Over 100 Fun Things to do for Free in Arkansas
Cheap, free, inexpensive, budget friendly, low-cost, economical,
bargain - no matter how you describe it, everyone is looking for a
vacation destination that falls into those categories. Look no further
than Arkansas, The Natural State, the perfect place for a thrifty family
vacation with a variety of free and inexpensive things to do.
Arkansas not only provides a great vacation for a little money, it also
has many, many attractions that are free. Here are over 100 randomly
chosen FREE things taking place throughout the year to do while you're
here.
Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame
- Discover which famous entertainers have Arkansas ties by visiting the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame
located in the Pine Bluff Convention Center. An animatronic statue of
Johnny Cash "singing" several of his original songs greets visitors as
they enter. The collections on display include everything from guitars
to drumsticks owned by the likes of Levon Helm, Al Green, Jimmy
Driftwood and Art Porter, Sr. to impressive stage and wardrobe costumes
of such artists: Jim Ed Brown, Charlie Rich, K.T. Oslin, and Tracy
Lawrence, among others. Movie and television fans can see memorabilia
owned or associated with film stars such as Jerry Van Dyke, Harry
Thomason, and Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton. These are just a few of
the numerous artifacts on display from the various entertainers
represented. One Convention Center Plaza. 1-800-536-7660.
- There are ample opportunities for free fishing on both Greers Ferry Lake and nearby Little Red River. Swimming areas are found around the shore of the lake as well. The William Carl Garner Visitor Center in Heber Springs
offers exhibits, an audio visual presentation and a children’s touch
table. One of the most rewarding hikes in the state is the one going up Sugar Loaf Mountain, located on an island in the lake. Self-guided tours are available at the Greers Ferry Lake National Fish Hatchery, which also have a visitor center with aquarium.
Greers Ferry Lake
- Enjoy a warm welcome, a hot cup of coffee and a relaxing place to learn more about The Natural State. Visit one of the new Arkansas Welcome Centers
at Texarkana, Fort Smith/Van Buren, Corning or El Dorado. View exhibits
of the local area, check e-mail, make online reservations through
www.Arkansas.com, and plug-in for Internet access. Next to be built are
structures at West Memphis, Lake Village and Blytheville.
- In the Ozarks, the Buffalo National River
with its towering limestone bluffs is America's first national river.
Hiking trails traverse historic farmsteads, quiet stream valleys,
waterfalls and wooded mountainsides, and offer bluff-top vistas. (870)
439-2502
- Free folk musicals and dancing on the Stone County Courthouse Square in Mountain View
have been a local tradition since 1963. Professionals and amateurs join
together in impromptu band performances every Friday and Saturday night
during warmer months. 1-888-679-2859
- Scenic drives, walking paths and historic Bathhouse Row make up the unique Hot Springs National Park set in the city of Hot Springs amid the Ouachita National Forest. Bring your own containers and take home FREE mineral water. 1-800-SPA-CITY
Old Mill
- An authentic reproduction of a water-powered grist mill, The Old Mill in North Little Rock appears in the opening scene of the classic movie, "Gone with the Wind." Tour guides available by appointment. (501) 758-1424
- A variety of free programs and activities are available at the North Little Rock Laman Library.
The Argenta branch is now a part of the 3rd Friday Argenta Artwalk.
Family nights, special Children’s Week, photography exhibits from
nationally acclaimed institutions and storytellers are just a few of the
items on the calendar.
- Norfork National Fish Hatchery,
located at the base of Norfork Dam east of Mountain Home, offers tours
of facilities that produce millions of trout for Ozark streams. Children
may try their luck at landing a trout from the waters of nearby Dry Run
Creek. (870) 499-5255
- Step into the magic of Terra Studios
just outside of Fayetteville to find creatures from another world and
to watch Bluebirds of Happiness being made. 1-800-255-8995
- Waterfalls, lakes, mountainsides and meadows at Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton inspired the creation of the Arkansas State Parks system. (501) 727-5441
- The last public ferryboat operating in the state, Peel Ferry transports vehicles and passengers across a section of Bull Shoals Lake. (870) 743-2100
Crowley's Ridge Nature Center
- Nature Centers at Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Fort Smith, plus the
newest edition at Little Rock, showcase the best of nature found in each
region. These range from a 20,000-gallon ox-bow lake aquarium among
other exhibits at Delta Rivers Nature Center in Pine Bluff; a surround-sound recreation of the evolution that caused Crowley's Ridge at the Crowley's Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro; and exhibits depicting the diversity of the Arkansas River Valley at the Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, built on 170 acres of former Fort Chaffee land next to Wells Lake. The Central Arkansas Nature Center
in downtown Little Rock provides many watchable wildlife opportunities
within an urban area, including basking water turtles, butterflies and
migrating pelicans. A portion of the Arkansas River Trail crosses the
grounds offering more options for exploration.
