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Ozark Mountains

Stretching from northwest and central Arkansas into Missouri, the Ozark Mountains are an ancient range, once surrounded by sea and now well worn by time. Verdant peaks give way to misty fields and hard-dirt farms, while dramatic karst formations line sparkling lakes, rivers and capillary-thin back roads. The region derives a lot of pride from its independence and sense of place, a zeitgeist at least partially informed by multiple generations of familial roots and a long history of regional poverty. For literary company, pick up Daniel Woodrell's novel Winter's Bone, which was adapted into a critically acclaimed film of the same name.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Ozark Mountains.

  • See

    Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

    This enormous art museum, sprawling across a series of creek ponds fed by mountain streams, is an unexpected find, to say the least. The curved pavilions that house the extensive collections are connected by glass-encased tunnels, and the experience consistently filters sunlight through and across the grounds. The collections spans the length and breadth of art in the USA.

  • See

    Historic Loop

    This 3.5-mile walking tour winds through downtown Eureka Springs and neighboring residential areas. The route is dotted with more than 300 Victorian homes, all built before 1910, each a jaw-dropper and on par with any preserved historic district in the USA. You can access the loop via the Eureka Trolley, or just walk it – recommended if you're fit (the streets are steep!); pick up a map or buy trolley tickets at the Visitor Center.

  • See

    Terra Studios

    Terra Studios is hard to pin down. It's...a big piece of public art? Sure, with plenty of sculptures, a kid-friendly area, a labyrinth, and reminders of the wind's power. Consider this a crazy hybrid amusement park and a sneak peek into the creative culture of the Ozarks. Catch live music on Sunday from 1pm to 4pm.

  • See

    Blanchard Springs Caverns

    The spectacular Blanchard Springs Caverns, 15 miles northwest of Mountain View, were carved by an underground river. It's a little-known, mind-blowing spot in Arkansas. Guided tours range from accessible-travel to adventurous three- to four-hour spelunking sessions. The caverns maintain seasonal hours, but usually open at 9:30am and close around sunset.

  • See

    Thorncrown Chapel

    Thorncrown Chapel is a magnificent sanctuary made of glass, with its 48ft-tall wooden skeleton holding 425 windows. There's not much between your prayers and God's green earth here. It's just outside of Eureka Springs in the woods. Donation suggested.

  • See

    Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks

    Even if you're the type to roll your eyes at the words 'botanical gardens,' take some time out to visit this 40-acre wonderland. You'll find the considerable diversity of flora of the surrounding uplands replicated at a miniature scale, as well as a host of themed gardens – Japanese, sensory, rock and water, butterfly, and children's, to name a few. From June to August, the garden is open and free to the public from 5pm to 8pm on Tuesday nights.

  • See

    Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park

    Located about 12 miles southwest of Fayetteville, this state park encompasses some 700 acres where the eponymous Civil War battle of Prairie Grove was fought in 1862. The battlefield has some historical interpretive signage and a museum with artifacts from the fight, but the real draw is the natural beauty: the area has been frozen in time, and retains a 19th-century pastoral beauty that is supremely tranquil, despite all the blood once shed here.

  • See

    1886 Crescent Hotel

    Built in 1886, the Crescent is a gorgeous, functioning artifact of an older age. Step into the dark-wood lobby, with its roaring fireplace and carpets, all accented by little Jazz Age flourishes, and you'll feel the need to order a cognac and berate Daisy Buchanan for ever marrying Tom Buchanan, the cad. Er, sorry. The Crescent sits atop a hill, and is a great place to visit for a drink, the view from its rooftop, or both.

  • See

    Dickson Street

    You can't have a North American college town without a main drag packed with cafes, bars, little stores and students being students. Dickson St is that thoroughfare in Fayetteville, and besides being a nice example of the genre, it's the heart of entertainment and cultural life in Fayetteville. The most 'college-y' blocks of Dickson are between Arkansas Ave and St Charles Ave.