Visiting Ozarks and Northern Arkansas

It’s heating up in northern Arkansas. Home to the Ozark National Forest and charming cities like Conway, Bentonville, and Fayetteville, northern Arkansas is an ideal spring or summer getaway. This year, don’t miss one of the largest attended outdoor productions in the country: the Great Passion Play in historic Eureka Springs – home to the Opera in the Ozarks at Inspiration Point Institute. Catch the famed Great Passion Play for a little taste of cultural Arkansas, or explore the Natural State with an adventurous motorcycle ride. This spring and summer, be sure to get into a Natural State of mind, and visit northern Arkansas.

Conway, set in north-central Arkansas 30 miles north of Little Rock, is a cultural city home to the Faulkner County Museum, some great sport fishing, and the 2012 Toad Suck Daze. Scheduled for early May, the 2012 Toad Suck Daze marks the 31st anniversary of this free, three-day festival. Take the family to Conway this May for live music, great food, a carnival, and crafts for show and sale. Don’t feel like partying? Head to Lake Conway – the site of the Arkansas Crappie Masters state tournament – for catfish, bass, and of course, crappie fishing.

Set in northwestern Arkansas, on the other side of the Ozark National Forest from Conway, Bentonville is home to the Walmart headquarters and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. A new museum for Bentonville, Crystal Bridges features permanent exhibits like Celebrating the American Spirit, Wonder World, and era collections like modern, 19th century, and contemporary. A fun activity for spring or summer, the 120-acre museum site offers nearly four miles of hiking paths, including the Art Trail, Crystal Bridges Trail, and Orchard Trail.

Just south of Bentonville, Fayetteville is another charming Arkansas town with plenty to do. Make your way to Dickson Street for boutique shops, eateries, and eventually the University of Arkansas. Want to make your own lunch, maybe for summer picnic’s sake? Visit Fayetteville’s Town Square for their seasonal Farmers Market starting in April and lasting throughout the summer until November.

A vacation to northern Arkansas always deserves a visit to the historic city of Eureka Springs. This year, make sure you head to town for the New Great Passion Play 2012 Season – especially for opening night on May 4th. New for the 2012 season, check out Top of the Mountain – a gospel music dinner theater – for comedy and live music from The Texans. The New Great Passion Play also features a number of on-site attractions like the Living Bible Tour, the Christ of The Ozarks Statue, and the Berlin Wall Exhibit – featuring an actual piece of the Berlin Wall. Don’t miss this unforgettable event in Eureka Springs – all part of the package on your summer trip to northern Arkansas.

Ozarks and Northern Arkansas Hotel Map