7 Unforgettable Small Towns To Visit In Arkansas
Arkansas is a southern U.S. state full of beauty and graciousness. With its quality commercial locales and historical or natural landmarks, the state's small towns are worth every moment of travel. Unforgettable pleasures await those who want to experience humid subtropical climates while being surrounded by plenty of ways to enjoy mountain vibes in the "Land of Opportunity." These towns can bring out the best of any itinerary when it comes to new adventures.
Mountain Home
An exotic mountain town with 13,561 residents, Mountain Home is a park-driven destination with plenty of gorgeous river streams and commercial spots for tourists from all wakes of life. Adventuring hikers may choose to explore Cooper Park, a public landmark with cute turtle ponds and historic cabin housing that has been in existence for decades. At the Sun Valley Cinema, visitors can enjoy classic Hollywood entertainment on small screens with retro and vintage seating arrangements, as well as a cozy 1980s arcade room for evening thrills. The Donald W. Reynolds Library is a perfect choice for literature lovers who want to experience welcoming vibes and surreal book workshops in a comfortable setting, making for an unforgettable and wholesome small-town experience. The White River is also a natural landmark that is worth the experience, with its icy water formations and Ozark Mountain viewpoints. For history fans, the Baxter County Heritage Center has a small yet memorable collection of artifacts and relics from years past that can appeal to downtown travelers who want to absorb genealogical education and cultural specialties. Despite being tucked away in Arkansas, this small town has something for everyone to enjoy and remember.
Siloam Springs
Siloam Springs, a northwestern town with 18,746, is a hip destination for wonderful memories and unforgettable moments. The Siloam Springs Kayak Park is one of the most notable landmarks for travelers because it provides over three and a half feet of drops with high-quality adrenaline fun for teens and adults. The Natural Falls State Park is a nature alternative that provides a scenic tour of the Ozark Highlands and has a stunning 77-foot rocky cascade that makes for an amazing valley walkway. For coffee lovers, Pour Jons creates the best foamy cappuccinos and handmade loose-leaf tea to support newcomers in town. Nearby, the Siloam Springs Museum is a historical stop for anyone seeking exposure to Osage tribal life and frontier history tracing back to the 1830s. The Creekside Taproom is ideal for local brew lovers, with its various Arkansasan wineries and friendly patio garden meet-and-greets. Cathys Corner is also around for anyone who wants to stick to casual American dining with flavorful specialty hamburgers and delicious hand-cut french fries.
Magnolia
Only two and a half hours away from Little Rock with 10,968 inhabitants, Magnolia is home to the "World's Largest Charcoal Grill" and is a mainstay for family-friendly activities and community orientation. With its southwestern charms and quaint locales, the town is well known for stops like Southern Arkansas University, where 658-acre farms of student life are bound to create lasting memories for anyone who is feeling studious. Anglers and outdoor travelers may enjoy Lake Columbia, one of the largest impoundments in southern Arkansas that has many scenic outlets for captivating pink skies and 3000-acre natural reservoirs. MuleKick is a fan-favorite in town that appeals to travelers with over 30 craft beer taps and has localized ice cream flavors that are just as pleasant as the locals who have hearty conversations there. The Storys on the Square gift shop is an embroidery that specializes in laser engravings and nifty art products that typically make for unforgettable souvenirs. For further natural exposure, vacationers can check out Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo for reptilian hands-on sessions and parakeet sightseeing or the 370-acre Logoly State Park for a landmark full of old-growth forestry and comforting mineral springs.
