Have you ever thought about visiting Arkansas for your next family travel adventure? If you're reading this blog you probably have and I'm here to encourage your initial thought and tell you why Arkansas is the perfect family friendly travel destination. If you've never considered it and just stumbled across this post you're probably telling yourself, "Arkansas...Really?". I know because I had many people in my life say those exact words when they heard we were visiting. Just keep scrolling down and I'm sure I'll make a believer out of you. Everyone deserves to experience all the beauty this state has to offer at least once.
Arkansas is rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage. Its landscape is full of lush forests and rolling hills offering us, outdoor enthusiasts, tons of opportunities for recreation. If you seek a beautiful, exciting but cost-effective destination that offers incredible experiences, this is definitely the place for you! Down below, I'll outline all the family friendly experiences we highly recommend for your Arkansas visit. This is Arkansas family adventure on a budget
1. Crystal Bridges Museum Of American Art
Here's the perfect example of a budget-friendly travel adventure for the whole family. Let me start by saying that this Museum is FREE! Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art offers a remarkable experience for families due to its unique combination of art, nature, and interactive exhibits. We spent a whole day exploring and getting creative as a family for FREE and you can too!
The Museum's impressive collection spans centuries of American art, from colonial times to contemporary pieces, providing an educational and inspiring journey through the nation's cultural heritage. But art isn't all this museum has! The Museum's stunning architecture, integrates with the surrounding natural landscape, making it the perfect place for some outdoor exploring. There's picturesque trails and outdoor sculptures everyone can enjoy. It's the ideal destination for families seeking for both art and nature experiences.
What stood out to us the most were all the fun and interactive art-making opportunities and interactive installations that kept us entertained for hours. Plus, did I mention we were able to enjoy all this for free? This museum was one of the best museums we've ever been to because it appeals to all ages and families with diverse interests. This is why we added this as first on the list.
Address: 507 SE E St. Bentonville, AR 72712
You can see more at www.crystalbridges.org
2. The Quiver Archery Range
The Quiver Archery Range is a fantastic visit for families because it offers a fun and affordable activity that promotes skill development and quality time spent outdoors. The staff was friendly, helpful and very patient. Shout out to Shawn for being so awesome! This was a first time experience for all of us so we were all very excited for this new activity and it did not disappoint. They will instruct you exactly on what you need and give you a safety demonstrations so arrive about 15 min before your reservation time. Archery instructors are present at all times to ensure safety and I absolutely loved that. Keep in mind ages 8+ can shoot at the range with adult supervision. Kiddos under the age of 8 can accompany an adult and watch in the spectator area. You can make your The Quiver Archery Range reservations here
Price: $20/hour per person and equipment is included
3. Eureka Springs Historic Downtown
This Historic Downtown area has an Artsy atmosphere, surrounded by unique offerings and plenty of activities to enjoy. Things like, interesting and historic architecture, shops, restaurants and so much more. You can stroll and enjoy all the art and buildings for free! This is an activity all on it's own. Our journey through this town was amazing and here are some highlights of things you shouldn't miss while visiting Eureka Springs.
If you staying in Bentonville, it's only an hour drive, so this is doable as a day activity.
4. Eureka Springs North Arkansas Railway
This was such a special activity and love that there's different price ranges for all to enjoy. We loved exploring the 1940's-era diesel locomotive in operation and viewed their stationary steam locomotive exhibits. We choose to splurge and enjoy a Mother's Day dinner aboard the 1920's Eurekan Dining Car and had a fantastic experience. It was a 2 hour journey that allowed us to explore some of Arkansas beautiful greenery while enjoying a nice dinner. There's an excursion, lunch or dinner train options. All are great and allow you to explore their stationary steam locomotive exhibit so arrive early.
You can read more or purchase tickets to any of the North Arkansas Railway train options here
5. Christ Of The Ozarks
The seven-story statue continues to be one of the most visited attractions in the Ozarks since it was completed in 1966. Standing sixty-seven feet high, the statue overlooks the picturesque Victorian village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Plus it's FREE to visit and there's tons of free parking! Perfect spot for a family photo, to stretch your legs and also enjoy the rest of the grounds.
Other Things To Add while In The Area
We unfortunately ran out of time but here are other fun things we would have loved to do.
a. Thorncrown Chapel
Here's another free visit activity. The chapel's simple design and majestic beauty found in the woods has won many awards and has been called the most beautiful and inspiring chapels in the world. Perfect for a quick stop! You can read more here!
b. Onyx Cave Park
Nestled in the Ozark Mountains just 6 miles from Downtown Eureka Springs, AR., you will find Onyx Cave Park. Onyx Cave is Arkansas’ oldest toured cave and has been famous since 1891. The cave is a delight for all ages and is one of the very few self-guided cave tours in the US. You can book your self guided Onyx Cave visit here
Cave Tour Pricing:
Adults: $14.75 plus tax
Children age 4-13: $9.75 plus tax
Children 3 and under: free!!!
