Will Travel for Love

Feb 1, 2016 | Travel

[title subtitle=”words: Marla Cantrell Images: courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, venues listed, and Catherine Frederick”][/title]

February. The month of love with Valentine’s Day positioned smack-dab in the middle of it. It falls on a Sunday this year, making it the perfect time for a weekend getaway. If you’re looking for a new way to celebrate your special someone, we have a few ideas, all in Arkansas, this state we love so much.


Bentonville Two things you’ll find in this bustling Northwest Arkansas town are delectable food and incredible art. Celebrate Valentine’s Day enjoying both. Your special day is bound to be a masterpiece.

EAT: Tusk & Trotter

Award-winning Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie is housed in the building that used to be the general office and warehouse of Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton. House-infused cocktails, like the Walnut Manhattan and the Mango Habanera Margarita, set the tone. And entrees like their second-to-none Chicken and Waffles and Sweet Potato Gnocchi make for lots of return customers. There’s even The Deer Hunter, which is marinated and grilled venison flank steak, white bean & smoked ham hock, pickled shiitake mushrooms, tomato confit, grilled scallions and Mountain Bird “red eye” demi-glace. Hungry? See website for hours and reservations.

Tusk & Trotter: 110 SE A Street, tuskandtrotter.com, 479.268.4494

PLAY: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

Your love is one of a kind. Celebrate it in the company of masterpieces by Norman Rockwell, John Singer Sargent, and Andy Warhol, to name just a few. At the heart of Crystal Bridges is Eleven Restaurant, which serves High South cuisine, including shrimp and grits. Want a burger? The bun comes garnished with a perfect spear of okra. There are also nature trails, and a Frank Lloyd Wright house that was moved here from New Jersey. The museum is free of charge; however, do reserve your spot to tour the FLW house. Crystal Bridges is closed on Tuesdays. See website for hours.

Crystal Bridges: 600 Museum Way, crystalbridges.org, 479.418.5700

STAY: 21c Museum Hotel

In 2015, Condé Nast Traveler readers voted 21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville one of the Top 10 hotels in the South. The 104-room boutique hotel and contemporary art museum (open free to the public twenty-four hours a day), is home to The Hive restaurant, featuring dinner options such as Pan-Roasted Swordfish with roasted turnips, garlicky greens, and pepper sofrito. There is also a full bar. One of their signature drinks is Hey, Girl!, which contains rye ‘n Gosling’s.

21c Museum Hotel: 200 NE A Street, 21cmuseumhotels.com, 479.286.6500

 

 


Eureka Springs Arkansas’ “Little Switzerland” is the go-to place for romance. Unique hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, great food, and some of the prettiest scenery in Arkansas.

EAT: Grotto Wood Fired Grill and Wine Cave, Crystal Dining Room, DeVito’s

The Grotto Wood Fired Grill and Wine Cave is getting rave reviews for its artisan preparation of meats, fish and vegetables on a wood fire. The grilled shrimp is excellent, and one of the other stars on the menu, created by Chef Slane, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, is Quail Poppers, which is three pepper-spiked quail breasts wrapped in crispy bacon, finished with a decadent pan Asian glaze over spiced arugula. All this, while sitting in the grotto where a natural spring covers the back wall. A few of the town’s standards are the Crystal Dining Room, offering their signature steaks, chops, and fresh fish and seafood. DeVito’s uses family recipes, and serves fresh trout from their trout farm. Tip: Check websites for days and hours of operation. Reservations recommended. Grotto Wood Fired Grill and Wine Cave has been taking a winter break and will re-open the weekend of Valentine’s Day.

Grotto: 10 Center Street, grottoeureka.com, 479.363.6431

Crystal Dining Room: 75 Prospect Ave., crystaldiningroom.com, 479.253.9652

DeVito’s: 5 Center Street, devitosrestaurant.com, 479.253.6807

PLAY: Turpentine Creek Wildlife Rescue

Wild at heart? Turpentine Creek is the perfect place to see exotic animals such as tigers, African servals, ligers, lions, leopards and cougars. All have been rescued from across the U.S. and brought to this 450-acre refuge. Not only can you see these magnificent animals, you can take a guided tour with a member of the staff who can tell you everything you want to know about the big cats. Not ready to leave? You can stay in the tree house bungalow, safari lodges, suites, or even your RV.

Turpentine Creek: 239 Turpentine Creek Lane, turpentinecreek.org, 479.253.5841

STAY: The Original Tree House Cottages 

Spend a night in the clouds in these stunning tree house cottages that are surrounded by the forest. These one-of-a-kind treasures let you come eye to eye with sparrows, hawks, and even the squirrels that scamper in nearby trees. Enjoy the sparkling night sky, or watch the sun as it rises. Down below, you might see wildlife like white-tailed deer. Amenities include Jacuzzi tubs surrounded by glass, high vaulted ceilings, and cozy fireplaces. What a perfect place to fall in love all over again.

