“The mountains are calling and I must go.”
I’ve always loved being in the mountains. So driving and hiking around in Fayetteville, Arkansas was *literally* a breath of fresh air for me. Arkansas is known as “The Natural State” and if you visit, you’ll see why. Everywhere you look, there’s mountains and hills, rivers, and gorgeous landscapes for as far as the eye can see.
We recently got back from a weekend trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas and I couldn’t wait to show you all of the wonderful things there are to do here. No matter your activity level, interest, or amount of time you have to spend on vacation, you’ll find it here.
Things to Do
There’s more to Fayetteville than just the mountains! Check out all the fun things your family can do while visiting!
Pig Trail Scenic Byway
If you’re looking for winding scenic drive, you’ll want to take the 19 mile Pig Trail Scenic Byway through the Ozark Mountains. Named after it’s curly, pig-tail appearance, this foliage-filled road is popular most seasons of the year, but primarily fall when it’s vibrant with colors. In order to get on the trail, you’ll take Arkansas State Highway 23 near Interstate 40 through to it’s intersection with Arkansas 16. It starts and ends in Fayetteville, so you’re bound to see parts of it while you’re there.
Lokomotion Family Fun Park
If indoor activities for the family are the name of your game, then Lokomotion is where you should go. They’ve got laser tag, mini golf, go karts, bumper boats, and a video arcade.
Devil’s Den State Park
The “Natural State” has loads to offer when it comes to outdoor sights. If you want to get a feel for the land, head out to Devil’s Den State Park. This park has hiking trails through the wooded areas that you’re just going to love. And the drive through the switchbacks entering the park are all part of the fun!
112 Drive In Theater
Thursdays through Sunday evenings, head on over to the 112 Drive In movie theater. For just $10 per car, you can drive your car on in and park it to watch a movie on the big screen from the comfort of your own space. A concession stand is available and you can also bring your own snacks as well.
Air & Military Museum
If you have an aviation fanatic or military buff in your family, you need to check this place out. They have countless fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters, and even an “air tractor”. My military loving child loved this stop! He got to sit inside a ferret tank and several airplanes and was in pure Heaven.
Lake Fayetteville
If you enjoy fishing, this is the place to do it! At the lake, you’ll find Crappie, Bass, Blue Gill, Red Ear, Catfish, Goggle-eye, and Carp. However, if you’re looking for something more adventurous, it’s an idle-only lake, so water sports are a no go.
Fayetteville Square
In the center of town is Fayetteville Square. There, you’ll find restaurants, shops, and and meet a few locals. There’s a weekly farmer’s market you can shop for regional goods as well as several spots for photo ops, like the world peace fountain and several murals on town square.
Gator Golf Course
This mini golf course features 2 18-hole mini golf courses in the hills of the Ozarks. Ranging from easy puts to more difficultly timed shots are fun for the whole family and is sure to bring out your competitive side.
Razorbacks Greenway
The Razorbacks Greenway is a 36 mile paved path route that runs from Fayetteville to Springdale. It’s great for biking or walking and provides a great scenic way to get around. You can rent electric bikes and have fun riding down the greenway in style!
Canoeing, Kayaking, and Water Rafting
There are 5 different rivers that easily accessible from the Fayetteville area. The most breath-taking is the Buffalo river. For a more adventurous ride, start towards the north end of the river. If you’re looking for a more relaxing trek, start at the midpoint of the river.
Prairie Grove Aquatic Park
There’s no better way to beat the heat than to hit the pool! Prairie Grove Aquatic Park has a walk-in entry pool with two water slides that’s a fun and affordable option for your family visiting in the summer months. The day we visited the park, it was over 100 degrees outside. The pools and water slides were perfect to cool off in and have a few hours of fun. It’s a great spot for kids of all ages – in fact, my five year old was able to go on the ride above and touch bottom once she got to the 3 foot deep water at the bottom. There’s also tables and plenty of places in the shade for us non-sun people as well.
Flying Q Farms
Ages 5 and up can hit the trail on their trusty steed for a trail ride. Trail rides are during weekdays only and are a fun way to get to see the beautiful landscape from a different perspective. The farm also offers summer camps and private horseback riding lessons, if that’s something you’re interested in.
Arkadia Retrocade
This super cool arcade has over 160 machines. From classic arcade games and foosball, to super nintendo and many more. And at just $5 per visit, this place is a steal because you can play every game in the place for as long as they’re open.
Where to Eat
The best way to experience a new place has got to be checking out the local eateries. Here’s a few of our favorites!
Hugo’s
This is the place to go to in Fayetteville for burgers! The entrance is downstairs in the basement, but the flavors are anything but lower level! My favorite was the sirloin steak sandwich. It has a lime aioli on it which really makes it!
Hammontree’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese
This place is a grilled cheese sandwich connoisseur’s dream! The fun Dr. Seuss-esque logo of a ham sitting on top of a tree is exactly the whimsical kind of food you’re going to get here – and it’s just as delicious! I loved the white buffalo sandwich with tomato basil soup and my husband really enjoyed the Cheebacca with crawfish bisque. This place has a fun vibe, is in a great area, and afterwards you can go to the food truck park and get some ice cream for dessert.
Burton’s Creamery
You say ‘ice cream’, I say, ‘I’m in!’ At Shulertown Food Truck Park, you’ll find half a dozen food trucks with all different kinds of food, but one your mouth will start watering at is definitely the ice cream truck. Burton’s keeps it simple – vanilla or chocolate – but they’ll put it in a cone, between two cookies, add some toppings, or make it however you like! I got vanilla ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies and they rolled the edges in cinnamon toast crunch. Yum! My husband also had the double chocolate chip cookie sandwich with the vanilla ice cream in the middle.
Wood Stone Craft Pizza + Bar
There’s two locations for this pizza place and we just happened to be closer to the one by the mall when we went. The garlic bread sticks were cheesy and delicious and are a must! I also ordered a wedge salad to start so I could start the meal on a semi-healthy note and this giant salad came out with a steak knife in it. It was delicious and ended up being my meal and I took the pizza home. Ha! The macaroni and cheese was made with cavatappi noodles and was super cheesy and delicious! I also ordered the THISS pizza and it was really flavorful! The service was great, the food was good, and we were seated almost immediately when we walked in. Overall, it was a great experience and we’d love to go back!
Catfish Hole
If you’re looking for grandma’s southern fried cookin’, this is the place! The service is super fast – all of the waiters work all of the tables it seems like, because everyone was helping us if they saw our tea glasses getting low or asking if we needed more hushpuppies. They serve everything family style, so make sure to order plenty of fried catfish, because everyone will eat more than you think they will. I also tried the blackened catfish, but as someone who loves her cajun food, I would just call it ‘grilled’ and not so much blackened because there wasn’t any spice to it at all. The kids loved the atmosphere of the restaurant too – the stained glass windows all depicted funny “catfish” images and they loved looking at each one.
Places to Stay
Whether you’re an AirBnB lover or prefer a hotel that comes with complimentary breakfast, Fayetteville has something to meet your needs! Use the search box below to see what’s available for your travel dates!
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