Oaklawn is a horse racing track along with a gambling facility located in Hot Springs.  Oaklawn features a one-mile, oval, dirt track for the actual races held at Oaklawn, but even during Oaklawn’s off-season there’s still plenty to keep horse-racing enthusiasts entertained. If you don’t want to watch the horses you can enjoy the gaming tables.

There are more than 40 trackes from around the world that are simulcast to Oaklawn to you can watch the races from all over between (or during) the races taking place at Oaklawn.

Aside from the simulcast races, fans of wagering will also find Instant Racing to be an exciting time. Instant Racing is a combination of slots and video games.

If you want to get reserved seating at the track you can do that in areas located throughout the Grandstand area.  All reserved seating is non-smoking.  Reserved grandstand seats are $2.50 each on weekdays and $4.50 on Saturday and Sunday.  There is box seating available by the season for individuals.  Sometimes a box is released by the owner for the day if they can’t attend the races and then it is available when the gates open and may be purchased at the Box Seats window on race days only.

There is dining available at the track for those that want to eat before (or during) the races.  The Carousel Terrace offers a stunning collection of authentic antique carousel horses and music boxes and televsion monitors on each tale to keep you up to date on the latest racing information.  The Post Parade Restaurant is also available for dining.

The horse track casino’s gaming space features 650 gaming machines. The property has nine restaurants and one bar. the track is Arkansas’s only thoroughbred horse racing venue and the lone remaining gambling center in a city once known as much for its casinos as for its famous thermal baths.

Oaklawn Park opened on February 15, 1905.  There have been many battles in keeping the track open, and for awhile it wasn’t when a bill was passed forbidding gambling of any sort in the state in 1907.  The park was owned by Louis A. Cella and his brother Charles of St. Louis in 1914 and has remained in their family ever since.  Racing was resumed in 1917.  It was closed again in 1929.  In March of 1934 it reopened without the consent of the legislature and finally, the legislature approved a bill to permit horse racing with pari-mutual wagering in 1935.

According to Oaklawn Park history, the first Arkansas Derby ran in 1936 with a purse of $5,000. The derby is the most prestigious race regularly held at Oaklawn Park and is considered a preliminary for contenders at the highest levels of national thoroughbred horseracing. Several participants in the Arkansas Derby, such as Smarty Jones and Count Fleet, have gone on to compete in and win some or all of the races that make up the Triple Crown.

Throughout Oaklawn Park’s history, the facilities have been regularly improved and expanded to serve greater numbers of patrons and accommodate changes in the business. Expansions and additions during the latter half of the twentieth century increased the size of the facility and improved available amenities. In 1992, the largest hand-crafted artwork at any thoroughbred racetrack in the country was completed on the front façade of Oaklawn. The mural, which measures 240 feet by fourteen feet, represents a race from post parade to the finish and can be seen along the upper edge of the building over the main or southernmost entrance. After 2000, the expansion of electronic gaming demanded more space, requiring the conversion of areas previously dedicated to live racing on the lower level at the south end of the facility. This area has evolved into what is now a self-contained electronic gaming area, complete with its own restaurant.

If you are looking to plan a trip for the live season, seating reservations can be made Monday thru Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., beginning November 24.  until Opening Day. then 7 days a week 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. Opening Day thru Derby Day.

Location: 2705 Central Avenue
Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901

Phone: 800-OAKLAWN or 501-623-4411
 

Oaklawn Horse Racing and Gaming – Hot Springs, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Do you remember Watergate and the following events that took the country by storm?  If you don’t then you really should go study the history of the Nixon Administration and see what occurred that make Martha Beal Mitchell a household name.  Martha Mitchell was one that chose to speak her mind and to not allow the political spin masters to get away with not telling the American people the truth about what was really going on in Washington D.C.

She was born in the house that was built by her maternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. C. M. Fergusson.  Mr. Fergusson established one of the first wholesale grocery firms in the area and was very successful.  Martha was born in 1918 in this very house.

She grew up and graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1936.  She kept the house full of friends and noise while growing up.  They played in the playhouse that was out back of the house.  This playhouse had hardwood floors and was a great place for the girls to play. Following her graduation from Pine Bluff High School she attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.  When she returned home from college WWII was about to begin and she went to work at the Pine Bluff Arsenal to help with the war effort.

