Northwest Arkansas (NWA) is an Arkansas metropolitan area and region located in the Ozark Mountains. Northwest Arkansas has invested in an amazing infrastructure, owing to the harsh terrain of the Ozarks and one of the most progressive cycling cultures in the country. Downhill slopes with shuttles, a best-in-class jump park, pump tracks, and skills courses are among the trails. Since hosting the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) World Summit in 2016, the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship in 2019, and now the 2022 Cyclocross World Championships, the area has established itself as one of the country's premier off-road cycling attractions.

In the Natural State, two wheels may provide a lot of adventure mileage. The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) has designated three Arkansas communities as Ride Centers: Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Hot Springs, and Northwest Arkansas was the first IMBA Regional Ride Center in the USA. Yes, there is a lot of jargon being flung around, but the honor is genuine.

The Arkansas highlands are a world-class mountain biking destination, combining two important features - four seasons, with lengthy stretches of temperate weather (especially in the fall), and, well, lots of mountains. There's a lot of shady leaf cover, a lot of dirt trails, and it's pretty easy to get to from larger towns. Take, for example, Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs, a municipal park with a specialized, top-tier mountain biking infrastructure. This can be seen as one of the Best Things To Do In Arkansas.

Address: Arkansas, United States
Best time to ride: Fall

It would be negligent not to mention a float along the Buffalo National River while discussing user-friendly Arkansas excursions. The country's first designated national river flows through the state's flinty center, curving around towering canyon walls and past sandy beaches, which are near to grassy campgrounds ideal for camping under the stars.

The Buffalo River in Northern Arkansas was the first to be recognized as a National River in the United States. The river travels from west to east through Newton, Searcy, Marion, and Baxter Counties. The river begins in the highest part of the Boston Mountains of the Ozarks, flows out onto the Springfield Plateau near Erbie, and then crosses a portion of the Salem Plateau immediately before joining the White River. The Park is home to the only elk herd in the state.

A float trip on the Buffalo can be as daring or as relaxing as you want; make sure to contact the appropriate outdoor facility before planning your adventure. The Buffalo National River is a popular spot for camping, hiking, canoeing, and fishing. Visitors are welcome to bring their own canoes or rent from one of numerous independent concessionaires. Camping is permitted throughout the park, with the exception of the Hemmed-in-Hollow region, Big Bluff, historical structures, private property inside the park, and areas within 100 feet (30 meters) of any path or river. Camping is permitted on gravel and sand bars beside the river, however. In addition, along the river, the National Park Service offers a number of "developed" campgrounds.

Address: Arkansas, United States

Phone: +1 870-439-2502

Opening hours: open 24 hours

Rating: 4.9/5.0, 2,782 Google reviews

Website: https://www.nps.gov/buff/index.htm

Petit Jean State Park has the distinction of being Arkansas's oldest state park. It's also one of the more beautiful, featuring a diverse spectrum of famous state scenery, from canyons to woods to upland forests. Soak up the pretty in Petit Jean can be considered as one of the Best Things To Do In Arkansas.

The park's green center is pierced by eight official trails, our favorites being Seven Hollows, which travels through a succession of forested valleys, and Bear Cave, which is defined by massive, surrealistically intriguing sandstone rocks (it's also not really a cave). Catching a sunrise from the 1120ft-high peak of Petit Jean Mountain, which overlooks the sweeping splendor of the Arkansas River Valley, is a great way to wow your relatives back home.

The Civilian Conservation Corps built buildings of wood and stone construction around the park in the 1930s, giving it a rustic atmosphere. Mather Lodge, a 24-room historic lodge, lies on the cliff of a deep forested canyon. Visitors to the park can stay in 32 cabins and 127 campsites in addition to the lodge. Petit Jean State Park contains a visitor center and gift shop in the park's center, as well as a boathouse on Lake Bailey that offers boat rentals, fishing supplies, and a snack bar. Tennis and basketball facilities, as well as a swimming pool and picnic spots, are available to park visitors. The main camping grounds are less than a mile away from the Museum of Automobiles.