- Thorncrown Chapel
in Eureka Springs was named among the top four buildings of the 20th
century by the American Institute of Architects. The chapel uses 425
large panels of glass to showcase the natural beauty of the Ozarks.
Designed by world-renowned Arkansas architect, the late E. Fay Jones,
the non-denominational chapel is open from March through December. (479)
253-7401
- In Fayetteville, the National Cemetery was established in 1867 to lay to rest the remains of Union soldiers killed in the region. The Confederate Cemetery is located just a few blocks away. (479) 521-1710; www.fayettevillear.com
Lum 'N' Abner Museum
- The "Lum 'N' Abner" radio program is remembered at the Lum & Abner Jot 'Em Down Store and Museum
in Pine Ridge, where pieces of Lum 'N' Abner history preserve an
important era in American life. The museum is open March through
November. Call in advance for tours. (870) 326-4442
- Stroll through Eureka Springs,
an Ozark Mountain town known for its beautiful Victorian architecture,
winding mountainside streets and block after block of one-of-a-kind
shops, fine art galleries, and restaurants. (479) 253-8737
- Hit the trail - the two-wheel kind - and explore the beauty of the Ozark National Forest on the 50-mile Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail,
located in Mountain View. This new and newsworthy trail has been
designated by the by the International Mountain Biking Association as an
"Epic Ride," a status only 37 trails across the nation currently hold,
These rides are on the top of many mountain bikers "to ride" lists.
Hemingway-Pfeiffer
Museum and Educational Center
- The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center
in Piggott includes the home and barn studio where Ernest Hemingway
lived and wrote portions of "A Farewell to Arms." Tours conducted
weekdays and Saturdays. (870) 598-3487
- The beautiful Arkansas River valley is the setting for Arkansas Wine Country, where five wineries on Ark. 186 S. offer tours and wine tastings: Mount Bethel; Post Winery; Wiederkehr Wine Cellars; Chateau Aux Arc, and Neumeier Winery. And at Cowie Wine Cellars visit the Arkansas Historic Wine Museum in Paris.
- Drive the Boston Mountain Scenic Loop, the only scenic loop
in the state. From Fayetteville, take curve-hugging U.S. Hwy. 71 over
Mt. Gayler past small gift shops and mountaintop lodging to Alma. From
Alma, take Interstate 540 through the rolling hills of a pastoral
countryside and a tunnel through a mountain back to Fayetteville.
- The Louisiana Purchase added the territory that would become Arkansas to the U.S. Commemorating this historical event is the Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park,
located near Brinkley. The main feature of the park is a 950-foot
boardwalk into a rare headwater swamp, where sits a marker denoting the
initial point for the 1815 survey of purchase lands west of the
Mississippi. 1-888-AT-PARKS
Pillow-Thompson House
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Lake Leatherwood Park
in Eureka Springs is a 1,600-acre municipal park with a 100-acre spring
fed lake. Located off Ark. 62 at the western edge of town, it is a
place of natural serenity. (479) 253-8624
- Built in 1896, the Pillow-Thompson House in Helena is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture in the South. (870) 338-8535
- At Devil's Den State Park
hiking and backpacking trails lead to backcountry areas where you can
explore caves, such as the eerie sounding Devil's Icebox, crevices and
bluff overlooks. (479) 761-3325
- Exhibits at the Arkansas State University Museum
in Jonesboro include Native American history, a walk-through pioneer
"town," military items, natural history displays, a priceless glass
collection, geology, mastodon and other prehistoric fossils, plus
traveling exhibits. (870) 972-2074
- Cradled by the bluffs of the War Eagle River in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Withrow Springs State Park near Huntsville is a peaceful setting for exploring nature. (479) 559-2593
- At the Delta Cultural Center
in Helena a restored depot and storefront features gospel and blues
music heritage, Civil War history and the settlement of the Delta.
