Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for arkansas
Woodland Wonder in Arkansas
By Linda Tancs
Garvan Woodland Gardens is the botanical garden of the University of Arkansas. A gift from local industrialist and philanthropist Verna Cook Garvan, the site is nestled in the picturesque Ouachita Mountains of southwest Arkansas in Hot Springs. The big draw in December is the Holiday Lights event, a visual extravaganza. Golf cart rentals are available on a daily basis for those unable to walk the path. Purchase your tickets in advance and be sure to leave plenty of time to arrive before the nightly display starts.
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Little Rock’s Early Days
By Linda Tancs
The MacArthur Park Historic District encompasses approximately 50 blocks in the heart of Little Rock, Arkansas. Boasting a variety of homes from the 1800s in different architectural styles, the district is centered on MacArthur Park, established as the first municipal park in Little Rock in 1892. It contains the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts and the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, which is located in the historic Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal — the birthplace of General Douglas MacArthur.
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Arkansas Grand Canyon
By Linda Tancs
It’s not unusual for a state to have a canyon so magnificent that it’s “grand.” In Arkansas, the Grand Canyon of the Ozarks is southeast of Jasper running alongside AR 7, the scenic byway. One of the most popular overlooks is Rotary Ann Roadside Park with its 180-degree view. The locale is also the first roadside rest area constructed in Arkansas, dating back to the 1930s.
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Scenic 7 in Arkansas
By Linda Tancs
Arkansas Scenic 7 Byway is arguably among the most scenic drives in America. Approximately 290 miles in length, the north-south state highway runs from Louisiana Highway 558 at the Louisiana state line north to Bull Shoals Lake at Diamond City near the Missouri state line. It’s the state’s first state-designated scenic byway, incorporating the coastal plain region in the south with the Ouachita and Ozark mountains. The region is rich in wildlife, outdoor recreation and historical resources, not to mention top-tier views on the ridgelines.
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Ozark Art and Nature
By Linda Tancs
Formerly a decommissioned cheese factory, The Momentary is a satellite art campus of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. It’s one of the most endowed museums in the country, having been founded by the Walton family (of Walmart fame). It showcases immersive art installations, curated food experiences and live music. While you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to visit the parent campus, Crystal Bridges, featuring a world-class collection of American art, stunning architecture and 120 acres of Ozark forest with 5 miles of trails. General admission is free!
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Digging for Diamonds
By Linda Tancs
Located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, Crater of Diamonds State Park is one of the few places in the world where the public can search for real diamonds at their original volcanic source. Diamonds come in a variety of colors, but the three colors found at the park are white, brown and yellow. Amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, quartz and other rocks and minerals naturally occur there as well. Visitors to the park search a 37-acre field (the eroded surface of a volcanic crater), and any rocks, minerals or gemstones you find are yours to keep. Bring your own mining equipment or rent it from the park. Park staff provide complimentary identification of rocks and minerals as well as diamond mining demonstrations and other interpretive programs.
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Arkansas’s First State Park
By Linda Tancs
Rising 1,120 feet above the Arkansas River Valley, it’s easy to understand why Petit Jean Mountain would provide the inspiration for creation of Arkansas’s first state park, Petit Jean. It hosts one of the largest bluff shelters in the state, a place that Native Americans called home over 1,000 years ago. The park is also a certified Trail of Tears National Historic Trail Site because tribes passed by Petit Jean Mountain in the 1800s during their forced migration to present-day Oklahoma. Don’t miss the park’s centerpiece, Mather Lodge, providing lodging, a meeting and function space and a restaurant for park visitors.
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The Pig Trail
By Linda Tancs
Arkansas boasts over 600 native wildflowers. Spring is a good time to watch them explode, especially along scenic byways like the Pig Trail. It’s a 19-mile stretch of State Highway 23 that passes through Ozark National Forest. The Pig Trail takes its name from fans of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, who traditionally used it as a shortcut through the mountains to “Hogs” games in Fayetteville. The razorback (feral hog) is not only the university’s mascot but also a wild animal found throughout the state.
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Following the Mississippi
By Linda Tancs
You may have wondered whether you can drive along the course of the Mississippi River. Yes, there’s a road for that. The Great River Road National Scenic Byway follows the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, passing through 10 states. Its designation as a National Scenic Byway is in recognition of the route’s outstanding assets in the areas of culture, history, nature, recreation and scenic beauty. The different roads and highways comprising the byway are marked by a green pilot’s wheel logo to keep you on track. Watch for river-related attractions and interpretative centers. You can take in the whole route in 36 hours of straight driving, but why not stretch it out for four to 10 days and enjoy the ride.
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The American Spa
By Linda Tancs
Thermal water has been used for thousands of years to treat arthritis, joint pain, burns and skin disorders. Some of the most famous thermal baths in the world are found in Europe—most notably, in Budapest, the so-called City of Spas. If an international jaunt is not in the budget, then look no further than Arkansas. That’s right: in the heart of the Ozarks a thriving city (named, of course, Hot Springs) was built around the thermal waters that attracted folks of all walks of life in the 1800s. In fact, the success of the bathing industry led to the city being touted as “the American Spa.” Hot Springs National Park surrounds the north end of the city. There you can tour a historic bathhouse, hike forested trails and, needless to say, take a nice, hot bath.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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