35 Things To Do in Arkansas This Summer

Spending your first summer in the natural state? Here’s a list of things your Arkansas girl recommends to make sure those three short months fly by!

1. Lunch at the Mt. Magazine Lodge (go for the views, not the food) and hike the Mt. Magazine trails.
2. Camp at Devil’s Den
3. Enjoy an ice cream cone at Burton’s in Fayetteville
4. Grab a Whatta-cheese burger at Feltner’s Whatta-Burger in Russellville
5. Go cliff jumping – literally anywhere with water
6. Watch the fireworks show on Lake Hamilton or Lake Ouachita
7. Spend a day at the bath houses in Hot Springs
8. Explore the Clinton Library in Little Rock
9. See a concert at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville
10. Tour the Wal-Mart museum in downtown Bentonville
11. Grab milkshakes at the Dairyette in Mount Ida
12. Go hog hunting with one of your country bumpkin friends – aka me if you’re desperate
13. Grab a purple milkshake and an amazing burger at the Purple Cow in Little Rock
14. Visit the original Slim Chickens off College in Fayetteville
15. Attend the Farmer’s Market in Fayetteville, Bentonville, or Little Rock all are pretty great!
16. Dance the night away Salsa dancing at Scarpinos in Fayetteville
17. Float the Buffalo and hike to Hemmed in Hollows
18. Grab some seafood at the Fisherman’s Warf in Hot Springs
19. Stuff your face with McClard’s BBQ in Hot Springs – and if you go in the early summer attend the horse races
20. Bury your nose in a book at the Dickson Street Bookshop
21. Go hang out with the Elk in Ponca
22. Take a tour of the capitol building
23. Stay in a haunted hotel in Eureka Springs
24. Attend the Toad Suck Daze in Conway (normally early May)
25. Vibe at the Wakarusa Music Festival on Mulberry Mountain
26. Explore the Fort Smith Museum of History and learn about the hanging judge, Judge Parker
27. Take a sunrise hike to White Rock Mountain
28. Meander down to Blanchard Springs Caves – then go back up for some fishing!
29. Stalk the animals at the Little Rock Zoo
30. Wine and Dine at James at the Mill
31. Grab some Calico County Cinnamon Rolls and watch the sunrise at the Fort Smith Lookout
32. Pick up some cupcakes from Creative Kitchen while you stroll down Garrison in Fort Smith
33. Complete the Brewery Passport in NWA by hitting up all of the microbreweries
34. Tailgate a drive in movie in Mountain View, Marshall, or Fayetteville
35. Dig for diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park