Fun Friday

Good Morning we have made it through another week and now it's time to go on our weekly Friday adventure.

Can you guess where we are going this week? We are going to visit the state of Arkansas

1.) Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art located in Bentonville hours of operation are 11-6pm Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art welcomes all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature.

2.) Garvan Woodland Gardens located in Hot Springs hours of operation are 10-6 Open to the public hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission payments by CREDIT CARD or EXACT CASH only. Garvan Woodland Gardens is the 210 acre botanical garden of the University of Arkansas, located in Hot Springs, Arkansas on beautiful Lake Hamilton.

3.)Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge located in Eureka Springs hours of operation 8:30-4pm Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest big cat sanctuaries in the United States. The non-profit USDA licensed refuge, founded in 1992, has grown to become one of the Top 10 attractions in Arkansas and the most popular in Eureka Springs. Lions, cougars, leopards, tigers, and bears are displayed in large natural habitats surrounding the main enclosures and gift shop. Overnight accommodations are available via the Safari Lodge, RV park, and camping facilities. Tours are available from 9 am until 4 pm.

4.) Fordyce Bathhouse located in Hot Springs hours of operation are 9-5pm Once one of the bathhouses on Bathhouse Row, this building has been renovated and now serves as the visitors center. There are multiple houses here like this if you want to check them out yet. Check out Hot Springs National Park

5.) Little Rock Arkansas Central High School National Historic Site located in Little Rock hours of operation are 10-4pm This National Park Service site encompasses the campus, but Central High is still an active high school. Visitors should park and begin their visit at the National Park Visitor Center, located diagonally across from the campus, at 2120 W. Daisy Gatson Bates Drive. Visitor entrance into the school is via free Ranger-led tours reserved in advance to guarantee participation. Interpreting the Civil Rights Movement with an emphasis on school integration, this National Historic Site focuses on the 1957 desegregation crisis that resulted when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus ordered National Guard troops to prevent the first African American students, the "Little Rock Nine," from entering formerly all white Little Rock Central High School, leading to federal intervention by order of President Dwight Eisenhower.

6.)Blanchard Springs Caverns located in Fifty Six The cave is handicap accessible as it has a ramp instead of a staircase. The tours are about an hour long, you're never rushed and the guides are amazing, so knowlable with so many amazing things to see you will not be disappointed.

7.)Center of Diamonds State Park located in Murfreesboro The only diamond mine in North America open to the public.

8.) Mid-America Science Museum located in Hot Springs hours of operation 9-5 The mission of Mid-America Science Museum is to stimulate interest in science, to promote public understanding of the sciences, and to encourage life-long science education through interactive exhibits and programs. The Museum also serves as a premier tourism attraction in Arkansas. The purpose of Mid-America Science Museum is to explain scientific knowledge and concepts to the public through interactive exhibits, activities, workshops, and educational programs. The Museum seeks to stimulate a lifelong interest in science, spark curiosity, reshape attitudes and stir the imagination. Our goal is informal science education that encourages learning in ways not ordinarily found in the workplace, classroom, or home. To achieve this purpose, the Museum will maintain the highest standards in providing quality exhibits, programs, and services for students, citizens, and visitors to Arkansas.

9.)The Walmart Museum located in Bentonville hours of operation are 10-8 The Walmart Museum is as much a part of Walmart’s history as the exhibits and artifacts that it houses. First opened in 1990, the museum was known as the Walmart Visitor Center. But as times changed and the term "Visitor Center" came to refer more to regional, state, and local tourism offices, it became apparent that a name change was needed. And so, today, The Walmart Museum carries on the mission it always has: to honor Walmart’s legacy, demonstrate its core values, and cast a vision of Walmart tomorrow. In November 2022, the Museum location at the corner of Central Ave and Main St was closed to the public for a renovation project to be completed in SPRING of 2024. In the meantime, a temporary site has been opened two blocks south of the original location; The Walmart Museum Heritage Lab. This site houses new technologies and tells the story of Walmart and Sam Walton in new ways.

10.)Wegner Quartz Crystal Mines located in Mount Ida hours of operation are 8-4:30 A great place for the family, where everyone is welcome and guaranteed to find crystals! Open 8:00-4:30 / Tuesday-Saturday Crystal Forest Mine Digs: 2 hour digs $19/person. Trips leave daily at 9:30, 11:30, 1:30. Arrive 15 minutes early to sign up + have a safety meeting. Tailings Area: All day digging. $10.50/Adults $6.60/Kids (under 10) + Seniors (62+). Arrive by 2:00 pm for entrance. Gemstone Sluice: $4.50 Sluice Fee, then priced by the pail! 5 Pails to choose from ranging in price at $5-$15/pail. Diamond Experience: $32/bag Guaranteed to find 1/2 carat or more in total weight per bag.

11.) Cosmic Cavern located in Berryville hours of operation are 9-5pm Cosmic Cavern was discovered in 1845, but wasn't developed until 1927. The cave features a 9 foot soda straw, the longest known in the Ozarks, and two bottomless lakes. One of the lakes was discovered in 1993 in the "Silent Splendor" section which made national news. This was Arkansas’ most delicate discovery. Make sure to bring your camera! Gift Shop, Snacks, Picnic area and camping available.

