10 of the Top Places to Kiss in The Natural State
Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
ARKANSAS – With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you might be looking for a special place to spend idyllic time with your sweetie. You can create a tale of love and adventure in Arkansas at numerous romantic places, but here’s a tip on 10 of the top places to kiss in The Natural State.
1. Locking lips at this locale is literally the top place to kiss in Arkansas. Signal Hill at Mt. Magazine State Park is the highest point of the peak at 2,753 feet above mean sea level. There’s no higher ground in The Natural State. Although, when kissing your sweetheart, your feet may not be on the ground anyway. A balcony of the lodge or deck of one of the cabins makes for a romantic background as well. www.mountmagazinestatepark.com
2. Get cozy atop the late 1930s-era Ferris wheel at The Park at West End in Fort Smith. The Ferris wheel was originally built and displayed at the 1935 San Diego World’s Fair. This is its fourth home. This retro amusement park also contains a hand-painted carousel from Italy and two eateries. A 1957 Pullman dining car serves as an Italian diner, and a 1963 British Leyland double-decker, converted into a concession stand, serves hot dogs, snow cones and popcorn. A penny arcade and calliope circus wagon add to the nostalgia and enchantment. www.fortsmith.org
3. Show your heart’s desire the depths of your love with a trip to Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View. Talk about mood lighting, the quiet illumination of the soft-hued calcite formations is sure to kindle a romantic pause. Experiencing the beauty of the cave together will be a treasured memory. www.blanchardcavetours.com
4. Sunset Point just sounds like a place to make out, doesn’t it? Hey - this is a public family venue with a beautiful view at Mt. Nebo State Park near Dardanelle, so don’t make too much of a public display of affection. But, at day’s end, it’s definitely a heart-warming place for a little smooch. www.arkansasstateparks.com
5. Whitaker Point, a sandstone rock outcrop jutting out about 100 feet above the forest floor, is one of the most photographed spots in the state. It is located in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area or southwestern Newton County. Take a hike to the point, relish the view, and hang on tight to each other as you fall in love but not over the cliff. Romance is also in the air here if you’re up for a hot air balloon ride over the Buffalo National River. www.nps.gov/buff
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
ARKANSAS – With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you might be looking for a special place to spend idyllic time with your sweetie. You can create a tale of love and adventure in Arkansas at numerous romantic places, but here’s a tip on 10 of the top places to kiss in The Natural State.
1. Locking lips at this locale is literally the top place to kiss in Arkansas. Signal Hill at Mt. Magazine State Park is the highest point of the peak at 2,753 feet above mean sea level. There’s no higher ground in The Natural State. Although, when kissing your sweetheart, your feet may not be on the ground anyway. A balcony of the lodge or deck of one of the cabins makes for a romantic background as well. www.mountmagazinestatepark.com
2. Get cozy atop the late 1930s-era Ferris wheel at The Park at West End in Fort Smith. The Ferris wheel was originally built and displayed at the 1935 San Diego World’s Fair. This is its fourth home. This retro amusement park also contains a hand-painted carousel from Italy and two eateries. A 1957 Pullman dining car serves as an Italian diner, and a 1963 British Leyland double-decker, converted into a concession stand, serves hot dogs, snow cones and popcorn. A penny arcade and calliope circus wagon add to the nostalgia and enchantment. www.fortsmith.org
3. Show your heart’s desire the depths of your love with a trip to Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View. Talk about mood lighting, the quiet illumination of the soft-hued calcite formations is sure to kindle a romantic pause. Experiencing the beauty of the cave together will be a treasured memory. www.blanchardcavetours.com
4. Sunset Point just sounds like a place to make out, doesn’t it? Hey - this is a public family venue with a beautiful view at Mt. Nebo State Park near Dardanelle, so don’t make too much of a public display of affection. But, at day’s end, it’s definitely a heart-warming place for a little smooch. www.arkansasstateparks.com
5. Whitaker Point, a sandstone rock outcrop jutting out about 100 feet above the forest floor, is one of the most photographed spots in the state. It is located in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area or southwestern Newton County. Take a hike to the point, relish the view, and hang on tight to each other as you fall in love but not over the cliff. Romance is also in the air here if you’re up for a hot air balloon ride over the Buffalo National River. www.nps.gov/buff
6. The dark basement of the Flying Saucer in Little Rock’s River Market District is a hip place for a little lip play. You can even graffiti your names on the walls. And if love alone is not enough to sustain you, there are plenty of good eats and drinks available here. You can’t go wrong with a romantic weekend in the Capital City, located in the heart of Arkansas. www.beerknurd.com
7. At River Reach Park in historic downtown Helena-West Helena, stroll hand in hand on the elevated boardwalk that leads to the river’s edge. Mesmerize your mate with a passionate kiss while you watch, in Mark Twain’s words, “the great Mississippi, the majestic, the magnificent Mississippi, rolling its mile-wide tide along, shining in the sun.” www.phillipscountychamber.org
8. Live racing season at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs began Jan. 18 and runs through April 12. An exciting place to kiss your sweetie is at the finish line as the horses thunder past. Your heart may be racing from more than the kiss if you have a winning ticket in hand. www.oaklawn.com
9. It’s the view, it’s the setting, it’s the fourth-floor balcony at Dr. Baker’s Lounge in the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs. Order a beverage, toast to your love and seal it with a kiss. Then enjoy looking out over the wooded historic district of this Victorian resort town. And just so you know, Mount Victoria Bed & Breakfast Inn in Eureka Springs was named the Most Romantic Inn in America for 2007-2008 by BedandBreakfast.com. www.eurekasprings.org
10. Waterfalls are a great backdrop for a caress and a kiss and we have plenty of them in Arkansas. Probably the best-known natural waterfall in the state is Cedar Falls at Petit Jean State Park atop Petit Jean Mountain near Morrilton. This 95-foot gusher spills into Cedar Creek and is accessed via the Cedar Falls Trail, which winds through Cedar Creek Canyon to the “splash down.” You’ll need to take water to wet your whistle. The trip is 2-1/4 miles round-trip and is classified as moderate-to-strenuous. www.petitjeanstatepark.com or www.watersports-arkansas.com
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Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"