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ARKANSAS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESPONSE
Arkansas Happenings
DISCLAIMER
JUST A SHORT NOTE TO STATE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLICATION IS TO PASS PRECIOUS INFORMATION ON TO THOSE OF NEED. OCCASIONALLY, THERE WILL BE ARTICLES BY OTHER WRITERS. I MAY NOT NECESSARILY AGREE WITH THEIR VIEWPOINTS, HOWEVER, I DO RESPECT THEM. THANK YOU
ALSO
If you would like to add information to this page please feel free to contact me at:
OUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND HOURS HAVE CHANGED TO:
1-732-264-7500 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 7:30AM EST TO 5PM EST
1-609-577-3555 24/7/365 FOR EMERGENCIES
OR ANN@HOMELESSTOINDEPENDENCE.ORG
Thank you!
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DISASTER RELATED MATERIALS ARE NOW LOCATED ON OUR NEW “ARKANSAS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESPONSE” PAGE!
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SBA Surety Bond Webinar for Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK – SBA’s Surety Bond Office will host a webinar on May 22, 2012 highlighting what the SBA Surety Bond Guarantee program (SBG) can do for you. The SBG program can guarantee bid, performance and payment bonds for individual contracts of $2 million or less for small and emerging contractors who cannot obtain surety bonds through regular commercial channels.
Who should attend: Small businesses who want to increase their current bond limits or use bonding to strengthen their ability to win bids and successfully complete contracts.
When: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (CST)
Cost: Free!
Webinar Info: * Toll-Free Number (in USA): 888-858-2144
* Access code: 8411214#
For Computer access to the conference, click on this link:
https://www.teleconference.att.com/servlet/glbAccess?process=1&accessNumber=8888582144&accessCode=8411214
If prompted for a meeting room and access code, the two are:
The Meeting room is 8888582144
The Access code is 8411214
For additional information, contact Carol Silverstrom at 501-324-7379, x227
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FUN TIMES AND FESTIVALS:
Arkansas, Little Rock
The Arkansas Black Rodeo
Dates: May 19, 2012 – May 19, 2012
Location: Arkansas State Fair Complex
Little Rock, AR
Pulaski County
Arkansas, 850 Stephen Blvd., West Memphi
The Great Spring Funfair
Theme this Year: There’s Fun In The Air!
Spring Fun Fair Dates: May 31, 2012 – June 3, 2012
Location: West Memphis, AR
850 Stephen Blvd, West Memphis, AR
850 Stephen Blvd., West Memphi, AR
Crittenden
Promoter: Andrew Stringfellow, Jr.
Phone Number: 901-340-6077
Description: The Great Spring Funfair is an event for all ages! This event will be held May 31-June 3, 2012 in West Memphis, AR. There will be rides, games, live entertainment and a Vendor Village for vendors to sell and display their goods. You don’t want to miss
Grandstand Entertainment: 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Vendor Village Flea Market Youthfest featuring youth and young adults groups Live musical peformances
Event Hours: Thursday and Friday – 4pm-10pm Saturday and Sunday – 1pm-10pm
Carnival Bluff City Shows Carnival
Thursday-Sunday
$3.00 Admission Fee
Arkansas, West Memphis
Vendor Village at The Great Spring Funfair
Theme this Year: There’s Fun In the Air!
Vendor Village Dates: May 31, 2012 – June 3, 2012
Location: Comfort Suites Hotel Lot
850 Stephen Blvd,
West Memphis, AR
Crittenden
Promoter: Andrew Stringfellow, Jr.
Phone Number: 901-340-6077
Description: The Great Spring Funfair presents Vendor Village and Flea Market. If you have some specialty items, homemade crafts or any other interesting items for sale, then come and be a part of this year’s Vendor Village. For application and more information, con
Grandstand Entertainment: Live DJ and entertainers Youthfest activities
Event Hours: May 31 and June 1 – 4pm-10pm June 2-3 1pm-10pm
Arkansas, Hot Springs
Hot Springs Music Festival
Theme this Year: The Spice of Life
Dates: June 3, 2012 – June 16, 2012
Location: Downtown Historic District
Hot Springs, AR
Garland County
Phone Number: 501-623-4763
Description: 200 international musicians come together to produce 21 concerts and over 250 open rehearsals of symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, opera, choral works, chamber music, and masterclasses.
Admission: Most events free some $5 to $25
Arkansas, Wynne
Wynne Farmfest
Dates: June 8, 2012 – June 9, 2012
Location: Knights of Columbus Hall Grounds
Wynne, AR
Cross County
Phone Number: 870-238-4183
Description: Live entertainment, arts and crafts, food and concession vendors of all kinds. PBJ Happee Days Carnival Fun, with rides for all ages. Giant Slide and Climbing Wall.
Admission: FREE
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Learn About Dinosaurs
Prepare to take a journey of discovery into the exciting world of modern paleontology with Dinosaurs: Ancients Fossils, New Discoveries, a new exhibit that opens April 23 and goes through July 18 at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in Smackover. New dinosaur fossils are being discovered at a fast rate and advanced technology allows scientists to look at these fossils in fresh ways. Researchers are gaining surprising insights into these amazing animals and how they lived, moved, and behaved. New discoveries, new technology and new ideas are helping today’s scientists piece together what these living, breathing dinosaurs were really like. Contact the museum for further information on the exhibit. Be sure to check out the rest of the museum too, which is dedicated to the pioneers of south Arkansas oil and brine industries.
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources
Phone: 870-725-2877
Go to Website: www.arkansasstateparks.com
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Fourche River Days
Enjoy a weekend of fun for the entire family on April 27-28 during the 8th annual Fourche River Days in Perryville. Food vendors, local restaurant dining, live entertainment, car and truck show, mechanical bull, washer toss, laser tag, historical museum exhibit, and fireworks are all part of the festivities on the courthouse square.
107 B Street, Perryville
Phone: 501-889-1571
Email: pcchamber@windstream.net
Go to Website: www.fourcheriverdays.com
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Cavern Headlamp Tour
Take the Blanchard Springs Caverns in Mountain View. Tours are on Saturdays at 12:45 pm. This one-hour tour through part of the middle level of the caverns goes through large water-carved passages. See marvelous formations using only a helmet-mounted light. With nearly 200 stairs, this tour is not recommended for those with walking or health problems. Call for rates and reservations.
Blanchard Springs Caverns Visitor Center, Mountain View
Phone: 870-757-2211
Exploring Arkansas’s Past
Spend the day exploring Arkansas’s Past at Arkansas Post National Memorial in Gillett. The first semi-permanent French settlement in the lower Mississippi Valley, Arkansas Post was the site of the only Revolutionary War skirmish in Arkansas. Tour the old townsite area, where you’ll find the location of the bank, the tavern, the gin and the trading factory. Walk alongside the Confederate trenches and see the Civil War rifle pits from the Battle of Arkansas Post. Be on the lookout for a variety of native wildlife, including the resident alligator!
