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Arkansas is known for its beautiful wild places, and women are getting their hike and float on more and more. But for those of us who prefer to get a little wild, but not to be in the wild, there are plenty of options for a girlfriend getaway that won’t require tick repellant and bear whistles. Read on …
Arkansas Wine Country
Several exits off Interstate 40 west of Little Rock are portals to some fabulous weekend getaway opportunities. Altus is a good example. It’s a quick two-hour drive from the capital city, and home to six wineries. Post Winery, Mount Bethel Winery, Dionysus Wine & Brew and Chateau Aux Arc are in Altus. And two more — Wiederkehr Wine Cellars and Neumeier Winery — are located at Wiederkehr Village nearby.
There are bed and breakfasts associated with some of the wineries, and plenty of lodging options in nearby Clarksville or Ozark. But if you’d like to pretend you’re a little bit outdoorsy, consider spending a couple of nights in this cozy yurt located at the Dionysus vineyard.
From Altus, head over to Cowie and the Arkansas Historic Wine Museum at Cowie Wine Cellars. The museum is the only one like it in the country. Its mission is preserving the wine history of an individual state. The monks at Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco recently opened Country Monk Brewery as an addition to their winery and garden. Stop by to pick up a growler of beer for the partner you left back at home. Or take it back to the yurt with you – who would know?
Did you know Arkansas has a “wine trail”? Find out more about it here!
Head East to the Delta
Drive to the Arkansas Delta and visit the lovely town of Helena for a history and music-filled weekend. Plan your trip for the right dates, and you can enjoy one of a number of music festivals hosted annually in Helena.
Helena does history right, with many official historic sites located throughout the city and in parks. But a visit to the Delta Cultural Center will cover all the bases – civil war history, musical legacy, and Helena’s significance as a major town on the Mississippi River.
The city is home to several beautiful antebellum and Victorian homes, and the local tourism website provides a list to make a driving tour easy. Estevan Hall and the Moore-Hornor Home are two buildings on the tour open to the public and have fascinating stories. If you’re looking for an elegant and unique place to spend your getaway, check availability at the Edwardian Inn.
Before you leave, take a spin around the town square. Several local boutiques provide options for a souvenir or three to take home. For more information on Helena and what to do there, check out these sample itineraries on the city’s website.
Spa Weekend Getaway in “Spa City”
Nothing beats the pampering you can find at a renovated bathhouse in Hot Springs. You can quote me. With the Buckstaff and Quapaw bathhouses on Central Avenue fully renovated and operating as day spas, and another spa located in the historic Arlington Resort Hotel, you can spend a long weekend getaway in town and enjoy a different treatment every day you’re there.
If you can still walk after all that “me time,” plan your trip during a Gallery Walk scheduled on first Fridays of each month or the Antique/Boutique Walk on third Fridays. In fact, there are probably more artists in Hot Springs than you realize. So if you’re into that sort of thing, the city has put together some suggestions for you on their website.
There are lots of great dining options, and a variety of lodging accommodations can be found around town. Or, eat in and enjoy sunsets from the deck of a cabin overlooking a beautiful lake in the area. Cabins are sort of outdoorsy, but with indoor plumbing.
Speaking of lakes, if you love the water, you should definitely consider taking a Lake Hamilton tour on the Belle of Hot Springs. Other fun ideas that would provide some great photo-ops are Oaklawn Racetrack, one of several unique and interesting museums downtown, or a stroll through Garvan Woodland Gardens.
The Capital City is a Capital Idea
Little Rock has everything an indoorsy girls’ getaway requires – shopping and entertainment, and the River Market just to start. Add to those the many museums and historical sites around town, and you will quite literally never run out of things to do no matter how many times you visit.
Shopping opportunities are diverse and widespread in the city. West Little Rock caters to folks who want it all in one place at the Promenade at Chenal and Shackleford Crossings. Downtown, you don’t have to hike, but you might want to wear comfortable shoes to take in the galleries and boutiques in the SoMa district. Don’t miss the Esse Purse Museum! The best idea for an added treat – a sweet break at Loblolly Creamery.
No matter what kinds of acts you like to see on stage, you can probably find them in Little Rock. From professional and amateur theater to music, improv, comedy, and everything in between. And of course, there’s Verizon Arena for the really big acts.
Not Quite Outdoorsy but Still Like Fresh Air?
The cabins on top of Mt. Magazine are a perfect spot to gather the girls and enjoy some downtime. Have everyone bring their favorite recent reads to share, ask that friend who makes adorable greeting cards to teach you her ways, let the wine flow, and give each other manicures. Nothing says girls’ weekends require lots of going and doing. It’s really all about the time spent with friends, isn’t it?
But no one would blame you if you took a little day trip to Moss Mountain, P. Allen Smith’s home. The views are spectacular, the grounds are inspiring, and if you don’t leave texting your partner that you want a copper bathtub for your birthday, there’s something wrong with you. Check out the tour dates listed on the website for more information.
Whatever you do, and where ever you go, a getaway with your girlfriends in Arkansas is always time well-spent.
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