She later moved to Washington, D.C. where she met and married John Mitchell who was to become the Attorney General for President Richard W. Nixon.  This put Martha into the spotlight during the Watergate Affair.  Because of her willingness to keep the American people informed as to what the President and his staffers were doing she talked to the media regularly.  When they didn’t call her she called them.  The Nixon administration didn’t want what they were doing to make the national press, but Martha persisted and headlines were made.

The Watergate scandal was an American political scandal during the presidency of Richard Nixon that resulted in the indictment and conviction of several of Nixon’s closest advisors, and ultimately in the resignation of the President himself, on August 9, 1974.  The whole affair had begun with the break in at the Watergate Office complex in Washington, DC on June 17, 1972.  It was proven that this was one of many illegal activities authorized and carried out by Nixon’s staff.  Nixon resigned from the office of President of the United States, becoming the only U.S. president to have resigned from office.

Martha Beall Mitchell was featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1970 and later on the cover of New York magazine.  She was dubbed "the Mouth of the South" when she began contacting reporters when the roll her husband, John Mitchell, became known to her.  Richard Nixon claimed, during an interview with David Frost in September 1977, that "if it hadn’t been for Martha Mitchell, there’d have been no Watergate."  In that regard, we owe Martha Beall Mitchell a great deal of thanks for having the courage to stand up for what she believed was right and just for the American people.

The Mitchell’s divorced in 1973 and in 1976 Martha died from advanced myeloma.  She is buried in the Bellwood Cemetery in Pine Bluff.

The home Martha grew up in has been restored and entered into the National Register of Historic Places.
 

Martha Beall Mitchell Birthplace – Pine Bluff, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Built in 1893 this museum was the office of Dr. Dewell Gann by patients who could not afford to pay him for their care.  In order to pay they dug bauxite from a nearby farm, hand-sawed it into blocks, allowed it to harden and then built the Doctor a medical office. It is the only building in the world to have ever been constructed out of pink alumina block.  This area was once one of the world’s largest aluminum mining operations. The ore of aluminum is called bauxite and it is pink with little round metallic beads and streaks of white running through it. 

The patients worked out their debt at a rate of ten cents an hour.  The Doctor also took such things as cows, chickens and wild honey as payment as did many of the other doctors of the day.

Dr. Gann donated the building to the city of Benton and requested that it be used as a library.  Now the building is a museum which houses a collection of antiques and memorabilia from the area.  It contains furniture and artifacts reflecting local pioneer, Native American and church history.

Bauxite was discovered near where the medical building was built just 6 years before the building was constructed.  It was six years after construction that bauxite would be commercially mined.  Bauxite ore was soft when it was mined and then sawed into blocks and left in the open air to dry for approximately 8 weeks which made it hard enough to use.

When completed the Gann Medical Building consisted of an examination room, separate waiting rooms for men and women, each having its own entrance to keep them separated.  Drs. Gann Sr. and Jr. used the building from 1893 until 1946.  Dr. Ganns’ residence is just beside the Gann museum, it is a cookiecutter house with its elaborate carved wooden turrets and embellishments.

In 1980 the medical building was turned from the library to the museum.

Hours: 10 am to 4 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Location: 218 South Market Street, Benton, Arkansas USA 72015

Gann Museum – Benton, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Museum of Automobiles – Morrilton,  Arkansas. The first Museum of Automobiles in Arkansas was established by Arkansas Governor Winthrop Rockefeller in 1964 where his collection of Antique & Classic Automobiles were shown until in 1975 the collection was sold and the building and grounds donated to the State of Arkansas.The Museum was reopened in 1976 with cars on loan from collectors around the  country and now has a permanent collection of thirty cars.  There is also a display of Antique Guns and Automobile related memorabilia. 