Address: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110, United States

Phone: +1 501-727-5441

Opening hours: 8AM–5PM

Rating: 4.8/5.0, 4,834 Google reviews

Website: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/petit-jean-state-park

Arkansas can lay claim to two significant federal firsts: the first national river and Hot Springs National Park, the first federally protected space. Hot Springs National Park is an American national park located in central Garland County, Arkansas, next to the county seat of Hot Springs. It was the first time that property had been set aside by the federal government to protect its use as a recreational area before the notion of a national park existed. For ages, the hot spring water was widely thought to have medical virtues and was a source of folklore among various Native American tribes.

During Prohibition, gangsters like Al Capone frequented the Hot Springs circuit, and the money generated by mass tourism helped fund the creation of beautiful early-20th-century architectural landmarks in the bustling downtown center. You may now stay at some of these spas, which is a great way to relax after a long hike.

Parts of downtown Hot Springs are included in the park, making it one of the most accessible national parks. There are many hiking trails and camping spots. Bathing in spring water is provided at an additional cost in licensed establishments. The Fordyce Bathhouse on the row serves as the park's visitor center; the Buckstaff and Quapaw are the only facilities remaining in operation as bathhouses in 2015.

Address: 369 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901, United States

Phone: +1 501-620-6715

Opening hours: 5AM–10PM

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 12,218 Google reviews

You can't deny that Bill Clinton shaped the American political environment in the 1990s, whether you like him or not - and remember, he was governor of Arkansas before becoming president.

Little Rock is the capital and most populous city of Arkansas in the United States. Little Rock is an important cultural, economic, government, and transportation hub for Arkansas and the South. Little Rock is home to several cultural institutions, including the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, as well as hiking, boating, and other outdoor recreational possibilities. Little Rock's past can be found in museums, historic areas or neighborhoods like the Quapaw Quarter, and historic landmarks like Little Rock Central High School.

The William J Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock is a time capsule of the 1990s and its geopolitics. There are roughly 80 million documents here, and you can see presidential itineraries that start with coffee and end with deciding what to do about the war in the former Yugoslavia. The center also serves as a children's museum, and its ultra-modern architectural style, which overlooks the river, is an attraction in and of itself.

Address: Arkansas, the United States

Best time to visit: March through May and from September to October

Website: www.littlerock.gov

Bentonville is where Walmart began, and it still serves as corporate headquarters. As a result of the presence of subsidiary employees from all over the world, this little hamlet in the hills is amazingly rich and neat, as well as fairly diversified.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is an American art museum located in Bentonville, Arkansas. The museum, created by Alice Walton and designed by Moshe Safdie, opened its doors on November 11, 2011. It is open to the public for free. The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is awe-inspiring, with a collection that rivals that of cities five times Bentonville's size. The museum is designed with a succession of gallery rooms connected by soaring bridges, providing the illusion of floating islands of creation in the heart of the Ozarks.

Crystal Brights displays a permanent collection of masterworks of American art from the colonial era to the present, as well as visiting collections from national art institutions. Masterpieces in the collection include paintings of George Washington by Charles Wilson Peale and Gilbert Stuart, Asher Brown Durand's Kindred Spirits, and Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter. The schedule of temporary exhibitions supplements the permanent collection. In 2015, the museum acquired Frank Lloyd Wright's Bachman-Wilson House, which had been dismantled in New Jersey and restored on the grounds in Bentonville. Visitors are transported by solar-powered shuttles.

Address: 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR 72712, United States

Phone: +1 479-418-5700

Opening hours: 10AM–8PM

Rating: 4.8/5.0, 10,906 Google reviews

Website: https://crystalbridges.org/

Eureka Springs, located in the Ozark Mountains, is full of natural beauty and family-friendly activities. There's lots to do here, from horseback riding to fishing to bicycling, making it one of the best spots to visit if you're seeking for best things to do in Arkansas.

Eureka Springs is a city in northwest Arkansas' Ozark Mountains. It's famous for its surviving Victorian buildings, such as the Palace Bath House, Basin Park Hotel, and Crescent Hotel, which were all built around the city's natural springs. The rising Thorncrown Chapel is a beautiful wood and glass church amid the neighboring hills. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, located to the south, is home to large cats and bears.

