by Laurie Marshall

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE

This listing in Hot Springs Village may be for a private room, but the location and amenities are perfect for a couple looking for a getaway.

Wifi is available, and the rental’s hosts will act as concierge during your stay and arrange Village amenities for guests and even rent out their party barge upon request and approval. Kayaks are available with the rental without any special requests needed. Additional boats and paddle boards are available at the marina.

The Village offers nine golf courses and over 25 miles of walking trails. With the Ouachita National Forest an easy eight miles away, you can spend some time doing some “forest bathing” before doing your own bathing in the private hot tub on the patio.

A number of restaurants are available for dining out in the Village, or you can take a drive through the Ouachita Mountains to Hot Springs.

HARRIET

For true Ozark Mountain seclusion, head to this recently remodeled cabin that is situated on 65 acres near the Buffalo National River. The cabin will accommodate up to eight adults and comes with a basement game room complete with a ping pong table for you competitive types. Bring your own groceries and take advantage of a grill and firepit for meals and snacks.

You know the Buffalo is one of the country’s best rivers to kayak and canoe amidst beautiful scenery, but the Lower Buffalo Wilderness Area also features some of the best horseback riding in Arkansas, as well as great hunting, hiking and fishing.

Located in one of the darkest parts of the state, the cabin is located in a perfect spot for star-gazers to view the heavens, which you can do with a telescope or even a good set of binoculars. Maybe a night spent outside would be in order?

MOUND CITY

If you haven’t visited the Arkansas Delta in the last few years, you haven’t visited the Arkansas Delta. The area is rich in activities and experiences appealing to agriculture, music and food aficionados, and this unique rental is a perfect spot to call home base during your visit.

Created out of a reclaimed shipping container, the building is one of six guest houses located on a 500-acre working farm. There are plenty of farm roads to explore, and you’re welcome to bring your pet and your bicycle.

The farm is only a few minutes from Memphis, but there is plenty on the Arkansas side of the river to explore, as well. The Historic Dyess Colony features the family home of music icon Johnny Cash as part of the historical restoration efforts led by Arkansas State University.

The Waponocca National Wildlife Refuge is also a great family adventure. The refuge offers sanctuary for migratory waterfowl traversing the Mississippi Flyway and provides education, fishing and hunting opportunities for visitors year-round.

Other places of interest include the Delta Cultural Center in Helena, The Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart and the Eddie Mae Herron Center and Museum in Pocahontas.

HOT SPRINGS

This cute little pet-friendly bungalow is minutes from the top reasons why we love Hot Springs. With enough space to sleep ten guests, you can include extended family or plenty of friends in your travel plans.

Head to Oaklawn to bet on the ponies or do some people-watching. Try the famous Reuben sandwich at the Oaklawn Jockey Club for dinner, or, if barbecue’s more your thing, McClard’s is another tasty option. Get the rib plate and a chocolate malt – you’re welcome.

For those more interested in being in the action than watching it, hit the extensive trail system and see for yourself why Hot Springs was designated as the country’s first National Park. Serious cyclists should check out the 33-mile Womble Trail or the 108-mile Ouachita National Recreational Trail, and trail runners should find the Sunset Trail, called a “hidden gem” by Trail Runner Magazine.

After a day at the track or on the trails, pamper yourself with a 90-minute mineral bath. The experience harkens back to the glory days of Hot Springs but is perfectly suited for our hustle-bustle 21st-century lives as well.

FAYETTEVILLE

Maybe you need to get away, but don’t want to be too “away.” This recently renovated home is only minutes from downtown Fayetteville but includes access to fourteen acres on the West Fork White River for guests to explore. You can spend the day in a kayak or fishing on the riverbank, then run into town for dinner at Hugo’s and a show at the Walton Arts Center. Or stay in your comfy pants and enjoy a fire in the firepit.

On days you’d rather get out of the house, the Razorback Regional Greenway and its associated trails offer more than 200 miles of hard and soft trails to take advantage of. If you’re more of a hiker, throw on a day pack and head to Devil’s Den State Park just 35 minutes away. For a unique art experience, take the kids to watch glass artists make Bluebirds of Happiness at Terra Studios east of Elkins and have lunch in the café there.

This getaway truly offers the best of all the things you love about the Ozarks.

EUREKA SPRINGS

Stonehaven Castle in Eureka Springs is truly like a mini resort! Bring the whole family and spread out in its six beds and 52 acres of private woods.

There’s a fireplace to enjoy on chilly evenings, as well as professional-grade karaoke microphones, 65″ screens for movie-watching and board games for some old school entertainment. Oh, and don’t forget to bring marshmallows and Hershey bars to make s’mores on the stone patio with a built-in fire pit.

If you can tear yourself away from the house, head into Eureka Springs to do some shopping along Spring Street. If shopping isn’t your thing, how about a ride on the Eureka Springs and North Arkansas Railway? The kids will love Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and have a souvenir photo made at Judge Roy Bean’s.

There’s also Blue Spring Heritage Center, where you can learn about the history of the springs that gave the town its name, tour its 33 acres of gardens, and find out why Blue Spring was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

GARFIELD

This beautiful modern “cabin” in Garfield is a twenty-minute drive from Rogers and thirty from Bentonville. Its remote location in the woods near Beaver Lake makes it a perfect place to run away from the hustle of the city and unwind.

Hobbs State Park and Recreation Area are close by, and while you’re out that way, stop by War Eagle Mill to pick up some pancake mix and jam for breakfast. If you’ve worked up an appetite on the trails at Hobbs, head upstairs to order a bowl of beans and ham with homemade cornbread.

Evenings around the fire pit at the cabin are sure to be delightful, but you could head into Rogers for a little more activity. Have dinner at one of many terrific options: Hammontrees, The Rail and Havana Tropical Grill come to mind. After dinner, pick up a six-pack of locally-brewed beer from Ozark Beer Company or New Province Brewing to take back to the cabin to enjoy. Or, if you aren’t quite ready to head back yet, check out the calendar at Arkansas Public Theatre.

PRAIRIE GROVE

Prairie Grove is only a short drive west from Fayetteville, but it’s loaded with small-town charm. Plan a weekend with your BFFs and stay in one of the adorable vintage RV trailers at Flamingo Springs Trailer Resort. You can each pick your favorite trailer and soak up a delightful dose of kitsch.

Guests at Flamingo Springs can spend the day enjoying the resort’s game room outfitted with a pool table, board games and a vintage jukebox, or take a hike through the fifty wooded acres surrounding the resort. However, the big draw to Prairie Grove can be found on Buchanan Street.

There, you’ll find a terrific selection of shops full of antiques, vintage items and boutique goodies. You’ll definitely want to visit Southern Mercantile, Daisies & Olives and Summit Hill Cottage, and be sure to fuel up at Magnolia Coffee House to get your day started right.

History buffs will appreciate a stop at Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park. There is a small museum with recently renovated interpretive displays to peruse and a lovely trail around the park that takes guests by important landmarks of the battle.