The cars that are currently on display are:

1904    Oldsmobile French Front

1908    Sears Model J Runabout       

1909    Buick Model 10

1912    Ford Model T Touring

1912    Paige Beverly Touring

1913    Metz Runabout

1913    Harley Davidson Racer

1914    Cretors Popcorn Wagon

1915    Ford Model T Couplet       

1916    Smith Motor Wheel

1923    Climber Touring

1923    Ford Model T 1-Ton Gasoline Truck

1923    Studebaker Coupe EM Light Six

1924    Chevrolet Superior Touring

1924    Chevrolet 1-Ton Truck

1924    Auto Red Bug

1926    Star Touring

1926    Chrysler Sport Coupe Model G-70

1926    Ford Model T Sedan

1929    Ford Model A Town Car

1929    Ford Model A Sport Coupe

1929    Ford Model A Station Wagon

1931    Ford Model A Victoria

1932    Chevrolet 4-Door Sedan

1933    Auburn V12 Boat Tail Speedster Salon

1933    La Salle Town Coupe

1935    DeSoto Airflow

1936    Mercedes 500 K Phaeton

1937    Packard Town Car Model 120-C

1937    Ford Phaeton

1939    Lincoln Zephyr 2 Door Sedan

1939    Ford Standard Tudor

1940    Bantam Speedster

1941    Chevrolet 1/2 Ton Truck

1941    Chevrolet Deluxe 4-Door

1941     Willys Americar Plainsman

1946     Lincoln Continental Convertible

1946    Harley Davidson 45

1948    Chrysler New Yorker Sedan

1948     Willys-Overland Jeepster

1949    Whizzer Motorcycle

1950    Cushman Eagle

1950    Indian Motorcycle

1951    Cadillac Fleetwood 75

1952    MGTD Roadster

1954    Chevrolet 1/2 Ton Pickup

1955    Ford Thunderbird

1956    Mercury  Montclair Convertible 

1957    Chevrolet Bel-Air Convertible

1958    Corvette Convertible

1963     Lincoln Continental Convertible

1967    Cadillac Fleetwood 75

1967    Ford Mustang Convertible

1967    Ford Fairlane 500 Ranchero

1969    Rokon Motorcycle

There are also cars for sale, they of course change when some are sold and others are put in the list so check with the museum for the most current listing.

The Museum hosts a Fall Swap Meet the fourth week in September with proceeds going to the Museum of Automobiles.  There are also arts and crafts and car accessories available.

The other annual event is the June Show which is held the week of Fathers Day.

Museum Hours: 10 – 5 all year except on Christmas Day when it is closed.

Cost: Adults: $7, students: $3.50 (ages 6-17), Seniors 65 and over: $6.50, these prices do not include tax.  Children under 6 with their parents are admitted free.

Location: Petit Jean Mountain, 8 Jones Lane, Morrilton, Arkansas 72110Phone : 501-727-5427 / Fax : 501-727-6482

Email : info@museumofautos.com

Museum of Automobiles – Morrilton, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Entering the world of the underground is always a thrilling experience.  At the Blanchard Springs Caverns you will be going into a three-level system, but only two levels are open for guided tours.

There are three types of tours available.  The Dripstone National Recreation Trail tours are available year-round. The time you should allow for this tour is 1 hour. On this tour you will experience a constant 58 degrees F (so bring a sweater or light jacket) and know that the humidity is close to 100 percent.  This trail is accessible to strollers and wheelchairs with strong assistance. Tours depart often; the last tour is at 4:15 PM.

This tour covers 4/10 of a mile in an hour.  It is an easy walk with two seating areas along the trail for you to rest should you need to.  There are only 50 stair steps to be negotiated on the entire tour but for those that can not manage them there are alternate trails that can be used, bypassing some formations.

In this section of the cave bats are rare so don’t worry about running into them.  There are tiny cave creatures such as salamanders and crickets for you to see.

You will be able to see nearly every type of calcite formation found in limestone caves.  This includes delicate, hollow soda straws to massive flowstones and stalagmites.  You will be touring the two major rooms in the upper level of the cavern system.  The cathedral Room is long enough to hold three football fields and still have space left over.  There are many snow-white formations of pure calcite (or calcium carbonate) in the Coral Room.
You are walking through an area that was laid down in an ancient sea more than 350 million years ago.  These beautiful formations have taken years to be made, no one knows for sure how long it has taken but may be thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions of years for the dripping water to deposit the calcite and other minerals into these fabulous formations.  Now you know why you are told to not touch anything.  By touching any of the stonework you will kill off the ability for the cave to keep creating the beauty you have come to see.

