First of all, I would like to give a shout out to my pal Punxsutawney Phil, who was incredibly brave this year and wasn’t scared off by his shadow. You know what that means – an early spring! And I couldn’t be more ready for it.
This girl is ready to hit the open roads in her Jeep with her family with the top down. Bring on the sunshine! And AY is here to help you gear up for brighter days like nobody else can.
An excellent place to start a spring excursion is with a little Arkansas getaway, whether its during spring break with the family or something a little more peaceful on the weekend. We’ve got you covered. Check out our list of incredible Arkansas destinations on page 82. In this section, we’ll introduce you to some fantastic places across our state that are off the beaten path. And in each of these unique locations are incredible places to stay, compliments of Airbnb.
If you’ve never really explored our state and stayed in someone else’s home while doing it, then now’s your chance. You won’t regret it.
And as you traverse the Natural State exploring exciting new destinations, bring along with you AY’s first-ever food bucket list. Arkansas is loaded with incredible places to eat – from hole in the wall barbeque joints to fine dining experiences. This is the first time anybody has compiled a list as extensive at this – 101 meals you need to try before you kick the bucket, and why some of these time-honored haunts are so special. Our list starts on page 42.
With the debut of our first food bucket list, there’s no better time to debut our first-ever readers’ restaurant poll! We asked you, our readers, to tell us your favorite restaurants across a variety of categories (40 to be exact). You did not disappoint. And now, we’ve got the results. From best pizza to best tacos, from best food truck to best patio dining, we’ve got all your favorites. I guess you could say this is a very food-friendly issue. Check it out on page 58.

“Females are the fastest growing demographic in fly fishing, and I can certainly understand why.”

March is a great time to try something for the first time, like one of the restaurants on our lists. Just recently, my friends and I tried something we’ve never done before – fly fish for trout on the Little Red River. Thanks to our friends at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Rouse Fly Fishing, Sore Lip ‘Em All Guide Service and Gearhead, we tore up the trout, having limited out over an entire weekend of fun. Females are the fastest growing demographic in fly fishing, and I can certainly understand why. Read about our adventure on page 85, along with a great recipe for the trout you catch!
This month, we also explore Northwest Arkansas like we never have before. To follow up our successful “Where to Live in Central Arkansas” guide, we bring you the sequel – Where to Live in Northwest Arkansas! This section, starting on page 26, is loaded with valuable information on the fastest growing communities in the region, what homes are going for and builders and vendors who’ve helped make those new homes a reality.
As we make our way further into 2019, our AY team has also taken a good look at the great homegrown businesses that have helped shape the Arkansas business landscape. You can find them on page 110.
And on page 92, you can get to know some of the Arkansas women who helped shape the state and nation through their hard work and sacrifice. We’re honoring these trailblazers this March, Women’s History Month, and we hope you will, too.
Heather Baker signature
 
 
Contact: hbaker@aymag.com