Classic Clarissa Getaways

by Clarissa Basora

This road trip was an impromptu trip with a good childhood friend of mine and her son. We started in the town I live in Bentonville, Arkansas. Which if you do not already know is the capital to mountain bikes. There is the famous Back 40 with over 40 miles of trails full of adventures through the Ozark Mountain Range. We are not mountain bikers but hikers. Either way Arkansas has plenty of both activities to keep adults and children busy. Whether you are into fishing, hiking, biking, drinking beer, or kayaking we have it all.There is no shortage of outdoor adventures in Arkansas.

Day 1

This journey begins south of Bentonville just 45 mins outside of Fayetteville at Devils Den State Park. There are several hikes you can do with children old enough to walk and dogs on a leash. The first hike we did was Devils Den Trail that is approximately 1.1 miles long and considered moderate. There is tons of bluff lines, waterfall, great views of the rivers and grottos. We took a break and went to get our state park passports for Arkansas stamped at the visitor center. They have a small lodge with a restaurant with food and drinks inside or outside seating area. After we finished our burgers and chips we walked over to the waterfall by the lodge. We then headed out to the other trail Yellow Rock Trail great bluff lines with several lookout spots. There is more grottos, caves and the famous overlook. This is a great place to watch a sunrise or sunset if your in the area.

Day 2

We started in started in Texarkana, Tx where Texas and Arkansas meet. What is there to do in this town? Grab an iconic picture in-front of the post office. The post office is one of the most photographed post office in the country and is located in both states with two separate zip codes. We walked around town from the post office down to TLC Burger and Fries. We had to grab a bite at this restaurant the locals raved about their burger and fries. The locals were so right about TLC burger and fries. The beef is local and the fries are made fresh. They have other sandwiches, chili, stew, onion rings, cornbread and even pie for desert. We then headed over to Spring lake Park to stretch our legs. We walked around the park the pond was incredibly beautiful and peaceful. There is something for everyone’s needs such as, a playground, disc golf, walking trail, and dog park. We did inquire about renting a kayak, paddle boat, or canoe. We decided we would rather visit the free art museum downtown. The Regional Art Museum is know for having different artwork on display. It’s free and open Tuesday through Saturday. If you are into history and old cars you have to stop and check out the Four States Auto Museum. There is a collection of old antique cars among other relics in the museum.

Day 3

We had to visit Shreveport, Louisiana as our final destination. This is great place to get the vibe of Louisiana without going all the way down to New Orleans. I have a thing for Aquariums of course we did the Shreveport one. It had more than most aquariums such as a whole room dedicated to the local swamps. My favorite was the indoor fossils and gem mining we got to do inside the swamp exhibit. You pay for a bag of dirt and get the reel life panning experience. The bag was full of fossils and unique gems. They have an interactive touch pool where you can touch different sea creatures. The staff were full of knowledge about the sea life and habitat. You are able to feed the sting rays and touch them. I was surprised at how friendly the sting rays were. They loved being touched with two fingers. They have alligators and sharks if you go on a certain day of the week you can watch them do feedings. This aquarium was defiantly worth the money. We headed over to Beaux Jax for a crawfish broil and po boy sandwich. It was delightful we felt like we were in the heart of Louisiana and we were one hour over the border. The boardwalk in Shreveport is a must do. The place is full of fun unique shops step back into time with a huge candy and gag gift store. They have a build a bear workshop and other souvenirs stores. There should be no problem obtaining a souvenir for family members.

End of Trip

I defiantly want to go back to Shreveport, LA. I have more things to explore there such as a swamp tour, Parks like Caddo Lake, tour the Asian Gardens, eat at Orlandeaux’s Café, and maybe visit during a festival. I would like to go back to the Diamond Park and hunt for diamond or precious gem stones. I would stay at a different campground that has amenities. I would go back to Texarkana to visit the Four States Auto Museum. I plan on eating at some of the breweries and grab a drink. The night life of Texarkana and Shreveport is defiantly worth visiting. This is a great budget friendly way to explore some incredible states during spring break.

Classic Clarissa xoxo