Family Fun in Bentonville (Fayetteville, Springdale: rent, homes, movies)

[dvcgal]

Hey all! We are looking to relocate to Bentonville in the next few months and are very excited about the move! BUT...we need help knowing where to go and what to do for family fun when we get there. Any and all suggestions are welcomed!

Thanks!

DVCGAL!

[DC at the Ridge]

There's a nice pool complex, there's bowling, there are some great trails for hiking, biking or having a picnic, several parks, the movie complex at Scottsdale, Beaver Lake, it really depends on what you like to do.

[dvcgal]

We have been VERY spoiled by our current location. We live within 15 mintues of Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Water Country (a water park) and all of the historic beauty that comes along with our area. We are close to the beach and the mountains, and only 3 hours away from DC! Obviously, Arkansas is totally different and we know that, we just like to know what the locals do for fun. Is there like a certain spot that kids go to on the weekends?
Thanks for the information!

DVCGAL

[DC at the Ridge]

You aren't within 15 minutes of it, but a couple of hours and you can get to Branson which has Silver Dollar City and a water park and other numerous attractions. There is nothing specific that kids do on the weekends, it just depends on what you like. There are baseball leagues and soccer leagues, bowling, horseback riding, and so on. I'd recommend floating one of the rivers. From Bentonville you are less than half an hour from the Elk River where you can rent canoes and spend the day floating the river. The Elk River is a good river for kids, and the Buffalo River has the most spectacular scenery. Devil's Den, south of Fayetteville, has picnic areas and hiking trails and caves which kids really like. The entire area, actually, is dotted by caves. Roaring River over by Seligman is a terrific park with several hiking trails (one that goes by an old homestead) and playgrounds and a large fish hatchery, there are picnic areas as well as campsites. It hosts several fishing competitions during the year, so if any of your family like fishing, that's a great place to go. There are lots of golf courses in the area, of course, and there are two Civil War battlefields you can visit, the one at Pea Ridge and the one at Prairie Grove. Pea Ridge has re-enactments from time to time, with people in period costume playing the opposing armies and the civilian population preparing for the battle and then approximating the movements of the two armies. Eureka Springs is a quaint tourist town with beautiful Victorian homes and shops, but it can be packed shoulder to shoulder during the season. Even so, the Blues and Jazz Festivals are fabulous. Fayetteville has a Bikes, Blues and BBQ event that you should experience at least once. The traffic is tremendous, though. There is a train excursion you can take from Springdale down to Van Buren that is fun. I think fall is the best time because the fall colors as you go over the mountains, but a lot of people like it in the winter when you can see so much more. Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville has some great shows and special activities just for kids. You can google them and check out their calendar to see if there are any things to interest you. Last fall I saw Madama Butterfly performed by the Houston Ballet, and the children in the program were local kids who had participated earlier that week in ballet workshops. Anyway, you may have to seek out some things and travel a bit more than 15 minutes, but there are many activities.

[jojefos]

Check out the Jones center in Springdale also. I have never seen an olympic sized ice rink, indoor pools (with a 2 story water slide), family movies on the big screen a gym, courts, and playgrounds all free anywhere else. This is a world class facility that also offers many cultural activities. You can even reserve the pool (yes, with the water slide) and lifeguards provided for birthdays and they never ask for a cent. My kids volunteered, without prompting for clean up on the grounds and planting days because they say it's the best way to say thanks for an awesome facility.

[dvcgal]

Thanks! I really appreciate all of the info. It helps us to know where to go and what to do and this way we will not be struggling to find something (entertainment wise) when we first get there! Thanks again!