A vast amount of dripstone is found in this portion of the Caverns for two reasons. First, this section is higher than the other, allowing air-chemistry changes which cause the dripstone to form, and second, this portion is older than lower areas, giving the features more time to develop.

The Discovery Trail is another of the tours that is available at Blanchard Springs Caverns. This tour will last 1 1/2 hours. This one is a bit more complex than the Dripstone Trail.  It is in the lower portion of the Caverns. There are nearly 700 stair steps on this tour so if you have walking or health problems this one isn’t for you.  Tours depart often with the last tour at 4 pm.  The Discovery Trail Tour is only open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

On this tour you’ll take the routes of the early explorers and pass through campsites of their early expeditions. You’ll look up through the natural entrance where those early explorers dangled from ropes on homemade harness. You will see the underground stream which eventually gushes from the Blanchard Springs. This section of the Caverns is not filled with the formations of the Dripstone Trail, it is the first place where you will see the stream that runs through the caverns assisting in the creation of the caverns.  Maybe in time there will be the formations but for now, just enjoy the experience.

The final offering is the Wild Cave Tour where visitors go to the undeveloped sections of the middle level.  This is a 3 to 4 hour tour. In order to participate with this tour you will need to be in good physical shape, wear sturdy boots, and be ready to get dirty!  You will climb very steep slopes, crawl on hands and knees, pass under low ceilings, and travel through red clay.  If this isn’t something you are prepared for, pass on this tour.  Otherwise, join in and have a blast!  The tour ends at the Titans, a group of tall spectacular columns. Hard hats, kneepads, gloves, lights, and belts are provided, along with a souvenir t-shirt. The Wild Cave Tour is limited to a minimum of 3 but no more than 12 people per tour. Participants must be at least 10 years old. A responsible adult must accompany children 10 to 12 years old. The Wild Cave Tour is available by reservation only and is open every day from April through October. From November through March, it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Location: Blanchard Springs Caverns is located 15 miles northwest of Mountain View off Arkansas 14.
 
Rates are subject to change. Please call 1-888-757-2246 between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CST for current rates.
Adults – $10.00 for Dripstone/ Discovery Tour
Children age 6-15 – $5.00 for Dripstone/ Discovery Tour
Golden Age Passport Holders – $5.00 for Dripstone/Discovery Tours
Wild Cave Tour – $75.00; $25.00 non-refundable deposit, balance on day of tour; no other discounts apply.
Golden Age Pass – $10.00
Season Pass – Adults $25.00; Children 12.50; Golden Age Passport holders $12.50
Special Rates: Half price discounts are available to senior citizens aged 62 and up with a Golden Age Passport, disabled visitors. Complimentary tours are available to ex-prisoners of war and Purple Heart recipients with a POW/PH card, available at the Visitor Information Center.
Pets are not allowed in the Visitor Center or Caverns – seeing-eye dogs and service dogs are an exception. There are no kennels. Pet are welcome in the recreation areas, outside the swimming areas, as long as they are leashed.

Phone:  Blanchard Springs Caverns (888) 757-2246
 

Blanchard Springs Caverns – Mountain View, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Perhaps the most famous landmark in Alma is the World’s Largest Spinach Can. All of the water towers above Lake Alma are green. One of them in particular is painted to look like a giant can of Popeye’s Spinach, complete with Popeye on the can. People from all over the country come to the area just to take a picture of this can of spinach.

Those who are fans of spinach and Popeye can also find a bronze statue of the big guy in the center of town at Popeye Park. The statue sits atop a beautiful fountain at the center of a nice and relaxing little park. If you come to take a picture of the giant can, then you certainly need to stop into the town and take a snapshot of the statue.

The bronze statue is not the first Popeye statue in Alma, however. In fact, you can find Alma’s original Popeye statue inside the store of Kustom Kaps, which is run by the widow of the man who created it decades ago. The store is the unofficial souvenir center for all things that have to do with Alma and Popeye. You can buy clothing, hats, mugs, and a whole lot more.

After visiting the spinach can and the statue, you might want to head back up to Lake Alma to relax and do some fishing. It is a great way to finish the day before heading to dinner.

