One of the most popular southern states in the U.S.
is Arkansas as it’s home to some fabulous mountain ranges as
well as having the famous Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers flow
through it. Arkansas is the 29th largest state in the country
and 32nd when it comes to population as it’s home to about three
million people. It became the 25th state admitted to the Union
back in 1836 and Little Rock is the largest and most populated
city. Other major cities include Texarkana, Fort Smith,
Russellville, Harrison, Fayetteville, and Jonesboro.
The state is filled with wonderful valleys, caves,
mountains, rivers, fertile plains, rolling hills, and forests.
Some of the country’s most famous mountain ranges are located in
Arkansas, such as The Ozark, Boston, and Ouachita Mountains. The
eastern and southern areas of the state are known as the
lowlands. It’s believed the first Europeans visited the region
in the early 1500s and the state was bought from Napoleon
Bonaparte in the famous Louisiana Purchase. It then separated
from the Union in 1861 and was reinstated after the Civil War in
1868.
There are plenty of national parks to visit if
you’re a nature lover and these are ideal for camping, hiking,
and canoeing, etc. Some of the most popular are Buffalo National
River, Fort Smith National Historic Site, Hot Springs National
Park, Pea Ridge National Military Park, and the Trail of Tears
National Historic Trail. There are also numerous wilderness
areas for fishing and hunting.
As far as the weather’s concerned, Arkansas has
a humid subtropical climate, which translates into hot and humid
summers with cold winters, so dress appropriately.
There are two major airports to fly into, which
are Little Rock National Airport, and Northwest Arkansas
Regional, which is in the city of Highfill. There are also
several regional airports in service. You can get to the major
cities by train as the Chicago to Los Angeles train makes daily
stops there. Getting around the major centers is a breeze as
there are bus services and taxis. The cities and towns are all
connected by the state’s highway system and that makes
travelling by car nice and convenient.
There are plenty of activities to keep you busy
if you love the outdoors, but if you’re a city dweller at heart,
you’ll probably want to head over to the capital of Little Rock
to see what the 700,000 residents get up to there. The city is
located on the south side of the Arkansas River with the western
side of it sitting at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains
which gives it a very picturesque setting.
This is definitely the place to be if you want
to learn the history and culture of Arkansas as there are
several fine museums to visit. These include the Arkansas Arts
Center, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, the
MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, the Arkansas
Museum of Discovery, the Old State House Museum, and the
historic Arkansas Museum.
The arts are also quite popular as the city is
home to the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Arkansas Symphony
Orchestra, and Ballet Arkansas. Other popular sites include the
Quapaw Quarter, the zoo, Riverfront Park, Robinson Center Music
Hall, Willow Springs Water Park, and the Wildwood Park for the
Arts. For nightlife, you can head to the River Market District.
Sports are popular in Arkansas, but there are no major league
professional teams there at the moment.
Accommodations are no problem as there are all
kinds available for all budgets. Restaurants are also aplenty,
with regional and international dishes being served.
Arkansas is a fantastic place to visit if you’d like to see
the great outdoors in all its glory as well as get a taste of
laid back city life.
About Arkansas