Tree House Cottages: 165 West Van Buren, treehousecottages.com, 479.253.8667

Tip: If the Tree House Cottages are booked, consider the historic Brownstone Inn at 75 Hillside Avenue. thebrownstoneinn.com, 479.253.7505.

 

 


Little Rock Heading to Little Rock is a capital idea. Arts and culture, a robust nightlife, and the River District make this a great place to spend a romantic getaway.

EAT: South on Main

We love a place where you can try every delicious thing from Cauliflower Popcorn with Aioli to Duck Breast with Nellie Mae’s Cornbread Dressing, Granny Beans & Giblet Gravy. In the mood for a cocktail? South on Main has signature drinks like the Covington Yam Surprise: Sweet Potato Vodka, Candied Yam Syrup, Homemade Sour Apple Marshmallow, and Cranberry Sauce.  The eatery offers the best of Southern cuisine, and is a project by the Oxford American. They also hold literary readings, film screening, and musical performances here. What’s not to love? See website for hours of operation.

South on Main: 1304 South Main Street, southonmain.com, 501.244.9660

PLAY: River Market District

You are going to love the River Market District. Home to shops, restaurants, bars, art galleries, museums and entertainment, it’s the must-see spot in Little Rock. Park your car and ride the River Rail Electric Street Car. Looking for a lunch spot second to none? Try The Root Cafe, an eatery that serves locally sourced food. The Toasted Chicken Curry Salad Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries is a favorite. Once you’re finished, you can stop by the Clinton Presidential Library to see an exact replica of the Oval Office. Visit the Old State House, the Historic Arkansas Museum, and even Heifer International.

rivermarket.info

STAY: The Empress of Little Rock

Love Downton Abbey? Then The Empress is the right place for you. The Gothic Queen Anne-style building was originally the Hornibrook Mansion, completed in 1888, and built exclusively with Arkansas materials. It has a divided stairway, three-and-a-half story corner tower, stained glass skylight, and octagonal shaped rooms. Today, it houses an award-winning bed and breakfast with spa suites that have hydro-massage showers with steam and aromatherapy and double Jacuzzis. The Empress even has its own bow-tied butler.

The Empress: 2120 Louisiana Street, theempress.com, 501.374.7966

 

 


Hot Springs Fall in love with the only city in America nestled inside a national park. Here, a million gallons of hot water, reaching 143°F, flow from forty-seven nearby springs. Now that’s a steamy love story!

EAT: Back Porch Grill, Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcakes, Cafe 1217

Once you arrive, you’ll likely want to settle in and then get something to eat. Head to the Back Porch Grill, a restaurant offering Angus beef grilled on an open pit, seafood, chicken, and pasta. Relax while enjoying a view of Lake Hamilton. The next morning, you and your honey have to try Fat Bottomed Girl’s cupcakes. This little shop offers exquisite cupcakes in flavors like Lemon Lavender, Ooey Gooey Buttercake (my favorite), and Salted Caramel. If you’re looking for a great lunch spot, try Cafe 1217. The menu changes monthly, and it’s spectacular. See websites for days and hours of operation for each of these eateries.

Back Porch Grill: 4810 Central Avenue, backporchgrill.com, 501.525.0885

Fat Bottomed Girl’s: 124 Central Avenue, fbgcupcakes.com, 501.318.0997

Cafe 1217: 1217 Malvern Avenue, cafe1217.net, 501.318.1094

PLAY: Bath House Row

Play the ponies, (live horseracing continues through mid-April at Oaklawn Park), but make sure you carve out enough time to visit Bath House Row, with all its beautiful old buildings. The old Fordyce Bath House is home to the Hot Spring’s visitors center. You can watch a film that explains the long history of the naturally-heated springs. Take a stroll to the Buckstaff Bath House, where you can take a thermal bath, schedule a massage or many other spa and beauty treatments. (Note: Buckstaff is closed on Saturday afternoons and Sundays in February.)  The historic Quapaw Baths and Spa offers three thermal pools, massages, and spa and beauty treatments. You can even get a couple’s massage. (Note: Quapaw is closed on Tuesdays.)

Buckstaff Bath House: 509 Central Avenue, buckstaffbaths.com, 501.623.2308

Quapaw: 413 Central Avenue, quapawbaths.com, 501.609.9822 quapawbaths.com, 501.609.9822

STAY: Mountain Harbor Resort

If your idea of romance is a lovely cabin away from the hustle and bustle, ask for one of the cabins at Mountain Harbor Resort in Mount Ida. Just twenty-five miles west of Hot Springs, it sits on Lake Ouachita and has been in the same family for more than five decades. The cabins are just the beginning. (Check their website for Valentine’s Day specials.) You can go hiking, biking, or just sit back and enjoy being surrounded by nature. The resort has a restaurant and Turtle Cove Spa, offering a trove of services, including massages for two and a full line of salon services.

Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa: 994 Mountain Harbor Road, Mount Ida, mountainharborresort.com, 870.867.2191

 

 


 

There you have it, four Arkansas towns filled with romance, for you and the one you love. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Do South Magazine

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