Exploring the Ozarks

The weekend before Christmas, The Mechanic and I visited his father in Missouri. We actually flew into northwestern Arkansas, the closest airport, and spent most of our tourist time in that state; his father’s farm is just across the border in Missouri. Having never been to either state, I was looking forward to seeing what exactly the Ozarks were like.

The farm, covered in ice

We arrived about the same time as a terrible storm, but somehow missed the worst of it. Everything was covered in ice the first morning we were there, but the roads were drivable, so we started off in downtown Bentonville, AR, in the Walmart Visitor Center. Despite not being a fan of Walmart, I enjoyed the museum, which chronicled Sam Walton’s life and the business he created. One of my favorite parts was the display of items returned to the stores, and the reasons given – a fishing pole was returned because it was “defective – it didn’t catch any fish,” and the hand mixer that was “possessed.” A digital map showed the growth of Walmart over the decades, and at the end, a summary of the Foundation’s work leaves visitors with warm-fuzzies, right before dumping you into a 1950s style soda fountain. I had to get the “Cutie” sized cone with Walmart colored ice cream, despite the cold!

The Walton’s 5-10 next to the corner soda fountain

Mr. Walton’s office. It was carefully inventoried after he died, then recreated here.

The possessed hand mixer!

A replica of Mr. Walton’s favorite vehicle, his truck. The original is inside the museum.

Cutie cone – the perfect size!

But Bentonville is more than Walmart. We visited the bike shop, Phat Tire Bike Shop, and I bought some locally made stuff at The Mustache Goods & Wears (way more hipster than me, the store was full of great local crafts. I recommend it if you get that way!). We discovered bike racks around the town square, which had a Confederate soldier statue decorated for Christmas, and the cool 21c Museum Hotel, with great modern art outside it. Apparently the 21c Museum Hotel is one of three in the country. Way to go Bentonville!

Phat Tire Bike Shop, in a historic former hotel.

Local pride on a bike rack

The Mustache Goods and Wears

21c Museum Hotel

Art outside the 21c Museum Hotel

Statue honoring former Arkansas governor James H. Berry and Confederate soldiers

Our next stop was Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, not far from the town square, and easily bikeable, following color-coded bike trail signs we saw on our way. Crystal Bridges opened in November 2011, established by a Walmart heiress, and is free to visit. The art collection was really great, many American masters, but I think the highlight of the collect were the buildings themselves. Created by architect Moshe Safdie, they are situated in a square, and opposing buildings either arched or swooped. The ceilings are magnificent wooden beams, and the walls of two are fully glass, exposing the inner pond and outer grounds.  The grounds surrounding it are full of trails, which we would have walked on if it hadn’t been raining the entire day.  Next trip!

Tree sculpture outside the entrance – “Yield,” 2011 by Roxy Paine

Overlooking the museum with the pond in the center

One of the buildings

Outside trails

Admiring the view

The next day we woke up to a dusting of snow on everything, but again, dodged the worst of the weather, and were able to drive out to Eureka Springs, AR. We stopped at Pea Ridge National Military Park, location of one of many Civil War battles, and the “most intact” of all the battlefields. The Trail of Tears also runs through the property, giving it another layer of sorrow. We drove the seven-mile loop and stopped at the Elkhorn Tavern, used as a field hospital during the battles.

Pea Ridge Battlefield

Crazy, isn’t it? One of the most revered US presidents was once considered “radical”

View overlooking Pea Ridge, and the Ozarks

Elkhorn Tavern

Elkhorn Tavern

Eureka Springs, AR, is a Victorian town full of healing springs. Every few blocks was another spring trickling out of the magnificent rocks. Built on the side of the mountains, we started at the very top, at the majestic and haunted Crescent Hotel – I’m sorry we didn’t get to see any ghosts! We wandered up and down the streets, but almost everything was closed, and it was too cold to really linger. But I would definitely like to return again in warmer weather – and maybe stay at the Crescent and see the ghosts!

The back view of the Crescent Hotel

The imposing fireplace in the Crescent

Need to look into this a bit more, not sure what this means

Basin Spring – “Basin waters have made 90 percent of the cures of Eureka”

One of the main springs

Ha!

Another spring

One of many spas

Well, no lawn to mow!

A spring decorated for Christmas

I don’t know when The Mechanic and I will have time to return to this area, but I definitely want to return. It’s full of caves and crazy rock formations, some amazing vistas, and good restaurants. And my father-in-law-to-be.

Crazy icicles on these bluffs!

Inspiration Point, AR

As opposed to the Boring Living Word Fellowship?