The Lodge at Mount Magazine is picturesque no matter the time of year but there’s something about a blanket of snow that makes it special. Massive rock fireplaces in the lobby and restaurant provide perfect places to snuggle up while viewing the gorgeous river valley below.

Enjoying a good meal with friends and family makes any trip special. Southern by locale and by nature, Arkansas offers a wide and varied menu, ranging from down-home Blue Plate specials and barbecue to fine dining and haute cuisine, in addition to the taste of the Old South.

If the old adage is true and music does indeed soothe the savage beast, then one doesn’t stand a chance in Arkansas. There is music in every corner awaiting you. Symphonic, bluegrass, country, gospel, the Blues, popular, and jazz…they’re all here. You’ll even find some genres meshed together such as A Tribute to The Beatles and the South Arkansas Symphony in El Dorado.

Wildlife watching is always a popular pastime in The Natural State but winter affords the chance to see some special visitors. Canadian geese, trumpeter swans, ducks, eagles and others escape to Arkansas during the colder months for our more temperate climates.

One of the most impressive art facilities to open in America in the past century is Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville. The world-class collection of art ranges from the Old Masters to today and includes such iconic images as Norman Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter and Gilbert Stuart’s Portrait of George Washington. Thanks to a contribution from Walmart, admission is free.

Test your luck at games of chance in two locations in Arkansas. Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis has Reel Games, blackjack and video poker, in addition to the first class live greyhound racing year-round. At Oaklawn Racing and Gaming in Hot Springs, you can play table games, poker, Reel Games, instant racing and, of course, the running of the Thoroughbreds from mid-January to mid-April.