1741 Old Post Road, Gillett
Phone: 870-548-2207
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Odysseys Shipwreck! Pirates and Treasure
- March 2, 2012 – September 3, 2012
Mid-America Science Museum
Hot Springs, AR
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Riding the Civil War Trails
Last year, Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism Group Travel Section launched the “I Rode the Civil War Trail” motorcycle brochure. An additional promotion was for riders to complete the eight Civil War trails in Arkansas to receive an “I Rode the Civil War Trail” patch. The first two riders to visit all of the sites were Johnny and Mildred Glascock of Blytheville.
The married couple completed the ride together and each received a patch. They took photos along the route and told us how much they liked the ride, “this event is a lot of fun and very informative. We are really glad we took the time to complete this,” the couple said.
The trails they completed include Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, the Little Rock Campaign, the Attack on Pine Bluff, the Confederate Approach to Helena, the Camden Expedition, Price’s Raid, and Ozark to the Battle of Fayetteville. The actual routes taken by troops are highlighted in the brochure.
If you are planning on riding the trail to earn a patch the rules are as follows: participants are to send photos accompanied by a brief description to grouptravel@arkansas.com upon completion of all eight rides. Brochures are downloadable from www.arkansasheritagetrails.com/civil-war/. They are available by e-mailing grouptravel@arkansas.com or from one of the 13 Arkansas Welcome Centers located at strategic entry points into the state. For more information contact Renee Robison by e-mail at renee.robison@arkansas.gov or by phone at 501-682-1219 or 800-872-1259.
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Arkansas Head Start
Managing Agency Arkansas http://www.state.ar.us
Program Description
Head Start is a nationwide, Federally funded program designed to foster healthy development of young children from low-income families. Launched in 1965 as a summer program to prepare children for school, Head Start in Arkansas has grown to serve over 11,000 children, birth to five, and their families in all 75 counties. The majority of the programs are administered by non-profit community-based agencies in center-based settings and predominantly serve three and four year olds.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Arkansas, you must be a parent or primary caregiver responsible for a child who is too young for public school, and your household’s annual income before taxes must not exceed $10,830 if one person lives in the household; $14,570 if two people live in the household; $18,310 if three people live in the household; $22,050 if four people live in the household; $25,790 if five people live in the household; $29,530 if six people live in the household; $33,270 if seven people live in the household; $37,010 if eight people live in the household; and $40,750 if more than eight people live in the household. For larger households, add $3,740 for each additional person in the home.
If you do not meet these criteria, you may still qualify if you are a U.S. national, citizen or permanent resident whose financial status is low income or very low income, who is under-employed, unemployed or about to become unemployed, facing pregnancy, less than 19 years of age yourself, or the parent or primary caregiver for children under the age of 19 years. Other qualifications may apply.
Your Next Steps
The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To enroll, you must contact the Head Start program nearest you. To find a local Head Start program office, visit:
http://arheadstart.org/start/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&Itemid=89&id=6
Please note: The following counties have two programs: Newton, Garland, and Pulaski. Click on the top half of the county for the first program and the bottom half for the other program.
Program Contact Information
For more information on the Arkansas Head Start program, visit our website at:http://arheadstart.org/start/
Updated 11-04-11
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Art you ready? Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Is NOW OPEN!!
The art world, tour operators, planners and Arkansas citizens have excitedly anticipated the opening of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Welcoming visitors inside on November 11, 2011 in Bentonville, the museum is expected to change the face of the art world and by doing so, the spectrum of attractions in the Northwest corridor of Arkansas. Crystal Bridges will be a vibrant, engaging place that offers a variety of activities for visitors. When completed, the Museum complex will encompass galleries, a library, meeting and office space, a glass-enclosed gathering hall, a museum store, a restaurant, and areas for outdoor concerts and public events. In addition, more than three miles of walking and biking trails through the Museum’s 120-acre grounds offer visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the beautiful Ozark landscape and enjoy sculptures, gardens, and interactive education areas.
Group tours will begin in March, scheduling will be available after the opening. All groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation so the Museum can provide the best possible experience. Guided tours are available for groups with 24 hours prior notice. To schedule a group visit or guided tour, call 479.418.5788.
Admission to the museum will be free thanks to a $20 million grant from Walmart. Spanning five centuries, the permanent collection will begin with the Colonial era and end with current day art. Special exhibits will enhance the existing collection. Crystal Bridges will be open Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Museum will be closed on Tuesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The trails are open from sunrise to sunset, every day.
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Arkansas Weatherization Assistance Program
Managing Agency Arkansas http://www.state.ar.us
Program Description
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is the nation’s largest residential energy efficiency program. Its mission is to insulate the dwellings of low-income persons (particularly the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with a high energy burden) in order to conserve needed energy and to aid those persons least able to afford higher utility costs. WAP provides funds to conserve energy in the homes of low-income people, with emphasis on elderly, handicapped, and families with children. An automated energy audit, called the National Energy Audit (NEAT), is used to determine the most cost effective measures on single frame houses. The Mobile Home Energy Audit (MHEA) is used to determine the most effective measures to be installed on mobile homes.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Arkansas, and your household’s annual income before taxes must not exceed $21,660 if one person lives in the household; $29,140 if two people live in the household; $36,620 if three people live in the household; $44,100 if four people live in the household; $51,580 if five people live in the household; $59,060 if six people live in the household; $66,540 if seven people live in the household; or $74,020 if eight people live in the household. For larger households, add $7,480 for each additional person in the home.
Your Next Steps
The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply for this program, contact your local community action agency, which you can find at:
http://www.acaaa.org/
Program Contact Information
For more information about this program, go to:http://arkansas.gov/dhs/dco/NewDCO/HEAP%20page.html
Or call: 501-682-8722
Updated 09-08-11
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Arkansas Transitional Employment Assistance
Managing Agency Arkansas http://www.state.ar.us
Program Description
The Transitional Employment Assistance (TEA) program helps economically needy families with children under the age of 18 become more responsible for the support of their families. The TEA program is Arkansas’ welfare reform program under the Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of Arkansas, either pregnant or responsible for a child under 19 years of age, a U.S. national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident, have low or very low income, and be either under-employed (working for very low wages), unemployed or about to become unemployed.
Your Next Steps
The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply, please visit:
http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/dco/Pages/SupportServices.aspx
You may also call to request an application:
1-800-482-8988
Or write to request an application:
Arkansas Department of Human Services
Arkansas Donaghey Plaza West
Slot S201
P.O.Box 1437
Little Rock, AR 72203-1437
Program Contact Information
For additional information, visit: 501-682-8650 http://www.arkansas.gov/dhs/homepage.html
Updated 09-08-11
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Arkansas Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Managing Agency Arkansas http://www.state.ar.us
Program Description
The Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households with home energy costs by administering Regular Assistance and Crisis Intervention Programs. Each program provides financial assistance to eligible households with a one-time per year payment to the household’s energy supplier or, under certain circumstances, to the applicant. The Crisis Intervention Program provides assistance to eligible households facing energy-related emergencies.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Arkansas, you must need financial assistance for home energy costs and your household’s annual income before taxes must not exceed $13,538 if one person lives in the household; $18,213 if two people live in the household; $22,888 if three people live in the household; $27,563 if four people live in the household; $32,238 if five people live in the household; $36,913 if six people live in the household; $41,588 if seven people live in the household; $46,263 if eight people live in the household and $50,938 if more than eight people live in the household. For larger households, add $4,675 for each additional person in the home.
