Life has been nothing short of hectic, stressful, and unpredictable the last couple of years. This Valentine’s Day, consider slowing down and enjoying a vacation (or staycation) to Bentonville, Arkansas, where there’s something for you and your sweetheart to enjoy, no matter your interests.
Lodging
Bentonville offers many unique lodging options including hotels, Airbnbs, and if you’re the outdoorsy couple - even camping!
21c Museum Hotel: A boutique hotel housing a contemporary museum inside. The museum has two new exhibits.
With rooms like the Royal Suite, Queen Anne Suite, and The Windsor Suite, The Victoria bed and breakfast is sure to be a delightful stay for your special weekend.
Traveling with your pet? The newly opened Home2 Suites is a great pet-friendly lodging option with complimentary breakfast, highway access, and it’s only a couple of miles from downtown.
Rest easy knowing that breakfast, a 24-hour market, free parking, and more at one of Bentonville's newest hotels, avid.
Camping: Camping at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve will not disappoint. Enjoy access to 17+ miles of mountain bike trails, modern showers and bathrooms, and a fire pit. Blowing Springs offers 64 RV spots, 11 primitive campsites, restrooms, laundry, showers, and is pet-friendly. The Bike Inn, a cycling-centric restored street-side motel, offers van parking on its premise. It also offers wifi, an outdoor shower, picnic tables and grills, and a bike wash.
Unique Dining Experiences
Bentonville may seem unassuming, but there are many unique dining experiences available. Ever dined in a restored historic church with a speakeasy in the basement? Maybe you and your significant other have different tastes but still want to enjoy a night out together. Here are a few of the most unique places to dine and enjoy in town.
The Hive, located in 21C Museum Hotel, showcases locally-sourced High South cuisine. Enjoy cocktails, the fan-favorite pimento cheese, an elegant entrée, and finish off your meal with cotton candy dropped off by your server.
The Preacher’s Son offers unique and sustainably-sourced dinner service in a restored historic church. With an extensive wine list, attentive and thoughtful service, and incredible artwork located inside, The Preacher’s Son is a dinner to remember.
Inspired by metropolitan dining, Bar Cleeta offers old-world culinary techniques with new-world flavors. Enjoy an extensive beverage program and high-quality food in this contemporary spot right off the Bentonville square. See Bar Cleeta's Valentine's Day specials here.
Louise at Thaden Field has become one of my favorite restaurants. Where else can you eat, drink, and watch planes take off & land as close to the airstrip as the FAA would allow? They're offering a 4-course dinner package and a "bubbly & sweet" package (details here).
For the couple who has trouble agreeing where to go out, 8th Street Market might just be your new favorite solution. Home to several food trucks, a brewing company, Markham & Fitz chocolate shop, Bike Rack Brewing, a cheese shop, and a few sit-down restaurants like Co-Op and Yeyo’s, both of you will definitely find something you want to try. Notable Valentine's Day specials at Sweet Freedom Cheese: Salami Rose boxes for all you charcuterie lovers (details here) and a virtual wine & cheese paring on 2/11 (details here).
My husband likes beer and I like wine, so a good tap room/wine bar combo is a win-win for us. For Valentine's Day, Barley and Vine is offering a four-course dinner and wine pairing by professional chef Aaron Walters. Relish in the decadent, hyper-seasonal, locally sourced menu of scallop crudo, root veg salad and braised short ribs, finished with a chocolate ganache with raspberry coulis.
Drinks
Make a toast to each other this Valentine’s Day at one of Bentonville’s noteworthy watering holes!
Ever thought about going to a speakeasy in a former church? You can in Bentonville at Undercroft, located in the basement of The Preacher's Son. Enjoy craft cocktails and select small plates in a quiet, elegant setting.
The First Seat is offering a Four Roses Love Potion special this Valentine's Day. Choose from four cocktails: Manhattan, Chocolate Old Fashion, Bourbon Sweetheart (a play on a strawberry lemonade), and a Cherry Bourbon Sour.
Located just off the Bentonville square, Scotch & Soda serves a full dinner menu alongside cocktails, wine, beer, and spirits. It was named to the “40 Best Whisky Bars in the U.S.” list by Whisky Advocate.
Don’t you ever want to drink a cocktail in the fourth floor of a former cheese factory? No, just me? Tower Bar at the Momentary is inspired by 1960s airport lounges and offers a rotating menu of craft cocktails, spirits, wines, and whisky you can’t get anywhere else in the state.
For all the winos out there, a wine tasting at Ramo d’Olivo is a must. The wine bar/olive oil shop/wine shop offers over 200 varieties of wine by the bottle, as well as a wide assortment of olive oil, flavored balsamics, and kinds of vinegar.
Bentonville Brewing offers beers on tap to enjoy in their tasting room, as well as many packaged products to take to-go. Sit back in an over-sized chair and pick a game off the shelf to play together as you enjoy the open-air environment. Need a little snack? Stop by one of the various food trucks outside or Berg der Gastropub to hold you over.
Bike Rack Brewing, located at 8th Street Market, offers beers and ciders on tap with complex yes approachable flavors. If the weather is cold, enjoy the heaters or fireplaces outside.
Tree House serves products made by Black Apple Hard Cider, Arkansas’ first cidery. Enjoy ciders and cocktails in this eclectic environment indoors or outdoors, and don’t forget to bring your furry best friend along as Tree House is dog-friendly.
Contrary to how the name sounds, you don’t have to be a cyclist to enjoy The HUB Bike Lounge. In my opinion, they have the best frozen margaritas in town. If frozen margs aren’t your thing, enjoy wine, beer on tap, or other craft cocktails.
Things To Do
Enjoy a world-class collection of art, breath-taking architecture, and 120 acres of Ozark forest at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. General admission to the museum is free.
Get in the competitive spirit by doing axe throwing at Urban Forest Axe House. Instructors will teach you how to throw the axes and walk you through the many different games and challenges offered.
For the outdoorsy couple, renting e-bikes is a must in Bentonville. Together, you will enjoy the 150+ miles of purpose-built mountain biking trails that start right off the downtown square. Click here for a list of e-bike rental resources.
Movie buffs can catch a screening at Skylight Cinema. Enjoy a cocktail and meal while you watch your movie in recliner seats.
Osage Park is a perfect place to enjoy nature and take a nice walk. The newly-completed park spans over 12 acres and features wetlands, boardwalks, a beaver sanctuary, an archery range (Notable Valentine's Day special at The Quiver archery range: Lovestruck Valentine's Date and Singles Mingle), and more. Adjacent to Osage Park is Thaden Field, named after female aviation pioneer Louise Thaden Feeling adventurous? Book a scenic flight with Summit Aviation, then enjoy a meal at Louise Cafe!
