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Unique Cultural Experiences

Experience natural, historic and musical landmarks on a road trip along one of a dozen scenic byways, starting with the drive from Hot Springs to Eureka Springs. Along the way, visit Historic Washington State Park to learn what it was like to live as a pioneer, or head to the Museum of Native American History to see pottery and tools left by Arkansas’ Indigenous American peoples.

For those looking for a musical retreat, look no further than the Delta. This region is home to several nationally recognized musicians such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Levon Helm and Johnny Cash. The Delta blues tradition is alive and well in the towns and cities where it began, especially historic Helena and Little Rock. In Mountain View, hear folk music on the banjo and fiddle or country blues played in the original style, and tour Johnny Cash’s boyhood home in Dyess.

Bill Clinton, another Arkansas son, launched his political path in the state, and sites commemorating his legacy can be toured today. Want more interesting finds? Stuttgart, Arkansas, is one of the world’s top rice growing destinations, and Little Rock is home to the Esse Purse Museum & Store, one of only two purse museums on the planet.

 

Time in the Great Outdoors

From its rugged mountains and rolling rapids to its mysterious caves, Arkansas’ landscape reflects the scenic variety of this part of the USA. The state packs in seemingly limitless camping sites, hiking trails and waterways to excite even the most-traveled adventurer. Bring your mountain bike or rent one here and head out on one of the state’s five Epic Rides, as designated by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Don’t miss Crater of Diamonds State Park, where you can dig for real diamonds and keep what you find.

Plan your trip to Arkansas today!
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Fun Fact

Family photo op at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas
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Situated on the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro in one of the only places in the world where the public can search for real diamonds at their source.

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In 1985, Arkansas made the fiddle its official state instrument in honor of its folk music tradition.

Must see places

Dramatic architecture at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

See the world’s largest collection of American artwork in this Moshe Safdie-designed museum set squarely in Arkansas’s pastoral wilderness.

Cob Cave, part of the Lost Valley Trail, in the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas

Ozark Mountains

Experience the famed northern Arkansas highlands through a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, zip-lining and horseback riding.

Strolling along historic Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas

Hot Springs National Park

These thermal springs, 47 in all, flow from Hot Springs Mountain to create “The American Spa.” Stop by the modern bathhouse for a soak in them or just enjoy the beautiful vapors rising up into the trees.

Peacock at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs

Garvan Woodland Gardens

The extensive botanical garden in Hot Springs is devoted to preserving and showcasing the Ouachita landscape. Features include a canopy bridge, promenades, lawns and even a model train garden.

Admiring a quartz crystal found at Wegner Crystal Mine in Mt. Ida, Arkansas

Wegner Crystal Mine

Dig for quartz crystals, diamonds and other gems at this 16-hectare surface mine in the Ouachita Mountains and take home some treasures, or try hard mining at one of Wegner’s deeper veins.

View of the William J. Clinton Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas

William J. Clinton Library and Museum

Get a glimpse at life inside the White House at the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, situated within Clinton Presidential Center and Park on the riverfront in Little Rock. Created in honor of the USA’s 42nd president, the museum features an Oval Office replica, memorabilia and archives from Clinton’s life and time in office, as well as special events, exhibits and educational programming.

Searching for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas

Crater of Diamonds State Park

Find your diamond in the rough at one of the world’s largest volcanic craters bearing the gem and then get it certified at the park’s Diamond Discovery Center.

Aerial view of the Buffalo National River in Arkansas

Buffalo National River

Canoe through placid waters and over running rapids on this 217-kilometer national river, the first of its kind in the USA.

Fishing on the White River in Arkansas

White River

The tail waters of this river that cuts right through the Ozarks are an angler’s dream. Full of rainbow trout, the White River is an internationally recognized fishing destination.

Signage outside Johnny Cash's Boyhood Home in Dyess, Arkansas

Johnny Cash Boyhood Home

Travel along Arkansas’ Sunken Lands Cultural Roadway to Historic Dyess Colony, a 1930s farming resettlement community where young Johnny Cash lived in a five-room home with his family. Today, the home has been refurbished along with several buildings in the colony, which provide insight into the legendary musician’s life here and how it shaped him.

Hikers overlooking Kings River Falls in Witter, Arkansas
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Experience Arkansas

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Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas
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Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Arkansas
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