After dinner, you may want to stop by the Alma Performing Arts Center, where there is always a variety of wonderful shows playing. For example, a few of the shows hosted at the center include Ronnie Milsap,  the Golden Dragon Acrobats, The Fab Four, The Wizard of Oz, and To Kill a Mockingbird. They have a number of shows that are sure to interest everyone in the family.

Even though it is a small town, Alma, with the World’s Largest Spinach Can and Popeye Park, has plenty to keep the visitor entertained. If in Arkansas, think about stopping by for a visit.

The town is located on two major interstates, I-40 and I-540, and U.S. 71, which is part of the Boston Mountain Scenic Loop.

World’s Largest Spinach Can – Alma, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

At his memorial museum, visitors will find a number of different items, including antique furniture and house wares, as well as tools and one of the most impressive collections of firearms in the world. Some of the weapons belonged to Saunders himself, but there are also quite a few from notables of the Wild West, such as Jesse James, Annie Oakley, Wild Bill, and Pancho Villa.

Part of the collection even includes items that Saunders gathered from the Holy Land. Some of those items include Gethsemane flowers and water from the Jordan River.

You will also be able to see clothing worn by Sitting Bull at the Battle of Little Big Horn, where he outwitted Custer. Pancho Villa’s spurs are even on display.

Most people who come to the museum are there to see all of the wonderful firearms though. It is one of the best collections in the whole state of Arkansas, including more than 400 handguns. At the Saunders Memorial Museum, you will be able to see not only the popular guns of the era, but also many of the rare pieces. Quite a few were even used by heroes and villains of yesteryear.

Some of the popular examples of handguns belonged to people such as Jesse James, who were notorious for terrorizing the Old West. You will certainly want to spend time looking at all of the different handguns in the collection and reading about how they were used, as well as who used them.

Everyone who is in the area should make it a point to stop by the museum and see one of the most impressive handgun collections in the whole of the United States. You get to see a number of other historical pieces as well, and it is certainly worth the visit. Admission to the museum is quite affordable.

113-115 East Madison
Berryville, AR 72616
870-423-2563

Saunders Memorial Museum – Berryville, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

The museum is actually a restored 1902 jail. Ironically, the man who built the jail was also its first inmate. Because it is in an old jail, it adds even more interest to the tour of the exhibits. Those who visit the museum will find a number of items, including some that were recently acquired, that date all the way back to when the town of Foreman was known to all as Rocky Comfort.

People who visit the museum will be able to see quite a few impressive documents and artifacts used by the very people who once lived in the city. The museum has a very personal feel to it, which makes a visit a very intimate experience. Guests get to see how it really was to live in the little town over the years.

You can even learn about all of the other identities the town has gone through. Originally, the area was called Willow Springs and later took the name Rocky Comfort because, while it had a rocky terrain, was also a place of comfort. In the latter part of the 1800s, the town began to expand and became New Rocky Comfort. In 1900, when the first post office came into town, they decided they wanted a shorter name to transact mail. Thus, it became Foreman – although the name wasn’t legally changed until 1959!

You will be able to learn a bit about all of the different eras of Rocky Comfort/Foreman, as well as the people who made them interesting.

Of course, there are other things to do in the friendly little town as well. You can grab a bite to eat and then head off to some nearby trails, where you can hike, hunt, or fish. You will be able to find places in the region to stay as well, so that you can take advantage of not only the museum but the surrounding lands as well.

Foreman, Arkansas is a small town, but it has a lot of interesting history. If you are in the area of Foreman, you should stop by the New Rocky Comfort Museum and learn about the area’s past.  Foreman is also the hometown of country singer Tracy Lawrence and Broadway performer Lawrence Hamilton.

New Rocky Comfort Museum
3rd Street at Schuman
Foreman, Arkansas
870-542-7887

New Rocky Comfort Museum – Foreman, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Through the used of state of the art telescopes, visitors will be able to see a variety of different heavenly objects, including stars, planets, and the moon.

Forty-five people can comfortably fit within the planetarium, which utilizes the Zeiss ZKP-3 planetarium projector. It has the capability of recreating more than 9000 stars, thus replicating the night sky with uncanny accuracy. The multimedia capabilities of the planetarium are unrivaled.
The planetarium offers a number of different shows that are open to the public.