6. Crater Of Diamonds State Park
This is one of the only places in the world where you can search for real diamonds in their original volcanic source and keep them! My daughter learned all about this Arkansas State Park in 5th grade and it was actually our main reason for visiting Arkansas initially.
At Crater Of Diamonds State park you can learn how to search for diamonds using various techniques and how to identify them thanks to the staff. You can even bring your own mining equipment to search with or rent tools from the park. Come ready to get dirty, muddy and have tons of fun searching for a variety of rocks, minerals and gemstones.
We found Jasper and Calcite during our visit, no diamonds this time! The staff will even identify your findings at no additional cost for an unlimited amount of times. This is an absolute blast and can be an all day activity. It definitely was for us.
Things to know:
a. Tickets can be bought at the door.
b. Adults: $15, Children 6-12 $7, Children under 6 years of age FREE!
c. Pack a lunch and water to save money however food truck is available
d. Restrooms are available
e. Tip: equipment can be rented outside the park for a more affordable price
7. Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park was established in 1921 and is one of the oldest national parks in the United States. The defining feature of Hot Springs National Park is its hot springs, which give the park its name. What also makes the park unique is that so many of its popular features are all in the middle of a town!
The park's thermal springs have been used for centuries by Native American tribes and later by European settlers for their purported healing properties. Visitors can still experience these thermal waters at Bathhouses within the park. I'll outline more to do in the park as a separate activity down below.
Of course apart from the hot springs, the park offers opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and scenic drives. There are numerous trails of varying difficulty levels, allowing visitors to explore the natural beauty of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains.
As always, check National Park website for any updates.
8. Drink Hot Springs National Park Spring Water
We made this an activity all on its own, here's how. The springs are hot and since we don't necessarily like drinking hot water, we made it into tea. So I recommend you bring a bag of tea and cup for hot water (we got ours for free from our hotel room), go to any of the thermal spring fountains and make yourself tea! We took the opportunity to sip on our tea while we enjoyed the town and read all about the springs waters.
And yes, you can drink the thermal ancient 4,000-year-old spring water in its natural state. The water's high temperature kills most harmful bacteria, and it is monitored to US standards for safe drinking water. During our visit we saw and spoke to several locals who bring their huge water jugs to fill up and take home. You can find the 7 thermal spring fountains throughout the area. You can't miss them!
9. Hot Springs Mountain Tower
This Observation tower allows visitors to enjoy the view of the surrounding region. It overlooks 140 square miles of surrounding countryside, including the entire park and a portion of the Ouachita Mountains. It's affordable and really only takes about 15-30 minutes. It's not far from town either. You can purchase tickets at the door no need to book ahead of time.
10. Grand Promenade
This is a 30 minute scenic walk with cascade displays that is beautiful and really easy to do for all ages. Tons of greenery to enjoy.
11. Soak In The Springs
There are 2 bathhouses but the Buckstaff Bathhouse is the one of the two that is age 10+ older. The Quapaw Bathhouse is 14+ and both do require reservations. This Bathhouse Row is actually a historic landmark. These bathhouses were built in the early 20th century, and would make a great addition to any itinerary.
We didn't soak but we did have dinner at the Superior Bathhouse. Built in 1916, it was smallest bathhouse on the row, it offered affordable hydrotherapy and massages. Today it is a Brewery!
You can also visit the The Fordyce Bathhouse, which today functions as the Park’s Visitor Center. You can talk with a park ranger, gather more information about the Park and local area, or join a ranger program, another free activity.
If you want to soak in the waters you can get more info down below!
The Buckstaff Bathhouse - Originally opened in 1912, the Buckstaff is the only facility on the Row that has never fully closed since it first started offering baths. For information about services, rates, and reservations, please visit their website or call them directly at (501) 623-2308.
The Quapaw Bathhouse - The Quapaw Bathhouse offers modern day spa services with amenities like thermal pools, private baths, and a steam cave. For information about services, rates, and reservations, please visit their website or call them directly at (501) 609-9822.
Conclusion
We absolutely loved our visit to Arkansas. It's safe to say we were all highly impressed and loved it more then we ever imagined we would. We want to put it on the map for families who would have never considered the Natural State as an ideal option for travel. We only scratched the surface of things to do in Arkansas as there's tons of beauty to explore but we do feel we did some of the best the state has to offer for families. Plus, we loved how much beauty and how many budget friendly activities there are! I would recommend a car rental as it was the best way for us to be able to freely explore different parts of the state. Plus, I might add that gas was a lot cheaper then it is in the state we call home (California), so our road trip definitely was a lot more affordable than road trips usually are for us.
If you're looking for budget friendly, non stop flight to Arkansas check our Allegiant Airlines. You can book your flight and car rental together. Bundle and save!
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Talk to you later!
