Arkansas recently piqued my interest in a somewhat strange way. I was watching a Discovery channel show called Expedition X (an Expedition spin-off by Josh Gates). The investigators were in Arkansas looking for the beast of Boggy Creek (aka the Fouke monster). As they were describing the ecology of “The Natural State”, I found myself fascinated by the woods of Arkansas. With it being the third Southern state I’ve set my sights on, I’m quite intrigued by what I might explore there.
Natural Wonders
Arkansas is considered “The Natural State” so its no surprise there are plenty of outdoorsy activities. In no particular order, I’ll start with exploring Crater of Diamonds State Park. I’m not a diamond enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination, but hunting for diamonds (or any gems, as there are plenty of other places you can do this) is just as fun as panning for gold. Crater of Diamonds State Park allows you to keep any diamonds that you find. The odds of finding one are about 1 in 1000.
Another state park that looks like it has plenty of natural wonder to offer is Petit Jean State Park. Specifically, Cedar Falls. It’s the most popular of several waterfalls, likely because of its impressive 95 foot drop. Combine that with other waterfalls, several places to swim (including the base of Cedar Falls), and multiple hiking trails, its no question that this park is worth the visit.
Arkansas seems to have something for everyone and if you fancy hot springs, they seem to be in abundance. The state is also home to Hot Springs National Park which just so happens to be the first National Park and the smallest National Park. It’s also free! The park is home to 9 historic bath houses (Bathhouse Row), two of which are operational, giving you an opportunity to soak in the hot springs. You can also experience outdoor springs and there is plenty of lush greenery to hike and enjoy.
Historical Sites
Once I’ve had my fill of nature, there’s still plenty to explore in regards to a rich history. Little Rock, Arkansas is home to Little Rock Central High School. This designated National Historic Site is the school in question during the historic Brown v. Board of Education. Still a functioning high school, you can get tours to learn about the landmark ruling that helped eliminate segregation in schools.
A few hours Northwest of Little Rock is Bentonville, Arkansas. Here you’ll find the Museum of Native American History. This museum houses over 10,000 Native American artifacts, covering 5 time periods from 24,000 BCE to present. There seems to be not only a wealth of information, but a deep desire by the museum’s founders to provide fun and interactive learning opportunities to patrons.
The Museum of Native American History isn’t the only indigenous history you’ll find in Arkansas. The Toltec Mounds (now Plum Bayou Mounds) served as a ceremonial site for pre-historic Native Americans and today, you can witness real-time archeological research.
Paranormal
Have you heard of The Legend of Boggy Creek? If you haven’t, its a film from 1972 documenting the Fouke Monster, a bigfoot-like cryptid witnessed near the town of Fouke. There have been many alleged sightings throughout the years and multiple teams have investigated. In Fouke, itself, you can purchase Boggy Creek monster and bigfoot memorabilia at its very own Monster Mart. I’d love to visit Monster Mart just as much as I’d love to catch a glimpse of the Fouke Monster itself.
If cryptids aren’t your thing, then perhaps you’ll enjoy the plentiful haunts that Arkansas has to offer. One specific type of haunt that has intrigued me for most of my life is the hitch hiker haunt. This is phenomena with a deep history and highway 365 is just one instance of such a haunt. Like most legends, the story goes that if you’re traveling along highway 365 you’ll come across a woman needing a ride. If you stop and pick her up to take her home, eventually you’ll come to find that she has vanished from your car. This is something I’d love to experience just once.
Another highway related paranormal phenomenon is that of the Gurdon Light along I-30. Some believe it to be paranormal of the ghostly variety. Other’s think its something completely natural, but wholly unexplained. Whatever you believe, when driving along I-30 at night you’ll supposedly see a ball of light along the railroad tracks running parallel to the highway.
You know its the crem de la crem of travel lists when a cemetery makes it on the list! The entirety of Avon Cemetery in DeQueen doesn’t appear to be the subject of the haunt, but specifically a well that is located within the cemetery. The legend goes that a woman was drawing water from the well, and while her daughter was sitting on the ledge, her daughter fell and plummeted to her death. It’s said that if you throw a rock into the well, you’ll hear the cries of the daughter. Super spooky but super easy to test out!
City Sites
As much as the state has to offer out in nature, it seems to equally offer in small quaint towns around the state. The one town I see repeatedly come up is Eureka Springs. It’s definitely a tourist destination, but sometimes that makes a place even more fun. Coming from a place roughly the same size that isn’t a tourist destination, I can vouch for that. There are a few destinations near Eureka Springs that I hadn’t necessarily thought were list-worthy, but because they are all congregated together, it makes it easy to hit all of them at once.
One of the spots on my experiences list is Blue Spring Heritage Center. It’s the sight of yet another natural spring, atop which sits the lagoon it fills. It’s simply beautiful by itself, but its located within woodland botanical gardens that are just as pretty. The ambience looks so peaceful!
Eureka Springs is also home to Thorncrown Chapel, an architectural beauty featuring enormous windows across the whole building. It’s a popular wedding venue, and from the pictures, for good reason. Another place I’m intrigued by but didn’t quite make the list is the Crescent Hotel. It’s touted as one of the most haunted places in the United States. Apparently, the basement was previously a morgue and according to some folks, a “portal”.
Then, of course, the beautiful mountain town is also home to shops to browse and a Victorian-style downtown. I think its safe to say that I could spend a day casually exploring!
I didn’t mention any food, so what food should I try when I’m in Arkansas? Any places I absolutely need to explore? Let me know your thoughts down below!
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