Make Family Memories in Springdale

Make Family Memories in Springdale

Nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, the city of Springdale is full of spots for unique family-friendly adventures. From a historic railroad, exhilarating rodeo and fun-filled minor league baseball stadium to a charming downtown and compelling museums, you’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy your Northwest Arkansas getaway. Read on for more ways to experience Springdale.

Ride the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad

For a one-of-a-kind family adventure, plan an excursion on the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, where you can ride in style on a restored 1920s to 1950s passenger train car. The excursions are round-trip tours with views of the Ozark Boston Mountains, sweeping river valleys and the historic Winslow Tunnel, built in 1882. Conductors enhance the journey with anecdotes about the rich history of the Ozarks.

Choose between a day-long excursion from Springdale to Van Buren with a three-hour stopover in historic downtown Van Buren or a three-hour excursion from Springdale to Winslow. Both are round trips through Ozark scenery you won’t be able to see any other way. The railroad offers haunted ghost rides and Treats on the Train for Halloween, Holiday Express Pajama Rides in December, as well as other feature rides like the Love Train and Mardi Gras Express.

While you’re at the Springdale Train Depot, don’t miss out on exploring the J. Reilly McCarren Transportation Museum, where you’ll find vintage cabooses and train memorabilia.

Experience a Northwest Arkansas Naturals Game

Attending a Naturals game will be a home run for the whole family. Enjoy an action-packed game of baseball (the Naturals are the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals), and delicious concessions in the state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark, where the Naturals have played since they moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2008.

Kids can play in the ballpark Kids Zone, mini-golf course, Little Arvest Ballpark and the Arvest Ballpark Train Stop, while adults may enjoy multiple gathering spots or rent one of the beautiful ballpark suites. If you're lucky, you might even be greeted by one of the Naturals’ two mascots — Strike the Sasquatch and Sinker the Lake Creature!

Explore the Ozark Highlands Nature Center

Escape to nature at the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center. Enjoy free admission to 32,000 square feet of fun, where you can learn about the natural world and outdoor recreation in Northwest Arkansas.

Truly a portal to Arkansas nature, you can see live wildlife, fish and native plants, relax in an outdoor pavilion and take a walk on a variety of trails. The center is located along the Spring Creek Trail, which connects to the Razorback Greenway and the Thunder Chicken mountain bike trail. Almost 4,000 linear feet of the center’s trails are ADA accessible.

The interactive, high-tech exhibits explain the natural world to eager youngsters in a way they’ll not only learn from, but love. Educational classes are also offered, both indoors and out. 

There are a plethora of other activities at the center. Practice your archery skills on the 12-lane 3D archery range or refine your shooting accuracy in the marksmanship center. Find interesting and unique items like local honey, cast-iron skillets and childrens’ books in the nature-based gift shop. Have fun on the Nature Play Playground, where kids can explore a boulder cavern, cargo net climbing and various log- and tree-climbing stations.

Get Your Heart Racing at Rodeo of the Ozarks

The Rodeo of the Ozarks is a classic Springdale event held each year since World War II. At the rodeo, expect heart-stopping competitions, talented acts, hilarious clowns, fun childrens’ events, western lifestyle vendors and finger-licking rodeo food.

Throughout the year, historic Parsons Stadium plays host to circuses, demolition derbies, monster truck rallies and carnivals for the thrill-seekers in the family. No matter which event you choose to attend, it’s a guaranteed good time.

Learn About Ozark History at the Shiloh Museum

Experience the Ozarks like it’s the 1870s at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. This regional history museum focuses on the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks and the everyday men, women and children who first settled the area. 

The museum has five core exhibits: Prehistoric Ozarks, Settling the Ozarks, Civil War to World War I, 1920 to 1950 and Modern Times. Rotating special exhibits feature interesting aspects of the Ozarks and surrounding areas. 

Along with the exhibits, you can explore six historic buildings on the museum grounds, all built between the 1880s and 1930s.

Stroll Through Downtown Springdale

Shop, dine and unwind in downtown Springdale. The streets are full of local businesses, and events like outdoor concerts, bike races, marathons, art walks and street dinners are common. You’re bound to find something your family will love.

If you’re a fan of the arts, stop by the arts district, a thriving community of creatives. The area is also home to several beautiful murals that tie into local culture, which you can admire during the self-guided Downtown Springdale Mural Tour. Shop locally at unique businesses featuring nationally-known handmade furniture, award-winning cakes, homemade pasta, an award-winning cidery, downhome brew pub, Bavarian biergarten and coffee brewed just the way you like it. In the fall, live outdoor performances fill the air of renovated Luther George Park.

Find Your Next Family Adventure in Springdale

Whatever you’re looking for in a family getaway, Springdale has it. A hub of Northwest Arkansas, it offers all the conveniences of a city with all the charm of a Southern small town. Ready to explore the beauty of the Ozarks, learn about the area’s history and have fun with the family? Visit explorespringdale.com to start planning!