1-800-358-0972
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources
- Learn about Arkansas's oil and brine industries and the 1920s oil boom at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover. The museum's Oil Field Park has genuine derricks and oilfield equipment. (870) 725-2877
- The Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area
extends for 12 miles along the Cossatot River. The wild and scenic
river forms Cossatot Falls, a rugged and rocky canyon that challenges
the most experienced canoeist and kayakers. South of Mena. (501)
682-7777
- The Ouachita National Recreation Trail is an east-west
corridor extending from Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock to
Talimena State Park near Talihina, Okla. This mountain trail offers
hikers a wide range of opportunities from scenic vistas and upland
hardwood and pine forests to clear streams, high ridges and wide
valleys.
- Set in the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi River, the Old State House Museum
in Little Rock has been designated a National Historic Landmark, though
it is probably best known throughout the country as the scene of
President Clinton's 1992 and 1996 election-night celebrations.
- A scaled-down replica of the nation's Capitol, the Arkansas State Capitol
in Little Rock took a dozen years to build and was completed in 1911.
Located on the grounds are several monuments. Self-guided and guided
tours available. (501) 682-5080
Photographer's Island
- For grand vistas, travel to the highest point in Arkansas (2,753 feet) at Mount Magazine State Park, complete with a new lodge, cabins, conference center and visitors center. South of Paris. (479) 963-8502
- Pose with one foot in Texas and the other in Arkansas at Photographer's Island on State Line Avenue in Texarkana.
- On the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, the Tommy Boyer Hall of Champions Museum in Bud Walton Arena and the Jerry Jones/Jim Lindsey Hall of Champions Museum in the Frank Broyles Center display over a century of Arkansas sports memories. (479) 575-2000.
- The 50-mile Wolf Pen Gap ATV trail
near Mena is the first formal trail system in the Ouachita National
Forest specifically for four-wheelers and dirt bikes. (501) 394-2382
- See and feel the history of this important civil rights landmark, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site,
and learn about the "Little Rock Nine." A life-size monument to the
Little Rock Nine can be found on the grounds of the Arkansas State
Capitol. (See number 31). (501) 374-1957
- Go for a hike atop Arkansas's second-highest peak at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, a cloud-capped hideaway reigning above the Ouachita Mountains. (501) 394-2863
Queen Wilhelmina State Park
- Little Rock Campaign Driving Tour outlines the
1863 advance by Union forces who seized the state capital and includes
detailed exhibit panels at roadside pullouts that are accessible from
Interstate 40 between Little Rock and Lonoke. For a brochure, call (501)
370-3290.
- Miss Laura's Visitor Center is a restored turn-of-the-century brothel that is now Fort Smith's visitors center. 800-637-1477
- Enjoy a self-guided driving tour or walk the one-mile Battlefield Trail at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Prairie Grove. (479) 846-2990
- Established in 1878 as a Benedictine Monastery, Subiaco Abbey
now serves as a college preparatory school for boys. Pick up a brochure
on-site for a self-guided walking tour to view the dramatic stone
architecture and manicured grounds. Scenic Ark. 22; (479) 934-1000
- A rare example of a suspension bridge in Arkansas, Beaver Bridge was built in 1943 and is still in use today. Ark. 187, east of Beaver.
- Take a driving or walking tour of the Quapaw Quarter Historic District,
a historic downtown area with restored antebellum and Victorian
structures including a park named for General Douglas MacArthur, who was
born in Little Rock, and the Villa Marre, featured in the opening of
"Designing Women." (501) 371-0075
- The twin towers of Old Main, completed in 1875, preside over the scenic campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Former President Bill Clinton once taught law on this campus. (479) 575-2000
Villa Marre
- The entire downtown of Calico Rock Historic District
is on the National Historic register and has served as a movie set. In
addition to several antique shops and restaurants, don't miss Peppersauce, a genuine ghost town. (870) 297-4129
- Overlooking the Arkansas River Valley, 14 miles of trails encircle Mount Nebo, the state park seven miles west of Dardanelle on Ark. 155. (479) 229-3655
- Watch the working water-powered grist mill at War Eagle Mill.