Your Next Steps
The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply, locate your nearest Community Action Agency: http://www.acaaa.org/, and call, email, or write to them expressing your desire to apply.
Program Contact Information
For more information about this program, please visit:http://arkansas.gov/dhs/dco/NewDCO/HEAP%20page.html
Updated 09-08-11
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Arkansas Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Managing Agency Arkansas http://www.state.ar.us
Program Description
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people with low income get the food they need for good health. SNAP benefits are used in place of cash to buy food. Most people must spend some cash along with their SNAP benefits to buy enough food for a month.
The SNAP Section has the responsibility for administering Arkansas’ SNAP Program within the Division of County Operations. The Section is responsible for the following: analysis of issues, laws, and regulations governing the SNAP Program. The SNAP Section develops policy and procedures, monitors compliance with Federal Regulations, which relate to timeliness and accuracy, as well as, compliance with regulations governing the delivery of SNAP benefits.
SNAP is funded with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services dollars.
Annually over $200 million in benefits are authorized for eligible participants in the SNAP Program.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the State of Arkansas and fall into one of two groups: (1) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or (2) those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with a person or persons age 60 and over, or with a person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself). For either group, you must also have an annual household income of less than $14,079 if one person lives in the household; $18,941 if two people live in the household; $23,803 if three people live in the household; $28,665 if four people live in the household; $33,527 if five people live in the household; $38,389 if six people live in the household; $43,251 if seven people live in the household; or $48,113 if eight people live in the household. For larger households, add $4,862 for each additional person in the home.
Your Next Steps
The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply for this program, download a copy of the application, found at http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/dco/Pages/SupportServices.aspx, and return it to your local DHS office by mail, fax, or in person.
To locate your nearest DHS office, visit http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/NewDHS/CountyOffice/DHSCountyOffices.htm.
Program Contact Information
For more information, visit the following website and scoll down to the SNAP heading:http://humanservices.arkansas.gov/dco/Pages/SupportServices.aspx
Or call us at:
1-501-682-8650
Updated 09-08-11
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Natural Wonders
The waters of the Spring River surge from beneath the ground at Mammoth Spring State Park in Mammoth Spring. Adjacent to the park is a Federal Fish Hatchery and aquarium. One of the great natural wonders of the mid-South. Mammoth Spring flows at an average hourly rate of almost 10 million gallons of 58-degree water. The pour-off creates Spring River, popular for canoeing and trout fishing. The 1886 Frisco Depot Museum houses a museum, picnic sites, pavilion, nature trails, and early hydroelectric power dam.
Ark. 9 & U.S. 63 North, Mammoth Spring
Phone: 870-625-7364
Website: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mammothspring
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has signed an agreement with Van Buren County, AR to improve access to all public facilities, programs, services and activities for persons with disabilities.The agreement was reached under Project Civic Access, DOJ’s initiative to make sure that that cities, towns and counties around the comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is unlawful under Title II of the ADA for states and local governments to discriminate against individuals with disabilities.
For more information visit https://www.disability.gov/state/arkansas/civil_rights.
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The Park at West End
In Fort Smith, The Park at West End, an old-fashioned amusement park, is located downtown adjacent to the Arkansas River bridge.
The Ferris wheel is a restored late-1930s model that was once displayed at the 1935 San Diego World’s Fair. It is an original from the
Eli Bridge Company. While George Washington Gale Ferris designed the first Ferris wheel, the Eli Bridge Company developed a
practical and portable wheel.
Another main feature is a hand-painted carousel from Treviso, Italy. A 1957 Pullman dining car serves as a diner, and a 1963 British
Leyland provides standard amusement park concessions. A Penny Arcade or retro games adds to the nostalgia, as does the tunes
playing on the park’s calliope circus wagon.
Second Street and Garrison Avenue, Fort Smith
Phone: 479-784-2368
Website: www.fortsmithparks.com
Drive-through Safari
Wild Wilderness Drive-through Safari is a family travel destination in Northwest Arkansas. The 180-acre safari is home to a variety
of exotic animals. The drive-through portion of the park is four miles. You’ll also find petting parks, and walk-through areas for
interaction with the animals. Pony and camel rides operate on a seasonal basis. Visitors are encouraged to call before planning a
visit, to receive information about current animals and attractions. You can take your own lunch and make use of their picnic tables
or buy something at the snack bar.
20923 Safari Rd. off Ark. 59, Gentry
Phone: 479-736-8383
Website: www.wildwildernessdrivethroughsafari.com
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Natural Wonders
The waters of the Spring River surge from beneath the ground at Mammoth Spring State Park in Mammoth Spring. Adjacent to the
park is a Federal Fish Hatchery and aquarium. One of the great natural wonders of the mid-South. Mammoth Spring flows at an
average hourly rate of almost 10 million gallons of 58-degree water. The pour-off creates Spring River, popular for canoeing and
trout fishing. The 1886 Frisco Depot Museum houses a museum, picnic sites, pavilion, nature trails, and early hydroelectric power
dam.
Ark. 9 & U.S. 63 North, Mammoth Spring
Phone: 870-625-7364
Website: www.arkansasstateparks.com/mammothspring
House of Dolls
A 1,500-square-foot museum of more than 5,000 dolls, the Enchanted Doll Museum in Fort Smith contains a life-size Ken and Barbie
as well as antique dolls, including Shirley Temple, Madam Alexander, Effanbee, Kewpie, Betsy Wetsy, Cabbage Patch Kids, Annie,
Gerber, and Gone With the Wind brands. This is one of three new museums at Chaffee Crossing in Fort Smith.
7301 Terry St. , Fort Smith
Phone: 479-478-0225
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FOR ALL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS PLEASE VISIT: http://www.arkansas.com/calendar/calendar.aspx
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Program Description
The Arkansas School Breakfast and Lunch Program is available to public and private nonprofit schools and residential childcare institutions serving children of high school age and younger. Residential childcare institutions must be licensed and operated principally for the care of children. They include homes for the physically, mentally or emotionally impaired, group homes, temporary shelters, orphanages, and juvenile detention centers.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Arkansas and a parent or primary caregiver responsible for a child(ren) who attends school (high school or under). Those who qualify must also have an annual household income before taxes that must not exceed $26,955 if two people live in the household; $33,874 if three people live in the household; $40,793 if four people live in the household; $47,712 if five people live in the household; $54,631 if six people live in the household; $61,550 if seven people live in the household; and $68,469 if eight people live in the household. For larger households, add $6,919 for each additional person in the home.
