With its bountiful lakes, rivers and mountains it’s no surprise that Arkansas is nicknamed the ‘Natural State’ and known throughout the US for its outstanding natural beauty and quaint small towns. We traverse this great state of Arkansas and pick our top 10 beautiful towns that simply have to be seen.
Jasper
Located in the heart of Newton County, Jasper is a tiny, scenic town nestled in the Ozark Mountains not far from the Buffalo National River – the first waterway in the US to be designated national river status. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, the lush wilds around the town are home to roaming herds of elk whose reintroduction to the area is celebrated annually with Jasper’s Buffalo River Elk Festival while it’s quaint downtown area is home to historic properties, like the Arkansas House Inn, a hotel first opened in 1934, and quirky antique stores like Emma’s Museum of Junk.
Eureka Springs
Founded in 1879 as a spa town, stunning Eureka Springs is a picturesque Ozark Mountaintown built into steep hillsides and surrounded by over 60 natural springs. One of the nation’s top art destinations, Eureka Springs has been listed amongst American StyleMagazine’s Top 25 Small Cities for art four years running and alongside a vibrant community of independent art galleries, is also home to the annual Opera in the Ozarksfestival, while Eureka Springs’ entire historic downtown district, full of beautiful Victorian architecture dotting its winding streets, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
Siloam Springs
Right on the border with neighboring Oklahoma is the beautiful Siloam Springs – a town found in the early 1880s as people flocked to the area for the healing powers of its many springs. Named one of the Best Small Towns in America by Smithsonian Magazine in 2012, Siloam Springs’ beating heart is its gorgeous historic downtown, where beautiful old buildings like the Crown Hotel – formerly the Lakeside hotel built in 1881 – reside. While unique boutiques and hip restaurants give the town a cosmopolitan edge, Siloam Springs’ luscious parklands and the scenic Sager Creek which winds through the town are ideal for nature lovers.
El Dorado
Down in southern Arkansas a few miles from the Louisiana border lies the city of El Dorado, a former 1920s oil boom town nestled in the Arkansas Timberlands, currently undergoing a revival – in fact, its revitalized downtown district was named America’s Best Downtown by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2009. Full of southern charm, El Dorado offers a glimpse into regional arts and culture with events like the Southern Folk Festival and Southern Food & Wine Festival while other local attractions include the South Arkansas Arts Center and the South Arkansas Arboretum – 13 rolling acres of botanical gardens full of blooming plant life and walking trails.
Mountain Home
Nestled in the southern Ozark Mountains close to the border with Missouri, Mountain Homeis a peaceful small town and one of the most popular vacation and retirement destinations in the state of Arkansas. Sandwiched between two stunning lakes – Norfork Lake to the east and Bull Shoals Lake to the west – Mountain Home is an ideal starting point for exploring the natural beauty the Arkansas Ozarks has to offer, while its quaint downtown is home to historical buildings like the beautiful Case-Shiras-Dearmore House, built during the 1870s in the Plain Traditional style, and a community of cute eateries and locally owned boutiques.
Van Buren
Located across from the city of Fort Smith on the banks of the scenic Arkansas River, the beautiful town of Van Buren was incorporated in 1842 and in the pre-Civil War years became an important river port city. Today, much of the town’s rich history is still evident, particularly in its historic Main Street district where beautifully restored buildings like the King Opera House – a Victorian era theatre that first opened its doors in the late 19th century – and the Italian-inspired Crawford County Courthouse built in 1842 sit alongside Van Buren’s modern additions and community of hip shops, galleries and restaurants.
Batesville
Built around the edges of the White River in northern Arkansas, Batesville dates back to the early 1800s when the Trimble and Lafferty families first settled in the area and, in fact, is the oldest city in the state of Arkansas. An ideal vacation destination for visiting history buffs, Batesville is home to Arkansas’ oldest downtown and its first urban farmstead while the Arkansas Scottish Festival, held each year at Lyon College, celebrates the area’s Scottish heritage. The lovely Pocket Park on Batesville’s Main Street plays host to beautiful mosaics and community gatherings while the rest of its downtown area is home to plenty of cute craft shops and homey cafes.
Heber Springs
With the Greers Ferry Lake as its closest neighbor, it’s no wonder that the northern Arkansas town of Heber Springs is a natural haven for lovers of nature. World record-breaking fishing catches on both Greers Ferry Lake and the nearby Little Red River have seen avid anglers flock to the lakeside town while the annual World Championship Cardboard Boat Races and Annual Heber Springs Fireworks Extravaganza – one of Arkansas’ biggest firework displays – offer additional summertime, lake-related fun. Heber Springs’ historic downtown is home to the grand county courthouse, a host of art galleries and antique stores and the lovely, leafy Spring Park.
Magnolia
A lovely little town situated amongst south central Arkansas’ lush pine forests, Magnoliawas incorporated in 1855 and today boasts a quintessential small American town feel with its quaint courthouse square and charming historic downtown decorated with unique murals depicting the town’s history and culture. Activities for outdoorsy types abound with the beautiful Logoly State Park located just north of the town and Lake Columbia a short drive westward and community activities come in the form of the annual Magnolia Blossom Festival and the World Championship Steak Cook-Off – a weekend packed with family fun, food and music.
Mountain View
A gorgeous, northern Arkansas town proud of its unique Ozark culture, Mountain View is known as the folk music capital of the world and counts legendary musician Jimmy Driftwood amongst its past residents, with impromptu folk concerts often taking place on the porch of the town’s Mountain View Music store. Flanked to the north by beautiful natural attractions including the White River and Blanchard Springs Caverns, Mountain View is perfect for exploring the wilds of the Ozarks while its lovely town center is home to the Ozark Folk Center – a living museum dedicated to preserving traditional Ozark culture – and a community of quirky craft and gift shops.
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