There is a multitude of prospects for Arkansas bird watching. There are over 400 documented species of birds in the areas that surround the Ozark Mountains. In addition to the birds, there is also a large variety of butterfly species that inhabit the state, creating additional opportunities for premium wildlife viewing.

The first, and probably the most practical reason is that it is affordable. Since Arkansas is centrally located within the United States, it is, with a few exceptions, just about a day’s drive from anywhere in the country. This kind of access, coupled with the low cost of living in the area, makes a trip affordable. If you are coming from out of state or from the East or West coast, you will be delighted at the hospitable nature of the people who call the state of Arkansas home.

Another reason to consider Arkansas as your next flying animal watching destination is the availability of local resources. A flying animal watching club is easily found and there are Audubon societies in the area, and most are ready and willing to provide information that will allow visitors to capitalize on all of the bird watching opportunities that an area has to offer. If you are serious about heading to Arkansas to do some bird watching, make sure you check out birding Arkansas site. Here you will find a number of resources and links that will help you plan your trip.

The Ivory Billed Woodpecker recently made headlines and put Arkansas bird watching at the forefront of the North American birding community. This flying animal, which was thought to be extinct, was seen in the swamps of Arkansas. This discovery has led to a relative tourism boom in the small towns that surround the native habitat of the woodpecker. The economic boost that these additional tourists has provided is being used to further protect the habitat.

Bull Shoals State Park, DeGray Lake Resort State Park, and Devil’s Den State Park each host bird watching festivals or events at different times of the year. These organized festivals and events allow bird watching enthusiasts from around the country to come together and share information and to enjoy the company of folks who share similar passions. Local bird watching club involvement is very active in supporting these events.

The state of Arkansas is known for its opportunity for outdoor adventures but the state has much more to offer visitors to the state. Here you will find a wide variety of cultural activities, historic landmarks, family fun, and unique, diverse scenery that will awe the whole family. Throughout the year Arkansas hosts events, festivals, and fairs that are sure to be enjoyed by even the most selective of travelers. Whether your going away on a much needed romantic getaway, taking a long overdue family vacation, or wanting to get away with some old friends Arkansas is a place that will please and delight anyone. Fayetteville, to Little Rock, to Eureka there is always something exciting to see or do in Arkansas anytime of year.

With all that Arkansas has to offer to visitors the number one reason so many visit every year is the states fantastic scenery and theoutdoor adventures that go with it. Arkansas is home to a total of 600,000 acres of lakes perfect for a variety of water sports and activities. Lakes such as Norfork, Greers Ferry, Bull Shoals, Beaver, Dardanelle, Greeson, DeGray, Catherine, Hamilton, and White Oak are the perfect place to experience scuba diving, fishing, swimming, boating, and relaxing to the sound of the swaying water. For the more adventurous at heart there are numerous spots to enjoy hiking, rock climbing, biking, and caving.

For those that enjoy rock climbing the Ozark and the Ouachita Mountains both offer an excellent opportunity. Those visitors that prefer hiking have available to them 250 individual hiking trails throughout the state including the Arkansas River Trail and many others that offer both day and overnight hiking trips. Caving is an exciting opportunity available to visitors to Arkansas as well with 14 caves to be explored including Cosmic Caverns and Mystic Caverns. Bike trails are a popular characteristic of Arkansas scenery too with miles upon miles of tails for all levels of bikers throughout the state. From one end of the state to the other Kansas provides for visitors a vista unmatched by many and visitors come from all over every year to enjoy that spectacular scenery. Now its your turn to see why everyone is so in awe at the beauty of Arkansas.

Arkansas history is another popular reason for so many visitors to the state every year. Native American history in the state dates back as far as 1541 and African-American history as far back as 1721 so not only is the history rich but the cultural diversity as well. Arkansas was also an important state during the Civil War and monuments, museums, and landmarks attesting to the role that the state plated can be found throughout the state. And don’t forget all of the famous people from Arkansas either. Johnny Cash, Al Green, Billy Bob Thornton, and William Jefferson Clinton all at one time called Arkansas home.

The “Natural State” is probably best known for being blessed with abundant natural resources, including lakes, clear streams, forests, wildlife, rich farm lands and scenic vistas. With its’ six national park sites, 50 state parks, 2.6 million acres of national forest lands, 13 major lakes, and two mountain ranges, Arkansas provides some of the best outdoor experiences in the country.

Arkansas attractions also include its friendly people that fill wonderful towns like scenic Mountain View and the village of Eureka Springs, which is the only city in the country whose entire downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Probably one of the most famous cities in the state is beautiful Hot Springs, which home to some of the some of the oldest and best natural spas in America.

Did you know that Arkansas is the only diamond producing state in the United States? The Crater of Diamonds State Park, located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is the only place in the nation where you can dig for diamonds and keep what you find. Over 75,000 diamonds have been found by lucky visitors since it became a park, the largest being a 16.37-carat white diamond found by a visitor from Amarillo, Texas. That sounds like a great souvenir!