Your Next steps the following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply for free or reduced price meals, contact your child’s school. A listing of your state’s schools can be found here, by scrolling to the bottom of the page and making your desired selection under “Public Schools”:
http://arkansased.org/about/directory.html
Program Contact Information
For more information, visit the Arkansas Department of Education, Child Nutrition website:
https://dhs.arkansas.gov/dccece/snp/NSLPInfoM.aspx
You may also call the state’s Child Nutrition Unit at 501.324.9502.
Managing Agency
Child Nutrition Network (AR)
http://www.state.ar.us
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Program Description
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, nutrition
education and referrals to health care, at no cost, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five who are determined to be at nutritional risk. To be fully eligible for the WIC Program, applicants must be determined by a health professional, at no cost, to be at nutritional risk (i.e., have certain medical-based or diet-based risk conditions).
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the state of Arkansas, pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum woman, infant or child up to five years of age and: (1) are individually determined by a health professional to be at nutritional risk; and, (2) meet an income standard, or are determined automatically income eligible. A person who participates or has family members who participate in certain other benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, automatically meets the income eligibility requirement.
Your Next steps the following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
Applications and other information about WIC can be obtained from any local county health unit between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or by contacting the State WIC Office at 501-661-2473 or 1-800-235-0002.
The State WIC Office can also be reached via fax at 501-661-2004 or 501-661-2271, or by e-mail to wic.program@arkansas.gov.
Program Contact Information
For more information on Arkansas WIC, please visit the Arkansas Department of Health at:
http://www.healthyarkansas.com/wic/
Please see the following website for the income standard or maximum income limit for WIC eligibility:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/howtoapply/incomeguidelines.htm
Managing Agency
Arkansas
http://www.state.ar.us
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Fort Smith National Historic Site
In Fort Smith, the federal court for the famed “Hangin’ Judge” Isaac C. Parker is housed in the Fort Smith National Historic Site, which also contains a re-creation of the 1886 gallows. Parker was largely responsible for bringing civilization to one of the last and wildest frontiers remaining in the American West. While some criticized Parker as being a cruel man, he maintained he was simply carrying out the law, which then required capital punishment.
3rd and Garland, Fort Smith
Phone: 479-783-3961
Web site: www.nps.gov/fosm
Indian Rock House
Centuries before Europeans arrived in America, natives were living in natural stone shelters in the Ozarks. One of these so-called “Indian Rock Houses” is located in Fairfield Bay on Greers Ferry Lake. A short trail winds its way to the shelter from the community’s Log Cabin Museum.
Off Ark. 16, Fairfield Bay
Phone: 501-884-4899
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Technology Tour – Fayetteville
Have you ever wondered how department stores keep track of their merchandise or how warehouses know what leaves the dock?
Well, take a guided tour of the facility that is one of the world’s preeminent retail development sites and learn. The RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Research Facility is part of the University of Arkansas system. With clients including Walmart and Bloomingdale’s, see what technology is being developed for store use. Whether it’s tracking devices which can pinpoint a box within inches in any warehouse, or dressing rooms that allow you to pay for purchases as you are trying on clothes. See the future of retail technology first hand. http://itri.uark.edu/rfid
The Clinton Birthplace – Hope
Clinton’s First Home Gets National Park Designation
The Bill Clinton First Home Museum will soon be a part of the National Park system, a designation that will give the modest structure on a busy street more visibility as a tourist destination. The home is a 2 1/2 story American four-square house. It was built in 1917 by Dr. H.S. Garrett and patterned from a design in France. The home has 2,100 sq. ft. The dwelling, which opened as a museum in 1997, conveys a lived-in feeling and is furnished with items dating to the late 1940s when Clinton lived there. A visitors center with a gift shop was added later. http://www.nps.gov/
To continue following the life of President Clinton you can visit The William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. It is located in Little Rock and contains a detailed history of the Clinton Presidency. http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/
A Painted House – Lepanto
The Painted House, a John Grisham novel which was later made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, featured a home patterned after the boyhood home of the author. Lepanto was the site for a majority of the filming of the movie version. After the movie, volunteers from Lepanto raised money and traveled to Kansas City, Mo. to bring the house back to the small farming community. Now, the house is open for group tours Monday through Sunday, 1 – 4 p.m. For more information call 1-870-475-2307 or 870-475-2155.
Southern Tenant Farmer’s Museum – Tyronza
The Southern Tenant Farmer’s Museum in Tyronza, which opened on October 6, 2006, focuses on the tenant farming system of
agriculture in the South and the farm labor movement that arose in response to this system. The museum is owned and operated as an educational program of Arkansas State University (ASU) in Jonesboro. It is housed in the historic Mitchell-East Building, which served as a dry cleaning business in the 1930s and a service station for Clay East, two of the principal founders of the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union (STFU). The hours of operation for the museum are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., with the museum closed on major holidays. To schedule reservations for groups of 10 or more call 1-870-487-2909. http://stfm.astate.edu/
QR Codes – Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism has embraced cutting edge technology by utilizing the latest in mobile linking software. On Oct. 1, 2009, the Tourism Division introduced Quick Response (QR) codes into all social marketing efforts.
QR codes, or mobile tagging, allow visitors to take advantage of URL shortcuts to travel information on travel in The Natural State. QR code technology originated in Japan in the late 1990s and is primarily used in the promotion of retail products. American businesses are starting to realize the benefits of using mobile tagging applications. Arkansas Group Travel has created their own QR code (to the left). This code can be scanned with your Blackberry or iPhone using free downloadable applications such as Beetagg (for Blackberry) or QR App (for the iPhone). Once scanned, the embedded URL is downloaded and saved for future viewing on the phones. The use of QR codes for maps and sample itineraries offers a great opportunity to be portable for the busy group tour operator. For the complete article click here http://www.arkindustryinsider.com/.
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Program Description
The Food Stamp Program helps people with low income get the food they need for good health. Food Stamp benefits are used in
place of cash to buy food. Most people must spend some cash along with their food stamp benefits to buy enough food for a month.
The Food Stamp Section has the responsibility for administering Arkansas’ Food Stamp Program within the Division of County
Operations. The Section is responsible for the following: analysis of issues, laws, and regulations governing the Food Stamp
Program. The Food Stamp Section develops policy and procedures, monitors compliance with Federal Regulations, which relate to
timeliness and accuracy, as well as, compliance with regulations governing the delivery of Food benefits.
The Food Stamp Program is funded with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services dollars.
Annually over $200 million in benefits are authorized for eligible participants in the Food Stamp Program.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the State of Arkansas and fall into one of two groups: (1) those
with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, or (2) those with a current bank balance (savings and
checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with a person or persons age 60 and over, or with a person with a
disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself). For either group, you must also have an annual household income of less than
$13,284 if one person lives in the household; $17,808 if two people live in the household; $22,332 if three people live in the
household; $26,856 if four people live in the household; $31,380 if five people live in the household; $35,904 if six people live in the
household; $40,428 if seven people live in the household; or $44,952 if more than seven people live in the household.
