We Went to Bentonville and (Almost) Forgot to Mountain Bike

By Sean Pease

Can you imagine going to the mountain bike capital of the world and forgetting to mountain bike? Hear me out! A good friend of mine and I decided, with very short notice, to hop in the car and make the 11-hour drive to Bentonville, Arkansas. We met up early on a Friday morning, threw the bikes on the rack, loaded the car with all our gear, put the puppy in the back seat and headed south to find some warmer, drier weather and good times.

Driving into Northwest Arkansas from the north is quite a treat. You witness a big change of scenery that moves from the rolling hills of Missouri to the rocky, undulating and twisty roads of the Northwest Arkansas corridor. As we crossed over the border, we noted the amazing views. The air was crisp and clean. We were nearing a small slice of paradise in a very unassuming geographical location.

We navigated our way to our Airbnb, which was nestled on the east side of Bentonville in a quaint little neighborhood. Trust me when I tell you there is no shortage of short-term rental properties in the area. We were lucky enough to find one that allowed dogs and had a fenced-in yard. It was the perfect little landing spot for all the upcoming activities. So we unloaded the goods, got settled in and began planning the hours and days ahead.

The plan was simple: Ride bikes and drink good coffee. Since it was raining slightly when we arrived, we did not immediately go for the bikes. Instead, we headed to the closest grocery store to stock up on snacks, beverages, and other food and amenities. Our rental was stocked with all the necessities and then some, but we still needed the basics for chilling and snacking. We found everything we were looking for and headed back to the house to stock the fridge and plan out our first adventure into town.

“THE PLAN WAS SIMPLE: RIDE BIKES AND DRINK GOOD COFFEE.

When traveling across the country, it’s easy to eat poorly. Gas station food and drinks are fun for a bit, but the body and mind need nourishment. Bentonville has a wonderful supply of food options. Since this was a first-time visit for Courtney, I had to take her to the Town Square, which is home of the historic Walton’s Five and Dime. The Town Square is the hub for quaint eateries and shopping, not to mention it may be one of the cleanest little blocks on the planet. So much charm in one square block. We found ourselves a perfect parking spot and made our way to a little south-of-the-border restaurant called Table Mesa for some dinner.

It was a rainy Friday night. The vibe in downtown Bentonville was still hopping. People were walking the streets and enjoying the warm spring air. We got ourselves a bar spot and started checking out the menu. The staff were polite and prompt and made us feel right at home.

There is a certain charm about Bentonville. And it shows through the architecture, the art and the attention to details in the signage that helps you find your way around. The people are amazing as well. Living in such a cool place is obviously good for the soul, and it shows.

We got through that first day without any issues and really made the most of all the things we could in our tight time frame on night one. We headed back to the house and hunkered down for the first night’s sleep, as Saturday was going to be a full day and the weather looked beyond delightful. We had things to do.

One of our passions, beyond mountain bikes, is coffee. Bentonville has no shortage of specialty coffee shops and it was our goal to hit them all. We started with Red Kite Coffee, which was bright, fun and laid back. Our second stop was Hero’s Coffee, a bit closer to downtown Bentonville. It has a more rustic vibe, roasting on site and a double-decker booth seating situation that is super cool. At this point we could feel the caffeine running through our veins as we headed over to The Meteor. This is an amazing space tucked into a neighborhood setting. Great music, fancy coffee and cocktails, and a full menu of food. There is also a bike shop attached, if you need anything for your trips out on the trails.

We decided to take a break from our caffeine overload and traverse back to the house and hang out with Hazel. After a while, we decided to head back into town and take in the latter part of the Makers Market that was at Airship Coffee and a cool little pottery joint. This market is different from the weekly farmers’ market they have in town during the summer. The Makers Market happens twice during the year and we were lucky enough to be there on one of those weekends. It’s a mixture of clothing, pottery, jewelry, soaps and all sorts of locally made products. It was a perfect location to check out the vendors and grab some more coffee and a quick bite to eat.

Both Courtney and I are rock climbers and felt the need to get a session in while in town. Another bonus of visiting an adventure community like Bentonville is that they have options for fun, and an indoor climbing gym is one of those options. We gathered our gear and cruised over to the facility. Greeted with more friendly faces, we took our belay test and got to start climbing immediately. What a cool place with a full arsenal of climbing options. Another fantastic place to take the family or just get some time on the wall.

Later that evening after the sun had gone down, we wanted to grab some dinner. A cool little area a few blocks from Town Square has specialty ice cream, more coffee, artsy things to look at and, of course, more great restaurants. We decided to head into Pedalers Pub for a pizza and some beverages. The place was full of energy and was comfortably busy. What a great dinner spot! The cooks were tossing dough and the servers, and service, were on point.

On our last full day in Bentonville, we did take in some of the most popular mountain bike trails in Bentonville. The main trailhead is just two blocks from the Town Square; you enter the trail system through a garden with beautiful artwork, greenery and professionally sculpted berms and features. The trails were in great shape, despite the rain just a few days earlier, and the vibe around town was infectious. After sampling a nice amount of mileage, we opted for a light lunch and some coffee at Airship Coffee at Coler Park Reserve. This is a must-stop, and you can only access this location by bike or on foot.

That night we also were lucky enough to take in the Listening Forest at Crystal Bridges Museum. The Listening Forest is a seasonal after-dark exhibit with enchanting lights and cool artistically designed sound hubs that will create a synesthetic sensory response. Well worth our time and a must-do if you are able.