Arkansas is also home to dozens of upscale dining establishments with impressive food and wine pairings as well as thriving cultural communities that include museums, performing arts centers, historical sites and sports teams. Tours and scenic drives make for a fun day, as does a tour of the Clinton House Museum or the Arkansas Air Museum. If you want to take a walk on the wild side, you can visit the Little Rock Zoo, a nationally recognized 40-acre garden with approximately 170 species represented.

Arkansas theme parks are also great places to visit on your trip. One of the most popular attractions in Hot Springs is the 70-acre Magic Springs and Crystal Falls theme park. This combination amusement park and water park is the largest entertainment package in the state of Arkansas and includes thrill rides such as the “Gauntlet” inverted roller coaster and the classic wooden coaster, “Arkansas Twister”.

Wild River Country, Arkansas’ largest water park at 29 acres, features over 20 rides and attractions like a wave pool and a 600-foot winding tube ride. You and your family can have fun in the activity pools, ride the waves, speed down a water slide, or just drift along on the Lazy River, soaking up the carefree Arkansas atmosphere.

Arkansas is full of color during every season and the climate is humid and sub-tropical. There tend to be very hot and humid summers, which is great weather for Arkansas theme parks and water parks, followed by mild winters. You may want to visit during the Fall and enjoy the splashy color of autumn in Arkansas. The color change begins in early October in the Ozarks of northern Arkansas and moves slowly to the south until it reaches the peak of color in late October and early November.

During the fall, Arkansas is a very popular place for visitors. The changing of the colors of the leaves is something many residents look forward to each year. But there is a huge uncontrollable factor in the color changes each year. That factor is called the weather. If we experience hot, dry summers, the foliage season won’t be as colorful or last near as long. In hot, dry summers trees start to shut down early to survive because of drought conditions. This affects the leaves changing in the fall. Early frost can also put an end to the foliage season. A normal summer with a mild fall season means a good foliage process for the enjoyment of all.

The product that leaves produce to feed the tree is called, “chlorophyll”. This is what gives leaves their green color in spring and summer. This really remarkable chemical combines sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make sugar and starch for trees to feed. The same type of energy our bodies need to function. But in the starting days of fall this process is broken down because of the lack of daily sunlight and temperature drops, which make the chlorophyll, disappear. This starts the process of preparing for winter. As a result, we see the beautiful changing of colors in the fall. As this process begins other changes in the trees also begin. At the point where the leaf’s stem is attached to the tree, special cells grown by the tree are actually pushed between the stem and the tree, eventually separating the leaf from the tree.

The fall foliage only lasts a short time so enjoy it while you can. Northwest Arkansas begins the color change sometime in late September to early October. The peak time for viewing in this area will usually be in late October. Because of the areas elevations, the River Valley and Ouachitas will start their color change around the first of October, with the peak viewing time being around early November. As for the Delta Region, the color changes occur from early to mid-November.

Arkansas attractions draw millions of visitors to the state each year. From scenic byways, wildlife preserves, and family theme parks to big city attractions like the Clinton Library and the Little Rock Zoo, Arkansas offers something for everyone. However, when it comes to planning vacations, Arkansas tends to fly under the radar because so many people don’t have a clue about the wide variety of activities available there or the incredible affordability to do them.

The “Natural State” is probably best known for being blessed with abundant natural resources, including lakes, clear streams, forests, wildlife, rich farm lands and scenic vistas. With its’ six national park sites, 50 state parks, 2.6 million acres of national forest lands, 13 major lakes, and two mountain ranges, Arkansas provides some of the best outdoor experiences in the country.

Arkansas attractions also include its friendly people that fill wonderful towns like scenic Mountain View and the village of Eureka Springs, which is the only city in the country whose entire downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Probably one of the most famous cities in the state is beautiful Hot Springs, which home to some of the some of the oldest and best natural spas in America.

Arkansas is also home to dozens of upscale dining establishments with impressive food and wine pairings as well as thriving cultural communities that include museums, performing arts centers, historical sites and sports teams. Tours and scenic drives make for a fun day, as does a tour of the Clinton House Museum or the Arkansas Air Museum. If you want to take a walk on the wild side, you can visit the Little Rock Zoo, a nationally recognized 40-acre garden with approximately 170 species represented.

Wild River Country, Arkansas’ largest water park at 29 acres, features over 20 rides and attractions like a wave pool and a 600-foot winding tube ride. You and your family can have fun in the activity pools, ride the waves, speed down a water slide, or just drift along on the Lazy River, soaking up the carefree Arkansas atmosphere.

When it comes to natural preserves no state is more focused than Arkansas with fifty-one state parks and numerous outdoor activities for travelers to choose from. Arkansas features a wide variety of lowlands and highlands along with two major mountain ranges, the Ozarks and the Quachitas. There are several good museums and cultural experiences in Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas. The central point of Little Rock is the Central High Museum and Visitors Center which showcases the history of the endeavor to stop racial segregation in public schools. The River Market downtown is an excellent place to go if you want to eat at an excellent restaurant, find entertainment or just walk around and do some shopping. For the family travelers there is the Museum and Discovery and the Children’s Museum. For the outdoor individuals there is Burns Park which is one of the largest city parts in the United States. Another excellent option for families is Gator Park which features go-karts, mini golf and other family activities.

