Family Vacation Ideas

We are a couple in our sixties who take a one week vacation with our 2 adult children, their spouses and 5 children every June. It is early to start planning for next year, but we are starting to think about it and would love some suggestions. In June the kids%26#39; ages will be as follows: boys 12 and 5, girls 10, 7 and 3. We always rent a good sized house so we can stay together. We like to be have a pool or beach readily accessible and we like an area with restaurants and some activities the kids enjoy such as water parks, amusement parks, playgrounds etc. nearby. We don%26#39;t need to be super close to those things, just a reasonable distance. We are not boaters but some of us enjoy fishing from the shore, but that is not a requirement. We live in the Chicago area and would prefer something within one day%26#39;s travel, but we could go a little further and split the driving into 2 days. We have been to spots in WI that we liked, but now we have to go in early June, so we hesitate to go north because the weather and water temp might be too cold. We have been to Lake of the Ozarks, which we enjoyed and this summer we went to Lake Cumberland, KY, which we thought was a little too quiet and remote, though beautiful. We would like to try something new. Any ideas?

Family Vacation Ideas

I think that Hot Springs would probably be a good spot for your vacation. There are many different activities, shops, a few lakes around the town, a spa and Magic Springs (amusement park is nearby). Little Rock is less than an hour%26#39;s drive away, and here you will find Wild River Country (water park). Go check out the Hot Springs forum and info pages. Good info by people posted there.

Family Vacation Ideas

Magic Springs has water rides as well as amusement rides. Not to dissuade you from coming to Arkansas at all, but have you thought of Branson, MO.?There is Silver Dollar city, Table Rock Lake and many shows for different ages. They also have bumper boats, and go carts. Hot Springs has many arts/crafts shops and also Garvan Woodland Gardens (very nice) little hikes among many differents plants. Several putt putt golf places.

Thanks. I sent for some stuff in the mail about both those places and they do look good. The only thing about Hot Springs is that is is a little further than we wanted to go, but it does look good, as does Branson.

great info from zebras 23.

I don%26#39;t think many could argue against northcentral and northwest Arkansas being the most scenic part of this state. The drive thru the Mark Twain Forest on I-44 is very nice also. Highway 5 is a very popular drive thru the state with us locals. You could also take day trip down hwy 5 to hwy 27 to Mt. Nebo and Mt. Magazine for some hiking:

mountmagazinestatepark.com

arkansasstateparks.com/mountnebo

Blanchard Springs Caverns is very nice. If I remember correctly, the Dripstone Trail (the shorter trail of the 2) was the most magnificent.

arkansas.com/things-to-do/caves

'; '; /scenic-drives

fs.fed.us/oonf/ozark/recreation/caverns.html

The Ozark Folk Center is very interesting place. There are crafts, demonstrations and music.

This choice would definitely be more serene experience than fighting crowds and traffic in Branson, if the distance is acceptable to your family.

Mountain Home is not the %26#39;best place%26#39; to find lodging, if you want lake front or peace and quiet.

There are several very nice lakeside resorts in Bull Shoals, a quiet little town with no stop lights, but plenty of shopping and attractions, including a guided cave tour, and 18 hole golf course, and trout fishing as well as lake fisning, guides are plentiful, though a bit pricey.

The town is nearly surrounded by water, being on an ishtmus that ist he Bull Shoals Dam, and the beginning of the Trout Hatchery and Protection Area.

In the Wihte River, Trout can be caught easily, because the river is stocked regularly. The lake fish are harder to catch, but taste very good, because the waters of Bull Shoals lake are extremely clear and clean.

I have been on the guided cave tour in Bull Shoals. I reccomend it to everyone, weather you like sperlunking or not. It gets quite cold, but is definatly tolerable. My whole family loved it.

I have been to the guided cave tours mentioned by the poster above me.

I reccomend it to anyone for a family vacation. It gets a bit chilly in the caves but is definatly tolerable, bring a hoodie or a hat. My whole family loved it including my 10 year old who usually hates anything we do that does not involve computer games.

I guess we got deleted because we left a link to our site - even though we weren%26#39;t soliciting and it is very concise and good information for the area (including links to all the places discussed in this write up). However, some folks just don%26#39;t cotton to us providing all this information to promote the beauty of Calico Rock and the surrounding area. They much more encourage you to visit Branson. So I%26#39;ve deleted the references and only have the info.

WHAT TO DO:

The list is literally endless because you basically have every outdoor activity known to mankind available within an hour%26#39;s drive of Calico Rock, AR. Here is a description and helpful links to

some of the places and other items that guest have enjoyed.

BLANCHARD SPRINGS CAVERNS (NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE)

Without question Blanchard Springs Caverns are the best underground cave system in the United States. People who have visited Carlsbad in NM or Luray in VA say there is no comparison – Blanchard Springs Caverns are the best – namely because they are living caverns with all the color and water still present. Two trails, Dripstone and Discovery, are fully handicap/wheelchair accessible with Dripstone open year round. The third option is the “Wild Cave Tour” and is a new addition. It takes 3 to 4 hours

and you are guided on a walk and crawl through undeveloped portions of the cavern system. It is truly a remarkable experience. For the ';Wild Cave Tour'; advanced reservations (3 or 4 days before is usually sufficient) are required and no one under 10 is permitted on that particular trip.