12.)Fort Smith National Historic Site hours of operation are 9-5pm This is a well-run National Park Service site. We thoroughly enjoyed going through the museum, walking around the grounds, and walking near the river. The ground floor of the museum contains the actual prison used in the 1880s, and the second floor contains a reproduction of the courtroom from the 1880s. The exhibits tell the history of the fort over different eras of use and tell stories of specific individuals involved. Highly recommend also visiting the National Cemetery nearby.

13.)The Old Mill located North Little Rock hours of operation are 8-8pm This free hidden gem in a suburban neighborhood is extremely special. Lots of walking paths that look like wood, but are actually concrete, around an 1880’s water-powered grist mill. All ages will enjoy it as we saw evidenced when we ate at one of the picnic tables. The opening scenes of the classic movie "Gone With The Wind” features this location. It is for children, romantics…everyone. Calm, serene, lovely with mallard and Muscovy ducks and turtles to add to the ambiance.

14.) Pirate's COve Adventure Golf located in Hot Springs The only place for Pirate Adventure in Hot Springs! Enter the world of 18th Century Buccaneers, putt your way through mountain caves, over footbridges and under cascading waterfalls! Come and see why this facility's elaborate theming, manicured landscaping, delicately carved rock work and meticulously clean grounds earned it the Hot Springs, AR "City Beautification Award". Test your luck, mates, on the Captain's Course or the bold Blackbeard's Challenge Course. Discover the fun!

15.)Mount Magazine State Park located in Paris hours of operation are 8-5pm High atop 2,753-foot Mount magazine, the state's tallest mountain, this scenic Arkansas state park was developed in the Mount Magazine Ranger District of the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest through a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service. Sweeping vistas of broad river valleys, deep canyons, and distant mountains welcome outdoor enthusiasts to Arkansas's high point. This is a place to enjoy sightseeing, exploring the mountain and nature study. The park is a destination for outdoor sports and extreme adventure enthusiasts that offers rock climbing, rappelling, hang-gliding, mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking, and ATV adventure. An ATV guide service is available. The park also offers overlooks, hiking trails, a picnic area with restrooms, pavilion, and a visitor center with an exhibit gallery and gift shop. The park offers 18 campsites (two Class AAA and 16 Class AA with tent only options). The Lodge features 60 guest rooms, a restaurant, conference center, business center, indoor heated swimming pool, fitness center and game room. Thirteen fully equipped cabins share the same bluff and seeping views of the valley as the lodge.

16.)Ozark Folk Center State Park located Mountain View The Ozark Folk Center is a people place,dedicated to the preservation and perpetuation of traditional Ozark Mountain crafts and music.Visitors can see presentations and demonstrations of the Ozark crafts and music, living history enactments and other special events that highlight this lifestyle. Apprentice and workshop programs pass these skills of the Ozark people to a new generation.As you visit the Folk Center, make your first stop at the General Store near the parking lot. From here,buses will take you to the top of the Folk Center's hill to the Ozark Folk Center Theater and the Crafts Village. Stay in one of The Cabins and Dry Creek (60 units) The center also offers a restaurant, the Smokehouse in the Craft Village, conference/meeting facilities for groups large and small and specializes in business retreats and family reunions. While here make sure to check out the Blanchard Springs Recreation Area and see the beautiful waterfall

17.)War Eagle Cavern on Beaver Lake located in Rogers hours of operation are 9:30-5pm ARKANSAS' MOST POPULAR PRIVATE SHOW CAVE! Walk straight into a mountain through a huge natural entrance on the shores of Beaver Lake. Our friendly, story-telling guides make for great fun on a one-hour long adventure into the depths of the cavern! After the tour, feed the fish at our boat dock on Beaver Lake, explore our short nature trails, enjoy pretty lookouts along our bluff lines, and play in the "Big Dig". Pan for real gems at the War Eagle Mining Co. - keep everything you find! Search for five lost Indian villages in the Lost in the Woods Maze - then find your way OUT! And you gotta experience our newest attraction - the Moonshiners' Mystery Shack! We're pet and stroller friendly. Open 7 days a week, last tour of the 1 hour before closing.

18.)River Market District located in Little Rock Taste your way through this year-round, indoor market encompassing 10,000 square feet of owner-operated shops, stalls and tables that sell food and unique products.

19.) Museum of Discovery located in Little Rock hours of operation are 9-5pm  This museum is probably the best kid’s museum I have been to. Surprisingly there is no food establishment inside but they allowed us to leave to get lunch and re-enter since it wasn’t crowded. If you have young kids this place is a winner. There is a preschool room  and the Keva plank building areas! All the kids enjoyed the climbing structure! They also have some live animals on display/part of programming. Gift shop had a nice selection of gifts/souvenirs. Cable cars stop very close by.

