We are coming to Arkansas for first time over July 4th for about a week. How would you drive if you were coming from Atlanta? Mapquest sends us up through Nashville. Is this best? Also, would like to see Ozark and Hot Springs. Have good free hotel points in Arkadelphia. Is this bad central location to explore? Just my husband and me on this trip. Looking for laid back and just a different scenery as we have never been here before. Any suggestions? Thank you so much in advance.
Vacation in Arkansas from Atlanta
wow, You sure are wanting to see alot from one end of the state to the other, I thought about the best way to go, First let me say there is not really much to see in Arkadelphia. I think I would strike it off the list. I think what a good thing to do would go from atlanta to birmingham to memphis into little rock. Stay at the river market in little rock, see the President clinton library maybe, the old state house, ect... The peabody is right in the river market , that would be a good start. Then drive to hot springs from there., I have a good suggestion for a place to stay that has a good view of lake hamilton and is really good priced for hot springs.
www.willowbeachmotel.com/pages/1/index.htm
Here%26#39;s a web site that will fill you in on hot springs.
http://www.hotsprings.org/
Hot springs has many fun things to do and see.
From there I would drive up toward the northern area of the state to eureka springs, It is a wonderful little victorian town that makes you feel like your in a village in another country, great shoppes, art galleries, beautiful scenery. It takes about three to four hours to drive there from hot springs, but it%26#39;s a beautiful drive.
here%26#39;s a web site with hotels, B%26amp;B ect.
http://www.eurekasprings.com/
From there I would drive the 49 miles to Branson Missouri,
It is a great resort town in the ozarks that is legendary for it%26#39;s music theaters, theme parks, shopping, two lakes. If you go so close to Branson , it would be a real shame not to check it out. It is a really fun place with some wonderful views. I%26#39;m going there and staying on the lake for vacation instead of the beach this year. There%26#39;s a wonderful new england type inn that I love in branson that over looks the 76 strip where everything in branson is.
It%26#39;s called the Bradford inn, You get a home cooked breakfast, and it%26#39;s ran by a wonderful family, The rooms are themed and at a great price.
www.bradfordinn.us/
www.branson.com/
From there you could drive to mountain home, That puts you going back in the direction of your state,
It takes you about 2 hours to drive there, and you get to see alot of the state,
Mountain home Arkansas in the northern center of Arkansas just below the Missouri - Arkansas border. The two lakes, the three rivers, and the Ozark National Forest, all in our area, offer some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in America.
It is that region within the north-central Arkansas and south-central Missouri Ozark Mountains encompassing a 30 mile radius around Mountain Home, Arkansas. Norfork Lake and Bull Shoals Lake spread throughout the area, thus the name Twin Lakes Area. Mountain Home is almost dead center between the two lakes. The waters of both lakes extend into southern Missouri. There are several small towns within this region, like Bull Shoals, Arkansas. Total population within the Twin Lakes Area is about 50,000 persons.
http://www.mtnhome.net/index.asp
The web sitre will give you plenty of choices for lodging,
From there you could drive back to memphis and take the way you came to take you back home.
Just map quest all the places I told you about and it will give you the best way to go.
I think this will give A great trip around the state and make the drive
less complicated and you will get to see the best of the state. The best of the state is hot springs and above, southern arkansas is mostly poor farming towns, kinda flat ...
I hope this gives you somewhere to start from....
I think you will enjoy our state..
Vacation in Arkansas from Atlanta
Hi Fordarama:
Thanks so very much for the wealth of info!
Here is the plan now. We drive to Little Rock from Atlanta. Next day to Eureka Springs. Next day to Branson. Next day to Mountain Home. Next day to Memphis to cut drive in half. Then onto Atlanta next day.
You were very helpful and we appreciate it. Hey, when you visit here, let me help! Thanks again.
Robin
One more question, please.
I have hotel points to stay at Doubletree downtown Little Rock on July 4th. Icky? I have read good and bad but it is free hotel night and close to river and attractions I believe? Maybe we will see fireworks? Hmmm. What do you think? For free okay? Thanks again.
our fireworks are on the river, right near where you will stay, I say if it%26#39;s a free night I would stay there. It is in the same area as the river market, you just walk straight up the street and your right in the river market.. Plenty to see and do there....I was glad to help you with your trip..feel free to ask for more info if you need it.
Doubletree is an excellent location. Generally considered a slight wn from the Peabody but still a solid place and locals do not hesitate to send people there. It is attached to the municipal auditorium called Robinson Center and they often have concerts and plays. You might check out their schedule. The symphony will be playing at the nearby river amphitheater on the 4th and that is a great event, if a little crowded and often hot!
Sorry for typo in previous message. Meant to say Doubletree is a slight step down from the nearby Peabody Hotel but still a solid and well located choice! Have a great time in Arkansas.
PS: Don%26#39;t overlook two great nearby museums, the Old State House right next door to the Doubletree where Clinton made acceptance speeches. It was the original State Capitol and is a beautiful and interesting museum. Also a few blocks away is the Historic Arkansas Museum which includes Arkansas%26#39;s territorial capitol and a mini-Williamsburg appearance.
Thanks again to both of you. Got brochures in mail yesterday too! Looking forward to our visit and will spend one night in Branson as well. We are calling this a ';Seek and Discover'; Mission since we are hopping around and plan on coming back for a longer stay in locations we really enjoy. A friend keeps saying we will be sorry only one night in Branson as we will want to see several shows. I like a show okay, but more into the town, lake, scenery, quaint place atmosphere. We shall see. I am sure I will have another question between now and then and I really appreciate your help.
Alright. We are going to Mountain Home and not Mountain View, right? I can%26#39;t find alot on Mountain Home and seems like more on Mountain View. Just want to make sure I got it right. Trip is around the corner and am really looking forward to it. Thanks for your help!
Any particular spots you would reccommend to eat - moderately priced and nothing fancy??? Thanks!
Mountain Home and Mountain View are two pretty different type experiences. Both have their attractions. If you have any interest in music, Mountain View is a fascinating stop. Especially on weekend evenings the town square is hopping with local musicians grouped around on benches playing fiddles and dulcimers and banjos and more. They welcome you to sit down and listen or even join in. There are reasonable and nice B%26amp;B%26#39;s around the little town and a few interesting shops. There is also a State Park called Ozark Folk Center at Mountain View and there craftspeople carry on long Ozark craft traditions. Mountain Home is a North Arkansas small town near the Missouri border which is close to a couple of Corps of Engineer dammed lakes. There is nice scenery in that area.
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