Arkansas Has the Action For Youth-filled Outings

Long before Henry Ford put families on wheels, the younger generation has sought out resort towns for stage shows, zoo tours, circus performances, and other lively entertainment. For some, camping and hiking replaced months of classwork and hurried schedules. But, instead of children tagging along after their parents, it has become mom and dad attempting to keep pace with their offspring.

Arkansas offers a varied array of attractions and natural wonders that continue to bring families back year after year for vacation fun. Whether visiting from other states, other countries, or from the other side of Arkansas, there’s plenty of action and goodtime events to create special family memories. A few examples include:

Lakes and Rivers --- The Natural State has 600,000 acres of freshwater lakes and 9,700 miles of flowing rivers. So, there’s plenty of room for fishing, swimming, canoeing, sailing, powerboating and all other water sports. Of special note is the Buffalo National River, a 150-mile free-flowing stream deep in the heart of the Ozarks. Protected as America’s first national river, the Buffalo is framed by majestic limestone bluffs and provides excellent canoeing and camping opportunities. Other prime recreational streams include the Spring, Big Piney, Eleven Point, upper White, Cossatot, Mulberry and Little Red.

Searching for real gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park

The great lakes of Arkansas are legendary and among the cleanest in the nation. Names like Beaver, Bull Shoals, Greers Ferry, Norfork, DeGray, and Ouachita are famous for water sports, fishing, camping and great lakeside resorts.

Magic Springs and Crystal Falls --- The Hot Springs theme and water parks feature more than 25 rides for children and families. A highlight is the "Arkansas Twister," a spectacular wooden roller coaster. The water park boasts a 350,000-gallon wave pool, thrilling water-slide, activity pool, family splash zone and much more.

Educational Fun --- Hot Springs is the home of the Mid America Science Museum, a hands-on facility with entertaining displays explaining scientific principles, plus a laser-light show that wows everyone. Little Rock’s Aerospace Education Center - IMAX Theater has a NASA space module and gear, plus the nation’s only restored WWI Sopwith Camel biplane. The Museum of Discovery in downtown Little Rock is an interactive science complex with large technical center, building projects for children, and a "history of science" exhibit. The Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View is the only facility in America devoted to the preservation of Southern Mountain folkways. Youngsters (and adults) are invited to learn about blacksmithing, woodcarving, furniture making and dozens of other pioneer skills. Musical shows and dances are scheduled throughout the warm seasons.

Hiking Adventures --- Arkansas has over 250 hiking trails scattered throughout its 75 counties. They are located in U.S. Forest Service districts, Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas, plus city, state and national parks. Two of the best known traces are the Ozark Highland Trail (178 miles) from near Fort Smith to the middle section of the Buffalo National River, and the 223-mile Ouachita National Recreational Trail from Talimena State Park in Oklahoma to Pinnacle Mountain State Park, near Little Rock. Perhaps the most unique trail is to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, an island in the middle of Greers Ferry Lake. It was the first designated national scenic trail in Arkansas and provides a great view of the Ozarks from its 1,000-ft. peak. Shuttle and boat rental docks are located in the area.

Above and Below --- Hot Springs Mountain Tower provides spectacular views of the Ouachita Mountains and Hot Springs National Park from its 216-ft. observation deck atop one of the highest mountains in the area. Other panoramic views are possible from overlooks at Greers Ferry Dam, Bull Shoals, Eureka Springs, Petit Jean Mountain, Mount Magazine and Mount Nebo State Park. Blanchard Springs Caverns, north of Mountain View, was developed and opened for tours by the U.S. Forest Service. It is ranked among the ten most outstanding caves in North America and features every known formation found in limestone caverns. A modern visitor center houses a museum, theater, restrooms and book/gift store. Visitors descend into the massive cavern via elevators. Other Ozark caves open to the public include Cosmic Caverns, Hurricane River Cave, Old Spanish Treasure Cave, Mystic Caverns, Onyx Cave, War Eagle and Bull Shoals Caverns.

History and Heritage ---- The Natural State abounds with historic places and museums. Arkansas Post, the place where Arkansas history started in 1686, is a national memorial operated by the National Park Service. Exhibits and video explain the rise and fall of Arkansas’s first town. The Delta Cultural Center at Helena tells the story of early settlement and the area’s close ties to gospel and blues music.

The great delta’s prehistoric native populations and cultures are explored at Parkin Archeological State Park at Parkin, Hampson Museum State Park at Wilson and Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park at Scott. Civil War battlefields are preserved and interpreted at Pea Ridge National Military Park near Rogers and at Prairie Grove State Park, west of Fayetteville. Pea Ridge was the largest battle fought west of the Mississippi River, and the programs/exhibits at Prairie Grove are top-notch.

Other historic places include Old Washington State Park (near Hope), site of the state’s Confederate capital (1863-65) and home of the Bowie knife’s creator, James Black. Fort Smith National Historic Site features the courtroom of "Hangin’" Judge Isaac C. Parker, re-creation of the 1886 gallows and the infamous "Hell on the Border" jail. The Historic Arkansas Museum (formerly called Arkansas Territorial Restoration) in downtown Little Rock preserves some of the state’s oldest structures, the "Arkansas Made" collection, and the largest Bowie Knife display in the mid-South. Mountain Village 1890, in the Bull Shoals community, is a frontier town with authentic buildings from the 19^th century.

Special Stops ----- Arkansas has so many special places that all cannot be listed here, but a few more must be mentioned, including Arkansas State University Museum at Jonesboro (prehistoric displays to antique toys and dolls); Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway (ride aboard a vintage train); search for real gems at Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro (and keep what you find); and downtown Hardy (three museums and dozens of shops along a four-block Main Street).

For a free vacation kit, with dozens of other vacation ideas, call 1-800-NATURAL or visit the state’s official tourism website: www.Arkansas.com.

For more information on family attractions in Arkansas go to Arkansas Family Attractions

For more information on Hotels and Resorts in Arkansas go to Arkansas Hotels and Resorts

Photos and article courtesy of "Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"

By Craig Ogilvie, travel writer

Department of Parks and Tourism