Yes, Arkansas is billed as "The Natural State," but its many wonders and destinations go far beyond what Mother Nature offers. This diverse state provides SMERF meeting planners with many exciting man-made options as well – from impressive military bases to the Clinton Presidential Library to scads of awe-inspiring historic churches and museums. Here's a look at three cities that highlight some of the must-see venues in this beautiful region.
Fort Smith
Known as the city "Where the New South Meets the Old West," Fort Smith offers exceptional accommodations, outstanding area attractions and the amazing scenery that gives Arkansas its Natural State status. It also provides an intriguing menu of activities for young and old alike.
"Fort Smith has big city benefits in a home town, family-friendly environment," says Elizabeth Naculich, Communications/Event Services Manager for the Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau. Famous for Southern charm and a colorful frontier past, attendees will enjoy entertainment from blues and bluegrass to the symphony. There are also intriguing antique shops, wineries and festivals for a rewarding agenda. For meal planning, there's a wide variety of affordable dining options, from American to Latin cuisine to old-fashioned barbecue in the city's more than 200 restaurants.
SMERF audiences will find several historic sites of particular interest. Some of the oldest churches in Arkansas are located in Fort Smith, including the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church (1898) and the First Lutheran Church (1840). Military planners should include Fort Chaffee (where Elvis was inducted into the Army and received the official haircut) on their itinerary. Built in 1941, this military base was a training site for thousands of troops heading overseas during WWII. The base serves as an annual reserve training center, and was temporary holding facility for Vietnamese and Cuban refugees.
Finally, educators will appreciate the area's colorful history, including the National Historic Site known as "Hell on the Border," featuring recreated frontier jails and exhibits that tell the story of taming the Western frontier. The site includes the remains of two military posts built to keep peace on the frontier when southeastern Indian Tribes were relocated to Indian Territory.
Another draw is the city's central location. Fort Smith is located on the banks of the Arkansas River along the Oklahoma/Arkansas state borders. "Our mid-south location makes it an easy day's drive from most central U.S. cities," Naculich explains. "The Fort Smith Regional Airport terminal is listed on the Top Ten most beautiful airport terminals in the nation. American, Northwest and Delta Airlines provide regional jet service to Dallas, Memphis and Atlanta hubs. And all hotel accommodations are within a 15-minute drive and offer complimentary airport shuttles."
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Hot Springs
For a combination of natural beauty and relaxation, check into Hot Springs. This sparkling town is home to Oaklawn Park, a word-class thoroughbred racing facility that also offers electronic gaming. Nearby, you'll discover Garvan Woodland Gardens, a premier natural woodlands arboretum, and the Magic Springs & Crystal Falls theme park, Arkansas's largest family entertainment venue. Spa facilities, which are fed by the natural thermal waters that give the city its name, offer a restorative experience. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy fishing and boating on Lakes Hamilton, Catherine and Ouachita, or one of several world-class golf courses.
"Hot Springs offers the largest, most advanced meeting facility in Arkansas nestled in a city that surrounds a National Park, which is in turn surrounded by a National Forest," says Paul Johnson, spokesperson for the Hot Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. "It has three pristine blue lakes for fishing, boating, and recreation, more than 50 family attractions and offers 2,000 hotel rooms and more than 200 restaurants."
After meeting hours, attendees can stroll a vibrant fine-arts district, which is within a block of the Convention Center. There they'll find superb dining and nightlife, along with shopping in the Historic Downtown area. The region is also known for a range of food specialties, from barbecue to classic Italian cuisine, steak, seafood and German cuisine.
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Little Rock
Little Rock is Arkansas' capitol city, conveniently located in the center of the state. The city's RiverMarket entertainment/convention district gives this destination great appeal. Located along the scenic Arkansas River, the area is encircled by a 14-mile River Trail. The east end of the Trail is anchored by the Clinton Presidential Center, while the west end is home to the Big Dam Bridge, the longest pedestrian bridge built exclusively for that purpose. At the RiverMarket, your guests can also enjoy local flavors, with many restaurants, pubs, shops and two dueling piano bars.
"A vintage replica electric trolley runs throughout the RiverMarket District connecting hotels to attractions," says Marilyn Koehler, Director of National Accounts for the Little Rock CVB. "The Arkansas Queen Riverboat, World War II Razorback submarine and new Dickey-Stephens minor league baseball field anchor the north side of the Arkansas River. All this gives Little Rock energy and makes downtown alive and vibrant."
There are also numerous attractions specific to the interests of SMERF groups. Military groups should include a visit to the McArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History; Camp Robinson (one of the largest state-operated training sites in the United States and home of the Arkansas National Guard Museum); and the Little Rock Air Force Base (home of the C-130 Center of Excellence and the largest C-130 fleet in the world). Religious groups will find the humanitarian focus of Heifer International to be of special interest. Its mission is to end world hunger, accomplished by "passing on the gift" of animal husbandry, expert knowledge, resources and skills. And, of course, several museums and the Clinton Presidential Center draw educators from around the world to study historic documents and various collections.
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Convention Center Site Specs & Hotels
- Hot Springs Convention Center offers 360,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate the needs of the most intimate gathering, as well as conventions or trade shows that require seating for thousands. With the addition of Summit Arena, the Hot Springs Convention Center can host concerts and sporting events with 6,000 attendees. The city's 2,000 hotel rooms feature the classic old-world elegance of the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa; the modern elegance of the newly completed Embassy Suites; modern chain hotels and motels; affordable rooms and cottages on Lake Hamilton; and scores of affordable family-style motels.
- The Fort Smith Convention Center offers 40,000 square feet of column-free event space with a 34-foot ceiling height, as well as a state-of-the-art performing arts theater with seating for 1,331 people. Downtown Fort Smith now features 565 guest rooms within walking distance of the Convention Center with the completion of the Courtyard by Marriott. The full-service Holiday Inn City Center and Howard Johnson Inn provide a range of accommodations and rates for convention groups. Just off I-40 and I-540 are 1,765 more guest rooms for a citywide total of 2,330.
- The Little Rock Statehouse Convention Center (200,000 sq. ft. with 80,000 sq. ft. exhibit space and an 18,000 sq. ft. ballroom) and The Robinson Center (13,000 sq. exhibit space and a 2,600 seat Music Hall) are the city's two main venues. The Statehouse Convention Center is physically connected to the 4-diamond, 5-duck (yes, there are live ducks in the lobby) Peabody Little Rock Hotel. The Robinson Center is connected to a DoubleTree Hotel, which is just beginning a $12 million renovation.
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