In addition to the planetarium, you will also find a small museum that has a variety of different displays, many of which are hands-on. You will be able to learn about the history of space exploration, as well as the role of astronomy in today’s culture.

The shows put on at are the very latest in planetarium productions, and they change on a regular basis. This means that every time you head out to the planetarium, you have a good chance to see something brand new.
Some of the shows that people will enjoy at the planetarium include "Is there Life on Mars?", "Planets, Comets, and the Night Sky", "Clouds of Fire: Origins of the Stars", and "’Tis the Season".

"Is there Life on Mars?" discusses the possibility of finding life on mars and covers past and future missions to the Red Planet. The program includes interviews with scientists from NASA.

"Planets, Comets, and the Night Sky" showcases all manner of things in the solar system, including what makes up different constellations.
"Clouds of Fire: Origins of the Stars" takes a look at the life of stars, from their birth to death.

"’Tis the Season, which was the very first program the planetarium produced in 1999, is a Christmas themed show.

Admission to the shows at the Reynolds Science Center Planetarium is $3 per person. No food and drink are allowed, and the shows always start promptly, which means you need to be in your seat.  If you’re looking for hotel accommodations in Arkadelphia, visit HotelsCombined.com for the best rates.

1100 Henderson Street
Arkadelphia, AR 71999-0001
870-230-5006
 

Reynolds Science Center Planetarium – Arkadelphia, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Travelers along the road will find a number of historic homes (including the former home of Ernest Hemingway), museums, state parks, and more. The entire length of the parkway is scenic, and with all of the attractions, every traveler will be able to find plenty to keep their eyes and their minds busy and happy.

Those who are traveling to the community of Forrest City, Arkansas will find quite a few great things to do along the stretch of the parkway that passes the town. Look at some of the interesting things that vacationers will find when passing through the friendly little town of Forrest City.

The First United Methodist Church, which was built in 1917, is on the National Historic Register. It is a Classical – Revival styled church, and has some interesting features that you might want to photograph. The Mann House, designed and built in 1913, is also on the National Historic Register and built in the Classical – Revival style that was so popular in the era.

Take a visit to the downtown area of Forrest City, and you will see a large mural that depicts how the Native Americans in the area viewed the railroad when it came. You will also be able to find some places to grab a bite to eat in the downtown area.

When taking a break from your journey on Crowley’s Ridge National Scenic Parkway, you will also likely want to stop by the St. Francis County Museum. It is located in the Rush – Gates home and has a number of different exhibits. You can see fossils from Crowley’s Ridge, as well as a reconstructed doctor’s office, and plenty more.

No visit to Forrest City is complete without a stop by Stuart Springs, the 16-acre park located in the city. The freshwater springs were the location of Civil War encampments and are now on the National Historic Register.

Located not far from Forrest City is the Village Creek State Park, the largest state park in Arkansas. It has tons of hiking trails, a visitor’s center, and great fishing.

Those traveling along the Crowley’s Ridge National Scenic Parkway will find plenty to love. Make sure to stop into Forrest City and see all that it has to offer.

There are several hotel options available to you in Forrest City and along the scenic parkway. Visit HotelsCombined.com to find the best rates.

 St. Francis to Helena-West Helena
Forrest City, AR 72467
870-972-2803

Crowley’s Ridge National Scenic Parkway – Forrest City, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Little Rock is a perfect place for the water lover.  If you are into big splashes, adventure and the outdoors then your destination should be Wild River Country.  There is something to do here for everyone.  The water rides are perfect for beating that summer heat.  For those that are a little bit on the daring side, you can try some of their water tubes that are more than just a little slide down a tube.  A few of their famous rides are called the Vertigo, Pipeline, Sidewinder, Cyclone and the Accelerator.

The cyclone is a four person raft ride that takes you shooting down a tube.  It is fun for all ages.  The Pipeline is 600 feet of fun.  Ride by yourself or with someone else down the long twisting tube, never knowing what is just ahead of you.  Don’t worry, if these rides are sounding a little too exciting for your smaller children, they do have a pool for young children.  The Tad Pool is a wave pool that is perfect for kids that are just learning to get their feet wet.

