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Area Directories:
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Arkansas - The Natural State
Whitaker Point - A tremendous view from Whitaker Point in
the Ozark Mountains
Arkansas was the 25th State inducted
into the Union in 1836. It’s name is the French pronunciation of a
Quapaw word meaning "land of downriver people". Bill Clinton, the 42nd
President of the United States, was born in Hope, Arkansas. Before his
presidency, Clinton served as the 40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas, a
total of nearly 12 years.
Arkansas is a wonder of the south.
Fertile river valleys, deltas, thick forests green and lush, mountains
and lowlands, it is a versatile mix of what is favored on the back roads
of America over all. Caves, lakes, rivers, streams, diamond and crystal
mines, brilliant foliage, and hot springs are just a few of nature’s
glories that attract visitors to this little pocket in the southern
U.S.. Arkansas is noted for the beauty of its extensive forests (more
than 60% of it is wooded) and for an abundance of water (more than
600,000 acres of lakes, 9,700 miles of streams and rivers, and numerous
natural springs).
With its southern location, climate is
rarely a problem, never too cold and though it’s hot and humid in the
summer with its gulf influence, this just offers more reason to enjoy
the plentiful sources of water sports and activities throughout the
state. Find an accommodating
Hot Springs hotel when visiting the area. With considerably less than three million people and being
largely rural, Arkansas offers a restful getaway from the hectic,
day-to-day grind. Golf (over 150 courses with playing year-round),
hiking, canoeing, fishing, tennis, camping, water theme parks and many
more activities beckon the outdoor lover to Arkansas.
Arkansas is home to many areas
protected by the National Park System. These include:
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Arkansas Post National Memorial at
Gillett
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Buffalo National River
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
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Hot Springs National Park
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Little Rock Central High School
National Historic Site
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Pea Ridge National Military Park
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President William Jefferson
Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site
The Trail of Tears National Historic
Trail also runs through Arkansas and Arkansas is home to over a dozen
wilderness areas of over 150,000 acres. Arkansas is the only U.S. state
in which diamonds are mined—and only by members of the public with
primitive digging tools, not by industry, another unique opportunity to
enjoy while testing your luck.
Its two largest cities, Little Rock
(the state’s capitol with a population of 193,000), situated on the
banks of the Arkansas River, and Fort Smith (population 86,000) in the
northwest region, though vibrant and thriving, still retain that
small-town feel while offering the best in accommodations, dining and
attractions. Getaway locations vary with the regions but a general
listing will include the charm of Eureka Springs (America’s Victorian
Village), Hot Springs, Mountain View (Folk Music Capital of the World)
and the small towns sprinkled within Ozark region, all offering country
friendliness and rural flavor with shopping for hand-made crafts,
antiques, and down-home cooking.
While traveling through Arkansas,
don’t miss the Great River Road, a series of routes paralleling the
Mississippi River and a designated national scenic byway.
Whatever your interests in visiting
Arkansas, a journey of exploration awaits in this lush southern region.
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