An 18-foot waterwheel splashes and mill stones grind cornmeal daily
from organically grown grain in a pastoral setting that includes the War
Eagle River and bridge. (479) 789-5343
- Boutiques, shops, the historic square and the restored art deco Rialto Theatre are part of the El Dorado Downtown Historic District. The area contains a significant collection of 1920s and 1930s architecture. 888-921-BOOM
- Talimena National Scenic Drive,
a National Forest Scenic Byway for years and now a Federal Highway
Administration national roadway, winding 54 miles from Mena to Talihina,
Okla., offers breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding countryside
from peaks of nearly 3,000 feet.
Van Buren Downtown
Historic District
- Pick up a brochure at the Chamber of Commerce office in the Old Frisco Depot for a self-guided Van Buren Walking Tour
featuring 52 interesting stops. The Van Buren Downtown Historic
District has six blocks of art galleries, antique shops, historical
attractions and restaurants located along a beautifully restored
Victorian Main Street. 800-332-5889.
- Pick a lane for a spring drive on a scenic wildflower route:
in north Arkansas U.S. Highways 62, 412 and 63 from Eureka Springs east
through Powhatan; in eastern Arkansas from Jonesboro south along U.S.
49 to Brinkley; south of Little Rock along U.S. 167 to El Dorado;
southwest Arkansas on U.S. 70 from Hot Springs southwest to the junction
of U.S. 71, and on U.S. 270 from Hot Springs to Mena; in western
Arkansas on U.S. 71 from Interstate 40 north to Fayetteville, along
Scenic Byway 7 from Hot Springs to Harrison, and U.S. 70 from Carlisle
east to Hazen.
- White Rock Mountain Recreation Area
near Mulberry offers some of the most scenic views in the state from
its bluffs, and it has hiking trails and a lake. (479) 667-2191
- Visit the sites related to former President Bill Clinton,
such as his boyhood home, high school, favorite hamburger hangout and
more. Call the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau for
self-guided brochures. 800-SPA-CITY
- In the Ozark Mountains, the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail
has been rated one of the most scenic trails in the U.S. It's great for
day hiking, weekend adventures or extended backpacking. (479) 968-2354
- A scenic 200-mile route atop the Delta's only "highlands," Crowley's Ridge Parkway passes by or near five state parks, a national forest, Civil War sites and more. (870) 910-8080; www.byways.org
Arkansas Post National Historic Site
- The first permanent European settlement on the lower Mississippi
River (1686) and Arkansas's first territorial capital are commemorated
by the Arkansas Post National Memorial and Arkansas Post Museum. The memorial is located on Ark. 169 and the museum is on U.S. 165 in Gillett.
- Pick up a brochure at the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce for the Arkadelphia Historic Homes Tour, a driving tour of several homes listed on the National Register, some of which date from the 1840s. 1-800-874-4289
- The Hillcrest Historic District in Little Rock includes a National Register-listed collection of some of the city's early residential areas. 1-800-844-4781.
- Tour one of the world's largest fish hatcheries, Joe Hogan Fish Hatchery, on U.S. 70 near Lonoke. (501) 676-6963
- A herd of about 450 elk range in the northwest portion of the state
along the Buffalo National River. Catch a view of the magnificent
beasts and other watchable wildlife in the pastoral setting of Boxley Valley on Ark. 21.
- In Bentonville, the Wal-Mart Visitors Center contains exhibits tracing the formation and growth of Wal-Mart stores and includes founder Sam Walton's desk. (479) 273-1329.
- Find flamboyant fall foliage
on Ark. 309 from Paris across Mount Magazine to Havana; on the "Pig
Trail" from Ark. 23 north of Ozark to its junction with Ark. 16; on Ark.
21 north from Clarksville to the Buffalo River; and on Ark. 5 and 14
from Calico Rock and Allison to Blanchard Springs Caverns.
Fall Color on Mount Magazine
- At the largest free outdoor blues fest in the nation, the the King Biscuit Blues Festival, Delta blues legends and national acts perform in the land where the music was born. The event is held each October in Helena.
