in the park, farmer’s markets in season and plenty of small-town charm. The city offers various camps for spring break through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. The camps, open to first-graders through teens, include Camp Lego – Minecraft (March 18-21), Camp Basketball (March 18-20), and Camp Soccer – Sporting KC (March 18-20).
The acclaimed Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a must-see. Check out its latest exhibit Men of Steel, Women of Wonder showcasing superhero themes. Nearby, the Scott Family Amazeum offers a variety of events for families on spring break.
A short drive away, Fayetteville offers a thriving arts and dining scene. Don’t miss some of the unique events the area has to offer, including Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream on March 16 at the Walton Arts Center or all things magical at the Wizard Way of the Ozarks on March 23 and 24.
Adults will want to check out the Fayetteville Ale Trail. Pick up your passport at the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce office downtown and collect your stamps as you sample some of the best locally-made brews in the state. Cap off your adventures with some great music at George’s Majestic Lounge, established in 1927.
LITTLE ROCK/NORTH LITTLE ROCK
Little Rock and North Little Rock offer singles, couples, and families alike a wealth of activities any time of year.
Families have their choice of the Little Rock Zoo, Museum of Discovery, Clinton Presidential Center, Heifer International and Arkansas Arts Center/Arkansas Children’s Theatre, to name a few.
There’s plenty of entertainment for the grown-ups too with the thriving River Market for nightlife, music and great dining. Try the many brewpubs for a taste of local craft beer paired with terrific food at Lost Forty, Rebel Kettle or sip some hand-crafted spirits at Rock Town Distillery in the trendy South on Main neighborhood.
Early March brings the Little Rock Marathon, which kicks off the 5K road race season. Most every weekend, runners can find a race to join in throughout spring and early summer.
Bring your bikes and explore the Arkansas River Trail, an award-winning loop that offers great rides and scenic views of river, wooded wetlands and open spaces for cyclists of all ages and abilities. Commencing from the Clinton Bridge, the options are endless, from a relaxing ride to a challenging workout.
North Little Rock offers lots of attractions. During the day, explore the city’s many neighborhoods for unique one-of-a-kind shopping, or visit Burns Park for a picnic lunch and all the greenspace the kids (or your dog) can handle. Don’t miss your chance to tour The Old Mill, featured in Gone with the Wind and the USS Razorback submarine, docked on the banks of the Arkansas River.
At night, enjoy an evening’s entertainment on Argenta, the city’s historic original Main Street. Grab a quick dinner at one of the many restaurants and breweries. Flyway and Diamond Bear are great choices. Catch a show at The Joint, a comedy and improv club, local music at Four Quarter Bar or the national touring acts playing at Verizon Arena.
HOT SPRINGS
The thermal waters of the area have been packing in visitors since the days of the native peoples and its designation as a federally protected area dates back to Andrew Jackson. This protected status made the city a de facto national park and the country’s first at that, predating Yellowstone by forty years.
The city’s history has seen major league ballplayers on spring training rub elbows with mafioso kingpins on holiday. The drink flowed, illegal gambling was a badly-kept secret and the ponies thrilled the crowds at Oaklawn Park.
Today, Hot Springs is the premier location for recreation, catering to all ages and tastes. Oaklawn is still here, bigger and better than ever with expanded gaming to accentuate the horse racing that now runs through May 4. The downtown district is alive with new shops, restaurants and amenities.
Garvan Woodland Gardens offers natural surprises at all times of the year. See their Daffodil Days & Tulip Extravaganza through April. Also, check out the Mid-America Science Museum for a day of discovery and entertainment.
Dining experiences are exceptional in Hot Springs; where else can you raise a pint at the only brewery inside a national park, eat a cheeseburger where Al Capone hobnobbed with pals, get great barbecue or find New-York style pizza that’s better than the Big Apple’s? Nightlife abounds, thanks to Maxine’s or The Big Chill featuring live music and libations. While you’re in town, don’t miss Valley of the Vapors Music Festival.
EXPERIENCE FORT SMITH
2 North B Street
Fort Smith, AR
800.637.1477
fortsmith.org
Little Rock Convention &
Visitors Bureau
101 S. Spring Street
Little Rock
800.844.4781
littlerock.com
North Little Rock Convention &
Visitors Bureau
1 Eldor Johnson Drive
North Little Rock
1.501.758.1424
northlittlerock.org
Visit Hot Springs
134 Convention Boulevard
Hot Springs, AR 71901
1.800.SPA.CITY
hotsprings.org
Visit Bentonville
104 East Central
Bentonville, AR
479.271.9153
visitbentonville.com
Experience Fayetteville
21 South Block Ave, Suite 100
Fayetteville, AR
800.766.4626
experiencefayetteville.com
