Posted on 08/29/2018 2:51:51 PM PDT by MplsSteve
The wife and I are planning a trip down to southwest Missouri and northwest Arkansas in late September/early October. We're planning on hitting some national parks along the way - Fort Scott NHS, George Washington Carver NM, Wilson's Creek NB, etc.
It's gonna be a leisurely "We'll leave from Kansas City and start driving and see where we end up" kind of trip. There's no set itinerary other than we'll be down that way for about 5 days or so.
I've requested the usual travel guides - state of Arkansas, state of Missouri, Springfield Mo CVB, etc. But I'm looking for any inside or lesser known info such as places to stay (where I won't get bedbugs or robbed), places to eat (where my chances of getting sick are low to none) and other things to see.
As much as I'd like to, I'm not thinking we'll make it to Branson or too deep into the Ozarks. We'll probably go no further south than maybe Fayetteville. And no, I do no wanna see anything related to that scumbag Bill Clinton!
Like I said, I'm looking for anything - how safe are the communities, etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
See Alice Walton’s Museum of American Art History.
Crystal Bridges
https://crystalbridges.org/
Bkmk travel Arkansas
Carry plenty of Tabasco and fried chicken in your purse. The locals will love you.
Schedule a half day fishing for trout trip at Cotter Trout Dock, Cotter, Arkansas near Mountain Home. One trip on the White River and one can catch over fifty Rainbow Trout in a four hour period. The possession limit is only five per person per day not to exceed ten trout at any time. The mountains there on highway 412 are beautiful, the Buffalo River and Bull Shoals too from Harrison. Branson is only forty minutes away. From Eureka Springs, Springdale, and Fayetteville the area is two hours East.Norfolk and the fishery and Dam are quaint areas to visit and the Ozark Nat’l Forrest has beautiful scenery.
Also, the Cotter Trout Lodge in Cotter is a pleasant place to stay that is quite affordable. It is a 1950’s travel lodge that has been owned by a pair of sisters for the last ten years. It is clean and well kept. Its half the price of most of the hotels but decent.
You’ll be grabbing some beef sticks at Hatfield’s in Neosho MO. Maybe 3 pounds or so.
A couple of points to keep in mind.
1) Review the University of Arkansas football schedule and schedule around that.
2) Schedule around the Bikers Blues and Barbecue Festival (looks like Sept 26 - 29 this year). Not because of the bikers (most of them are probably older and slower than you) but because they fill up the hotel rooms and rates may be higher because of the crowds.
3) I’d echo the two museums - Walmart on the square in Bentonville and the Art Museum. North of there in southern Missouri there are several caves you can tour if you are interested in that. The big Walmart across from headquarters is kept pretty nice. Walmart No. 1 in downtown Rogers isn’t worth the detour unless you just want to buy something to get the store number printed on the receipt.
4) It doesn’t really get pretty going down the interstate until south of Fayettville.
5) The casinos just west of there in Oklahoma are run by the Cherokees. It’s been a while, but last time I was through the area, they were crappy compared to the Choctaws or Chickasaws. I wouldn’t bother with them. (OK, from the pictures, it looks like they may have upgraded).
I agree, and I would add Roaring River State Park, a trout fishing stream. Its been years since I was there but it was great fishing in a beautiful area.
My husband grew up in Eureka Springs, AR. His father was the manager of an old lumber company where all of the gingerbread trim for the Victorian homes was cut. By the time he became manager in the ‘60’s production had stopped, but all of the belts and equipment were still in the shop.
Eureka Springs was a popular health resort in the 1890’s and at that time was the second largest city in AR. The town is built on a the side of hills so you are either walking uphill or down. A very unique place to visit.
Avoid the Ducks in Branson. Just sayin'. In fact, avoid Branson altogether.
If you like art, the Crystal River Art Museum in Bentonville is worth a stop. See where all that Walmart money is going.
Bella Vista is beautiful.
If you're starting in Kansas City leave a day or two to see the town. National World War I Museum, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum are all worth a stop. The National Airline History Museum is kind of neat - that's at Wheeler Airport. And of course there's pan-fried chicken and barbecue.
Big Brutus, a giant excavator that is no longer in operation is worth stopping for the opportunity to go crawl around inside the thing.
West Mineral Kansas just outside of Joplin
https://www.bigbrutus.org/visitor_center.html
It’s BBQ in Harrison AR has the best pulled-pork sandwich in the entire region. It’s worth the drive.
Must agree, Thorncrown Chapel is a must see. Eureka Springs also.
Agree with Eureka Springs. The whole area is beautiful, there’s a lake near if you like hiking - I think just 3 miles around the lake, cool hand made dam from CCC or WPA. Anywhere NW Arkansas is pretty. There’s also a botanical garden near that I’ve often wanted to see but never got around to.
Dad used to drive a horse and buggy in Eureka Springs, I’ve told this story before but he was driving Allison Kraus on his buggy and said “sing me a song” and she said ‘everybody wants me to sing them a song, why don’t you sing me a song’, so he did :) Good thing he was able to carry a tune and was a musical kind of guy.
It would help if you said what you like, museums, hiking, shopping, hunting-fishing, history.
The Cherokee casino in Siloam Springs is huge....and nice. Was just there in June. Went to the one in Grove Ok too. Little smaller but still
pretty good.
https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/devils-den-state-park Been here, it’s very nice if you like hiking and nature.
Dickson Street Bookstore in Fayetteville
Whatever you do, don’t transport Ginseng across those state lines.
Jeff Sessions will have to wake up and put you in jail if you do.
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