Top Things to do in Arkansas
Top Hotels in Arkansas
- 1. Best Western Winners Circle
- 2. Best Western Inn Of The Ozarks
- 3. Graduate Fayetteville
- 4. Capital Hotel
- 5. 1905 Basin Park Hotel
- 6. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Little Rock - Bryant
- 7. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Hot Springs
- 8. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Bentonville South - Rogers, AR
- 9. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham West Memphis
- 10. The Waters Hot Springs, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Top 10 Outdoor Activities in Arkansas, United States
Living up to its billing as “The Natural State”, the state is a nature wonderland with three national forests, nearly 9,000 miles of pristine streams and rivers, awe-inspiring settings in the Ozark and Quachita mountains and sparkling lakes.
The menu of vacation experiences is an exciting one. For great golf, spas, horse racing and the Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs is the place to go. Outdoor enthusiasts love the Ozark Mountains where activities like canoeing, rafting, kayaking, fishing, hiking and rock climbing are popular. The mountain village of Eureka Springs, with its streets lined with Victorian homes, is brimming with boutiques, antique shops and art galleries. Wine enthusiasts love the Arkansas Wine Country, encompassing the towns of Paris, Ozark and Altus, where German style wines are produced. From its ancient mountains to the Delta flatlands leveled by the Mississippi River, the state has a diverse topography with numerous scenic drives. Try the Pig Trail, Ozark Highlands and Sylamore scenic byways in the Ozark National Forest designated by the U.S. Forest Service. Golfers love the state because greens fees are extremely affordable for great courses. A few excellent public access courses are Sage Meadows in Jonesboro, Stonebridge Meadows in Fayetteville and the Mountain Ranch Course in Fairfield Bay.
Restaurants in Arkansas
1. David's Trail
2. Petit Jean State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 703 reviews
The beauty of Petit Jean Mountain and the surrounding area led to the formation of a state park system in Arkansas in 1923.
Reviewed By laurief244 - Hamburg, United States
We spent the weekend at Petit Jean State Park and will definitely return! We stayed in a duplex cabin with a full kitchen and fireplace. Wish we’d brought more firewood, however you could purchase a small bundle for $5. Cabin 12 A is located at the back of the property and overlooks a beautiful waterfall. It also has a screened porch, swing and a deck with a grill. We hiked to Cedar Creek falls and got some gorgeous photos. Remember to take water with you. The Mather Lodge restaurant serves good food with friendly service. You can also call ahead to pick up your food. This was a great last minute trip with very friendly service.
3. Ouachita Trail
4. Hawksbill Crag
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 207 reviews
Reviewed By DebV20 - Dallas, United States
The early morning fog created an eerie setting for our 6 mile drive along the gravel road to the trailhead. The fog coupled with the fallen autumn leaves and exposed tree branches, begged us to pull over and briefly enjoy our surroundings before continuing on with our bumpy ascent. By the time we began our hike, the fog had subsided and made way for a perfect day to be outdoors. The changing colors of the leaves created some stunning views along the moderately rated trail. We knew when we had reached the unique view of Whitaker Point and it did not disappoint. As we sat and enjoyed the outlook before us, it was easy to see why this crag was one of the most photograped and recognizable features in Arkansas.
5. Cedar Falls Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 130 reviews
Reviewed By Getaway206845
It was an easy hike on the boardwalk and had great views. 2 of our pe6were elderly and waited for us to go to the falls to see if there was any water as it was so hot out. There was barely a trickle. But it was a nice hike.
6. Razorback Regional Greenway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By jamiejoh2016
We drove down from KC to explore the Greenway. We parked at Fayetteville Lake and rode 20 miles. The Greenway is a gorgeous paved path. We shared the path with walkers and skateboarders. A great place for families and friends to be outdoors.
7. Collins Creek Cascade
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By Reggiel54 - Mississippi, United States
This is a perfect short hike to a beautiful sight and sound created by the falls. We could hear the water as soon as we hit the trail because the waterfalls were flowing quickly. We met a lot of families with dogs so this is a must site for families with kids and pets. And yes, the water is ice cold!
8. Bona Dea Trails & Sanctuary
9. Pig Trail National Scenic Byway
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By 687rogerj - Independence, United States
Great scenery road had just been repaved nice sweeping curves had a blast can't wait to do it again.
10. Queen Wilhelmina State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 255 reviews
Come experience a spectacular mountaintop setting with breathtaking panoramic scenery atop 2,681-foot Rich Mountain, Arkansas's second highest peak. Queen Wilhelmina State Park is one of the 52 state parks administered by the State Parks Division of the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. Queen Wilhelmina is one of the state park system's eight mountain state parks. Queen Wilhelmina State Park's Lodge is one of the four hotel-like lodges in the Arkansas state park system. The others are historic Mather Lodge at Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton, DeGray Lake Resort State Park Lodge near Arkadelphia, and The Lodge at Mount Magazine in Mount Magazine State Park near Paris. In addition to the lodge, the 460-acre park includes a campground with 41 campsites and a bathhouse; picnic areas; trails; and a seasonal miniature train and mini-golf course. Park interpretive programs highlight Rich Mountain’s fauna and unique flora. The park is on Ark. 88 (Talimena National Scenic Byway) 13 miles west of Mena. [For an alternate route from Mena or during inclement weather, go six miles north on U.S. 71, then travel nine miles west on U.S. 270, then go two miles south up Ark. 272.]
Reviewed By lizh857 - Austin, United States
We just spent 3 nights at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, part of our Arkansas Spring Break Trip from Austin, Texas. Disappointingly we only caught sight once of the amazing vistas from the State Park as we were constantly enveloped in the thickest fog I've ever seen (and I'm British). You could hardly see from one camp site to the next. The camping area itself was quite unusual. We were in site #27 and this was a reasonably good site. It was at least fairly parallel with our neighbors but some of the other sites almost overlap. Our fire pit was less than 3 feet away from the fire pit of site #28 (luckily these were our friends). Every site was pretty quirky. Google maps is great for really getting an idea of each site. The Lodge was nice but not as impressive as Mount Magazine Lodge which was grander. We did the Spring Trail and the Lovers Leap Loop Trail in the park and both were more interesting than you would think for short walks. We also did 2 hikes outside the park. The first day we hiked the Earthquake Ridge Trail. We did the 2.7 mile Northern Loop and then the Southern Loop, crossing the 88 and then back to the visitor center, about a 4 mile hike. This was a really nice hike in the woods with flowers and small waterfalls and ups and downs but nothing difficult. The second day we hiked the Black Fork Mountain trail, a more remote and adventurous trail. The first spur is on the Ouachita National Trail, you cross a bridge and the railroad and then you take the Black Fork Mountain trail, following the white paint markings. It was an interesting walk though rock boulder gardens and pretty forests with small waterfalls. We didn't make it to any particular milestone but we enjoyed the hike and saw some nice vistas and hiked just over 5 miles in total. The path did become sketchier and more overgrown the further we hiked. We'd like to come back, but perhaps not in the fog in March!
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