Travelin’ the Arkansas Ouachitas: Events Taking Place During February

Zoie Clift, travel writer
Arkansas Tourism

In order to better serve your needs and to keep you from getting extremely long documents from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, we have decided to break down our Travelin’ Arkansas release into regions organized by date. This way you will be able to look only at the areas you are interested in covering. The territories covered in Travelin' Arkansas adhere to the six geographical regions found in the Arkansas Tour Guide. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions: communications@arkansas.com or 501-682-7606.

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Visit Mount Ida between Feb. 1-28 for Eagles Over Harbor in celebration of the majestic wild Bald Eagle population on Lake Ouachita. Rusty Scarborough will present a seminar on wild birds with special feathered co-hosts on Feb. 6. Eric Maynard will present a slideshow on wildlife photography followed by a wildlife photo hike on Feb. 22. Both seminars will take place at the Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa marina. Private eagle watching barge tours will also be offered. For more details call 870 -867-2191 or visit www.mountainharborresort.com.

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A President's Concert at Henderson State University is set for Feb. 2 in Arkadelphia. The concert will take place at the Harwood Recital Hall at the HSU Campus. More details can be found by calling 870-230-5000.

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Lake Ouachita provides remarkable habitat for wintering Bald Eagles. November through February, Lake Ouachita State Park in Mountain Pine hosts Eagle Watch Tours aboard covered tour boats in search of these magnificent raptors. Sightings are not guaranteed, but on most tours eagles and a variety of wintering and migrating waterfowl are spotted. Dress warmly and bring binoculars if you can. Admission is $8.50 for adults and $4.50 for kids age 6-12. Make reservations and purchase tickets at the park visitor center. More information can be found by calling 501-767-9366.

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Stroll downtown Hot Springs and enjoy contemporary art during Gallery Walk on Feb. 5. On this day, the art galleries of the Victorian downtown district stay open until 9 p.m., often with music and complimentary refreshments. For more information call 501-624-0550 or check out www.hotsprings.org.

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A production of Arsenic and Old Lace is set for Feb. 11- 21 in Hot Springs at The Pocket Community Theatre. Performances are held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The show introduces the charming and innocent ladies who populate their cellar with the remains of socially and religiously acceptable roomers; the antics of their brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt, and the activities of the other brother. For details call 501-623-8585 or visit www.pockettheatre.com.

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Perfect for a romantic evening for two or a whole group of romancers, Valentine's Day At Harbor is scheduled for Feb. 14 at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa in Mount Ida. An elegant but casual evening of romantic dining awaits you. Reservations are required. Contact the lodge directly at 870-867-1200 for more information or check out www.mountainharborresort.com.

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Bring your sweetheart to the mountain for a romantic dinner in the Queen's Restaurant at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Mena on Feb. 14. A special Valentine's menu will be offered. For details call 479-394-2863 or visit www.queenwilhelmina.com.
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The International Food Fest at Ouachita Baptist University will be held Feb. 16 in Arkadelphia. The Daniel & Betty Jo Grant Center for International Education annually sponsors the event. The festival, which will take place at the Walker Conference Center, features food and culture of the many nations represented on Ouachita's campus. More details can be found by calling 870-245-5000.

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Antique/Boutique Walk takes place each month in Hot Springs on the third Friday evening of the month. This month's installment is set for Feb. 19 from 4-8 p.m. The walk highlights the antique and boutique row located in the 100 to 200 block of downtown Central Avenue. Here folks can find antiques, fine art, clothing, jewelry, specialty foods, and gifts for the home and garden. More details can be found at 501-624-4083 or www.hotsprings.org.

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Feb. 20 hosts Icky Science at the AT&T Innovation Station Classroom at Mid America Museum in Hot Springs. At this science workshop, participants learn about polymers. For more details call 501-767-3461 or visit www.midamericamuseum.org.

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A Geocaching Workshop is set for Feb. 20 in Mountain Pine at Lake Ouachita State Park. Geocaching is a family-friendly scavenger hunt game using handheld GPS (global positioning system) units. Learn how this technology works and what you need to get started to embark on a journey. Discover hidden caches throughout the park with only the coordinates of their locations to guide you. More information can be found at 501-767-9366.