Arkansas Has the Action For Youth-filled Outings
Long before Henry Ford put families on wheels, the younger
generation has sought out resort towns for stage shows, zoo tours,
circus performances, and other lively entertainment. For some,
camping and hiking replaced months of classwork and hurried
schedules. But, instead of children tagging along after their
parents, it has become mom and dad attempting to keep pace with
their offspring.
Arkansas offers a varied array of attractions and natural
wonders that continue to bring families back year after year for
vacation fun. Whether visiting from other states, other countries,
or from the other side of Arkansas, there’s plenty of action and
goodtime events to create special family memories. A few examples
include:
Lakes and Rivers --- The Natural State has 600,000 acres of
freshwater lakes and 9,700 miles of flowing rivers. So, there’s
plenty of room for fishing, swimming, canoeing, sailing,
powerboating and all other water sports. Of special note is the
Buffalo National River, a 150-mile free-flowing stream deep in the
heart of the Ozarks. Protected as America’s first national
river, the Buffalo is framed by majestic limestone bluffs and
provides excellent canoeing and camping opportunities. Other prime
recreational streams include the Spring, Big Piney, Eleven Point,
upper White, Cossatot, Mulberry and Little Red.
Searching
for real gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park
The great lakes of Arkansas are legendary and among the
cleanest in the nation. Names like Beaver, Bull Shoals, Greers
Ferry, Norfork, DeGray, and Ouachita are famous for water sports,
fishing, camping and great lakeside resorts.
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls --- The Hot Springs theme and
water parks feature more than 25 rides for children and families.
A highlight is the "Arkansas Twister," a spectacular
wooden roller coaster. The water park boasts a 350,000-gallon wave
pool, thrilling water-slide, activity pool, family splash zone and much more.
Educational Fun --- Hot Springs is the home of the Mid America
Science Museum, a hands-on facility with entertaining displays
explaining scientific principles, plus a laser-light show that
wows everyone. Little Rock’s Aerospace Education Center - IMAX
Theater has a NASA space module and gear, plus the nation’s only
restored WWI Sopwith Camel biplane. The Museum of Discovery in
downtown Little Rock is an interactive science complex with large
technical center, building projects for children, and a
"history of science" exhibit. The Ozark Folk Center
State Park in Mountain View is the only facility in America
devoted to the preservation of Southern Mountain folkways.
Youngsters (and adults) are invited to learn about blacksmithing,
woodcarving, furniture making and dozens of other pioneer skills.
Musical shows and dances are scheduled throughout the warm
seasons.
Hiking Adventures --- Arkansas has over 250 hiking trails
scattered throughout its 75 counties. They are
located in U.S.
Forest Service districts, Army Corps of Engineers recreation
areas, plus city, state and national parks. Two of the best known
traces are the Ozark Highland Trail (178 miles) from near Fort
Smith to the middle section of the Buffalo National River, and the
223-mile Ouachita National Recreational Trail from Talimena State
Park in Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, near Little
Rock. Perhaps the most unique trail is to the top of Sugar Loaf
Mountain, an island in the middle of Greers Ferry Lake. It was the
first designated national scenic trail in Arkansas and provides a
great view of the Ozarks from its 1,000-ft. peak. Shuttle and boat
rental docks are located in the area.
Above and Below --- Hot Springs Mountain Tower provides
spectacular views of the Ouachita Mountains and Hot Springs
National Park from its 216-ft. observation deck atop one of the
highest mountains in the area. Other panoramic views are possible
from overlooks at Greers Ferry Dam, Bull Shoals, Eureka Springs,
Petit Jean Mountain, Mount Magazine and Mount Nebo State Park.
Blanchard Springs Caverns, north of Mountain View, was developed
and opened for tours by the U.S. Forest Service. It is ranked
among the ten most outstanding caves in North America and features
every known formation found in limestone caverns. A modern visitor
center houses a museum, theater, restrooms and book/gift store.
Visitors descend into the massive cavern via elevators. Other
Ozark caves open to the public include Cosmic Caverns, Hurricane
River Cave, Old Spanish Treasure Cave, Mystic Caverns, Onyx Cave,
War Eagle and Bull Shoals Caverns.
History and Heritage ---- The Natural State abounds with
historic places and museums. Arkansas Post, the place where
Arkansas history started in 1686, is a national memorial operated
by the National Park Service. Exhibits and video explain the rise
and fall of Arkansas’s first town. The Delta Cultural Center at
Helena tells the story of early settlement and the area’s close
ties to gospel and blues music.
The great delta’s prehistoric native populations and cultures
are explored at Parkin Archeological State Park at Parkin, Hampson
Museum State Park at Wilson and Toltec Mounds Archeological State
Park at Scott. Civil War battlefields are preserved and
interpreted at Pea Ridge National Military Park near Rogers and at
Prairie Grove State Park, west of Fayetteville. Pea Ridge was the
largest battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and the
programs/exhibits at Prairie Grove are top-notch.
Other historic places include Old Washington State Park (near
Hope), site of the state’s Confederate capital (1863-65) and
home of the Bowie knife’s creator, James Black. Fort Smith
National Historic Site features the courtroom of "Hangin’"
Judge Isaac C. Parker, re-creation of the 1886 gallows and the
infamous "Hell on the Border" jail. The Historic
Arkansas Museum (formerly called Arkansas Territorial Restoration)
in downtown Little Rock preserves some of the state’s oldest
structures, the "Arkansas Made" collection, and the
largest Bowie Knife display in the mid-South. Mountain Village
1890, in the Bull Shoals community, is a frontier town with
authentic buildings from the 19th century.
Special Stops ----- Arkansas has so many special places that
all cannot be listed here, but a few more must be mentioned,
including Arkansas State University Museum at Jonesboro
(prehistoric displays to antique toys and dolls); Eureka Springs
and North Arkansas Railway (ride aboard a vintage train); search
for real gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro
(and keep what you find); and downtown Hardy (three museums and
dozens of shops along a four-block Main Street).
For a free vacation kit, with dozens of other vacation ideas,
call 1-800-NATURAL or visit the state’s official tourism
website: www.Arkansas.com.
For more information on family
attractions in Arkansas go to Arkansas Family
Attractions
For more information on Hotels
and Resorts in Arkansas go to Arkansas Hotels and
Resorts
Photos and article courtesy of "Arkansas Department of
Parks & Tourism"
By Craig Ogilvie, travel writer
Department of Parks and Tourism
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