School is out, the weather is warm, and the summer fun has just begun! Plan a trip to Bentonville, Arkansas this summer to experience the wide array of adventure, activities, art, culinary delights, and SO MUCH MORE! Whether you're planning a vacation or staycation in Bentonville, here are some bucket-list-worthy activities for you and your crew!
Visit Sam Walton’s 5&10 Museum & Spark Café Soda Fountain
The storefront where it all began in 1950! The store still operates today chock full of retro toys, candies, and souvenirs. Step through the store and into the museum full of images, memorabilia, and information on the history of Walmart and the Walton family from way back when, all the way to the present day.
Finish at The Spark Café Soda Fountain, an old-fashioned soda fountain where visitors can enjoy ice cream, sweet treats, and beverages while taking in the beautiful and historic Bentonville Square. The music, movies, and soda jerks will take you back to a simpler, more carefree time.
Indulge in the arts at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art & The Momentary!
Discover world-class art, architecture, and nature with free admission to all! Crystal Bridges' art collection spans over five centuries of American masterworks by artists such as Norman Rockwell, Georgia O'Keefe, Andy Warhol, and more! Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is nestled amid 120 acres of lush Ozark Forest, surrounded by trails, sculptures, and gardens. Spend a summer Saturday evening enjoying live music, art, and nature at one of the Crystal Bridges’ Forest Concerts!
Crystal Bridges’ current exhibitions include:
The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse – ends July 25th, 2022.
Wa Kuk Wa Jimor / Canoe of One Community – ends November 1st, 2022.
Upcoming exhibition:
We the People: The Radical Notion of Democracy. This exhibit will feature historical documents from the founding days of our nation, including a rare first print of the Declaration of Independence. Available July 2nd, 2022 – January 2nd, 2023.
The Momentary serves as a satellite to Crystal Bridges. Once a decommissioned cheese factory, The Momentary is now a contemporary art space for visual and performing arts, culinary experiences, festivals, artists-in-residence, and more. The Momentary’s current exhibitions will be on display until September 25th, 2022:
Rashawn Griffin: We No Longer Recognize the Back of Our Hands
Esteban Cabeza De Baca: Let Earth Breath
Spend a day at Osage Park. Channel your inner archer & aviator at The Quiver Archery Range & Thaden Fieldhouse!
Take advantage of the numerous adventures Osage Park offers! These 12 acres are packed full of fun with pickleball courts; walking, running, riding through the wetlands; or even fishing, kayaking, and canoeing on Lake Bentonville. Make your way to The Quiver, a 70-meter outdoor range with 20 archery lanes for all to enjoy at Osage Park. The Quiver is staffed with certified archery instructors to provide individual instruction and how to aim for success!
Treat yourself to the ultimate experience at The Thaden Fieldhouse! Book a scenic flight with Summit Aviation and take a tour through the exhibition hangar. After working up an appetite with all these activities you can enjoy an amazing meal watching airplanes take off and land at Louise Café.
Camp at Coler!
Book a campsite at the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve! This site provides easy access to over 17 miles of beautiful trails, modern restrooms with indoor showers, bike wash, and repair stations. Coler is equipped with a conveniently located Airship Coffee and outdoor beer garden, among many more amenities!
Visit the Museum of Native American History!
MONAH's mission is to educate all generations about the first people of the Americas! At MONAH, visitors can take a trip back in time through historic exhibits dating all the way back to the Paleo Era (12000 bc-8000bc), with greetings from a 12,000-year-old woolly mammoth and tools used by the earliest people of the Americas.
Hit the trails at Slaughter Pen!
Visitors to Slaughter Pen trails can enjoy a truly unique urban mountain biking experience. The 40- plus miles of single-track flow alongside the paved Razorback Regional Greenway and by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, where the path is dotted with public art.
Don’t let the name scare you – as an IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center, Slaughter Pen has trails for EVERYONE! The Slaughter Pen system has trails ranging in difficulty from beginners, such as the All-American and Seed Tick Shuffle trails, to experts, like Scott Allen Alley and Medusa trails, with connector trails taking riders between the various hubs of the system.
Stop by the 8th Street Market to indulge in the Bentonville community culture, culinary excellence, and experience.
With a wide variety of dining options, local shops, board games, and an abundance of public art - this marketplace is packed full of fun on any given day!
Take a journey through the Compton Gardens & Arboretum, a green space paradise in the heart of Bentonville.
This stunningly peaceful sanctuary of over six acres celebrates the rich history of Ozark horticulture. Discover lively woodlands, Champion Trees, native plants, and impressive greenery. Explore the magic of Compton Gardens and Arboretum on foot or by bike!
Have a playday the Amazeum-way!
Spend a day at The Scott Family Amazeum, a hands-on, interactive museum for children and families! The Amazeum's mission is to engage the imagination of children and families through interactive exhibits, programs, and resources while creating excitement for lifelong learning and the enrichment of lives. Check out the Amazeum’s upcoming events and summer programs!
Beat the heat with a trip to the Splash Pad & some summer sweets & eats!
The Lawrence Plaza Splash Pad, located a block from the downtown square, is a great way to stay cool and keep the kiddos entertained! Just a few steps away, visitors can enjoy a tasty treat from The Chill Zone or Sweet Dream Creamery!