Your Next steps the following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
To apply for Food Stamps, please visit:
http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/dco/OPPD/#Food%20Stamp%20Program
To download an application, direct your browser to
http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/dco/NewDCO/DCO-0215.pdf
For more information contact your local DHS office:
http://www.state.ar.us/dhs/NewDHS/CountyOffice/DHSCountyOffices.htm
or call: 501-682-8650
Managing Agency
Arkansas
http://www.state.ar.us
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Program Description
ARKids First provides health insurance coverage for more than 70,000 Arkansas children who otherwise might have gone without.
ARKids First has expanded and will now offer two coverage options. ARKids A offers low income families a comprehensive
package of benefits. ARKids B provides coverage for families with higher incomes. We have streamlined the application process for
both packages, allowing you to apply for either package on the same form.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the State of Arkansas, under 19 years of age, not covered by
health insurance (including Medicaid), a US national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident, and you must have an annual
household income before taxes of less than $29,140 if two people live in the household; $36,620 if three people live in the household;
$44,100 if four people live in the household; $51,580 if five people live in the household; $59,060 if six people live in the household;
$66,540 if seven people live in the household; $74,020 if eight people live in the household; and $81,500 if more than eight people live
in the household. For larger households, add $7,480 for each additional person in the home. Depending on your income level, you
may have to pay a premium for coverage. Please see this state’s program information for details.
Your Next steps the following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
You can get an ARKids First application by calling our toll-free hotline, 1-888-474-8275. You do not have to visit a DHS office.
You can print the application from your computer. The application is a PDF file; that is, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader
software to see the application. If Acrobat Reader is not installed on your computer, download it free so you can print the application.
Fill out the printed application and send it to your local Department of Human Services office.
To print the application, visit:
http://www.arkidsfirst.com/ARKidsApplic_english.pdf
Or call our toll-free hotline at 1-888-474-8275, and all the application information will be mailed to you.
Applications also are available throughout the community at local health units, hospitals, churches, daycare centers, pharmacies
and public schools.
Program Contact Information
For more information on the ARKids First! program, please visit:
http://www.arkidsfirst.com/reqinfo.htm
Managing Agency
Arkansas
http://www.state.ar.us
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Program Description
The Arkansas Special Milk Program provides milk to children in schools, childcare institutions and eligible camps that do not
participate in other Federal child nutrition meal service programs. Schools that participate in the National School Lunch or School
Breakfast Programs, can participate in the Special Milk Program for half-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten children who do not
have access to a school meals program. The program reimburses schools and institutions for the milk they serve.
General Program Requirements
Any child in a school or institution that participates in the Special Milk Program can get milk. Schools may elect to offer free milk to
low-income children. In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident of the State of Arkansas, your household’s
annual income before taxes must not exceed $20,036 if one person lives in the household; $26,955 if two people live in the
household; $33,874 if three people live in the household; $40,793 if four people live in the household; $47,712 if five people live in the
household; $54,631 if six people live in the household; $61,550 if seven people live in the household; and $68,469 if eight people live
in the household. For larger households, add $6,919 for each additional person in the home.
Your Next steps the following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Application Process
To apply for the Special Milk program, directly contact your child’s school, camp, or child care institution to find out if it participates
in the Special Milk Program.
The Federal agency Child Nutrition Programs manages this program and provides state contact information here:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Contacts/StateDirectory.htm
Additionally, your state education agency can also provide you with more information about the program:
https://dhhs.arkansas.gov/wa_snp/WelcomeSNPM.aspx
Program Contact Information
For more information visit:
http://arkansased.org/
Or you can call the Special Nutrition Office at:
501-682-8869
Or toll-free at:
800-482-5850
Managing Agency
Arkansas
http://www.state.ar.us
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101 Free Things To Do in The Natural State!
Cheap, free, inexpensive, budget friendly, low-cost, economical, bargain – no matter how you describe it, everyone is looking for a
vacation destination that falls into those categories. Look no further than Arkansas, The Natural State, the perfect place for a thrifty
family vacation. Arkansas not only provides a great vacation for a little money, it also has many, many attractions that are free. Here
are 101 randomly chosen FREE things taking place throughout the year to do while you’re here.
Buffalo National River
Discover which famous entertainers have Arkansas ties by visiting the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame located in the Pine Bluff
Convention Center. An animatronic statue of Johnny Cash “singing” several of his original songs greets visitors as they enter. The
collections on display include everything from guitars to drumsticks owned by the likes of Levon Helm, Al Green, Jimmy Driftwood
and Art Porter, Sr. to impressive stage and wardrobe costumes of such artists: Jim Ed Brown, Charlie Rich, K.T. Oslin, and Tracy
Lawrence, among others. Movie and television fans can see memorabilia owned or associated with film stars such as Jerry Van
Dyke, Harry Thomason, and Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton. These are just a few of the numerous artifacts on display from the
various entertainers represented. One Convention Center Plaza. 1-800-536-7660.
Enjoy a warm welcome, a hot cup of coffee and a relaxing place to learn more about The Natural State. Visit one of the new
Arkansas Welcome Centers at Texarkana, Fort Smith/Van Buren, Corning or El Dorado. View exhibits of the local area, check e-mail,
make online reservations through www.Arkansas.com, and plug-in for Internet access. Next to be built are structures at West
Memphis, Lake Village and Blytheville.
In the Ozarks, the Buffalo National River with its towering limestone bluffs is America’s first national river. Hiking trails traverse
historic farmsteads, quiet stream valleys, waterfalls and wooded mountainsides, and offer bluff-top vistas. (870) 439-2502
Free folk musicals and dancing on the Stone County Courthouse Square in Mountain View have been a local tradition since 1963.
Professionals and amateurs join together in impromptu band performances every Friday and Saturday night during warmer months.
1-888-679-2859
Old Mill
Scenic drives, walking paths and historic Bathhouse Row make up the unique Hot Springs National Park set in the city of Hot
Springs amid the Ouachita National Forest. Bring your own containers and take home FREE mineral water. 1-800-SPA-CITY
An authentic reproduction of a water-powered grist mill, The Old Mill in North Little Rock appears in the opening scene of the classic
movie, “Gone with the Wind.” Tour guides available by appointment. (501) 758-1424
Norfork National Fish Hatchery, located at the base of Norfork Dam east of Mountain Home, offers tours of facilities that produce
millions of trout for Ozark streams. Children may try their luck at landing a trout from the waters of nearby Dry Run Creek. (870) 499-
5255
Step into the magic of Terra Studios just outside of Fayetteville to find creatures from another world and to watch Bluebirds of
Happiness being made. 1-800-255-8995
Waterfalls, lakes, mountainsides and meadows at Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton inspired the creation of the Arkansas State
Parks system. (501) 727-5441
Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center
The last public ferryboat operating in the state, Peel Ferry transports vehicles and passengers across a section of Bull Shoals Lake.
