Arkansas Offers a Delightful Mix for Group Travelers
.jpg)
Arkansas, known as “The Natural State,” is a natural choice for groups – whether planners are looking for indoor leisure or outdoor delights. It offers something for everyone, from posh cosmopolitan activities for urbanites to spectacular scenic beauty for outdoor enthusiasts. Arkansas's four seasons and abundant attractions are a perennial delight for all visitors.
Whether it’s a formal meeting for 5,000 people or a casual gathering of 25, Arkansas has the resources to please, from meeting spaces and lodging to off-site tours and special events.
For reunion planners, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism offers free Arkansas literature, help in planning and items for your registration bags online at reunions101.aristotle.net or www.arkansasgrouptravel.com, where sample itineraries can be found.
Getting to Arkansas is easy via scenic byways, newly refurbished highways and two major airports. Once on-site, there are a variety of things to for groups, from visiting small wineries, art galleries and boutiques to expansive malls and upscale shopping districts. Opportunities to enjoy the arts are plentiful, too.
New attractions and destinations include the River Market entertainment district in Little Rock; Magic Springs’ X-Coaster, a $4 million ride with the highest upside down inversion in the world at 150 feet; The Lodge at Mount Magazine, a $33 million retreat and meeting facility with scenic views of the Petit Jean River Valley from every room; Heifer International Global Headquarters and Village, where visitors learn about solutions to world hunger and poverty; and the Arkansas Queen, a riverboat which offers cruises on the Arkansas River.
Large lakes provide fishing, skiing, scuba diving, sailing, pleasure boating and other water sports and are home to resorts, state parks and plenty of campgrounds. A wide selection of golf courses includes The Natural State Golf Trail, and there are day-hike, backpacking, horseback, ATV and mountain-bike trails as well. Hang-gliding, rock climbing and rappelling are popular in the mountains.
For groups interested in history, Arkansas has plenty. Little Rock is home to the Clinton Presidential Library, which opened in November 2004 and has been drawing record crowds ever since. As the nation’s 12th presidential library, the Clinton Center is the largest archival collection in American presidential history.
Arkansas also boasts rich, cultural history, with cultural exhibits on the Native Americans who first inhabited the state to be found at three state parks and several museums. The Ozark Folk Center preserves the folkways and music of hardy pioneers who settled the Ozark Mountains some 150 years ago. And the Central High School National Historic Site in Little Rock tells of a 1957 civil rights landmark victory that captivated a nation.
The Natural State offers the ultimate indoor/outdoor destination, with attractions and accommodations for groups of every type and size.
For More Information
Contact the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism group travel division at arkansasgrouptravel@arkansas.com or call 800-872-1259 to obtain a Group Tour and Meeting Planners Directory.
