Arkansas Road Trip March 2015
We drove from Atlanta through Birmingham on our way
to Memphis for our first overnight. On the way to Memphis, we decided to stop
in Tupelo, MS, birthplace of Elvis.
That evening we went downtown Memphis to Beale
Street for dinner and sights.
The next morning we went to Graceland. We went for
the Platinum tour since they had a great price for military. It included the mansion, archives, car museum,
airplanes, and several other areas. Cathy was very impressed and was a much bigger
fan by tour’s end.
From there we drove to Little Rock. Our first stop
was Pinnacle Mountain State Park. We climbed up the difficult East Summit Trail
and came down the West Summit Trail.
Day 3 we were downtown Little Rock. It was the only
day it rained on us. We toured Heifer International eco-building and had lunch
at the Clinton Presidential Center. Lunch was surprisingly good.
By then the rain stopped and we went to the Historic
Arkansas Museum, road the River Rail Streetcar to North Little Rock and back, walked
part of the Arkansas River Trail through the Sculpture Garden, and toured the
MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in the old Arsenal.
We ended the day at the Big Dam Bridge.
The next day we drove to Hot Springs National Park.
We walked through the historic district, toured the Fordyce Bathhouse, and made
the requisite visit to a bathhouse. We chose the Quapaw Bathhouse.
From there we went to Garven Woodland Gardens with
their tens of thousands of tulips in bloom.
We spent the night in Texarkana, TX at the only bad
Marriott property we have ever stayed. The next morning we spent most of the day at Carter
of Diamonds State Park, the only place in the US where people can search for
diamonds. There were hundreds of people searching. It’s hard work. On average
two diamonds are found every day, not one by us.
After we finished our diamond hunt, we drove to Ft
Smith. The first part of the next day, we spent in Fort Smith and Miss Laura’s.
Then it was on to Bentonville with Crystal Bridges
and the original Walmart, which is now a museum.
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We spent that night in Eureka Springs. In the morning,
we went to Christ of the Ozarks and Thorncrown Chapel.
From there we drove to Branson, MO. After a quick
stop at stone Hill Winery, we went to a terrible dinner. That was redeemed next
door when we went to the great “Six” show, featuring the Knudsen brothers. Very
entertaining!
The next morning we toured the Titanic Museum. We
asked the same question, “what is the Titanic” Museum doing in Branson?” It was
very well done and one of the many highlights of our road trip.
From there we went to the Shepard of the Hills Trout
Hatchery on Lake Taneycomo.
Then it was back to Memphis and home the next day.
