ArkansasKids.com Sports a Whole New Look

August 19, 2005

Kerry Kraus, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

Traveling with kids, whether for a week or a weekend, can sometimes present a dilemma for parents. How do you know what attractions, events, and destinations will appeal to the whole family, especially a place you've never visited before?

The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism has made the parent's job a whole lot easier by totally revamping www.ArkansasKids.com. Designed with kids in mind, the colorful Web site has tons of information for planning a trip, or for doing homework.

"We learned from focus groups that people involve their children in travel planning and that when the kids are happy on a trip, the parents are happy," Marla Johnson Norris, CEO of Aristotle, Inc., who designed the new format, said. "If the Web site can make it easier for a parent to bring the family to Arkansas, we've done our job," Norris continued.

There are special sections on Arkansas State Parks, Games and Downloads, Facts About Arkansas, and Family Trip Ideas. Other topics include Events and Activities, Attractions, and Famous Arkansans. In addition, the popular Bored No More feature returns and is complemented by an online calendar of events highlighting festivals of interest to children.

According to Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Communications Manager Jana Greenbaum, "The re-design of www.ArkansasKids.com is more visually appealing with better photos and more kid-friendly graphics. The site has been expanded to include more useful information for students who are researching reports for school, or teachers who are seeking new ideas about Arkansas for their classrooms."

The State Parks information highlights Arkansas' 51 state parks and what each one offers, whether the park is water, nature, mountain, museum or history-oriented. Under Games and Downloads, you'll find the obvious -- games. In fact there are eight games to choose from that test your knowledge of The Natural State. There are also Arkansas screensavers, electronic postcards, and wallpapers highlighting the scenic beauty of the state, while teachers and students will find helpful resources for studying Arkansas history.

The Facts about Arkansas section covers agriculture, industries, and products of The Natural State. The importance of farming to the state's economy is explained, while the top dozen businesses, courtesy of Arkansas Business, are described. The products segment features everything from foodstuffs to boats to Arkansas handmade crafts.

Family Trip Ideas plots various tours around the state, ranging from one- to four-day excursions. All one has to do is print one and go. Events and Activities allows you to choose events for a specific age category while Attractions are arranged by city, type, and lake/or river. Famous Arkansans is just that -- a list of famous Arkansans, either natives or those who chose to make the state home at one time or another. Discover who they are by checking the listings under each of these categories: Arts and Entertainment; Authors and Journalists; Sports; History; Politics; Business Leaders; and Architecture.

Finally, you can sign up for a family-oriented electronic newsletter, request an Arkansas vacation planning kit, or learn how to become a Junior Naturalist at an Arkansas State Park.

For more information, contact Jana Greenbaum, communications manager for the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, at (501) 682-7606 or jana.greenbaum@arkansas.gov.

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"