In Bentonville, you can immerse yourself in art, science, history, and more. Be sure to check each museum’s hours before you go. Here’s a short overview of what’s on this summer:
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art: On view March 16 through July 29, 2024, Exquisite Creatures is a three-dimensional exhibition that celebrates nature’s infinite variety. Created by artist and naturalist Christopher Marley, the show features more than 400 individual objects of preserved plant, animal, and mineral specimens, including crystals, lizards, beetles, parrots, butterflies, crabs, and much more. The stunning mix of colors and textures will be arranged in precise geometric compositions, creating a mosaic of the natural world intended to inspire wonder and foster a desire for preservation.
The Momentary: Two solo exhibitions by dynamic contemporary artists are on view this summer: Dark Waters | Kristine Potter and Mystic Parallax | Awol Erizku. A Nashville-based artist, Potter's exhibition of seductive and darkly brooding photographs, reflects on the Southern Gothic mythos found in the popular imagination of “murder ballads”—traditional songs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that often end in death and despair. Encompassing photography, film, painting, sculpture, and installation, Awol Erizku’s work references and re-imagines African American and African visual culture, from hip-hop vernacular to iconic symbols from across history, including the Pan-African flag and the image of Nefertiti. General admission to the galleries is free.
And don’t miss upcoming performances at the Momentary, including a John Legend, Jon Baptiste, Lake Street Dive, and more. See the full event lineup here.
Amazeum: Featuring hands-on family activities and STEM fun, this is THE destination for families with kids from infants to teenagers! Check out interactive exhibitions like the 3M Tinkering Hub, the Market sponsored by Walmart, the Nature Valley Water Amazements, and more. Admission is free to members and children under two, and costs $11 for all others.
Museum of Native American History: Learn about the history and heritage of the Native American people with this collection of over 10,000 Native American artifacts and collections both donated and on load. General admission is free.
Bentonville History Museum: The recently opened museum includes several displays that tell the rich history of the city of Bentonville. From early Native American settlements to the growth of Walmart—there’s so much to discover!
Walmart Museum Heritage Lab: Bentonville’s staple of the Square, the Walton 5 and 10, is closed for renovation, but you can still learn about the history of Walmart at their pop-up location at Ledger Bentonville. Try out new exhibits, technologies, and more, and get a glimpse into the future of the new Walmart Museum. The lab is open from 9 am to 6 pm daily and from 12 to 7 pm on Sundays with free admission.
Peel Museum and Botanical Garden: Learn about the apple industry that was thriving in Bentonville from the 1800s to the 1920s with free interactive tours of the historic Peel Family home, and explore beautiful summer blooms in the botanical garden.
Compton Gardens and Arboretum: This oasis with an impressive selection of native plants, trees, and greenery is free to enjoy in Downtown Bentonville from dawn to dusk every day. Find OZ Art scattered throughout the trails, or pop into the building from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays and find an informative exhibit about the history of the Buffalo River.
Explore the outdoors!
Image courtesy @chris.all.bikedup
From our miles of mountain biking trails to our quilt of parks, you can spend all day, every day outside! Here are just a few options:
Enjoy the peaceful wetlands of Osage Park and Lake Bentonville, and while you’re there, check out The Quiver Archery Range where you can learn the sport of archery!
Spend a morning basking in the beauty of Coler MTB preserve, strolling their main path to the Rise, or biking their 19 miles of trails. Bonus: Airship at Applegate is tucked along the trail, and makes for a great stop to refuel and refresh.
Bike Curious? Rent a mountain bike and join the Bike School Bentonville team every Saturday this summer for their free beginner-level guided mountain bike ride of our popular Slaughter Pen Bike Park. Or check out their bike school offerings for the whole family.
Let someone else plan your outdoor adventure, and check out 37 North. They offer group and private adventures for groups of any size.
High temps in the forecast? Cool off at a splash pad—Lawrence Plaza, Creekside Park, or even the pool. Check out all of the city of Bentonville’s parks and amenities here.
Looking to hang out in the sun with our amazing cuisine? Check out our Picnic Guide to Bentonville.
Where to Eat
Image courtesy @tuskandtrotter
Bookmark our Bentonville Dining Guide, where you can search by keyword, filter by category, and find restaurants near you via our map.
Here are a few tips for making the most of the Bentonville culinary scene:
Dining on the Square
Whether you’re craving Italian, Ark-Mex, seafood, or a good ol’ burger, you’ll find something to satisfy any palate on the Bentonville Square. Stop in the original gastro-pub of Bentonville: Tusk and Trotter, enjoy farm fresh gluten-free menu at Conifer, and so much more. Out for dinner? Check ahead to see if reservations are recommended.
Dining at the Market District
Cruise down NW A Street to 8th Street and you’ll find Bentonvile’s bike-tastic restaurants: Pedler’s Pub and The Hub. Then,keep going and you’ll find the darling Crepes Paulette. Hop over to 8th Street Market to explore delicious award-winning eateries, like Yeyo’s Mexican Street Food, Sweet Freedom Cheese, and Co-Op Ramen, and don’t miss the delightful Roll & Fold, or the classic loafin’ Joe’s sandwich truck.
Walton Blvd.
Our main drag is nothing to sneeze at either! Delicious restaurants can be found the whole way down. Check out Meld, Crisp & Green, Flavors Indian Cuisine & Lounge, and Table at Hickory Inn.
Places to Stay
Image courtesy @thirstypigs
Home rentals and hotels alike abound around Bentonville. Trying to decide where to stay? Here’s some tips:
- If you’re looking to fly into town then walk or bike, we recommend 21c Museum hotel or vacation rentals in the Downtown and Market area, like you see here.
- Driving in? Great! Take your pick of hotels throughout Bentonville, and simply park downtown, here’s a map of downtown parking options.
See more places to stay here.
Plan Your Visit
Image courtesy @jerron_davis06
If you need additional help planning your visit, give us a call or stop by our Visitor’s Center for tips and brochures when you get to town. We’re happy to help you!
Sign up for eNews updates below to stay in the know about what’s happening in Bentonville, and check out our blog This Weekend in Bentonville the week of your visit for a roundup of events happening when you’ll be in town.
