Little Rock is the capitol city of Arkansas and, as such, remains one of the most beloved
cities to visit in that beautiful southern state! For those of you that are planning
a trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, you may be wondering about some of the best things that
the city has to keep tourists occupied. From historical landmarks such as the Arkansas
State Capitol to the beautiful Arkansas River, Little Rock is a city brimming with awesome
places! Join ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Visit the Arkansas State Capitol Given that Little Rock, Arkansas, is the state’s
capitol, it also happens to be home to the Arkansas State Capitol. While most state’s
capitol buildings can be fairly extraordinary in their own rights, the Arkansas State Capitol
is especially interesting given that it is a near-perfect replica of the United States
Capitol. For those that have never been to the United States Capitol, going to the Arkansas
State Capitol is the next best thing! For those that have already been to the United
States Capitol, you’ll want to be sure to go to the replica that is the Arkansas State
Capitol so you can try and spot any inconsistencies. The outer part of the Arkansas State Capitol
was made to resemble the United States Capitol so closely that it has even been used as a
double in movies! Of course, filming in Little Rock, Arkansas, is cheaper than filming in
the nation’s capitol, but that doesn’t make the beloved Arkansas city any less beautiful.
Once they’ve arrived at the Arkansas State Capitol, visitors are free to take either
a guided tour or show themselves around. After you’ve seen all there is to see at the capitol
building, you can go around the corner and see Testament: The Monument to the Little
Rock Nine. This stunning memorial was created to commemorate the Little Rock Nine. The Little
Rock Nine were a group of nine African-American students that were prevented from enrolling
in the local Little Rock Central High School in 1957, causing a historic civil-rights event
that led to the desegregation of the high school.
Peruse the Local Street Art and Sculptures Like many towns in America, Little Rock is
bustling with its own art scene. Those who are visiting the city will take notice of
the many vibrant murals adorning its streets. The city is also filled with marvelous sculptures
beside the ones featured at the aforementioned memorial to the Little Rock Nine. Nearly 100
sculptures are located in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, making it a fine location
to walk through and spend the afternoon at while visiting Little Rock.
Enjoy the Local Cuisine Those looking for some authentic southern
cooking will find what they're looking for and then some in Little Rock, Arkansas! The
city is known for its incredible cuisine, and much of the food comes from local industry.
One of the most popular spots to eat in the area is Bobbie D's Southern Cuisine, which
features a variety of southern staples. For those who prefer fried fish to chicken-fried
steak, you might want to try Soul Fish Café on Main Street!
Visit the Arkansas River Little Rock, Arkansas, is located on a prime
spot right by the Arkansas River, meaning that it’s a must for visitors to Little
Rock to check out the stunning river at least once. Those looking to get a taste of the
Arkansas River while visiting Little Rock will certainly want to check out the Julius
Breckling Riverfront Park, which was built upon the river and features an expansive park
with lots of sculptures. Besides the park, there’s also the River Market.
The River Market features a seemingly infinite plethora of restaurants and stores for tourists
to get lost in for hours! Visitors to the area can rent bicycles, kayaks, and paddleboards,
making this the perfect location to visit on a hot day in the summer. While you’re
at the Arkansas River, you can also track down the veritable rock that gives Little
Rock its name. Also known as the Le Petit Roche, this so-called “little rock” is
actually quite large and impressive, residing on the north side of the Arkansas River. Visitors
will want to visit the Le Petit Roche plaza at least once, located near the Julius Breckling
Riverfront Park and right between the Riverfront Amphitheater and the Junction Bridge. Otherwise,
can they really say that they’ve been to Little Rock, Arkansas?