(870) 743-2100
Nature Centers at Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Fort Smith, plus the newest edition at Little Rock, showcase the best of nature found in
each region. These range from a 20,000-gallon ox-bow lake aquarium among other exhibits at Delta Rivers Nature Center in Pine
Bluff; a surround-sound recreation of the evolution that caused Crowley’s Ridge at the Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro;
and exhibits depicting the diversity of the Arkansas River Valley at the Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, built on
170 acres of former Fort Chaffee land next to Wells Lake. The Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center in downtown Little
Rock provides many watchable wildlife opportunities within an urban area, including basking water turtles, butterflies and migrating
pelicans. A portion of the Arkansas River Trail crosses the grounds offering more options for exploration.
Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs was named among the top four buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of
Architects. The chapel uses 425 large panels of glass to showcase the natural beauty of the Ozarks. Designed by world-renowned
Arkansas architect, the late E. Fay Jones, the non-denominational chapel is open from March through December. (479) 253-7401
In Fayetteville, the National Cemetery was established in 1867 to lay to rest the remains of Union soldiers killed in the region. The
Confederate Cemetery is located just a few blocks away. (479) 521-1710; www.fayettevillear.com
Lum ‘N’ Abner Museum
The “Lum ‘N’ Abner” radio program is remembered at the Lum & Abner Jot ‘Em Down Store and Museum in Pine Ridge, where
pieces of Lum ‘N’ Abner history preserve an important era in American life. The museum is open March through November. Call in
advance for tours. (870) 326-4442
Stroll through Eureka Springs, an Ozark Mountain town known for its beautiful Victorian architecture, winding mountainside streets
and block after block of one-of-a-kind shops, fine art galleries, and restaurants. (479) 253-8737
Hit the trail – the two-wheel kind – and explore the beauty of the Ozark National Forest on the 50-mile Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail,
located in Mountain View. This new and newsworthy trail has been designated by the by the International Mountain Biking
Association as an “Epic Ride,” a status only 37 trails across the nation currently hold, These rides are on the top of many mountain
bikers “to ride” lists.
Hemingway-Pfeiffer
Museum and Educational Center
The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center in Piggott includes the home and barn studio where Ernest Hemingway
lived and wrote portions of “A Farewell to Arms.” Tours conducted weekdays and Saturdays. (870) 598-3487
The beautiful Arkansas River valley is the setting for Arkansas Wine Country, where four wineries on Ark. 186 S. offer tours and
wine tastings: Mount Bethel; Post Familie Winery; Wiederkehr Wine Cellars; Chateau Aux Arc. And at Cowie Wine Cellars visit the
Arkansas Historic Wine Museum in Paris.
Drive the Boston Mountain Scenic Loop, the only scenic loop in the state. From Fayetteville, take curve-hugging U.S. Hwy. 71 over
Mt. Gayler past small gift shops and mountaintop lodging to Alma. From Alma, take Interstate 540 through the rolling hills of a
pastoral countryside and a tunnel through a mountain back to Fayetteville.
The Louisiana Purchase added the territory that would become Arkansas to the U.S. Commemorating this historical event is the
Louisiana Purchase Historic State Park, located near Brinkley. The main feature of the park is a 950-foot boardwalk into a rare
headwater swamp, where sits a marker denoting the initial point for the 1815 survey of purchase lands west of the Mississippi. 1-
888-AT-PARKS
Pillow-Thompson House
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Lake Leatherwood Park in Eureka Springs is a 1,600-acre municipal park with a
100-acre spring fed lake. Located off Ark. 62 at the western edge of town, it is a place of natural serenity. (479) 253-8624
Built in 1896, the Pillow-Thompson House in Helena is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne architecture in the South. (870) 338-
8535
At Devil’s Den State Park hiking and backpacking trails lead to back country areas where you can explore caves, such as the eerie
sounding Devil’s Icebox, crevices and bluff overlooks. (479) 761-3325
Exhibits at the Arkansas State University Museum in Jones boor include Native American history, a walk-through pioneer “town,”
military items, natural history displays, a priceless glass collection, geology, mastodon and other prehistoric fossils, plus traveling
exhibits. (870) 972-2074
Cradled by the bluffs of the War Eagle River in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, Withrow Springs State Park near Huntsville is a
peaceful setting for exploring nature. (479) 559-2593
At the Delta Cultural Center in Helena a restored depot and storefront features gospel and blues music heritage, Civil War history
and the settlement of the Delta. 1-800-358-0972
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources
Learn about Arkansas’s oil and brine industries and the 1920s oil boom at the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources in
Smackover. The museum’s Oil Field Park has genuine derricks and oilfield equipment. (870) 725-2877
The Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area extends for 12 miles along the Cossatot River. The wild and scenic river forms Cossatot
Falls, a rugged and rocky canyon that challenges the most experienced canoeist and kayakers. South of Mena. (501) 682-7777
The Ouachita National Recreation Trail is an east-west corridor extending from Pinnacle Mountain State Park near Little Rock to
Talimena State Park near Talihina, Okla. This mountain trail offers hikers a wide range of opportunities from scenic vistas and upland
hardwood and pine forests to clear streams, high ridges and wide valleys.
Set in the oldest surviving state capitol west of the Mississippi River, the Old State House Museum in Little Rock has been
designated a National Historic Landmark, though it is probably best known throughout the country as the scene of President
Clinton’s 1992 and 1996 election-night celebrations.
A scaled-down replica of the nation’s Capitol, the Arkansas State Capitol in Little Rock took a dozen years to build and was
completed in 1911. Located on the grounds are several monuments. Self-guided and guided tours available. (501) 682-5080
Photographer’s Island
For grand vistas, travel to the highest point in Arkansas (2,753 feet) at Mount Magazine State Park, complete with a new lodge,
cabins, conference center and visitors center. South of Paris. (479) 963-8502
Pose with one foot in Texas and the other in Arkansas at Photographer’s Island on State Line Avenue in Texarkana.
On the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, the Tommy Boyer Hall of Champions Museum in Bud Walton Arena and the
Jerry Jones/Jim Lindsey Hall of Champions Museum in the Frank Broyles Center display over a century of Arkansas sports
memories. (479) 575-2000.
The 50-mile Wolf Pen Gap ATV trail near Mena is the first formal trail system in the Ouachita National Forest specifically for four-
wheelers and dirt bikes. (501) 394-2382
See and feel the history of this important civil rights landmark, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, and learn about
the “Little Rock Nine.” A life-size monument to the Little Rock Nine can be found on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol. (See
number 31). (501) 374-1957
Go for a hike atop Arkansas’s second-highest peak at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, a cloud-capped hideaway reigning above the
Ouachita Mountains. (501) 394-2863
Little Rock Campaign Driving Tour outlines the 1863 advance by Union forces who seized the state capital and includes detailed
exhibit panels at roadside pullouts that are accessible from Interstate 40 between Little Rock and Lonoke. For a brochure, call (501)
370-3290.
