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entertainment
’ S A S N A ARK ouvenir Cities S
Anyone will tell you that the best part about spring break and summer vacation is the places families get to visit, as told by the souvenirs they bring home with them. T-shirts, drink cups, and a million other tchotchkes remind us of our adventures, sparking the old line, “Remember when...” Arkansas has its share of unique attractions with mementos to match. Herein lies a mere sample of what can be experienced in The Natural State and what to bring back from your adventures.
Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center Fort Smith, Arkansas agfc.com The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center is the perfect
Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
diversion for getting the family some sunshine and fresh air. Built on 170 acres of land that was part of Fort Chaffee, the center includes wooded grounds that offer nature trails and Wells Lake, a popular spot for fishing and watching birds and other wildlife. Inside the main building at the center, visitors find a variety of exhibits demonstrating the local ecosystem. Included are representations of the Ouachita and Ozark mountains, a life-sized oak tree exhibit crawling with game and nongame animal displays, and a 1,200-gallon aquarium with native Arkansas fish. River Valley is one of five nature centers operated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission statewide, along with three education centers. Together, the structures educate and enlighten visitors as to the diverse habitat and geography of a given area as well as local species. These centers are free to the public, paid for by the one-eighth-
Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center
cent Conservation Sales Tax, passed in 1996.
words Dwain Hebda IMAGEs courtesy Hot Springs & Arkansas State Parks and Tourism
SOUVENIR: The public is welcome to fish Wells Lake (valid Arkansas SOUVENIR fishing license required) and, whatever you catch you can take home for dinner. There is also a variety of programming at the Janet Huckabee Nature Center such as classes on how to make a turkey call. And if all else fails, be sure to visit the gift shop. Proceeds help maintain the nature centers and keep them free to visit.
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