Where to go in Arkansas

[gparker]

Hello All,
We are taking the kids to Arkansas next month and I would like some input as to the best places and parks to go to. So far we are going to Crater of Diamonds, Petitjean SP, and Devil's Den SP. Sound good for 9 y/o and 6 y/o girls? Any suggestions or warnings?
Thanks,
Greg and family

[razorback]

All are great places to visit! Both state parks are breathtaking with lots of nature things to do. On Petitjean Mountain you can see forever!

The swimming pool at Devils Den is nice for kids. Some of the rv sites here are rather short, but you should be able to get into one. Longer rv's need to use the northern entrance to get to the campground. Signs on I-540 advise of this.

If you like float trips, Buffalo National River has outfitters at very reasonable prices. Buffalo Point has nice rv facilities and it is the lower part of the river so not a dangerous float for kids. Different lengths of floats are available with all canoes and transportation to put in and take out points as part of he package. If you camp at Buffalo Point, one of the all day float packages ends there so you are "home" when you take out. Our grandkids (10 and 12) have made the float trip an annual event. It is their favorite place to go. Lots of opportunities to fish, swim, and explore along the float. The website is: Buffalo National River, A comprehensive vacation-planning guide to the Buffalo National River Country and the Arkansans Ozarks, near the Ozark Mountains.

http://www.nps.gov/buff


Enjoy the Arkansas outdoors!

[N.E.AR Butch]

Try looking up Lake Catherine State Park
We spent a week there a few weeks ago and it was great, its in a nice part of the state and the Hot Springs aera is really beautiful and interesting, lots of hot springs and bathhouses , horse racing, and great places to eat. try the Blue Monkey, and just down from the racetrack is a great ice cream place....N.E.AR Butch : )

[ZoominC6]

We'll back up the previous poster's recommendation of Lake Catherine SP. Have fun.

[AIR-Quarius]

The caves at Devils Den were really cool.

[kingfisher24]

we are spending a few days at citadel bluff, cecil, ark then moving to Peti Jean and Lake Catherine and then to Queen Wlihelmina state parks before exiting back into the void...heading west and south...looking for New Years Eve at Picacho Peak with the 4CU in Arizona

[GettinAway]

We are heading down there next weekend.. (AR) Probably the last weekend before I winterize.
I was thinking the Jasper area. Any suggestions on a campground around there?

Hopefully there will be a few leaves left to see...

Jeff

[kingfisher24]

the leaves have just begin to turn...a cold spell and a north wind have done wonders for the autumunal show of color...Queen Wilhelmina and the surrounds of the talimena scenic byway are ablaze in color....SOB campers are also ablaze as this is a three day weekend....we did spot two other streamers at Peti Jean State Park and it was beautiful and raining which helped the leaves to fall...Lake Catherine State Park near Hot Springs was beautiful...its hiking trails a joy to hike......

we are headed south into Texas and down to Lost Maples soon...following the leaves south

[vswingfield]

The leaves just started turning here in central Arkansas. After an extremely dry year we were resigned to all the leaves just turning brown and falling off. Then we got good rain in the nick of time and the colors are beautiful.

We also had a mild freeze, 32 exactly, last night. It will warm back up a the rest of the week, but it should also help the color change.

Very nice here right now.

[rebelstand]

The Lake Ouachita is Gorgeous! Narrows Dam are is nice as well. Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs is very pretty too. Yeah, I like to water ski once upon a time. However, the scenery is beautiful.

[kingfisher24]

Is, I believe the second highest peak in Ark at about 2600 feet....does the wind howl all the time or is it just this time of the year??...two nights here and the wind has been in an uproar..... and is of course home to Queen Wilhlemina state park...and midway along the talimena byway, which is a beautiful drive

[kingfisher24]

is of course near Jasper....and the Buffalo National Scenic River and there are National forrest campgrounds in there

[jdalrymple]

A great cave to check out is Blanchard Springs. It is a national park near the town of Mountain View. There is a campground there, but as with most National Parks, it is a dry camp. Lots of other stuff to do in that area too. There are several full-service RV parks in Mountain View. Great trout fishing is north of MV about 70 miles, in Mountain Home. Check it out, this is the "mountain country" of Arkansas. Such as it is.

Happy Travels!