Places to Visit
The natural and manmade recreational amenities bring many people to Northwest Arkansas. Residents and visitors will find places to hunt, fish, waterski, golf, hike and camp. There are also fine arts, music concerts and festivals. Several attractions are listed below and at Northwest Arkansas Attractions.
Arkansas & Missouri Railroad
306 E. Emma, Springdale
800-687-8670
Ride in style in meticulously restored antique passenger cars, a first-class parlor car or the 1940′s Caboose, Lil’ Toot, added in 2007. The A&M’s track winds through the river valleys, traverses high trestles and cuts a quarter-mile tunnel through a mountain. Friendly, fun-loving conductors enhance the journey with anecdotes about the area’s rich history. There are three recreational excursions: Springdale to Van Buren, Van Buren to Winslow and Fort Smith to Winslow.
Beaver Lake
East of Rogers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake is Northwest Arkansas’ main drinking water supply lake, but it’s also one of the region’s best recreation spots. Beaver Lake covers 28,000 acres where water sports, fishing and bird-watching opportunities are abundant. Located in the Ozark Highlands, the area near the lake boasts forests, tall bluffs, meadows crisscrossed by hiking trails, campgrounds and parks. There’s more information on the Outdoors page.
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks in Fayetteville
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
4703 N. Crossover Road, Fayetteville.
479-750-2620
The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks celebrates the spirit of the Ozarks through a series of expertly designed and intensively maintained outdoor spaces and the timber-framed Totemeier Horticulture Center. The garden is in northeast Fayetteville near Lake Fayetteville. A walking trail loops through all nine gardens. There are also interactive exhibits, a large visitor center, office space, and a research library.
Old Spanish Treasure Cave
14290 N. Arkansas Highway 59, Sulphur Springs
479-787-6508
Located in far western Benton County, the historic cavern is filled with intriguing legends of hidden treasure believed to be buried by Spanish conquistadors more than 350 years ago.
Terra Studios
12103 Hazel Valley Road, Fayetteville
479-643-3185
Bluebird of Happiness
Located in the Ozark Mountains near Fayetteville, Terra Studios artisans produce glass and pottery homewares, gifts and fine art pieces. Terra visitors can stroll along wooded paths through the mural garden, explore the pottery showroom and watch skilled glass-workers.
War Eagle Mill
11045 War Eagle Road, Rogers
866-492-7324
A visit to the historic mill offers a taste of the pioneering spirit of the founders and subsequent millers who ground grains for the daily table in the 1800s. The grounds include crafts made by artists in the area, antiques and tools from the late 1800s. There’s a restaurant featuring the Mill’s whole grains, an 18-foot waterwheel and beautiful Arkansas scenery.
War Eagle Caverns
War Eagle Cavern
Highway 12, about 15 miles east of Rogers
479-789-2909
Featuring a spectacular natural entrance, War Eagle Cavern on the shores of Beaver Lake offers 60-minute guided walking tours. There are no stairs or tight passages, and the wide walkways are stroller and pet friendly.