The Sacred Arts Museum and the Bible Museum both provide explanations of the Christian faith. Eureka Springs is also known for its strange ghost stories, which add to the enjoyment of a visit here. The Crescent Hotel embodies the town's ghost stories. There are several paths that lead down to this haunted hotel, which also organizes paranormal weekends in January and October. The Ozark National Science Center is a must-see on any vacation to Eureka Springs. It was created to assist visitors and locals in understanding and appreciating Ozark's natural environment. Group hikes, day hikes, and retreats are all available at the facility.

Address: Arkansas, United States

Best time to visit: spring

Website: https://www.eurekasprings.org/

One of the nicest things to do in Arkansas is to visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park. This is one of the few spots in the world where the general public can look for diamonds and take them home with them. The 37-acre park is the only place in the world where visitors can dig for diamonds in their natural volcanic environment. The finding is attributed to farmer John Wesley, who discovered a gleaming pebble on his property. The discovery encouraged numerous people and businesses to relocate to Arkansas in order to extract the valuable mineral. Murfreesboro, Arkansas, was one of the country's poorest areas at the time, but the discovery of diamonds propelled it into the spotlight.

Tourists continue to visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park in the hopes of changing their fortunes overnight. Since the Crater was designated a state park in 1972, visitors have discovered over 33,100 diamonds. The largest diamond ever discovered was a 40-carat diamond discovered in 1924, while the most recent was a 3.9-carat diamond discovered in 2007.

Before hiring equipment and digging for diamonds and other gemstones, visit the Diamond Discovery Center to learn about the science of the area. While over 33,000 diamonds have been discovered in the region since it was designated a state park, you are unlikely to strike it rich here. The majority of diamonds discovered are approximately the size of a matchstick head. When you've finished looking, take your treasures to be weighed and registered. Adults pay $10 to dig, while children ages 6 to 12 pay $8. You can bring your own digging tools or hire them from the park. There are also camping spots and a large water park for youngsters to swim in if you plan to stay overnight.

Address: 209 State Park Rd, Murfreesboro, AR 71958, United States
Phone: +1 870-285-3113
Opening hours: 8AM–5PM
Rating: 4.4/5.0, 5,046 Google reviews
Website: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/crater-diamonds-state-park

Arkansas is rich in history, as seen by the numerous museums and battlefields. According to research, there were 17 civil war conflicts here, leaving several places and landmarks. A road trip may be just what your kids need to learn about the battlefields. Due to the preservation of the area's historical characteristics, Pea Ridge National Military Park is the most popular tourist battleground to visit.

There are also seven kilometers to explore by automobile or on foot, and ten stations. According to history, it was the turning moment of the 1862 conflict since many soldiers died on the battlefield. Prairie Grove Battlefield is another well-known battlefield that has been turned into a state park. To explore the battlefield, tourists can take a Geocache Tour, a Guided Walking Tour, a Driving Tour, or a Virtual Tour. There is also a picnic area.

Helena, Arkansas, is another battleground. The Confederates lost Arkansas and control of the Mississippi River as a result of the Battle of Helena. A day or two-day journey allows you to see all of Helena's attractions, including as Freedom Park, New Fort Curtis, and the Delta Cultural Center.

Another spot to visit when seeing Arkansas' battlefields is the Old State House Museum in Little Rock. The state capitol was initially located here, and it was here that the vote to join the Confederacy took place. You can go on a guided tour or a self-guided one to learn about the town’s rich history.

Address: 15930 East, 15930 US-62, Garfield, AR 72732, United States
Phone: +1 479-451-8122
Opening hours: 8:30AM–4:30PM
Rating: 4.7/5.0, 949 Google reviews
Website: https://www.nps.gov/peri/index.htm

Lake Ouachita State Park is a 360-acre public leisure facility located ten miles northwest of Hot Springs on the eastern shore of Lake Ouachita, the state's largest man-made lake at 40,000 acres. Fishing, kayaking, swimming, boating, and scuba diving are among the recreational activities available in Lake Ouachita State Park. The lake's broad waters are ideal for catching striped bass, crappie, bream, and largemouth bass.