- There's ample opportunity to people watch when strolling through the River Market District
in downtown Little Rock. Numerous restaurants, shops and bars line the
area and benches scattered around provide the perfect place to sit and
watch the world go by. Nearby Riverfront Park has a playground for the
kids, history banners detailing the capital city's beginnings, and the
original "little rock." 800-844-4781
- Located 10 miles east of Rogers on Ark. 12, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area
is within Hobbs State Management Area, covering 11,750 acres along the
southern shore of Beaver Lake. In its initial development, the state
park currently offers nature study, trails, and undeveloped access to
the 28,000-acre lake. (479) 789-2380
- Be dazzled by the masters, one of the country's finest collections of drawings, and traveling exhibits at the Arkansas Arts Center in Little Rock. (501) 372-4000
- Enjoy ice skating, swimming, the gymnasium and numerous other activities at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale. (479) 756-8090
- Climb and hike at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little
Rock and enjoy the Arkansas Arboretum, a 71-acre site exhibiting
examples of native flora that represents Arkansas's six natural
divisions. (501) 868-5806; www.ArkansasStateParks.com
- Two of Arkansas's natural divisions come together at Cane Creek State Park in Star City -- the Mississippi Delta and the hills of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. (870) 628-4714; www.ArkansasStateParks.com
- In addition to free admission to the museum, the Heritage House of Montgomery County
in Mount Ida has two free festivals: Heritage Day in the spring and
Sorghum Squeezin' Day in the fall. Heritage Day includes live
demonstrations of such activities as blacksmithing, quilting,
muzzleloading and open fire cooking, while Sorghum Squeezin' day
includes sorghum cane squeezing with vintage mills then cooking into
syrup, with samplings of the fnished product, and demonstrations of
wheat and corn grinding.
- At Walnut Hill, an 11-acre historic site makes up Conway Cemetery State Park, which preserves the final resting place of Arkansas's first Governor, James Sevier Conway.
- Pedestal Rocks (2.2 miles) and Kings Bluff (1.7 miles) trails
offer up-close looks at Ozark Mountain geology. Both trails in the
unique area feature easy hiking, but border high cliffs with steep
drop-offs. There are picnic areas and parking available. Take Ark. 7 to
Pelsor, turn right (east) on Ark. 16 and go 6 miles.
- Take Altus exit 41 off I-40 to Ark. 186 for a drive over St. Mary's Mountain and past vineyards, wineries and St. Mary's historic church.
- Lake Catherine State Park
is nestled on the shores of 1,940-acre Lake Catherine, one of the five
popular diamond lakes in the Hot Springs area. (501) 844-4176
- A restored 1901 historically furnished home, the Dr. A.G. Anderson House in Eudora serves as the town's visitors center and museum. (870) 355-8443.
- Anglers and nature lovers enjoy Lake Charles State Park's 645 acres of spring-fed waters in the Ozark foothills near Powhatan. (870) 878-6595
- Visit The Helena Museum for which Mark Twain helped raise funds. (870) 338-7790.
- Enjoy the great outdoors at North Little Rock's Burns Park. At 1,575 acres, it is one of the largest city parks in the nation and even has a covered bridge.
- At Lake Chicot State Park,
the Mississippi Delta's captivating beauty and recreational
opportunities come together at Arkansas's largest natural lake. The
20-mile-long oxbow lake was formed centuries ago when the Mississippi
River changed its course. (870) 265-5480
- Three state historic sites commemorate the battles of Poison
Spring, Marks' Mills and Jenkins' Ferry, all part of the Union Army's Red River Campaign.
Mammoth Spring State Park
- Lake Frierson State Park
10 miles north of Jonesboro on Ark. 141 is known for its springtime
blaze of dogwoods, picnic sites, playground and self-guided trail. (870)
932-2615
- In El Dorado, take a walk through the South Arkansas Arboretum, a 13-acre site that exhibits plants indigenous to Arkansas's West Gulf Coastal plain region. (870) 862-8131, ext. 170.
- View Arkansas's largest spring, with an hourly flow of nine million gallons of water, at Mammoth Spring State Park on U.S. 63 in Mammoth Spring. (870) 625-7364
- On a clear day, you can see three states (Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma) from the 85-foot-high Rich Mountain Fire Tower, located 12 miles west of Mena and open Memorial Day until the second week of November. (479) 394-2912.
