Much like national parks are dotted with those wonderful markers outlining exactly where visitors are and what they’re looking at, which is generally pretty spectacular, Arkansas is filled with attractions, parks and meetings-friendly getaways that embody its nickname, the Natural State.
The list of opportunities for groups to commune with nature is long, including hitting the links along the Natural State Golf Trail, as well as kayaking, hiking and other recreational pursuits. With that in mind, following are a few great options scattered throughout the state for planners who would like to take full advantage of Arkansas’ natural splendor.
Wildwood Park for the Arts, Little Rock
If you are looking for an outdoor space, Wildwood Park for the Arts, Little Rock’s best-kept secret, offers that opportunity and more with eight gardens as well as indoor venues that bring the beauty of the outdoors in, according to Rachael Montunnas, spokeswoman for the park.
“There are many delightful settings to choose from,” she says, citing outdoor gathering spots that include the Asian Garden, Nabucco Waterfall, Butler Hill overlooking Swan Lake and Day Lily Garden Gazebo, and indoor venues such as the 625-seat Lucy Lockett Cabe Festival Theater, which is well-suited for presentations, product launches and other events.
Montunnas adds that Wildwood Park is a great place to stroll along woodland paths, have a picnic in the gardens or celebrate the arts by attending one of many festivals and events held throughout the year.
“Groups can join us during the blooming season and be captivated by the largest collection of native woodland azaleas in the region,” she says. “The park is yours to discover.”PageBreak
Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Morrilton
Late politician and philanthropist Winthrop Rockefeller fell in love with Petit Jean Mountain when he moved to Arkansas in the early 1950s. He bought land and made his home on the site of today’s Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, according to Kathleen Currie, vice president of programs and marketing at the venue, located 50 miles northwest of Little Rock.
“Nestled as we are in some of the most beautiful natural surroundings in Arkansas, our institute is an oasis in a hectic world, the perfect spot to find creative solutions,” Currie says. “When people come here, they focus in a different way, leave their day-to-day concerns behind and find answers. It may sound like hyperbole, but our guests keep coming back to the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute because they call what happens here ‘magic.’”
Amenities include on-site lodging, more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space, 16 meeting and breakout rooms, food service, audiovisual equipment, high-speed Internet access and a full-service business center.
Blue Spring Heritage Center, Eureka Springs
According to Carma Lewis, coordinator at Blue Spring Heritage Center, the best way for groups to begin an outing here is with a film clip of Blue Spring—Into the Unknown, an adventure film preview of extreme divers venturing 218 feet down into Blue Spring.
A tourist attraction since 1948 and now on the National Register of Historic Places for its associations with the Cherokee people during the Trail of Tears, today Blue Spring is a regularly visited natural wonder that produces 38 million gallons of cold clear water a day.
“You can stroll the walkways and garden paths through 33 acres of native gardens surrounding Blue Spring, and walk over the historic spillway to the Old Mill site and then up to the Indian Bluff Shelter,” Lewis says.
For meetings, there is an on-site conference center that accommodates up to 100 people.PageBreak
Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Fayetteville
The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, which sits on Lake Fayetteville, features themed gardens that reflect the varying landscapes, plants and gardening interests of the Ozark region, according to Judy Smith, communication/education coordinator at the attraction.
The themed gardens, surrounded by walking and biking trails, attract gardeners, garden clubs, visitors who are after a quiet place to stroll or enjoy a book, and corporate groups.
“The Event Hall features a lodge-style room with large glass doorways giving great views out into the garden and its seasonal color,” Smith says, adding that groups renting the hall may also use Tyson Terrace, which is on two levels and surrounded by gardens and a fountain, and constructed to accommodate tents.
Guided tours are available year-round.
Arkansas Wine Country, Altus
A visit to Arkansas Wine Country in Altus and its neighboring locales is considered a great day trip for groups convening in Fort Smith, located just 40 miles west of the area.
Tourable wineries here, all within about a seven-mile radius of one another, include Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, Post Familie Vineyards and Mount Bethel Winery, all located in Altus, and the Paris-based Cowie Wine Cellars and Vineyards.
“Wineries are a great option for groups because the area offers some stunning vistas, a beautiful provincial town, Altus, that is charming and quaint, and Arkansas wineries provide a unique experience in Southern hospitality,” says Sherry Scorby, convention and events sales director at the Fort Smith CVB. “Many people are not aware of this area in the Arkansas hills.”
Carolyn Blackburn, a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus, would like to enjoy a nice glass of Arkansas wine while watching hot-air balloons in Hot Springs.