Miss Laura’s Visitor Center is a restored turn-of-the-century brothel that is now Fort Smith’s visitors center. 800-637-1477
Enjoy a self-guided driving tour or walk the one-mile Battlefield Trail at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Prairie Grove. (479) 846-
2990
Established in 1878 as a Benedictine Monastery, Subiaco Abbey now serves as a college preparatory school for boys. Pick up a
brochure on-site for a self-guided walking tour to view the dramatic stone architecture and manicured grounds. Scenic Ark. 22; (479)
934-1000
A rare example of a suspension bridge in Arkansas, Beaver Bridge was built in 1943 and is still in use today. Ark. 187, east of Beaver.
Take a driving or walking tour of the Quapaw Quarter Historic District, a historic downtown area with restored antebellum and
Victorian structures including a park named for General Douglas MacArthur, who was born in Little Rock, and the Villa Mare,
featured in the opening of “Designing Women.” (501) 371-0075
The twin towers of Old Main, completed in 1875, preside over the scenic campus of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Former President Bill Clinton once taught law on this campus. (479) 575-2000
The entire downtown of Calico Rock Historic District is on the National Historic register and has served as a movie set. See several
antique shops and restaurants. (870) 297-4129
Overlooking the Arkansas River Valley, 14 miles of trails encircle Mount Nebo, the state park seven miles west of Dardanelle on
Ark. 155. (479) 229-3655
Watch the working water-powered grist mill at War Eagle Mill. An 18-foot waterwheel splashes and mill stones grind cornmeal daily
from organically grown grain in a pastoral setting that includes the War Eagle River and bridge. (479) 789-5343
Van Buren Downtown
Historic District
Boutiques, shops, the historic square and the restored art deco Rialto Theatre are part of the El Dorado Downtown Historic District.
The area contains a significant collection of 1920s and 1930s architecture. 888-921-BOOM
Talimena National Scenic Drive, a National Forest Scenic Byway for years and now a Federal Highway Administration national
roadway, winding 54 miles from Mena to Talihina, Okla., offers breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding countryside from peaks
of nearly 3,000 feet.
Pick up a brochure at the Chamber of Commerce office in the Old Frisco Depot for a self-guided Van Buren Walking Tour featuring
52 interesting stops. The Van Buren Downtown Historic District has six blocks of art galleries, antique shops, historical attractions
and restaurants located along a beautifully restored Victorian Main Street. 800-332-5889.
Pick a lane for a spring drive on a scenic wildflower route: in north Arkansas U.S. Highways 62, 412 and 63 from Eureka Springs
east through Powhatan; in eastern Arkansas from Jonesboro south along U.S. 49 to Brinkley; south of Little Rock along U.S. 167 to
El Dorado; southwest Arkansas on U.S. 70 from Hot Springs southwest to the junction of U.S. 71, and on U.S. 270 from Hot Springs
to Mena; in western Arkansas on U.S. 71 from Interstate 40 north to Fayetteville, along Scenic Byway 7 from Hot Springs to
Harrison, and U.S. 70 from Carlisle east to Hazen.
White Rock Mountain Recreation Area near Mulberry offers some of the most scenic views in the state from its bluffs, and it has
hiking trails and a lake. (479) 667-2191
Visit the sites related to former President Bill Clinton, such as his boyhood home, high school, favorite hamburger hangout and more.
Call the Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau for self-guided brochures. 800-SPA-CITY
In the Ozark Mountains, the 165-mile Ozark Highlands Trail has been rated one of the most scenic trails in the U.S. It’s great for day
hiking, weekend adventures or extended backpacking. (479) 968-2354
A scenic 200-mile route atop the Delta’s only “highlands,” Crowley’s Ridge Parkway passes by or near five state parks, a national
forest, Civil War sites and more. (870) 910-8080; www.byways.org
Arkansas Post National Historic Site
The first permanent European settlement on the lower Mississippi River (1686) and Arkansas’s first territorial capital are
commemorated by the Arkansas Post National Memorial and Arkansas Post Museum. The memorial is located on Ark. 169 and the
museum is on U.S. 165 in Gillett.
Pick up a brochure at the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce for the Arkadelphia Historic Homes Tour, a driving tour of several
homes listed on the National Register, some of which date from the 1840s. 1-800-874-4289
The Hillcrest Historic District in Little Rock includes a National Register-listed collection of some of the city’s early residential areas.
1-800-844-4781.
Tour one of the world’s largest fish hatcheries, Joe Hogan Fish Hatchery, on U.S. 70 near Lonoke. (501) 676-6963
A herd of about 450 elk range in the northwest portion of the state along the Buffalo National River. Catch a view of the magnificent
beasts and other watchable wildlife in the pastoral setting of Boxley Valley on Ark. 21.
In Bentonville, the Wal-Mart Visitors Center contains exhibits tracing the formation and growth of Wal-Mart stores and includes
founder Sam Walton’s desk. (479) 273-1329.
Find flamboyant fall foliage on Ark. 309 from Paris across Mount Magazine to Havana; on the “Pig Trail” from Ark. 23 north of Ozark
to its junction with Ark. 16; on Ark. 21 north from Clarksville to the Buffalo River; and on Ark. 5 and 14 from Calico Rock and Allison
to Blanchard Springs Caverns.
At the largest free outdoor blues fest in the nation, the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival, formerly known as the King Biscuit Blues
Festival, Delta blues legends and national acts perform in the land where the music was born. The event is held each October in
Helena.
There’s ample opportunity to people watch when strolling through the River Market District in downtown Little Rock. Numerous
restaurants, shops and bars line the area and benches scattered around provide the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by.
Nearby Riverfront Park has a playground for the kids, history banners detailing the capital city’s beginnings, and the original “little
rock.” 800-844-4781
Located 10 miles east of Rogers on Ark. 12, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area is within Hobbs State Management Area, covering
11,750 acres along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. In its initial development, the state park currently offers nature study, trails,
and undeveloped access to the 28,000-acre lake. (479) 789-2380
Be dazzled by the masters, one of the country’s finest collections of drawings, and traveling exhibits at the Arkansas Arts Center in
Little Rock. (501) 372-4000
Enjoy ice skating, swimming, the gymnasium and numerous other activities at the Jones Center for Families in Springdale. (479) 756-
8090
Climb and hike at Pinnacle Mountain State Park in Little Rock and enjoy the Arkansas Arboretum, a 71-acre site exhibiting examples
of native flora that represents Arkansas’s six natural divisions. (501) 868-5806; www.ArkansasStateParks.com
Two of Arkansas’s natural divisions come together at Cane Creek State Park in Star City — the Mississippi Delta and the hills of the
West Gulf Coastal Plain. (870) 628-4714; www.ArkansasStateParks.com
Aerospace Education Center
The Aerospace Education Center in Little Rock has displays such as a Wright Flyer and a very rare Sopwith Camel airplane and a
full-size replica of Apollo command module. (501) 371-0331
At Walnut Hill, an 11-acre historic site makes up Conway Cemetery State Park, which preserves the final resting place of
Arkansas’s first Governor, James Sevier Conway.
