Arkansas River Valley

The Arkansas River Valley cuts across Arkansas from Mississippi to Oklahoma. The river’s many tributaries and lakes provide plentiful quiet spots to enjoy the some of the outdoor adventures Arkansas has to offer. Canoeing down the Arkansas River is a wonderful way to see the scenery and observe the local wildlife. Fishing here is excellent, and the wooded banks abound with places to camp-out. For those who’d rather ride than rough it, the Ozark Scenic Railway offers three-hour tours with great views of the Boston Mountains from the opulent comfort of a restored 1920’s passenger car. The train pulls out of Van Buren Arkansas from April to Mid-November; call 1-800-687-8600 to make reservations.

There are numerous interesting towns to visit along the Arkansas River Valley. Altus is famous (in Arkansas) for its Germanic wineries. Fort Smith’s National Historic Site gives visitors a look at the town’s unique history as one of the places where the Old South and the Wild West combined. Alma is the town where tons of Popeye brand spinach is canned and is therefore the barely disputed Spinach Capital of the World; check out their 8-ft. Popeye statue in the town square.