You can plan a vacation that lasts more than a day because the park has various overnight lodging alternatives. There are 93 camping sites, including 12 walk-in tents, 58 Class AAA, 23 Class D sites, and fully prepared cabins with kitchens and conveniences you'd expect to find at home (they are all dog-friendly).

Picnic tables, the Caddo Bend walk, swimming areas, and a marina with boat rentals are among the other amenities available at the park. Lake Ouachita State Park also has the renowned Three Sisters' Springs. In addition to its recreational opportunities, the park protects the ancient Three Sisters springs, which were historically known for the medicinal benefits of their mineral waters.

Address: 5451 Mountain Pine Rd, Mountain Pine, AR 71956, United States

Phone: +1 800-264-2441

Opening hours: 8AM–5PM

Rating: 4.8/5.0, 1,465 Google reviews

Website: https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/lake-ouachita-state-park

If you wish to feel transported back in time while in Little Rock, you should also visit the Old Mill. This very stunning structure is surrounded by lovely vegetation and flowing water. The Old Mill was included in the opening scene of the classic film Gone With The Wind. It is located on a three-acre plot of property known as the T.R. Pugh Memorial Park. The mill includes a concrete water wheel encircled by what looks like an old wagon path. The location is ideal for picnics because of the flowers that bloom all year.

It was built to look like an 1880s mill. The mill was included in the opening scene of the 1939 classic Gone With The Wind, which is an interesting fact about it. Film fans will want to say they've been here. This is without a doubt one of the most romantic retreats in Arkansas! The Old Mill is a popular destination for people traveling through Arkansas, providing both a glimpse of history and a stunning photographic opportunity. The Old Mill is located in T.R. Pugh Memorial Park in North Little Rock, at the intersection of Fairway Avenue and Lakeshore Drive. This is one of the Best Things To Do In Arkansas.

Address: 3800 Lakeshore Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72116, United States
Phone: +1 501-791-8538
Rating: 4.8/5.0, 2,251 Google reviews
Website: https://www.nlrpr.org/parks/old_mill

The River Market District (also known as the River Market Entertainment District or just the River Market) is a public park and network of walkways along the Arkansas River's banks in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. The River Market, which is lined by bars, shops, restaurants, nature, public artwork, and the five ancient missions, is an essential component of the city's urban fabric and a tourist attraction in its own right.

You may need to restock on supplies from time to time, and the River Market District in Little Rock provides all you need. The market is 10,000 square feet in size and features stalls, stores, and tables selling food and unusual merchandise. It has an open design with multiple coffee sellers, food kiosks, and take-out options.

Make plans to visit the market's special events, which take place all year. The most popular is the Fourth of July fireworks display over the river. There's also the River Market Entertainment District event, which takes place over a weekend and allows people to access stores and restaurants while wearing the RMED wristband.

Address: 400 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201, United States

Phone: +1 501-375-2552

Opening hours: 10AM–2PM

Rating; 4.5/5.0, 487 Google reviews

Website: https://www.rivermarket.info/

When Johnny Cash was three years old, his family moved to Dyess, Arkansas, a New Deal settlement created to provide poor families a chance to cultivate land that they would eventually own. J.R., as he was called as a child, began working in his father's cotton fields when he was five years old, singing along with his family as he worked. On at least two instances, the family farm was flooded, which inspired his song "Five Feet High and Rising." He resided there until 1950, when he graduated from high school. As of 2022, Arkansas State University's Heritage Sites Office will operate the home as a small museum called "Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home."

You may now tour the restored cabin where this American legend grew up. Before seeing the house, you should go to the Dyess Colony Visitors Center and learn about how the Dyess Colony was established as part of the New Deal. Exhibits and information about Johnny Cash's music can be found in the Dyess Colony Administration Building. It can be seen as one of the Best Things To Do In Arkansas.

Address: 110 Center Dr, Dyess, AR 72330, United States

Phone: +1 870-764-2274

Opening hours: 9AM–3PM

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 481 Google reviews

Website: https://dyesscash.astate.edu/