- A variety of year-round feathered inhabitants and eagles in the winter makes bird watching popular at Millwood State Park in Ashdown. (870) 898-2800
- Numerous cities showcase festive spirits with thousands of holiday
lights from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year's Day in the Trail of Holiday Lights tour.
- Scenic Ark. 23, a National Scenic Byway connecting from U.S. 71
south of Booneville, northward from Ozark to its junction with Ark. 16,
is known as "The Pig Trail" to Razorback football enthusiasts.
- Enjoy the hiking trails and recreation areas that are part of the hallmarks of the 7,000-acre Village Creek State Park. (870) 238-9406
- Virtually unchanged since the 1920s, the downtown district of Hardy
has been transformed into a shopping destination for antiques and
crafts. Old Hardy Town boasts 43 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. (870) 625-7364 or (870) 856-3571
Old Hardy Town
- Rich in wildlife, White Oak Lake State Park
near Bluff City offers regular sightings of great blue herons, egrets,
ospreys and green herons and wintering eagles. (870) 685-2748
- Pull up a lawn chair or a blanket, break out the picnic basket and
enjoy free cinema. These Arkansas communities give a whole new twist on
the outdoor movie with huge screens for showing some of your favorite
films: Movies in the Park, Little Rock’s Riverfront Park, the Silver Moon Cinema in Conway, Starlight Cinema in Morrilton, and Movies in the Park in Texarkana.
- Tour authentic and re-created structures from Arkansas's Grand Prairie region at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart.
Learn about the German settlers who gave the town its name and how rice
farming came to the state. Exhibits include farm equipment, pioneer
life and duck hunting. (870) 673-7001; www.stuttgartarkansas.com
- Enjoy environmental education and interpretation at the visitors center of the 65,000-acre Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge.
The refuge is the world's largest green-tree reservoir consisting of
the 15,000-acre Felsenthal Pool that increases in size to 36,000 acres
during winter flooding. It is located five miles west of Crossett on
Ark. 82. (870) 364-3167.
- Designed from suggestions made by area children, Peabody Park
in downtown Little Rock includes outdoor and underground rooms, large
native stones for climbing and a large water spray area in the middle of
the park which has motion-censored waterspouts. The Ozark Pavilion
offers a view of the Arkansas River and the wetlands area containing
indigenous plant species located near the river bank. Riverfront Park.
- Interpretive exhibits tell the story of the development of the River Valley at the Arkansas River Visitors Center.
It also offers wildlife exhibits, an audio visual presentation, some
hands-on exhibits and a great location for watching barges pass through
the locks. Off of Ark. 7 on Lock & Dam Road at Russellville. (501)
968-5008.
- Visit Rapps Barren Settlement, a historic building in a village setting that illustrates Mountain Home's early days. 800-822-3536.
- Surrounding the monument to Private Herman Davis, an Arkansas farm boy and WWI hero, is Herman Davis State Park on Ark. 18 in the community of Manila.
Geocaching
- Tracing the progression of Dallas County's early plantation life, which was dominated by the timber industry, the Dallas County Historical Museum in Fordyce also tells the stories of the people who worked the land. 800-352-7202
- The predominately wooded path of Bell Slough Nature Trail
covers 2.25 miles in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Bell Slough
Wildlife Management Area south of Conway. The nature trail is great for
birding. 877-470-3650.
- The newest outdoor craze is geocaching. Geocaching is a treasure
hunt where participants use a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) device
to hide and seek containers along with others taking part in the
activity. Arkansas's State Parks are a great place to try your
geocaching luck. Information and guidelines can be found on ArkansasStateParks.com.
- Take a moderate hike to Eden Falls. From Ark. 43 between
Boxley and Ponca, turn onto the road to Lost Valley, which is part of
the Buffalo National River. Follow the marked trail to the bluff
shelter. Eden Falls is located at the far end of the massive overhang.
-
Walk the Turtle Moon labyrinth at The Retreat at Sky Ridge Cabin Resort in Eureka Springs. Located in a natural setting by Cedar Creek in this 140 acre native bird sanctuary, it is a classic 7-circuit labyrinth open free to the public daily, sunrise to sunset, year round. Unlike a maze designed to hide the ultimate destination, labyrinths typically feature a circular pattern with a clear path to the center, using the same path to exit. It is believed walking a labyrinth stimulates both sides of the brain to more easily clear one’s mind for internal focus and relaxation.