A day at Wild River Country will make you very hungry.  They have plenty of places to eat, along with places to quench your thirst.  If you need a little taste of something sweet, Dippin’ Dots has ice cream that will cool you off and hit that sweet spot as well.  The park is perfect for a whole family, or just friends getting together.  It is located right off the interstates and is very easy to get to.  Just plan your vacation in Little Rock and you know that you will have a great time. 

If you haven’t gotten enough of the outdoors and want something else to do, get your group together and go to Burns Park.  It is one of the largest parks in the country.  It has over 1,500 acres of activities and fun.  A log cabin sits in the park and has been there since before the Civil War.  Your family can camp there, play sports and hike along the trails.  Don’t forget to bring your fishing and golf gear.  They have a pier to catch the big ones on and a 36-hole golf course to play.  This will be one vacation you will never forget.
 

Travel to Little Rock for Fun is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

When going to the Ozarks, you will want to make sure to explore everything.  The Arkansas waterfalls and the Rocky Mountain Caves are beautiful.  The caverns are what you will want to see.  Traveling through them will be like traveling in another world.  You will be in the same place that saber tooth tigers, Indian tribes and Civil War soldiers have hidden in and explored the very caves that you will be walking through.   You can take guided tours to learn more about this mysterious world. 

The different caverns offer different experiences.  The Bull Shoals Cavern is over 350 million years.  This is one of the world’s oldest caverns.  In this amazing world you will find a beautiful cathedral room, a tiny lake, an underground rainbow trout stream and Chapel Falls.  If you are looking for artifacts and fossils, walk through the Hurricane River Cave.  The bones and the artifacts that were discovered in this cave indicate that Indians lived there nine and ten thousand years ago.  If you are physically fit and in great condition, take wild cave tours and see where they found skeletons of bears and saber toothed tigers.

After touring the caverns, there are so many activities to do it may be hard to narrow down.  Horseback riding, golfing, mountain climbing, birding and canoeing are just a few of the many things that you can put on your agenda.  Horseback riding is a great activity for just about anyone.  Ride in the Ozark mountain region and escape from it all.  Experienced wrangle and trail guides will lead you on your tour.

If you are looking for something to do in the Ozarks to cool you off, there are six Ozark lakes and rivers that you can go to.  Bull Shoals Lake is the largest of the twin lakes.  You can go fishing or scuba dive in the crystal clear waters.  Take your family on the lake and sail for the day.  If you want to ski or swim, it is the perfect place.  If you want to take a kayak down a beautiful river, Buffalo National River is where you will want to go.  Plan a one day float, or rent a kayak or canoe for several days.  Whatever it is that you do in the Ozarks, you are going to be relaxed, pleased and very happy with your vacation experience.
 

Ozark Mountain Ranges in Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

For those that like to great outdoors, and like sports as well, then you should head off to Diamond Lake.  Here you can participate in fishing tournaments, or just spend a leisurely day fishing for trout and bass.  Diamond Lake is a lot of fun and is perfect for the fishing fanatic.  But if you are looking for beauty and fun all wrapped up in one, plan your day for Hot Springs National Park.  Camping, hiking, swimming and history all can be found within the park.  
Hot Springs is one of the oldest and smallest national parks, but there is so much to do that you will be amazed at how many hours you can spend hanging out.  The hot springs are the biggest attraction.  There are 47 naturally flowing thermal springs within the park.  They are located on the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain.  If you want to learn about the hot springs and how they are formed, then stop at the Fordyce Bathhouse.  There are guided and self-guided tours that you can go on and discover how the thermal waters are made and where  they come from.  You can dip your feet in some of the designated hot springs and relax while your toes are soothed in the thermal waters.  Enjoy the scenery and the beauty of the park as your feet are immersed in the water. 

After you are relaxed, take a twisting tour up Hot Springs Mountain.  Hot Springs Mountain Tower can be found behind the bath houses.  Here you will be taken by elevators to the top of the mountain.  Once you arrive you will find a breathtaking view of Hot Springs.  Look around and see the mountains, cities, parks and lakes in all directions.  You can see 40 miles in every direction of Hot Springs from here.

