Travel to the “Natural State” of Arkansas

Arkansas is a state of natural wonder and attracts more than 19 million visitors per year.  With six national parks, more than 2 ½ million acres of national forest lands, two mountain ranges, and 13 major lakes, it’s no wonder so many people enjoy touring Arkansas.

Interesting Things to Know about Arkansas

As of the year 2000, the population of Arkansas was estimated at 2.67 million. The state’s name means “south wind” and originated from early Native American tribes.  There were originally four unique spellings of the name:  Arkensa (by LaSalle), Arkancas (by DeTonti), Arkansoa (by Marquette), and finally Arkansas (by LaHarpe). In 1836, Arkansas was chosen as the official spelling, and the state was added to the Union.

Industry in Arkansas consists of a blend of agriculture and industrial businesses. Some of the products produced in Arkansas include machine tools, boats, aircraft components, furniture, clothing, television sets, paper products, electric motors, and communications equipment.  In agriculture, the state is number one in poultry and rice production.  Grapes, soybeans, grain and cotton are also widely produced in the state.

Arkansas’ climate is usually mild with annual average temperatures ranging from 58 to 65 degrees F.  Snowfall averages about 10.4 inches for the extreme northwest regions.

The Natural Beauty of Arkansas

Arkansas rightfully holds the nickname “Natural State!”  The state is almost equally divided by plains and mountains.  The Ozark plateaus are to the north and the Ouachita province is to the south.  The Arkansas River flows in between the two through a large valley.  The highest peaks in the state stand in this valley - the Petit Jean, Nebo, and Mount Magazine peaks.  The Petit Jean has a canyon with a waterfall 75 feet high!  The highest elevation in the state is on Mount Magazine being 2,753 feet above sea level.

Arkansas has several main rivers including the Mississippi River, White River, Red River, St. Francis River, Arkansas River, and Ouachita River.  There are also many beautiful streams including the hot springs at Hot Springs National Park and Hot Springs Mountain.  These have an average temperature of 143 degrees F.

Tourism in Arkansas

The natural beauty of the state attracts nature lovers from all over for camping, hiking, biking, fishing, boating, golfing, and sight-seeing. 

Tourists enjoy exploring the Blanchard Springs Caverns (http://www.ozarkgetaways.com/blanchard_springs_caverns.html), touring the Mid-America Science Museum, and taking the kids to the Wild River Country water theme park.  There are also many scenic drives.

Family Attractions

Families can enjoy a number of outdoor adventures such as cavern tours, whitewater rafting, hiking trails, and more.  In Little Rock and other towns, there are shops and unique stores that offer quilts, crafts, gourmet foods, clothing, antiques, fine art, and more.  There are also many major malls, upscale stores and discount shops.
In the historic district of Little Rock (http://www.littlerock.com/), one can see the Old State House and the Arkansas Capitol building.  Also in Little Rock are the Clinton Presidential Library, the Arkansas Arts Center, the Wildwood Park, Little Rock Arsenal Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, and an IMAX Theater.

Other Popular Arkansas Cities

There are two “spa cities” in Arkansas - Hot Springs (http://www.hotsprings.org/) and Eureka Springs.  These draw vacationers each year for the purpose of relaxation and healing.  In Mountain View, visitors can listen to live folk music or shop for crafts.  At Fort Smith, visitors can explore the history of the “Wild West.”  The town of Bentonville is where the headquarters of Wal-Mart is located.  There are also the cities of Rogers, Fayetteville and Springdale, which are grouped in a fast-growing metropolitan area.

Whether for outdoor pleasure or history and heritage, visitors to Arkansas USA are sure to find plenty of reasons to kick up their feet and stay a while.  More information about this great state can be found at the Arkansas informational website (http://www.arkansas.com).