FISHING (RIVERS %26amp; LAKES):

A Fly Fishers Paradise Awaits - including World Record Trout

Without a doubt, trout fishing on the White and Norfork Rivers is what the vast majority of visitors to the area partake of. World record Brown trout have been caught on the Norfork River and the Brown and Rainbow trout in the White River are plentiful. From downtown you are a two minute walk to the docks of the White River, the Norfork River is 20 minutes north on Hwy. 5.

Trout fishing not your cup of tea, want to catch that prize bass? Then you are in luck as well, as Bull Shoals and Lake Norfork, two of the best fishing lakes in the Ozarks are less than one hour away.

If you want any interesting twist on fishing and an educational opportunity for the kids, don%26#39;t miss the US Fish and Wildlife National Fish Hatchery at the base of the Lake Norfork dam. It is truly amazing to see literally 1000s of Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat trout used to stock area rivers.

MOUNTAIN BIKING - TRAILS FOR ALL AGES

SYLLAMO BIKE TRAIL (NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE)

Internationally Acclaimed Mountain Biking

The International Mountain Bicycling Association in 2005 rated the Syllamo Bike trail as one of five Epic Rides. One of the trail heads is less than a 15 minute drive from Calico Rock. This challenging trail will bring hours of exercise and visions of great beauty in the forest. A great description of the 50+ miles of trails is provided here by

local experts and a great article here. The trail is home to the annual Syllamo%26#39;s Revenge Race, plus several other events throughout the year. If you are a rider you don%26#39;t want to miss this.

PIGEON CREEK TAIL SYSTEM

If you need more mountain bike adventures (or a warm-up for Syllamo) head north to Mountain Home to the Pigeon Creek Mountain Bike Trail System. Here you will find a system that is a bit shorter, but suited for all levels of Mountain Bikers.

HIKING

There are several hiking opportunities through out the region and there are several trail books. The nearest developed trail is at the Visitor Center for Blanchard Springs Caverns, a 20 minute drive from the Lodge. The Rangers at the Center have plenty of maps and will update you on what the best trail is at that time. The closest and one of the best in the Ozarks is the North Sylamore Creek Hiking Trail - This 14-mile trail follows North Sylamore Creek from Allison, Arkansas to Barkshed Recreation Area. It is located 15 miles southeast of Edsrock Lodge at Blanchard Springs Caverns visitor center. You can also hike the Syllamo Bike Trail. The ';White River Loop'; has several scenic spots along the way.

The National Forest Service has host of information and maps available at its web sites for activities within the Ozark/St Francis area.

CANOEING

There is often nothing better than heading down the river on a canoe and enjoying all nature has to offer. This includes getting a canoe or kayak from one of the local outfitters, then floating down the White River by its scenic bluffs. Also Calico Rock is an hour from the famous Buffalo National River. This is one of a few

unpolluted and free flowing river in the lower 48 states and provides a paradise for all levels of experience. You can reach several put in points within one to two hour drive from the Calico Rock.

SCUBA DIVING

Some of the clearest inland water in the nation is found at both Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes. Many of the boat docks provide rentals for divers.

VISITING HISTORIC CALICO ROCK

One of the simple pleasures of staying in this area is a stroll down the hill to historic downtown Calico Rock. Make sure you stop at the visitor’s center to pick up the latest brochures. One of the favorite things for the young grandsons of residents is an afternoon treat at the old fashion soda fountain at Clinkingbeard Family Store on Main Street. Also you can visit the oldest public structure in Arkansas - the Wolf House just north of Calico Rock near Norfork.

WORLD RENOWNED FOLK MUSIC

If nature is not enough, then let music fill the air. The Ozark Folk Center is world famous for keeping the art of folk music and folk life alive. There are shows several times a week that you will find very enjoyable, plus classes and seminars on many aspects of ';Folk Life';.

And if you really want to ';step back in time'; you should head to Mountain View on Friday and Saturday night and make your way to the Court House Square. There you will find several small groups of musicians who meet simply for the pure joy of playing together. Pull up a chair, or better yet bring your own instrument and join in.

Make your way around the groups to get a wonderful cross reference of all types of genuine folk music.

GOLF

For many no vacation is complete without a round (or several) of golf. At Calico Rock you are just 30 minutes from Big Creek Golf in Mountain Home. Rated 5 out of 5 stars by Golf Digest in May 2004, this course will present a challenge and a nice day of golf for any handicap and level of experience.

PLACES TO EAT

In Calico Rock on Main street is Don Quixote%26#39;s Cafe and the Clinkingbeard Lunch, while just out the highway one finds the White River Cafe, Leatherwood Restaurant, with Roscoe%26#39;s 7 miles from Pineville. You can find most anything between Mountain

Home, Calico Rock and Mountain View. Here are a few of our guests favorites:

JoJo’s Catfish Wharf (Our favorite place for Catfish)

Tommy’s Famous Pizza (Voted best pizza in Arkansas – if you like cheese, go here):

GOT TO SHOP

So you need a little break from nature, and want to hit the shops, there are several excellent shops in downtown Calico Rock and on the Square in Mountain View, there you%26#39;ll find some of the best local crafts at the Arkansas Crafts Guild, as well as at the nearby Arkansas Folk Center. In Mountain Home and nearby Hardy, you can find great crafts and antiques. Mountain Home has several fine Shopping facilities.

If you are in need of more modern finds, visit Branson, MO, some 2 hours from Calico Rock. Besides the great musical shows, there are numerous outlets and other shopping venues.

So, these are just a few of the things to do. You will find many more along the way and also discover your own.