Hot Springs also offers golf courses for the golf lover.  There are at least seven different courses located throughout the city.  Hot Springs Country Club has two 18-hole championship courses and 900 square feet of putting greens.  There is even a short game area to help you shape up your game.  Hot Springs is a great place for anyone.  The city is unique and to truly appreciate it, you have to see it up close.

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Little Rock is perfect for the outdoor lover.  There are parks, water parks, duck hunting and mountains and hiking.  You and your family can get your fill of the great outdoors and then, you can go visit all the museums.  A great start to your day would be the Big Dam Bridge.  Whether you are a regular bike rider or just wanting to bike for the day, you can travel on the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge ever built.  As you bike along the path, you will be taken in by the sites.  You will cross over Murray Lock and Dam as you pedal over the 14-foot wide deck that extends 3,463 feet.  There are 17 miles of scenic river trails that offer a variety of views of Arkansas and the beauty of the state.

After a day biking along the trails, you should go to Arkansas State Park.  You may even want to plan your vacation around the park.  You can camp here and spend the week surrounded by nature.  Pitch a tent and rough it, or set up camp in your RV.  You will really enjoy the sights and sounds of the park and staying in it will only enhance your vacation.  You can even bring your family pet, just be sure to keep them on a leash or housed in their cage so as not to disturb other campers.

Hiking is something that many campers enjoy when visiting the state park.  There are quite a few trails and you can travel along different ones each day to see a variety of sites. Some of the trails are a little bit easier to hike.  For those that are a little more adventurous and are looking for a challenge, try hiking along the trails that are a little more demanding.  Each trail is surrounded by beautiful wildflowers, and while walking on some of the trails you may even see a beaver or two.  There are also many unique plants and birds along the way. 

Little Rock is one of the few places that you can go and have it all.  You can camp, bike and hike through the beautiful parks.  Mountain climbing is also a past time that many vacationers like to do when visiting.  Plan your next trip for Arkansas.  You won’t be disappointed.   
 
 

Little Rock, Arkansas has more than you Can Imagine is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

If you love learning and seeing beautiful things, you will definitely want to take in the art galleries and museums.  If you time your trip right, you can make it when one of the Arkansas art shows is going on.  Historic downtown Hot Springs offers a wide array of galleries and museums.  Some are Victorian, while others display twentieth Century art.  The American Art Gallery has 4,000 square feet of exhibition space.  There are two floors of works from many different artists and many different styles.  Quite a few of the artists are showcases from the South Central Region of the United States.  This gallery is noted for its unique and unusual artwork. 

If you like pottery, visit Dryden Pottery Factory. Walk through the factory and see collectible art ware from mid-Americal clays and Aransas quartz.  If this isn’t enough for you, Fox Pass Pottery is open as well.  You can find it in the rustic and serene woodlands very close to the Hot Springs National Park.  There you can find one of a kind pieces of pottery.  They make many pieces of functional pottery as well including vases, teapots, mugs, dinnerware or pitchers.  The dishwasher safe, durable and chip resistant pottery makes great souvenirs or everyday items for your home. 

If spending a day in the spa is something you have never done, then treat yourself to a day in one of the many Hot Springs spas.  Nurture Day Spa and Yoga Studio have everything you could want in a day spa.  Take classes like Yoga, Zumba dance, Pilates or Meditation.  After you have taken your class, treat yourself to a facial or a massage.  Many of the locals enjoy customized chemical exfoliation.  Want to bring your spouse in for a massage?  Get couples massage and body treatment together. What a relaxing way to spend the day.  

For those that really want a quiet retreat together, make an appointment for the Swan Song Spa.  Here, couples are together throughout their entire experience.  Your private spa experience will include a Jacuzzi bath, candle light and a day of romance.  They offer a complete menu of relaxation services for men and women.  Hot Springs, Arkansas should be in your calendar of places to go this year.  You will feel like you entered a whole new world.    

Hot Springs, Arkansas is a post from: Arkansas Tourism

Restaurants, microbreweries, golf and lodging are all abundantly available through out the state.  Resorts and spas allow sophisticated access to the natural spring waters and thermal waters of Hot Springs National Park.

Arkansas is also known as wine country with various vineyards and wine tours that can take you back through history and times long past of the old wild west.

Arkansas Vacation is a post from: Arkansas Tourism