12 Things To Do In Arkansas With Kids

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Nicknamed “The Natural State” for its abundant forests, mountains, wildlife, and waterways, Arkansas is an outdoor lovers’ dream.

There are over 9,700 miles of rivers and streams (including the Mississippi).

The state is famous for its natural hot springs, as well as being the birthplace of President Bill Clinton.

Other famous folks from the landlocked state are actor Billy Bob Thornton, basketball star Scottie Pippen, and General Douglas McArthur.

The states leading business is agriculture, and the leading crop is rice.

The capital of Little Rock has a rich and varied history, including being a huge part of the Civil Rights movement.

Little Rock Central High School was the center of the desegregation movement when several black students integrated into the school in 1957.

Arkansas is also big on food.

Some dishes that are quite popular include hush puppies, biscuits and gravy, possum pie, fried pickles, and cheese-stuffed hot dogs.

Folks in Arkansas also consume more catfish than in any other state.

It’s the only state to produce diamonds and is the birthplace of retail giant, Walmart.

A vacation in Arkansas can be as relaxing or exciting as you want it to be.

If you’re going with kids, you need to be prepared to keep them entertained.

Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with some great things to do with them.

Things To Do In Arkansas With Kids

1. Magic Springs Theme Park – Hot Springs, Arkansas

Experience the best theme and water park combination Arkansas has to offer at Magic Springs.

The park offers thrill, family, and kiddie rides to keep everyone happy.

There are boardwalk games, shops, and delicious food options offered throughout the park.

The water park offers slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and an activity pool.

An amphitheater in the park offers concerts by well-known artists.

There are also special seasonal events for Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.

2. Wild Bill’s Buffalo National River Tubing – Yellville, Arkansas

The Buffalo River is the first ever river in the country to be designated as a national river.

This distinction, coupled with the beauty of the area, makes it an iconic piece of Arkansas history.

Wild Bill’s River Tubing allows guests to gently float down the river for about 3 hours.

Along the way, they will encounter majestic cliffs and wooded areas, as well as wildlife on land and water.

This float excursion is great for children and beginners.

Floating instructions will be given prior to boarding, and guides are available if needed.

3. Little Rock Zoo – Little Rock, Arkansas

With over 500 animals set on 33 beautiful wooded acres, The Little Rock Zoo is the perfect day out for the entire family.

Start your day visiting with the lemurs, primates, and elephants.

Stop for a bite to eat at Café Africa for a bite before moving to see some big cats in action.

Along the way, you’ll encounter some zebras, bears, reptiles, and birds.

Round out your day at the carousel and feed the fish in the giant pond.

The zoo is open daily from 9 AM until 4 PM.

4. Alma Aquatic Park – Alma, Arkansas

Located inside Alma city park, you’ll have access to picnic areas, playgrounds, and walking trails.

The aquatic park features 6 slides, a diving board, a climbing wall, a beach pool, and a water play area.

There is a food zone that offers snacks, drinks, and food like burgers, pizza, and fries.

Red Cross-certified lifeguards are always on duty.

Special activities are offered throughout the year.

5. Funtrackers Family Fun Park – Hot Springs, Arkansas

This family fun park is the number one choice for fun, for tourists and locals.

Play arcade games and win great prizes.

Take a ride in the bumper boats or go-karts for some awesome adrenaline.

Play some relaxing mini-golf or get zapped with an exciting game of laser tag.

6. Arkansas Air Museum – Fayetteville, Arkansas

With over 2,000 personal and military artifacts, Arkansas Air Museum is the largest of its kind in the state.

The exhibits include a fleet of aircraft and military vehicles.

Guests can board a 40-foot transport plane and feel what it was like to be a military member flying to an unknown destination.

This makes a great half-day trip to teach kids about history and honor our military.

7. Play Town – Benton, Arkansas

Geared toward kids ages 6 months to 8 years, this indoor play complex allows parents and children to interact together with fun activities.

It also allows for independent, creative play.

Children can make new friends in the interactive town while pretending to be store owners, doctors, mail carriers, and more.

There’s a fenced area for toddlers to safely explore and have fun.

Stations for older students include art, engineering, and water play.

8. Lake Catherine State Park – Hot Springs, Arkansas

Lake Catherine State Park is located in the beautiful Ouachita Mountain region.

It’s the only state park with a full-service boat marina.

It’s open all summer and has bait, snacks, beverages, and other items for sale.

It’s the perfect place for a family camping trip with 20 fully equipped cabins, and 70 RV and tent sites.

Hikers will rejoice at the many trails that lead to the refreshing waterfalls.

Visitors can go for a dip in the lake, flush, kayak, or float in a tube.

There are playgrounds, picnic areas, and restrooms available as well.

9. Walmart Museum – Bentonville, Arkansas

For a unique and quirky learning experience, check out The Walmart Museum.

It’s the site of Sam Walton’s first 5 and 10-cent store.

For those that don’t know, Sam Walton was the founder of Walmart.

Travel through time from the 1940s to the present, to see how Sam built one of the top retail empires in the world.

Kids will enjoy the touchscreen exhibits that include unique Walmart items, uniforms through the decades, and behind-the-scenes work that makes Walmart function.

It only takes about 1–2 hours, so it’s a nice stop on the way to lunch, or to break up the monotony on a rainy day.

10. Museum Of Native American History – Bentonville, Arkansas

MONAH, as it’s known, tracks the history of the Native Americans in the Arkansas area back 14,000 years.

Travel through the Archaic time through the Historic (modern) period.

See artifacts and recreations of living spaces and villages.

Learn how the ancient people cooked, hunted, socialized, and traveled.

It’s an excellent learning opportunity for the entire family.

11. Ron Coleman Mine – Jessieville, Arkansas

For a nice outdoor activity that’s fun for everyone, try this mine.

It offers guided mine tours, and then a behind-the-scenes demo on cleaning and sorting.

Go to the excavation area and dig for your own quartz crystals.

While there, you can jump on a zip line and see the mine from way up high.

12. Crater Of Diamonds State Park – Murfreesboro, Arkansas

Visitors can come to this 37-acre park and mine for their own diamonds, rocks, and minerals.

Over 35,000 diamonds have been unearthed in this volcanic crater since the park opened in 1972.

This includes Uncle Sam, the largest diamond ever mined in the country, at over 40 carats.

Before mining, guests can stop at the visitor center to learn about diamonds and the mining process.

There are several exhibits including many uncut, natural diamonds.

The park also has a campsite and water park if guests care to make it a weekend getaway

Arkansas Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Arkansas Safety Review

Safety Index:

74

• OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
• MUGGING RISK: LOW
• TERRORISM RISK: LOW
• SCAMS RISK: LOW
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW