Little Rock is the capitol city of Arkansas and, as such, remains one of the most beloved cities to visit in that beautiful southern state! For those of you that are planning a trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, you may be wondering about some of the best things that the city has to keep tourists occupied. From historical landmarks such as the Arkansas State Capitol to the beautiful Arkansas River, Little Rock is a city brimming with awesome places! Join ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Visit the Arkansas State Capitol
Given that Little Rock, Arkansas, is the state’s capitol, it also happens to be home to the Arkansas State Capitol. While most state’s capitol buildings can be fairly extraordinary in their own rights, the Arkansas State Capitol is especially interesting given that it is a near-perfect replica of the United States Capitol. For those that have never been to the United States Capitol, going to the Arkansas State Capitol is the next best thing! For those that have already been to the United States Capitol, you’ll want to be sure to go to the replica that is the Arkansas State Capitol so you can try and spot any inconsistencies.
The outer part of the Arkansas State Capitol was made to resemble the United States Capitol so closely that it has even been used as a double in movies! Of course, filming in Little Rock, Arkansas, is cheaper than filming in the nation’s capitol, but that doesn’t make the beloved Arkansas city any less beautiful.
Once they’ve arrived at the Arkansas State Capitol, visitors are free to take either a guided tour or show themselves around. After you’ve seen all there is to see at the capitol building, you can go around the corner and see Testament: The Monument to the Little Rock Nine. This stunning memorial was created to commemorate the Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine African-American students that were prevented from enrolling in the local Little Rock Central High School in 1957, causing a historic civil-rights event that led to the desegregation of the high school.
Peruse the Local Street Art and Sculptures
Like many towns in America, Little Rock is bustling with it’s own art scene. Those who are visiting the city will take notice of the many vibrant murals adorning it’s streets. The city is also filled with marvelous sculptures besides the ones featured at the aforementioned memorial to the Little Rock Nine. Nearly 100 sculptures are located in the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, making it a fine location to walk through and spend the afternoon at while visiting Little Rock.
Enjoy the Local Cuisine
Those looking for some authentic southern cooking will find what they’re looking for and then some in Little Rock, Arkansas! The city is known for it’s incredible cuisine, and much of the food comes from local industry. One of the most popular spots to eat in the area is Bobbie D’s Southern Cuisine, which features a variety of southern staples. For those who prefer fried fish to chicken-fried steak, you might want to try Soul Fish Café on Main Street!
Visit the Arkansas River
Little Rock, Arkansas, is located on a prime spot right by the Arkansas River, meaning that it’s a must for visitors to Little Rock to check out the stunning river at least once. Those looking to get a taste of the Arkansas River while visiting Little Rock will certainly want to check out the Julius Breckling Riverfront Park, which was built upon the river and features an expansive park with lots of sculptures. Besides the park, there’s also the River Market.
The River Market features a seemingly infinite plethora of restaurants and stores for tourists to get lost in for hours! Visitors to the area can rent bicycles, kayaks, and paddleboards, making this the perfect location to visit on a hot day in the summer. While you’re at the Arkansas River, you can also track down the veritable rock that gives Little Rock it’s name. Also known as the Le Petit Roche, this so-called “little rock” is actually quite large and impressive, residing on the north side of the Arkansas River. Visitors will want to visit the Le Petit Roche plaza at least once, located near the Julius Breckling Riverfront Park and right between the Riverfront Amphitheater and the Junction Bridge. Otherwise, can they really say that they’ve been to Little Rock, Arkansas?
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Visit Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center Located at Little Rock Central High School
Either before or after visiting the memorial to the Little Rock Nine located at the Arkansas State Capitol, visitors to Little Rock, Arkansas, will certainly want to check out the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center, which is a museum that exists within the functioning Little Rock Central High School.
Like Testament: The Monument to the Little Rock Nine, the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center exists to commemorate the Little Rock Nine and the civil rights event that caused the desegregation of the high school in which the museum is currently located. The high school itself is still active, so visitors will want to keep that in mind. Visitors can be led on a tour of the school, or they can go to the visitor center and check out a variety of informational displays.
Visit the William J. Clinton Library and Museum
Arkansas was the birthplace of former United States president Bill Clinton, and fans of the man will certainly want to check out the William J. Clinton Library and Museum! Even if you don’t align with Bill Clinton politically or personally, you can still get a kick out of the location, which features a replica of the Oval Office meant to look exactly the way that Bill Clinton had it organized during his presidency. Besides this Oval Office recreation, there’s also a display featuring Bill Clinton’s iconic sunglasses and saxophone!
Besides the museum aspect of the William J. Clinton Library and Museum, there’s also the library aspect. The location houses numerous files from Bill Clinton’s time in office, with there said to be 78 million pages of official records located within the building.
The William J. Clinton Library and Museum also features an on-sight restaurant, as well as a plentifully stocked shopping area where Bill Clinton fans can pick up all sorts of memorabilia commemorating his presidency. Once you’re done visiting the location, you can head to the nearby Clinton Presidential Park and walk across the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge. The bridge is not only functional but also symbolic, as it was constructed to metaphorically illustrate Bill Clinton’s famous words regarding “building a bridge to the 21st century”.
Visit the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum
The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum is one of the preeminent historical locations in Little Rock, Arkansas, offering the rare chance to step inside an actual tugboat that was used in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Besides the tugboat, the museum also features a submarine that saw time in Japanese waters during the final moments of the war. The submarine goes by the name of the USS Razorback, and visitors to the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum are allowed a fairly personal view of the nearly operational machine.
Visit the HI Little Rock Firehouse Hostel & Museum
If you’re looking for a place to stay in addition to an interesting location to visit while staying in Little Rock, Arkansas, the HI Little Rock Firehouse Hostel & Museum serves both functions! As it’s name suggests, the location is both a museum and hostel, though you can also just drive by and appreciate the location for it’s outside aesthetic beauty. The building was built in 1917 and was once the city’s actual firehouse. Of course, the physical requirements for a firehouse have changed considerably in the past century, which has necessitated a newer building for the city’s firefighters. With the building out of commission, it was fashioned into a unique hostel that also features a museum commemorating the building’s early use as a firehouse.
Visit the House That Was Used for Designing Women
Although Designing Women was supposed to have taken place in Atlanta, Georgia, the house that was used for exterior shots of the show’s main location is actually located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Because of this, fans of the beloved 1980s sitcom will certainly want to drive past the location, which goes by the name of Villa Marre. There’s sadly no museum located at the property, so fans will have to be content with simply seeing the exterior of the house and moving along. However, that should be fine, given that the exterior of the house was the only part featured on the show.
Take Advantage of Little Rock’s Public Transportation
Little Rock has a bustling downtown area, and there are plenty of ways to get around it! If you prefer walking, the city has a great selection of bridges and pathways that allow you to soak in the local flavor of the area as you stroll along. If you’re looking to get around a bit faster while still experiencing some of the local culture, you can utilize the city’s free streetcar service, provided by METRO.
Whether you’re looking to learn about historical civil rights victories of the past or commemorate Bill Clinton’s attempts to build a bridge into the 21st century, Little Rock, Arkansas, has plenty to offer to visitors of all tastes! Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that Little Rock, Arkansas, is the home to the presidential library of former United States president Bill Clinton and that the location houses over 78 million files from his time in office? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more informative ViewCation videos are on their way!