After having lived all over the country I finally settled here in Arkansas. I like the place. It has lots of small towns, friendly folks and an uncommon diversity of geography, wildlife, and climate. Mountains dominate the north and west (sure they aren’t snow-capped but there is little to compare to one of our hollows in the springtime). The wetlands in the south and east offer some of the best wildlife viewings and hunting in the country. Unique geography in places like Crowley’s Ridge or a place where diamonds are actually moving up out of the ground (and oh, by the way, you can dig for them and keep them). Arkansas is just incredible.
Something else to add to this is the availability of outdoor activities here. Two long trails both over 150 miles long each, Two IMBA certified epic mountain bike trails plus hundreds of others. Whitewater and flatwater kayaking and canoeing, road biking opportunities (3 Century rides in a one month period), what do you want to do? Let’s go outside.
So why can’t anyone else figure it out? The September 2007 issue of National Geographic Adventure Magazine had a list of the top adventure towns in the country, one from each state. The entry from Arkansas? Hot Springs. Nothing wrong with that, Hot Springs is a great town with a lot of adventure going for it. What bothered me is that they didn’t seem to research this in any way. Below is their listing:
Hot Springs, Arkansas- Population: 36,900- Median home price: $140,640- The radius: Billed as “America’s First Resort,” the town’s 147-degree (64-degrees
Celsius) thermal baths are protected as Hot Springs National Park, but more civilized dips can be had at the six restored spas in town. Outside city limits canoe, fish, and scout for crystals in the Diamond Lakes, trek the Ouachita Mountains, or do some wrasslin’ at the Arkansas Alligator Farm. Little Rock is just 55 miles (89 kilometers) northeast.
“Wrasslin’ at the Arkansas Alligator Farm”? Is that the best they could do? I think I would have filled that space with the following:
Hot Springs National Park is the oldest of all current National Parks and predates Yosemite by 40 years. With 3 major lakes within 15 miles including one of the cleanest lakes in the country plus the Ouachita River and Rockport ledge Whitewater Park there is plenty to do on a hot day in the area. Three state parks with camping, cabins and a lodge are within 30 minutes of town. All three are on lakes. Hiking, mountain biking, horse and ATV trails abound in the area. The 223 mile Ouachita Trail runs through the area plus trails at Cedar Glades Park and Hot Springs National Park are in town. Don’t forget the Womble mountain bike trail less than an hour away, a 37 mile long IMBA epic trail plus Little Blakely, Cedar Glades and Ouachita Vista mountain bike trails. Some of the best hang gliding in the Midwest can be found less than two hours away at Mount Nebo or Mount Magazine where you can also get some rock climbing done. Once you’ve worn yourself out with all the adventure take a dip in one of the many thermal baths and spas in town.
Now that’s an adventure town! Of course, I could go off on other great adventure towns in Arkansas like Mountain View, Mountain Home, Mount Ida, Mena, Eureka Springs, Harrison, etc. Or maybe we should just keep it a secret.
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2 Responses
Great Post! Im all for keeping it a secret though. I still like that we are the only state left in the union that could close our borders and be self sufficiant. I personally would rather keep it that way. Let them go somewhere else for fun, leave our lakes and rivers to those who can appreciate it that wayu the conservation can continue without outside interference from people who don’t understand
I know what you mean but on the other hand, it sure would be nice to see the state benefit from the relatively clean tourism industry as opposed to timber or chicken industries.