20.)Gangster Museum of America located in Hot Springs- Well worth a visit. Find out about the famous former gangster visitors to Hot Springs from Al Capone and John Dillinger to Bonnie and Clyde. It’s a 75 minute tour with a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide. Exhibits brought to life by video stories in each room. Great value for money. Hot Springs history from the 20’s to the 40’ is quite colorful as a place for wealthy people, including some of the most notorious criminals in the United States. The museum tour is a combination of videos, historic artifacts and tales given by the excellent and knowledgeable guide

21.)War Eagle Mill General Store located in Rogers hours of operation are 9-5pm Located in the beautiful War Eagle Valley, the War Eagle Mill offers a historical perspective to life in the Ozarks. Visit the Mill and the historic bridge on the river, learn about the history of the region, shop for organic and locally made foods and local crafts.

22.)Blue Springs Heritage Center located in Eureka Springs hours of operation 9-6pm Botanical Gardens on the beautiful White River and a stop on the Trail of Tears. 39 million gallon a day bottomless spring. Museum, and two short very informative films Bluff Shelter listed on the national register of historic places

23.)Old State House located in LIttle Rock hours of operation are 9-5pm Built in 1836, this was the state's first capital building.

24.)Scott Family Amaeum located in Bentonville hours of operation are 10-5pm Discover the connections between science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) and the world around us at the Scott Family Amazeum. Inspired by the landscape, culture, history, and innovative spirit of Northwest Arkansas, the Amazeum contains 50,000 square feet of hands-on, learning fun for the entire family. Spend the day exploring science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) through play at the Amazeum. Ample outdoor space allows for free range play. The Scott Family Amazeum is an interactive museum. Your health, safety and well-being are our priority. Unvaccinated guests age 10 and older are encouraged to wear face coverings inside the museum or when within 6 feet of non-family members. All guests can wear face coverings at their discretion.

25.) Pea Ridge National Military Park located in Garfield- Pea Ridge was a very important battle of the Civil War that is responsible for saving Missouri for the Union. The visitors center and museum is very well done and there is a 7 mile driving tour with 10 highlighted stops.Pea Ridge may not be as famous as Gettysburg or Vicksburg, but it is definitely worth adding to your list of Civil War sites to visit. We enjoyed the museum. The video before touring was well done. We chose to add the app to our phone then took the driving tour utilizing the app.

26.)The Galaxy Connection located in Hot Springs Star Wars and Superhero inspired vintage toy museum. A guided tour of a personal collection of a super fan including GI Joe, He-Man, Barbie, Marvel, and DC. Lots of great photo opportunities and chances to interact with exhibits--put on a Jedi robe, wield a lightsaber, and much more! Fun for all generations! Guests can purchase tickets for the VIP Tour (Includes an in-depth 60 minute tour with access to our arcade room, behind the scenes facts, photo ops with high grade props --Black Series helmets, custom lightsabers, Infinity gauntlet, etc-- and a commemorative polaroid picture!). Our current hours depend on online bookings.

27.)Board Camp Crystal Mine located in Mena Hello Friends! We are CLOSED for the winter-OPEN last weekend of Feb thru last weekend of Oct! OPEN all HOLIDAYS! We OFFER Fresh Air, Sunshine, & Crystal Energy! Dig your own CRYSTALS in a REAL quartz mine! NO tailings! You WILL find crystals! We SHOW you how! KEEP what you FIND! Mine has trees-SHADY in summer! EASY access for limited mobility! DOG-friendly! FAMILY-friendly! KIDS under age 16 DIG FREE! On Fri & Sat Nights: Experience the UnXplained Tours with US! What is the Strange Phenomena at Board Camp Crystal Mine? Crystal Energy? Fringe Science? ET? BIGFOOT? BCCM was on Josh Gates’ Expedition Unknown! Our Website has ALL you need to know!

28.)Historic Washington State Park has a lot of history here, from being the AR Confederate capital to the blacksmiths shop where Jim Bowie’s, Bowie knife was forged. The blacksmith was very friendly and gave us a tour of his shop and history of knives. You have to do a lot of walking to see everything here.

29.)Johnny Cash HOuse located in Dyess- We started at the visitors center which relates some of the history and set up a tour of the house, which you have to drive to. Amanda was a terrific guide, and had answers for all of our questions. The restoration of the house is well done, with the family’s original piano and lots of period pieces. You can really get a sense of what it was like for the Cash family living and working there.

30.) The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History located in Springdale hours of operation are 10-5pm The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History is a regional history museum focusing on the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks. The museum takes its name from the pioneer community of Shiloh, which became Springdale in the 1870s. Most of what you'll see at the museum highlights the real shapers of Ozark history - the everyday men, women, and children who lived in our towns and rural communities. Along with exhibits, you can explore six historic buildings on the museum grounds. We also have a research library with a collection of over 500,000 photographs of Ozark life.

With so many amazings things to see and do in this state I encourage you to plan to spend some time in many of these little towns that have tons of history. Don't forget to goole things to do around where you are going as there are tons of things i didn't mention. I could easily spend months just sightseeing.

I hope that you have enjoyed this week's tour and come back next week for another amazing adventure. Remember to always be kind as it costs nothing and if you see someone without a smile stop and give them yours a smile is contagious.

Written by: BeautifulChaos318