ARKANSAS
ARKANSAS
Arkansas is a state that is also at the top of my list for visiting. For starters, many family members live in Bella Vista, Bemtonville and other northwest Arkansas towns. It is also very beautiful in this corner of “The Diamond State”. The Ozark Mountains, caves, great food and beautiful surroundings keep me coming back. It’s my little slice of heaven.
EUREKA SPRINGS
EUREKA SPRINGS
A hidden gem in northwest Arkansas, 8 miles from the Missouri border. I have been here several times and can honestly say that everything runs on “Eureka Time”! There is lots of shopping in what is known as Little Switzerland. Unique shops and lots of good restaurants. There is a trolly that runs through town as well. There are tons of things to do in this town. Beaver Lake is also a great recreational area. Its also fun to just drive around the area to see the scenery. Motorcycle riders will enjoy the winding roads and mountains.
The springs medicinal qualities were discovered by Dr. Alvah Jackson in 1858. Visitors were attracted by the number of mineral water springs, believed to have therapeutic value for many of the prevalent diseases of that time. While I can’t say that sitting in these waters will cure any of your aches and pains, the beauty of the surrounding woodlands, mountains and lakes will bring you peace of mind.
THORNCROWN CHAPEL
This is one of the most awesome yet peaceful and uplifting works of architectural art that I have ever stepped into. It has won many awards for its design, but the awards pale in comparison to the natural beauty that you feel as you walk around. Thorncrown chapel stands 48 feet tall with over 6,000 square feet of glass and a total of 425 windows. Even when you are inside the chapel, you still feel as though you are standing in the woods. The foundation is made from over 100 tons of native stone & colored flagstone, making it blend in with the rocky surroundings. It is topped with a skylight to filter woodland light and let the outside in. It is a must see.
Inside Thorncrown Chapel (Copyright Deborah Balke Lindner)
(Copyright Deborah Balke Lindner)
My daughter, Jenn back when she was 5ish
ONYX CAVE
This is a small cave system nestled in the Ozark Mountains just 6 miles from downtown Eureka Springs. This is the oldest toured cave and has been famous since 1891. You can take self-guided tours with headphones or join a tour with a tour guide that tells you the history of the cave and can answer all of your questions. I’ve visited this cave twice with family ranging from four years old to sixty. Everyone enjoyed it. So much to see and our guides were great, taking us down to the lower level. This is an especially good cave to visit if you’re new to cave exploring.
This stalagmite in Onyx Cave looks like a dinosaur head! (Copyright Deborah Balke Lindner)
SILOAM SPRINGS
Siloam Springs is a city in Benton County, Arkansas. The city shares a border on the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line with the city of West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma, which is within the Cherokee Nation territory. A beautiful area with lots of natural springs which were originally used for medicinal purposes.
DINOSAUR PARK
If you’re driving through this part of the country, Dinosaur Park is a nice place for your family to stop and have some fun. It has a playground, basketball courts, picnic area, running trail, and large dinosaurs which this park was named after.
OAKLAWN FOUNDATION DINOTREK
500 Mid America Blvd.
Hot Springs, AR 71913
(501) 767-3461
Take a journey through prehistoric times provided by the Oaklawn Foundation This park allows guests to step into the world of dinosaurs and experience their habitat and behaviors firsthand. As It is Arkansas’ first and only permanent outdoor dinosaur exhibit that features 13 species of dinosaurs from the Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods.
Life-like dinosaur replicas are located near the entrance of the Museum and they are also located along a paved walkways in the woods behind the Museum.
(Copyright Deborah Balke Lindner)
ARKANSAS MUSEUM OF NATURAL RESOURCES
I have not been to this museum so I’m just going to post a line or two from their website. There are some dinosaur skeletons and fossils but the museum concentrates on natural resources. The museum was formed in the 1980s to tell the history of the petroleum industry and later the brine industry as key economic movements spurred by natural resources in South Arkansas.