ARKANSAS

The Natural State

Located in the center of the United States, Arkansas shines with its authentic beauty, earning it the nickname “The Natural State.” This beauty is embodied in 52 state parks and numerous lakes and rivers, such as the popular Buffalo National River, the first river in the United States to receive the title of “National River.” Its richness does not end there. Little Rock, Hot Springs and Bentonville offer an undeniable cosmopolitan atmosphere. Arkansas has also been home to legendary musicians such as Johnny Cash, Al Green and Glen Campbell, as well as political figures such as U.S. President Bill Clinton. There are also unique experiences such as the Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only diamond mine open to the public, where you can preserve your finds. We must admit that Arkansas is a unique treasure, just waiting to be explored.

Natural Beauty

Arkansas is nicknamed the “Natural State” for its scenic beauty, outdoor activities and abundance of natural resources including mountains, caves, rivers and hot springs. It is home to 52 state parks, three national forests, and the first national river and oldest national park.

To the northwest, the rugged Ozarks region offers hiking trails and limestone caves such as Blanchard Springs Caverns, a network of spring-fed caves, all saturated with color, lined with crystal formations or populated with animals such as salamanders. This mountainous region of Northern Arkansas is also explored through a multitude of outdoor activities such as biking, zip-lining and horseback riding. Running through the Ozarks, the White River is a world-famous fishing spot.

Also to the north, the 214 km Buffalo National River was the first river in the United States to receive “National River” status. With its towering cliffs, it is perhaps the best-known canoeing river in Arkansas.

Hot Springs National Park, located an hour’s drive from Little Rock and famous for its hot springs, is the smallest national park in the country. Its hot springs, 47 in all, flow from Hot Springs Mountain to create a natural “American spa.” The park is famous for Bathhouse Row, a National Historic Landmark District that is home to eight quaint bathhouses, most built in the early 1900s. The park, which celebrated its centennial in 2021, has 2,225 acres to explore, including more than 65 km of hiking trails. Learn about the lowland ecosystem along Arkansas’ waterways at the Delta Rivers Nature Center. Take a walk to experience the bayou, lake and grassland habitats. For a deeper immersion into nature, take a kayak ride on the easy course at Cane Creek State Park.

Clinton And Johnny Cash

In eastern Arkansas, the Delta region stretches from north to south along the Mississippi River. It is the birthplace of the blues, where Johnny Cash’s musical adventure began. Arkansas is also the state where Bill Clinton was born and where he launched his political career. Today, sites pay tribute to these two great American men.

The Delta blues tradition, enhanced by the fact that Johnny Cash was born here, is alive and well in the towns and villages where it originated, including Helena and Little Rock. The music still flows from where it all began in charming downtown Helena on historic Cherry Street. At the Delta Cultural Center, you’ll learn about Delta musicians like Sonny Boy Williamson. This cultural center is where the King Biscuit radio show is broadcast live, hosted since 1951 by “Sunshine” Sonny Payne, member of the Blues Hall of Fame. To fully enjoy your visit, be sure to schedule your visit according to the show’s schedule. The King Biscuit Blues Festival is held each year in early October and offers a varied fourday program.

The exploration of musical heritage continues in Dyess, north of the Delta and less than an hour from Memphis, Tennessee. This is the home of Johnny Cash’s childhood home, offering a glimpse into the life and legacy of the legendary artist known as “The Man in Black.”

We head to the southwestern town of Hope, the birthplace of Bill Clinton, who was governor of Arkansas before becoming the

Getting There

GATEWAYS:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airpor t (DFW)

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)

Or Memphis International Airport in Tennessee (MEM)

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS:

Clinton National Airport Little Rock (LIT)

Texarkana (TXK)

Fayetteville (XNA)

Fort Smith (FSM)

42nd president of the United States. In Hope, you can visit the house where he was born, and the adjacent visitor’s center offers exhibits to enhance the experience. To the northwest, in the attractive college town of Fayetteville, the Clinton House Museum and its collections interpret the lives of President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton when they lived in the home at 930 W. Clinton Drive.

In Little Rock, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park contains the largest collection of presidential documents and artifacts in U.S. history, as well as replicas of the Oval Office and Cabinet Room as seen in the White House in Washington D.C.

Unique Attractions

The capital city of Little Rock and its attractions can be discovered aboard the River Trail Trolley, a charming tramway. Little Rock is home to one of the nation’s most important civil rights sites: the Central High School National Historic Site. Here, in 1957, nine AfricanAmerican students bravely entered a previously all-white high school. The Arkansas Civil Rights History Tour and the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail explore the major sites of civil rights history in and around Little Rock and commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of those who fought for racial and ethnic equality in Arkansas.

Located in Bentonville, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is the largest collection of American art, spanning five centuries of American masterpieces from the colonial era to the present. The mission of the museum, designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, is to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature.

Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro is the only mine in the world open to the public where you can dig for diamonds in the rough and keep your finds after taking the time to have them certified. The most notable of the more than 32,000 diamonds found here is the Uncle Sam at 40.23 carats, the largest diamond ever unearthed in the United States.

Practical Information

POPULATION: 3.018 million

CAPITAL & MAIN CITIES: Little Rock - Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Bentonville

TIME DIFFERENCE: -7h

CLIMATE: Hot and temperate in summer, winters are mild with some cold spells.

WHEN TO GO? April to October

LOCAL TIP: Explore the charming town of Eureka Springs, known for its Victorian architecture, art galleries, boutiques, spas, opera house, and the huge statue of Christ of the Ozarks, which is very famous in the US.