Eureka Springs
Another mountain town with 2,245 residents, Eureka Springs, is a definitive historical and commercial hotspot for tourism. The Historic District is a Victorian-influenced plaza where shoppers and newcomers in town can enjoy the finest carriage rides and downtown walking tours, especially ones that route around Basin Spring Park, a 19th-century historical and natural landmark full of tourist activity thanks to its distinctive public events and showrooms for pop culture. The Thorncrown Chapel is guaranteed to bring smiles and endless memories for travelers, with its majestic woodland setting and glasswork that stretches out over 6,000 feet to create a simple yet attractive sanctuary. Not far from that is the Christ of the Ozarks, a glorified sculpture honoring Jesus Christ that stands graciously atop Magnetic Mountain. Over at Quigley's Castle, visitors can expect history and mystery to combine for an unusually fascinating northwestern tour of Elise Quigley's perennial flower garden. Further history knowledge can be found at the Eureka Springs Historical Museum, which hosts European Renaissance exhibits and indigenous contributions to the town. Down at Lake Leatherwood City Park, it is not uncommon to find travelers and locals alike enjoying 85 acres of spring marina delights and hand-cut native limestone dams.
Lake Village
A small town near the Mississippi border with 1,922 inhabitants, Lake Village is perfect for scenic byway travels and historic heritage sites. The Great River Road National Scenic Byway is one of the best to experience by vehicle when touring the town, with its curving shores of Lake Chicot and abandoned Mississippi River channels that result in a spectacular lakeside excursion trip unknown to many outside of the state. At Lake Chicot State Park, it is easy to find gorgeous walking paths full of butterflies and catfish, as well as bluegrass musical events and iconic lakeshore views with alluring sunsets. The Lakeport Plantation is a historic landmark home that is the only remaining antebellum farmhouse for tourists who want to see restored Greek revivalism and the history of those who used to work in the locale. For soybean fields and roadside tourism, one may want to check out Ditch Bayou Battlefield, a post-war landmark that pays recognition to the 1860s era of conflict. For casual shoppers in town needing a break from historical sites, Dee's Treasure Chest provides sterling jewelry merchandise and unforgettable Amish furniture to take home for the holidays.
Bella Vista
A mountain biker's paradise in Arkansas, Bella Vista is a lovely destination with 32,358 residents. Natural thrills can be had at Tanyard Creek, a beginner and family-friendly trailhead with 2.2 miles of looping routes for semi-urbanized neighborhood sights and relaxing waterfalls with beachfront resort vibes. The Back 40 is another trailway that features challenging biking routes for more experienced cyclists and has undulated swooping descents perfect for adrenaline junkies, with unique Prairie Creek camping options for travelers seeking more laidback wilderness treks. Historical landmarks, like the Bella Vista Historical Museum, have 19th-century roots with farmland antiques and 40,000 acres of photographs dedicated to the town's first finds. More history can also be found at the Veterans Wall of Honor, a memorial full of self-inscribed names and messages of warfighters whose families want to cherish and spread remembrance of those who kept others safe from harm. While in town, visitors can take a detour to the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel, a common tourist stop with its wooden archways and wedding venue popularity that may please anyone wanting to observe pristine architecture come to life, leaving an everlasting impression on travelers.
Paragould
A northeastern Arkansas town with 31,091 residents, Paragould is easy to get lost in with all of its commercial, historical, and natural splendors. The Collins Theatre is a great stop with its 1920s vaudeville entertainment and French influence, while Crowley's Ridge State Park is best for travelers who want to stick to homestead history and natural encounters with forested hills along a unique geological formation that cannot be found elsewhere in the state. For history buffs, the Greene County Museum is a landmark that doubles as a dilapidated stairway home for a former Arkansan governor who wanted to expand on treasures and artifacts reminiscent of the 1930s. The Paragould War Memorial is a seven-foot-tall Statue of Liberty monument that honors 40 men who served and lost their lives during World War I. As for commercialized hotspots, the Juniper Tree Meadery is full of custom-crafted meads and memorable wine-tasting rooms that make one feel like a local in town. Something Pawsitive is also worth a visit for cat lovers who want to relax in a unique coffee shop with therapeutic feline encounters, making for a truly unforgettable and niche travel experience while in town.
All of these small towns provide a tourism essence that cannot be found in other states as easily. With countless landmarks and locales to explore as a newcomer in Arkansas, there is plenty of reasoning here to convince anyone to take a trip and come see all that there is to offer. No matter how experienced or inexperienced one is in traveling, Arkansan small towns capitalize on everything possible to create an unforgettable trip that can last for a lifetime.
