Located in the picturesque Ozarks, Pea Ridge National Military Park is more than just a historical site; it’s a journey through time. As you tread the hallowed grounds where Union and Confederate forces clashed in 1862, the weight of history surrounds you. As a youth, my grandfather took me to Pea Ridge, where I heard […]
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Road tripping is our passion, but we wondered what the farthest distance a day trip should involve. 2024 seemed like a good year to test this out, so we planned a series of short excursions. Each one would take us a little farther away from our home in Kansas City. Two-hour drives are no issue,
These days it is too easy to forget about the earliest residents in the lands we call home. So much of our lives revolve around the daily activities that we have disconnected ourselves from our history. This is why visiting places like the Museum Of Native American History is important. Finding a destination that focuses
Nestled at the confluence of the Arkansas and Poteau Rivers, Fort Smith began as a frontier military post. Barely a decade after the Louisiana Purchase, the new lands were still being explored. With over 200 years of history under its belt, the city has a lot to offer visitors. We dropped in to explore the
When we picture the Wild West, our minds fill with dusty trails and bustling frontier towns. Our visit to Fort Smith included loads of western heritage and history. To keep ourselves from overloading on historical facts, we made sure to toss in some lighthearted looks back into the past. For a fun look back, we
For us, there is a big difference between eating to sustain and dining for pleasure. During our visit to this historic Arkansas destination, we tried to sample as many restaurant choices as we could squeeze into our schedule. As we were eating our way through downtown Fort Smith, we discovered what the locals already know.
The Louisiana Purchase signaled many changes in the United States. The addition of 828,000 square miles of new territory nearly doubled the size of the young nation. Early explorers viewed the new lands as stark in comparison to the settled land to the east. It would be branded with the nickname “Great American Dessert” and
Art has been an expression of emotions for as long as humans have existed. While the basic design can be simple or complex, it is what we see beyond the obvious that touches our souls. More and more cities are seeing how urban art projects can help residents and visitors connect with the essence of
We feel that being a foodie moves you beyond the standard pleasure found in dining. For us, there is anticipation for the upcoming meals. There is an air of mystery that surrounds each new visit and the prospect of new flavor discovery. When we landed in downtown Fort Smith, Arkansas, we were already aware of
Real life is often more sensational than make believe. Being a fan of westerns, I was excited to finally visit Fort Smith, Arkansas. It was in this city that a real life legend held court during the Wild West days. While many are unaware of Judge Parker’s court, it left an indelible mark on the
It seems to me that I’m always hungry when we arrive at a new destination. While this could be tied to the length of time spent in the car, often it is more about getting to know the culinary vibe of the city. We always hear about the importance of first impressions, but what about
The story of Fort Smith begins with the Louisiana Purchase. Before this, the lands along the Arkansas River were used by nomadic Native Indians. A military post, erected in 1817, signaled the beginning of the town, which sprung up along the eastern shores of the river. The fort, and subsequent city, were named after Thomas
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Like many frequent travelers, we have a list of destinations that we hope to visit in our lifetimes. Every once in a while, we will discover one that has flown below our radar. This was the case for Fort Smith, Arkansas. The city’s slogan is “Where the New South meets the Old West”. It is
During our travels, we like to figure out what each city has for an overarching theme. Bentonville, Arkansas has focused on creating an urban area filled with interactive opportunities. No matter your activity level, there is plenty to occupy your time during a visit. We were pleased to discover food and fun designed to appeal
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Southern cooking is all about comfort, so you know we love it. While some would consider Bentonville, Arkansas to be the northern edge of the south, we found it gives them a unique position in the culinary world. This vibrant city has a ton of interesting dining options that capture the flavors of the region.
When you travel to the home base of Walmart, you can expect big things. The Walton family has been diligent in giving back to the community and Bentonville has certainly prospered from this relationship. A prime example of this is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Creating a world-class art museum is an expensive
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Downtown Bentonville is filled with a bunch of great dining options. When we were researching our upcoming visit, one name piqued our interest. Being a minister’s son, the premise behind The Preacher’s Son sounded intriguing. Working with Visit Bentonville, we were able to make our visit a reality. When the day arrived, we found ourselves
It would be a safe bet that nearly everyone is aware of Walmart. For years, they have dominated the chain store landscape by implementing some unique policies. It’s hard to believe it, but the Arkansas-based company will celebrate 50 years in 2022. This mega-chain came from a rather humble beginning way back in 1962. It
Growing up, I spent a number of summers staying in the country with my grandparents. That means I have enjoyed plenty of delectable homecooked meals. These days, we find ourselves frequenting more restaurants, which means fewer of those family-style dinners. During our visit to Bentonville, we found ourselves dining at one of the downtown hotels.