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Visit Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center Located at Little
Rock Central High School Either before or after visiting the memorial
to the Little Rock Nine located at the Arkansas State Capitol, visitors to Little Rock, Arkansas,
will certainly want to check out the Little Rock Central High School National Historic
Site Visitor Center, which is a museum that exists within the functioning Little Rock
Central High School. Like Testament: The Monument to the Little Rock Nine, the Little Rock Central
High School National Historic Site Visitor Center exists to commemorate the Little Rock
Nine and the civil rights event that caused the desegregation of the high school in which
the museum is currently located. The high school itself is still active, so visitors
will want to keep that in mind. Visitors can be led on a tour of the school, or they can
go to the visitor center and check out a variety of informational displays.
Visit the William J. Clinton Library and Museum Arkansas was the birthplace of former United
States president Bill Clinton, and fans of the man will certainly want to check out the
William J. Clinton Library and Museum! Even if you don’t align with Bill Clinton politically
or personally, you can still get a kick out of the location, which features a replica
of the Oval Office meant to look exactly the way that Bill Clinton had it organized during
his presidency. Besides this Oval Office recreation, there’s also a display featuring Bill Clinton’s
iconic sunglasses and saxophone!
Besides the museum aspect of the William J. Clinton Library and Museum, there’s also
the library aspect. The location houses numerous files from Bill Clinton’s time in office,
with there said to be 78 million pages of official records located within the building.
The William J. Clinton Library and Museum also features an on-sight restaurant, as well
as a plentifully stocked shopping area where Bill Clinton fans can pick up all sorts of
memorabilia commemorating his presidency. Once you’re done visiting the location,
you can head to the nearby Clinton Presidential Park and walk across the Clinton Presidential
Park Bridge. The bridge is not only functional but also symbolic, as it was constructed to
metaphorically illustrate Bill Clinton’s famous words regarding “building a bridge
to the 21st century”.
Visit the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum is one
of the preeminent historical locations in Little Rock, Arkansas, offering the rare chance
to step inside an actual tugboat that was used in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Besides
the tugboat, the museum also features a submarine that saw time in Japanese waters during the
final moments of the war. The submarine goes by the name of the USS Razorback, and visitors
to the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum are allowed a fairly personal view of the nearly
operational machine.
Visit the HI Little Rock Firehouse Hostel & Museum
If you’re looking for a place to stay in addition to an interesting location to visit
while staying in Little Rock, Arkansas, the HI Little Rock Firehouse Hostel & Museum serves
both functions! As its name suggests, the location is both a museum and hostel, though
you can also just drive by and appreciate the location for it’s outside aesthetic
beauty. The building was built in 1917 and was once the city’s actual firehouse. Of
course, the physical requirements for a firehouse have changed considerably in the past century,
which has necessitated a newer building for the city’s firefighters. With the building
out of commission, it was fashioned into a unique hostel that also features a museum
commemorating the building’s early use as a firehouse.
Visit the House That Was Used for Designing Women
Although Designing Women was supposed to have taken place in Atlanta, Georgia, the house
that was used for exterior shots of the show’s main location is actually located in Little
Rock, Arkansas. Because of this, fans of the beloved 1980s sitcom will certainly want to
drive past the location, which goes by the name of Villa Marre. There’s sadly no museum
located at the property, so fans will have to be content with simply seeing the exterior
of the house and moving along. However, that should be fine, given that the exterior of
the house was the only part featured on the show.
Take Advantage of Little Rock’s Public Transportation Little Rock has a bustling downtown area,
and there are plenty of ways to get around it! If you prefer walking, the city has a
great selection of bridges and pathways that allow you to soak in the local flavor of the
area as you stroll along. If you’re looking to get around a bit faster while still experiencing
some of the local culture, you can utilize the city’s free streetcar service, provided
by METRO.
Whether you’re looking to learn about historical civil rights victories of the past or commemorate
Bill Clinton’s attempts to build a bridge into the 21st century, Little Rock, Arkansas,
has plenty to offer to visitors of all tastes! Now it’s time to hear from you: did you
know that Little Rock, Arkansas, is the home to the presidential library of former United
States president Bill Clinton and that the location houses over 78 million files from
his time in office? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit
the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more informative
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