Little Rock is about a three-hour drive from Fayetteville and it’s a great place to take the family for a day of educational and exciting activities. Don’t worry parents, the kids will be having so much fun, they won’t realize that they’re learning things!
Once you arrive in Little Rock, an important thing to note is the River Rail Streetcar, which provides enjoyable transportation service to the Clinton Presidential Center, Heifer International Headquarters, many of the city’s major entertainment venues, museums, parks, restaurants, libraries, and neighborhoods located in the downtown areas of both Little Rock and North Little Rock. Create some life-long memories with your children as you ride the River Rail Streetcar instead of driving yourself.
The River Rail operates three electric replica vintage cars on a 3.4-mile route covering some of the most interesting and exciting destinations in both cities, including traveling across the Main Street Bridge over the Arkansas River. The rail car operators entertain riders with information about the various historical sites, community events and current news. All three cars are equipped with heating and air-conditioning to keep you comfortable no matter the season you visit NWA.
Clinton Presidential Center – President William J. Clinton’s Library is located at 1200 President Clinton Avenue in view of the Arkansas River. According to information found on the museum’s website, “The Clinton Presidential Library welcomes visitors of all ages for an entertaining, educational experience. Families can tour the museum, participate in special programming and learn more about the American presidency.” One item on display that the kids will particularly enjoy is the Presidential State Car that Clinton used when he was in office.
Heifer International – Plan to tour the headquarters for Heifer International while in Little Rock. This nonprofit organization is deeply committed to educating of all us on how we can help end hunger, poverty, and save our environment worldwide. If you’ve never heard of sending a heifer to a needy family to help them survive, you must visit this nonprofit’s headquarters to learn more about the unique aid it offers and see its 30,000-gallon rainwater collection tower.
Little Rock Zoo – One of the Natural State’s greatest treasures is the Little Rock Zoo, located in the heart of Arkansas at War Memorial Park, 1 Zoo Avenue. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the zoo has more than 725 animals representing 200 different species (some of which are on the endangered list) housed within its 33 acres. The zoo is focused toward inspiring visitors to become involved in conserving animals in the wild. The zoo also has a vintage carousel, which children especially love to ride for its jumps and bumps.
The Arkansas River Trail System – Did you bring your bike? If so, you can see some of the most spectacular views in all of Arkansas. Anyone who participates in fitness activities like cycling, hiking, jogging, skating and walking will enjoy this unique and award-winning trail system, which is an 88-mile loop that winds through Central Arkansas, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle and Conway. There is also a much shorter loop, 15.6-miles long, from the Clinton Presidential Bridge via North Little Rock to the Big Dam Bridge, the nation’s longest bicycle and pedestrian bridge spanning 4,226 linear feet across the Arkansas River, and back to the Clinton Bridge.
Lovingly called “The Rep” by the locals, theater buffs should check out The Arkansas Repertory, which is the only professional, nonprofit theater of its size in the region, and this includes Memphis, New Orleans and Nashville. Popular productions such as “Les Miserable” and “The Second City” are the types of shows you will see performed at The Rep. For you history buffs, there is the Quapaw Quarter, home some of the oldest estates and mansions in the South, some of them dating to the Civil War era.