Bentonville has embarked on a plan to link its downtown with other entertainment districts around town. As we explored more of the city, we found ourselves becoming jealous of how successful they have become at integrating culture and community. A short distance from downtown, we discovered the 8th Street Market district. Designed as a community-focused
Walks in the woods help us maintain our bond with Mother Nature. Since the majority of our travels focus on the downtown districts, we relish the opportunity for a nature break. Bentonville has worked hard to incorporate nature and city into a mish-mash that blends the line. Striving to become the “Mountain Biking Capital of
Having a meal at an airport is not usually high on people’s list of entertaining dining. When the suggestion came from our friends at Visit Bentonville, we just knew there was more to this story. Thaden Field is a local airport that serves private traffic. Unlike most places of this type, they also feature an
It has been said that we grow old when we stop playing. If this is true, then we should remain young forever. Visits to science-based play zones have become a popular all-ages experience. In Bentonville, the Scott Family Amazeum offers a fun way to learn while you play. We will sometimes get a sideways glance
2018 was a capital year for us, as it relates to traveling. We were able to visit four state capitals, including Little Rock, Arkansas. In each of these cities, we spent the majority of our time in the downtown areas. Each offered a different experience, but we found a common thread between them. Each city
Little Rock, Arkansas offers visitors many ways to sample the flavors of the city. While the restaurant scene is flourishing, we found that there are some other unique options where you can discover amazing tastes. Our visit only covered about three days, but you will see that during that period we uncovered a wide variety
Little Rock is a city filled with history and we love to learn about the beginnings of the destinations we visit. A stop at the Historic Arkansas Museum was sure to provide a good backdrop for us to find out about the start of the river town. Little did we realize that here we would
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Being at the forefront of the national news is something that many cities would dream of, but not when it is due to public strife. While the conflict at Central High School was 60 years ago, we still see some of the struggles continuing today. Little Rock, Arkansas may have been the backdrop for this particular
In the past few years we have been seeing more and more small businesses gaining a foothold in communities. This is certainly a change from the long stretch we saw of big business edging out smaller competitors. While we know that bigger business platforms offer economy of scale, it’s the smaller business models that bring
Like many of the cities we visit, Little Rock offers a vibrant downtown. The area we focused on was near the River Market district, which includes the Clinton Presidential Library, an amazing river trail, and a local farmers market. On a beautiful Saturday morning, we left our hotel in search of coffee, before hitting up
We hail from a river city, so visiting Little Rock, Arkansas gave us an opportunity to see how they have handled their waterway. With the Arkansas River bisecting the city, it becomes a focal point for transportation and recreation. While cities must always be aware of potential flooding possibilities, we like it when we find
You all know how much we enjoy being able to park for the day and walk to multiple stops. The River Market District in Little Rock, Arkansas is one of those kind of destinations. Sitting along the Arkansas River, we expected to catch views of plenty of wildlife. A stop at the Witt Stephens Jr.
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Our visit to Little Rock had a few surprises that we had not expected. One of them was with our visit to The Root Cafe. The plan had been to have lunch there on our first day, but an opportunity to appear on the hit show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives meant that they had to
A chance to visit the oldest science center in the state of Arkansas was not something we planned to miss. While the Museum of Discovery was relocated to their current River Market location in 1998, they have existed since their founding in 1927. With its location being in the heart of the area we were
Our visit to Little Rock, Arkansas required a little more driving than some of our downtown destinations, but there was still a large portion that was within walking distance of our hotel. The River Market District offered us a chance to mingle with locals, while shopping and dining in some unique spots like Stickyz Rock-n-Roll
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Little Rock, Arkansas has a lot of unique features, but one really stood out during our research. The Esse Purse Museum is one of only three brick and mortar locations dedicated to the history of one of women’s most interesting accessory and the only one found in the United States. This may not seem like the most
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When we were planning our escape to Little Rock, Arkansas, the first restaurant that I selected was Big Orange in Midtown. From the moment we first saw the menu, it was a sure bet that this was a place that needed to be experienced. The photos we saw of their food looked incredible, and we
We have visited Eureka Springs, Arkansas many times over the years, and each trip we have had an enjoyable time. This laid-back community is nestled in the Ozark Mountains, which offers an interesting terrain to explore. This was our first time to see the town through the eyes of travel bloggers. What we found was
Eureka Springs, Arkansas is the kind of destination where visitors have a chance to slow their pace, and just relax. Even us travel bloggers find an opportunity to just go with the flow. This meant that when we heard about the Blue Spring Heritage Center on the western edge of the city limits, we had
Our survey of readers had brought to light a small breakfast spot in the heart of downtown Eureka Springs. We had walked past Nibbles Eatery during our shopping excursion, and decided it would make a great stop for our last morning in town. Had we known what we were about to experience, we would have eaten
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A visit to Eureka Springs, Arkansas offers a chance to slow down from the hectic pace of everyday life. This quaint town in the Ozark Mountains is more geared toward leisurely pleasures, and we certainly were looking for some to sample. The Eureka Springs Train hosts a lunch ride that looked perfect for a romantic
Our arrival in Eureka Springs, Arkansas was not met with grand fanfare. Actually, we just slid in down Main Street, and located a parking spot near downtown. After a drive filled with exploration, the first thing on our minds was lunch. We had polled our readers for restaurant ideas prior to our departure, and Local
When we decided to visit Eureka Springs, Arkansas there was a specific type of lodging that we have always wanted to experience. We have stayed in some of the local cabins in the past, but the chance to hang out in the treetops seemed like an extra special treat. When Treehouse Cottages offered to host
Have you ever been to a restaurant so well designed that you immediately fall in love with it? The kind of place you want to explore in depth. That is exactly what we found at Mud Street Annex in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. This newly opened offshoot of the original Mud Street Cafe has tons of charm
It is said that Eureka Springs, Arkansas is one of the most haunted cities in America. If that is true, then the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa must be Ghost Central. We surveyed our readers, while making our itinerary, and the Crescent Ghost Tour ranked high with many of you. This certainly wasn’t a normal attraction
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