Pedestal Rocks (2.2 miles) and Kings Bluff (1.7 miles) trails offer up-close looks at Ozark Mountain geology. Both trails in the unique
area feature easy hiking, but border high cliffs with steep drop-offs. There are picnic areas and parking available. Take Ark. 7 to
Pelsor, turn right (east) on Ark. 16 and go 6 miles.
Take Altus exit 41 off I-40 to Ark. 186 for a drive over St. Mary’s Mountain and past vineyards, wineries and St. Mary’s historic
church.
Lake Catherine State Park is nestled on the shores of 1,940-acre Lake Catherine, one of the five popular diamond lakes in the Hot
Springs area. (501) 844-4176
A restored 1901 historically furnished home, the Dr. A.G. Anderson House in Eudora serves as the town’s visitors center and
museum. (870) 355-8443.
Anglers and nature lovers enjoy Lake Charles State Park’s 645 acres of spring-fed waters in the Ozark foothills near Powhatan.
(870) 878-6595
Visit Phillips County Museum in Helena for which Mark Twain helped raise funds. (870) 338-7790.
Enjoy the great outdoors at North Little Rock’s Burns Park. At 1,575 acres, it is one of the largest city parks in the nation and even
has a covered bridge.
At Lake Chicot State Park, the Mississippi Delta’s captivating beauty and recreational opportunities come together at Arkansas’s
largest natural lake. The 20-mile-long oxbow lake was formed centuries ago when the Mississippi River changed its course. (870)
265-5480
Three state historic sites commemorate the battles of Poison Spring, Marks’ Mills and Jenkins’ Ferry, all part of the Union Army’s
Red River Campaign.
Lake Frierson State Park 10 miles north of Jonesboro on Ark. 141 is known for its springtime blaze of dogwoods, picnic sites,
playground and self-guided trail. (870) 932-2615
In El Dorado, take a walk through the South Arkansas Arboretum, a 13-acre site that exhibits plants indigenous to Arkansas’s West
Gulf Coastal plain region. (870) 862-8131, ext. 170.
View Arkansas’s largest spring, with an hourly flow of nine million gallons of water, at Mammoth Spring State Park on U.S. 63 in
Mammoth Spring. (870) 625-7364
On a clear day, you can see three states (Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma) from the 85-foot-high Rich Mountain Fire Tower, located
12 miles west of Mena and open Memorial Day until the second week of November. (479) 394-2912.
A variety of year-round feathered inhabitants and eagles in the winter makes bird watching popular at Millwood State Park in
Ashdown. (870) 898-2800
Old Hardy Town
Numerous cities showcase festive spirits with thousands of holiday lights from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s Day in
the Trail of Holiday Lights tour.
Scenic Ark. 23, a National Scenic Byway connecting from U.S. 71 south of Booneville, northward from Ozark to its junction with Ark.
16, is known as “The Pig Trail” to Razorback football enthusiasts.
Enjoy the hiking trails and recreation areas that are part of the hallmarks of the 7,000-acre Village Creek State Park. (870) 238-9406
Virtually unchanged since the 1920s, the downtown district of Hardy has been transformed into a shopping destination for antiques
and crafts. Old Hardy Town boasts 43 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. (870) 625-7364 or (870) 856-3571
Rich in wildlife, White Oak Lake State Park near Bluff City offers regular sightings of great blue herons, egrets, ospreys and green
herons and wintering eagles. (870) 685-2748
Pull up a lawn chair or a blanket, break out the picnic basket and enjoy free cinema. These Arkansas communities give a whole new
twist on the outdoor movie with huge screens for showing some of your favorite films. The Lucky 123 Cinema in Eureka Springs,
Movies in the Park, Little Rock’s Riverfront Park, the Silver Moon Cinema in Conway and Movies in the Park in Texarkana.
Tour authentic and re-created structures from Arkansas’s Grand Prairie region at the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in
Stuttgart. Learn about the German settlers who gave the town its name and how rice farming came to the state. Exhibits include
farm equipment, pioneer life and duck hunting. (870) 673-7001; www.stuttgartarkansas.com
Enjoy environmental education and interpretation at the visitors center of the 65,000-acre Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge. The
refuge is the world’s largest green-tree reservoir consisting of the 15,000-acre Felsenthal Pool that increases in size to 36,000 acres
during winter flooding. It is located five miles west of Crossett on Ark. 82. (870) 364-3167.
Designed from suggestions made by area children, Peabody Park in downtown Little Rock includes outdoor and underground
rooms, large native stones for climbing and a large water spray area in the middle of the park which has motion-censored
waterspouts. The Ozark Pavilion offers a view of the Arkansas River and the wetlands area containing indigenous plant species
located near the river bank. Riverfront Park.
Interpretive exhibits tell the story of the development of the River Valley at the Arkansas River Visitors Center. It also offers wildlife
exhibits, a slide tape presentation, some hands-on exhibits and a great location for watching barges pass through the locks. Off of
Ark. 7 on Lock & Dam Road at Russellville. (501) 968-5008.
Visit Rapps Barren Settlement, a historic building in a village setting that illustrates Mountain Home’s early days. 800-822-3536.
Surrounding the monument to Private Herman Davis, an Arkansas farm boy and WWI hero, is Herman Davis State Park on Ark. 18 in
the community of Manila.
Tracing the progression of Dallas County’s early plantation life, which was dominated by the timber industry, the Dallas County
Historical Museum in Fordyce also tells the stories of the people who worked the land. 800-352-7202
The predominately wooded footpath of Bell Slough Nature Trail covers 2.25 miles in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Bell
Slough Wildlife Management Area south of Conway. The nature trail is great for birding. 877-470-3650.
The newest outdoor craze is geocaching. Geocaching is a treasure hunt where participants use a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS)
device to hide and seek containers along with others taking part in the activity. Arkansas’s State Parks are a great place to try your
geocaching luck. Information and guidelines can be found on ArkansasStateParks.com.
Take a moderate hike to Eden Falls. From Ark. 43 between Boxley and Ponca, turn onto the road to Lost Valley, which is part of the
Buffalo National River. Follow the marked trail to the bluff shelter. Eden Falls is located at the far end of the massive overhang.
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Arkansas Calendar of Events
Search our Arkansas calendar of events:
Looking for Arkansas activities? To search for an Arkansas event, simply select the park you’re planning to visit, the month of your
trip, or the topic you are interested in and see a few of the many entertaining programs and hands-on activities available for you and
your family.
http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/things-to-do/calendar-events/
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