7 Delightful Towns To Visit In The Ozarks
Once an untamed wilderness where the Osage Natives roamed free, the Ozarks region is today among the most vacation-worthy venues in the entire nation. Its spell-binding beauty and mountain ruggedness will make one think of Switzerland. Besides, this tasty region features numerous glittering lakes, clear springs, and sparkling brooks. While Eureka Springs often gets accolades, the Ozarks is home to several other towns that are just as nice. Discover seven delightful towns to visit in the Ozarks.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Considered the crown jewel of the Ozarks region’s spell-binding natural beauty, Eureka Springs deservedly tops the list of delightful towns to visit in the Ozarks. Eureka Springs is tucked away in the mountain-ridden northwest corner of Arkansas next to the border with Missouri — and is just about 10 miles from Beaver Lake, famous for its towering limestone bluffs and natural caves. Book a room at the Crescent Hotel and Spa, billed as "America's most haunted hotel." The hotel has been a staple of the town since 1886 and runs nightly ghost tours featuring hair-raising tales and eerie spectacles.
After this, get some time and amble through Eureka Springs's downtown area, the site of some of the most impressive collections of Victorian architecture in the entire nation. For perspective, the whole of Eureka Springs’s downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You do not get this often. Also, the town hosts more than 60 natural springs (It was not named Eureka Springs for nothing), and you will want to experience stand-outs such as Crescent Springs, which features a stairway to a grotto built into the hillside.
Branson, Missouri
Branson is known as the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World” and offers visitors plenty of mood-lifting shows and attractions. To showcase its reputation, Branson boasts more theater seats than Broadway's theater district, with show tickets almost half the price of other entertainment meccas, including Vegas. To sample the entertainment side of Branson and relive the heady 60’s with impersonators of music legends such as Michael Jackson, Adelle, and celebrated country music singer Kenny Chesney — a visit to Legends in Concert — billed as the world’s greatest live tribute show, should be on the itinerary. Boasting over 100 live shows and nearly 50 theaters, Branson is essentially the Broadway of the Midwest.
Other attractions include Inspiration Tower at Shepherd of the Hills, which stands 230 feet above the ground and gives visitors one of the most heart-melting views of Branson and its countryside. Then there is Silver Dollar City, a massive amusement park with seven roller coasters, including the phenomenal “Outlaw Run.”
Bella Vista, Arkansas
Bella Vista is so much enveloped by nature’s heart-warming glory that it has been called “Nature’s Gem of the Ozarks.” The name itself is a delicious telltale since Bella Vista is Spanish for “beautiful view.” One can inhale tasty views at the seven lakes glittering in this picturesque slice of Northwest Arkansas, including spots such as Lake Avalon, Lake Windsor, and Loch Lomond, the largest of the seven.
The Cooper Memorial Chapel, one of the most beautiful wedding venues in Northwest Arkansas, is shadowed by lovely pines and majestic oaks and is often worth exploring. And at the deceivingly small Bella Vista Historical Museum, the history of the town comes alive through interesting stories and numerous artifacts.
Mountain View, Arkansas
Although Mountain View is known for many things, including the fact it provides access to outdoor recreation venues such as Blanchard Springs Caverns (it is considered one of the most beautiful in the country), the White River (an excellent site for trout fishing), and the Ozark National Forest — it is fondly called the Folk Music Capital of the World — and that remains its most enduring title. Mountain View has a rich tradition of preserving folk music, and a walk through the streets is often accompanied by the sweet strains of folk music drifting from gazebos and wooded park benches.
Plus, Mountain View is the birthplace of the Arkansas Folk Festival, an event that draws thousands of folk music fans from across the nation. It is held every third weekend of April. If one cannot catch the April event, some hours at the Ozark Folk Center State Park, where live folk music is a daily thing, will still come in handy.
Kimmberling City, Missouri
Kimmberling City reclines on the tranquil shores of Table Rock Lake as if protesting against the needless hassle and bustle of modern life. The lake boasts almost 800 miles of shoreline and — besides providing numerous adventure opportunities — imbues the area with a rustic appeal that is so heart-warming and enticing. Kimberling City also hosts Fisher and Schooner Creeks, which offer lovely views and fun outdoor opportunities.
The Kimberling City Bridge, a nice spot for the I-was-in-Kimmberling-City photo-op, is a nice place to catch a spectacular sunrise — and provides awesome views of the glittering lake. After a long day exploring what Kimmberling City has to offer, sit down to a filling meal at Ma's Place, before giving the back to one of the most delightful towns to visit in the Ozarks.
Lakeview, Arkansas
Nestled in an area where beautiful Crepe Myrtles bloom in different bright colors during the summer months, Lakeview is another Ozarks gem that will blow away a first-time visitor. Lakeview sits on the forested shores of Bull Shoals Lake, which, featuring more than 1,000 miles of shoreline, is the largest lake in Arkansas. The lake is known for world-class bass fishing and can be a fantastic spot for avid anglers.
There is the White River as well, a renowned trout-fishing venue. Dam Site Park is a serene and picturesque camping venue — as is the Bull Shoals-White River Campground, where one will have more than 100 campsites to choose from. For those who do not want to enjoy a night out in the wide-open skies, the White River is lined with numerous rustic resorts, including Gaston's White River Resort, where early mornings can be spent by the window, watching the boats bobbing on the shimmering water.
Van Buren, Arkansas
Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States, was known for his ready smile — and the town named after him is known to delight first-time visitors. Van Buren Main Street Historic District, which features 8 blocks of beautifully restored buildings from the late 19th century, is often a pleasure to wander through. At Christmas, it often becomes one of the most lively main streets in the United States.
A first-time visitor will want to experience the three-hour Van Buren to Winslow train ride, where passengers more closely encounter the breathtaking ruggedness of the Ozark mountain range. This ride goes through the Winslow Train Tunnel, which was built in 1882 and spans more than 1,700 feet. Other interesting features of the town include the King Opera House, a nice Victorian-style performance hall that has been a staple of Van Buren’s Main Street for over a century.
Featuring an impossibly photographic landscape, the Ozarks is spicy and tasty — as only nature can whip up and serve. This appetizing expanse, with its mountains and streams, brooks and caves, is dotted with numerous dainty towns first-time visitors easily fall in love with. There is no need to fly to Switzerland. Just spend a slow weekend in Eureka Springs, for instance, or Branson, Missouri, known as the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World.” Alternatively, Bella Vista, Arkansas, called “Nature’s Gem of the Ozarks,” is just as flavorsome.