If culture is your thing then you should visit the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock which has the largest cultural institution in the state and has exhibits located in seven different galleries. Also included is the Arkansas Museum of Art and the Arkansas Children’s Theater. For the movie buffs there is the Old Grist Mill in Little Rock. It is a full authentic reproduction of a grist mill powered by water. The actual building was built in 1933 but is designed to look like it was built in the eighteen hundreds. It is currently the only building still standing that was used in the film Gone With the Wind. For a truly unique experience you should visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park. Not only is this a public diamond mine but the company also lets visitors prospect for their own diamonds. If you happen to find a diamond while you are there then you get to keep it. There are even exhibits that will show you the history of diamonds in Arkansas. This is a truly unique experience that you can’t get anywhere outside of Arkansas. So if you like to visit unique attractions while traveling this is a must stop for you. No matter what your preferences you will find something to good when you are visiting Arkansas.

Fortunately, Eureka Springs is in an area that doesn’t get too much snow and ice, and it usually melts away pretty quickly. There’s nothing better than sitting in a hot tub on deck of your cabin and seeing the snow capped hills surround you. And if you’re not quite up for being outdoors, the Holiday Inn Express in Eureka Springs has a wonderful indoor swimming pool with glass walls and a glass ceiling! The kids absolutely love the idea of swimming when they can see a ground covered in snow right outside. There’s just something about it that is absolutely thrilling! Whether you’re looking for a multi-bedroom cabin or just a single bed Jacuzzi suite, you’ll find it in Eureka Springs. You’ll be amazed at the beautiful architecture of this town, and it extends into the lodging areas as well. Eureka Springs has been featured on “Restoring America” in 1999, and also in Architectural Digest. From the beautiful outdoor glass chapel at Thorncrown Chapel to the incredible lakefront cabin views, you’re sure to find your little piece of paradise!

In the northwest has several lakes to boast with great Arkansas crappie fishing. However, Beaver Lake is known for containing a lot of great habitat for crappie in its 28,000+ acres. Though the size of the lake may cause difficulties in locating the schools of crappie, once you find them, you shouldn’t be surprised to get several trophy-worthy slabs. Situated in the Ozarks, Beaver Lake is also a beautiful location for Arkansas crappie fishing. In the spring, you might also try Coose Creek or Esculapia Hollow in the Pine Creek area. In the northeast corner of Arkansas, crappie fishing is good. There are several large popular lakes, but it’s little Lake Hogue, hidden away in the delta farm country, that contains some of the largest slabs. This lake was completely renovated in 1985 and has been stocked with big fish that produce MORE big fish. Though it’s only about 280 acres, it’s full of great cover for crappie.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas State, is a special place that embodies history with Victorian homes and a trolley that will take you around the city. One of the greatest places to visit in Eureka Springs is the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa. This hotel is located downtown in the historic district and the history surrounding this hotel makes it worth visiting. You will see the towering hotel and notice its old charm immediately. A great way to enjoy the hotel is to tour the inside or even stay there and then walk out the front door and take a horse drawn carriage ride around the historic city and really feel the personality of this city.

The tram operates March 4 – October 30 on a daily basis. In November it is open only Thursday through Monday, and then it operates a very limited schedule in December. Adult tickets cost $8.50 and kids under 12 cost $4. Kids that ride on an adults lap are free of charge. Check out one of these narrated tram tours at the visitor information center and learn all there is to know about Eureka Springs. Another must see event in Eureka Springs is the Opera in the Ozarks. The productions are outstanding and very talented artists travel to the area to take part in the opera festival. Each season there are three major operas performed, two in English and the third in its original language. If you are in Eureka Springs, Arkansas then you really must check out the Opera in the Ozarks for an experience you will never forget.

Arkansas state is now known for its fun family vacations. But there’s probably a lot about Arkansas that you don’t know. There is plenty to do outdoors as well as indoors, such as galleries and theatres for the art aficionado. There is much more in store in Arkansas than you ever thought possible. Arkansas – the natural state, is a beach lovers paradise with over 600,000 acres of water. It also has a very large number of tranquil lakes that accentuate the beauty of the state. These lakes and beaches offer opportunities to swim, boat, water ski, parasail, fish, scuba dive and even house boat.

If you would like to enjoy life as the locals know it check out some of the many festivals that take place each year in Arkansas. The harvest is very important to the people of Arkansas and this is apparent in their many festivals that center on this event. Some of these festivals include watermelon, peach, and tomato festivals. There are also festivals that feature delicious foods such as steak, chilli con carne, and even Greek food. If you enjoy culinary delights then Arkansas’ many food-related festivals will satisfy your taste. While Arkansas favours the southern style of cooking, foodies can take delight in a wide variety from Asian fusion to Russian. The restaurants are available to suit each pocket and taste. You can select between a fancy five star restaurant or a chilli con carne cook-off. You may be ready to relax for a few days after enjoying so many diverse activities. There are plenty of spas in Arkansas to pamper you and restore your energy. Many of them offer excellent package deals including massage, facials, and even yoga. You will feel like a new person after spending some quality time at a spa.