What do u think about Arkansas- Little rock and around (North Little Rock: to rent, lofts)

[escobalesjarka]

Hi people I was wondering, what do u thing about Arkansas- Little rock and around.

[Sam I Am]

Well, give us a starting point - believe it or not, Arkansas is pretty spread out...did you want to know about any specific area other than Little Rock metro? What do we like about shopping, eating, the neighborhoods, the countryside...what is it ya need to know? Are you moving here, visiting, already here?

[strumpeace]

Little Rock and North Little Rock are among my favorite places. I wish I lived in LR again.

As far as 'around', I guess you're asking about the metro area. Personally, I do not care for the suburbs. If I had to pick one, I would pick Maumelle; I lived there briefly and thought it was ok. I would not live in Lonoke or Saline counties.

My folks live in Perry County, which is a very tiny and rural county that borders Pulaski County. It's ok if you like living in more rural areas.

[MitchArk87]

I think you will enjoy living in Little Rock (LR). Since I moved to LR 3 months ago, I really enjoy living in this city. At first, you might notice there are not much things to do around here, but you will find plenty of things to do after you explore LR Metro Area first. After searching through the Internet and driving around the city of Little Rock, I did many things such shopping at Park Plaza and McCain Mall, visting Clinton Presidential Library, checking out AR Arts Center and McArthur Museum of Natural History, etc.

For relaxing/recreational use, there are several famous spa/massage resorts in Hot Springs, which is only 45 miles away. If you do not want to travel that far, you will always go hiking on Pinnacle Mountain and Riverfront Park. In addition, Wild River Country is an excellent water park in Crystal Springs section of North LR. By the way, Arkansas is full of mountains and lakes and you always can travel for extra things to do.

For entertainment, you can go watch movies at several locations including Breckenridge Village. For stage/musical performances, LR has both the Weekend Theatre and Arkansas Rep. Center. They even show a smaller version of famous Broadway plays/professional opera. LR has good nightlife full of clubs and bars with all types of crowd to hang out in the River Market District in Downtown if you are into that type of entertainment. For restaurants, LR has a variety of nice restaurants to choose from.

If you want to live in the surburbs, I recommend for you to check out these following areas: Conway, Maumelle, Bryant, and Benton. If you want to be close to the city but away from bad neighborhoods, you should check out West LR, which is consisted of Chenal Valley, Pleasant Valley, Cammack Village, and other communities.

To conclude, Arkansas is a great place to live and I think we are very blessed with the beauty of nature that Arkansas has to offer.

I have heard so many people complaining about Arkansas and the South in general. I have to say that I disagree with the stereotypes about Arkansas. In my own words, Arkansas might be part of the South, but with Arkansas being the headquarter of Wal-Mart, Arkansas will see a huge progress in big city amenties, economy, and the job market in the future.

My advice is no matter where you live, it is what you make out of it.

[escobalesjarka]

Hi, me and my husband want to move to Little Rock. We live now in Florida-Orlando. I read some people say Arkansas is not good. We were there with my husband for two weeks visit his family. Me, persontly I like it! I love 4 season. I just don't know where is safe to live! I heard in LR is a lot of crime. My husbends family live in Jacksonville so I'm little concern about the live in LR. We would like to rent 2b/2b apt. in good location and good money. Any sugestion? How are the utilities? Are they high? Thank you for your answare.

[bchris02]

Like most places, I believe crime in Little Rock is pretty confined to certain areas. As the above poster said, either the suburbs or West LR would be your best bet. I'm not totally sure though because I don't currently live in Little Rock. I am researching as well because I might move there after the first of the year for a job. There is a lot of negativity about Arkansas but that deals more with the rural parts of the state especially the river valley area in western Arkansas. The LR metro and NW Arkansas are both booming areas and I think you'll like it. Cost of living is much lower in this state as well.

[DWKelley]

I left LR/NLR approx 15 years ago. Then, there was substantial issues with the quality of the public education system, gang-related crime & a generally less-than-vibrant economy. For example, the region down by the now very-posh Riverfront Park was then a great pace to get shot.

Back then, as now, there is/was a lot of money in AR, it was just tightly held by a very small group of people. In the intervening 15 years, those folks finally realized that LR/NLR & AR in general could be an awesome place if someone would just invest in it. When ever I go back to visit family & friends, I am amazed are how vigorous the economy has become. Regions where you life was literally in peril after dark are now high-places to be. All of those chic condos & lofts down by the Riverfront, back when I was growing up, were burned out warehouses & factories.

Were I to be inclined to return to the Deep-South (read that as the "Bible Belt"), I would seriously consider LR/NLR. However, I have no interest in raising my children in an area where organized religion is such the focal point of society as a whole. I will concede that the metro-LR area is much much more tolerant & embracing of diversity, you do not have to travel too far outside of there to get back into the parts of the South that have earned a reputation for racial intolerance. I do not want my children raised in a culture where the term "different" & "wrong" are synonomous & interchangable.

AR is a gorgeous state, esp the NW 1/2. The cost of living, compared to the majority of the country, is wonderfully favorable. And, the metro-LR area is a very culturally diverse, esp for the Deep South, & becoming more so. But, there are substantial underpinnings of the Old South culture still there. As long you know this & do not stumble into it unaware, I think the area is well-worth considering...just do so knowing not just the pretty parts; but also knowing what the warts are.

[docmommaCA]

Originally Posted by DWKelley

I left LR/NLR approx 15 years ago. ... I will concede that the metro-LR area is much much more tolerant & embracing of diversity, you do not have to travel too far outside of there to get back into the parts of the South that have earned a reputation for racial intolerance. I do not want my children raised in a culture where the term "different" & "wrong" are synonomous & interchangable.

My 11-year-old has Aspergers Syndrome. I have found that there are active parent groups in LR, but are LR people in general tolerant of "quirkiness"? I know that's a generalization, but still.... We don't want him to be ostracized. He is "mainstreamed", but still marches to the beat of his own drummer. Comments?

[Sam I Am]

Originally Posted by docmommaCA

My 11-year-old has Aspergers Syndrome. I have found that there are active parent groups in LR, but are LR people in general tolerant of "quirkiness"? I know that's a generalization, but still.... We don't want him to be ostracized. He is "mainstreamed", but still marches to the beat of his own drummer. Comments?

As one who has an austistic nephew, I've had to realize - it is what it is, people are what they are, and the judgmental, uninformed, and just plain rude know no boundaries. I don't think it will matter whether you are in Arkansas, Florida, or California - people tend to shun what they do not know or understand. A quick explanation usually helps - but usually is a generalization also. Tolerant {shrugs}? I guess, no better, no worse than anywhere else. Do you intend to send him to public or private school?

[bchris02]

Aspergers kids can expect to be bullied in school but it usually subsides in late highschool or early college. The worst part about it is they have a VERY difficult time making new friends. This is because AS people have trouble with sarcasm, light humor, keeping broad interests, body language, and small talk. I would suggest sending him to private school. Although he might still get teased, etc, he is likely to have an easier time there than in public school. Then again, it all depends on how bad his AS actually is.