Step into the New Year with an escape to Bentonville, Arkansas. Our mild winters, outstanding museums, and award-winning trails make for an ideal getaway from your winter grind.  Here’s your guide to planning a great visit this season:

Things To Do 

Fun for Kids (and all ages):

This guide is chock full of fun for kids, but here’s a short list of sure-fire destinations that will get the kids in your group moving, learning, and having fun:  

• Like to skate? You’ve got options: Experience outdoor ice skating at the Rink at Lawrence Plaza, open now through February 15, 2026. Or stay indoors with a visit to Great Day Skate Place.

• Visit the Scott Family Amazeum for hands-on science and tinkering.

• Check out Crock-A-Doodle, a ceramics painting studio in Downtown Bentonville. 

• Reach new heights with a stop at CLIMB Bentonville, an indoor climbing gym.

• Feel like channeling summer vibes? Visit the indoor water park at the Bentonville Community Center. Find their hours of operation here.

Explore Museums

Chilly, winter days call for leisurely museum strolls, and in Bentonville you have options! Immerse yourself in art, science, history, and more. Get acquainted with the range of our museums in our Museum Roundup. 

Here’s a short overview of what’s on this season:

Crystal Bridges:

• Get in the Game: Sports, Art, Culture on view through January 26, 2026. 

• Browse their permanent collection galleries, Frank Lloyd Wright House, and miles of art-filled trails - all for free.

21c Museum Hotel:

• Dress Up, Speak Up: Regalia and Resistance on view through February 2026.

Peel Museum & Botanical Garden:

• Explore the beauty of this historic home, wander through the garden, and uncover the stories of life in Bentonville in the 1800s, always free admission!

Enjoy the Outdoors

Bundle up and enjoy a nature hike or bike ride through our miles of trails. From Coler Mountain Bike Preserve to the Slaughter Pen Trails, you’ll find inspiration in the beauty of the Ozark landscape.  Here are just a few options:

• Enjoy a hike through the trails of Crystal Bridges, Compton Gardens and Arboretum, or Osage Park. Keep your eyes and ears open for native bird wildlife and art along the trails.

• Spend a morning basking in the beauty of Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, strolling their main path to the Rise, or biking their 19 miles of trails. Bonus: Airship at Coler is tucked along the trail, and makes for a great stop to refuel and refresh.

• Need ideas to make your New Year’s resolution a reality? Check out our DIY Wellness Retreat guide.

Where to Eat

Explore Our Dining Guide  

No matter what you’re looking for, our new and improved online dining guide is the perfect resource to navigate dining in Bentonville. Not only does it have all the eateries you can find, but it’s categorized by location, cuisine, and type of dining. Check it out here! 

Prefer to use a print map? We’ve got you covered with our Dining Guide brochure, available for pick up at our Visitors Center: 406 SE 5th Street, Suite 6.    

Places to Stay

Home rentals and hotels alike abound around Bentonville. Trying to decide where to stay? Here are some tips:

• If you’re looking to fly into town and then walk or bike, we recommend our downtown hotels: 21c Museum Hotel, Motto by Hilton, or The Compton.   

• 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

Stay in the know about what’s happening in Bentonville by signing up for eNews updates here, 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.

We’re happy to help you with any additional information needed during your stay in Bentonville. Stop by and see us at our Visitor Centers.