Shopping in Historic District Eureka Springs ~ Photo Courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Eureka Springs, Arkansas will astonish you with its rich history and its obvious determination to maintain the look and feel of yesteryear. Every member of your family is sure to have fun in this colorful little Alpine-line, Victorian-era village. There really is something to suit everyone’s pleasure in Eureka Springs, so bring the kids and the grandkids, too! There are exciting vacation activities for the young, the young-at-heart and every age group in between. You will not be at a loss for things to do in this unique Victorian resort village.
The downtown area of Eureka Springs is an eclectic collection of truly unique shops covering two levels of many buildings, so make certain you check for shop entrances upstairs, too. The shops are a joy to browse, and you will find everything from art galleries featuring sculpture, paintings and fine jewelry to quaint boutiques selling the local crafts like woodcarvings, pottery and weavings. You will definitely see extraordinary art that you never imagined existed in Eureka Springs.
Many people from surrounding towns, other states, and the entire world, in fact, come to this Alpine-like and Victorian-style village just for the plentiful and one-of-a-kind shopping opportunities. There are also a number of charming restaurants where you can get a tasty bite to eat, take a load off your feet and sift through your shopping bags marveling at the purchases you made that day.
Do yourself a favor! If you are staying at one of the charming Eureka’s downtown hotels, you can drop your bags off in your room once they become too heavy to carry, and then go shopping for some more must-have deals. You will be hard-pressed not to shop ’til you drop when visiting this beautiful mountain side village.
The Eureka Springs trolley, reminiscent of yesteryear, is the main form of transportation, taking visitors throughout this charming village, including stops at the Eureka Springs Historical Museum and the Cornerstone Bank, both must-sees.
The Great Passion Play, said to be America’s #1 Attended Outdoor Drama, is located on the outskirts of Eureka. It is estimated that 7.7 million people from all over the world have attended this moving performance of the Greatest Story Ever Told. The world-famous Christ of the Ozarks (FREE to see), reaching 7 stories high with a wing span of 65′, is on the grounds of the Passion Play.
While the village hosts a goodly number and variety of events every year, it is also an area where artists, sculptors and poets tend to congregate. There are yearly weekend celebrations for jazz, blues, classical and folk music; and in the summer, full operatic productions with orchestra are presented. Additionally, there is a popular poetry festival held each year and there is, of course, local theatre with numerous productions. Theatre is held downtown at the 1929 Large Stone Auditorium, which was inaugurated with a concert by John Phillip Sousa.
Thorncrown Chapel, a simple yet majestic worshiping structure shooting 45 feet into the beautiful Ozark sky features 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. Tours get special treatment including a live performance by one of Thorncrown’s musicians.
In addition, Eureka Springs has been recognized as the Wedding Capital of the South. Future brides take note! There is everything you need for your special day in beautiful Eureka Springs, including innumerable hotels and venues ready to cater to your special day and all of your attending guests. The courthouse even stays open on Saturdays to provide marriage licenses for prospective couples. What better place to hold your memorable event?
If you like the outdoors, you will love the adventure opportunities in and around the area. Fish in the crystal-clear trout streams, hike to Pivot Rock and the Natural Bridge rock formations, explore caves and waterfalls, or take a ride on a zip-line. There are plenty of cabins ready to provide you with a wonderful night’s rest after a day of playing in the great outdoors.
Annual events include four annual Diversity Weekends for gays and lesbians, a UFO conference and several different auto shows including one each for Corvettes, Mustangs and Volkswagens.
Many films like Pass the Ammo, Chrystal and Elizabethtown have used Eureka and its surrounding area as their settings. Also, the 1982 mini series “The Blue and the Gray” was filmed in the area, as was the 13th episode of the Ghost Hunters.
Annually, in May, the city plays host to the May Fine Arts Festival. The celebration, which defines the city’s creativity in the Arts, begins with what is called an Artrageous Parade. Additional events during the month long festival include: A Gallery Stroll where strollers tour the galleries and meet the artists. A PT Cruiser show is on the second Saturday. And the city hosts many other festivals and events including: Books in Bloom, Shakespeare in the Ozarks, White Street Studio Walk and ART Car Festival. Additionally, live music is featured every weekend in Basin Park.
Eureka Springs enjoys four distinctive seasons and is perfect for family outings or group travels. Many convention and meeting planners choose the area year after year for its outstanding hospitality and numerous attractions.