Learn about Little Rock, Arkansas
by reading Things are Rockin' in Little Rock by
Charlie Spence, Aviation Writer. It features a mini, but thorough
tour of the destination, plus all you'll need to know to plan your
trip including getting there, objective information on places to
stay and eat, and things to do. At the end of the article, we've
provided a summary of the contact information for your easy
reference. Enjoy!
Things are Rockin' in Little Rock
by Charlie Spence, Aviation Writer
and IFA Member

Little Rock skyline
during a balloon festival.
Courtesy Arkansas Dept. Parks and Tourism
Whatever your political
philosophy might be, a visit to a presidential library can be an inspiring event
focusing on the values of America. That's why going to the Clinton Presidential
Center should be one of your first stops in a visit to Little Rock, Arkansas.
Little Rock and North Little
Rock form the vibrant heart of Arkansas. Around this region you will find fun,
education, beauty, historic attractions, and opportunities for leisurely visits
to museums or active nightlife and day action.
As we suggested, let's start
our visit down town at the Clinton Presidential Center. It is right downtown on
the banks of the Arkansas River. The main building takes the form of a glass
bridge, symbolizing President Clinton's theme of 'Building a bridge to the 21st
century.' In it we will visit replicas of the oval office and the cabinet room.
Then wander over to the 20,000-square-foot museum. An adjacent building houses
the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service located in the
renovated 1899 Choctaw Station.

Entertainment is one of the
attractions of the River Market District.
Courtesy Arkansas Dept. Parks and Tourism.
From here it is a short walk
to the River Market District. Until ten years ago, this was a nearly-abandoned
warehouse area but now is filled with shops, restaurants, art galleries, bars,
and seasonal farmers market. It is the site of some of Arkansas' art galleries,
museums, theaters, concert halls, and other entertainment facilities. There are
dozens of small shops where you can lose yourself in quests for interesting
items from bath and body goods to antique furniture and pieces of art. Some fine
hotels are located here and the River Market is enticing enough to spend your
entire journey right here. But travel on, we must as there is so much more to
see and do.
Another historic place to
visit is the Central High School. This major U.S. Civil Rights Landmark is still
a working school. It was here in 1957 that a major confrontation occurred
between then-Governor Orval Faubus and President Dwight Eisenhower. Faubus had
called out the National Guard and stood in the doorway of the school to prevent
entry by the first African-American students - 'the Little Rock Nine.'
Eisenhower sent in federal troops to enforce desegregation. Across the street
from the school the Central High Museum and Visitors' Center features a
permanent exhibit that depicts the struggle through exhibits and photos.
For a full exploration of
Arkansas military, take in the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas military history. It
is located in the historic Tower Building, birthplace of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
This National Landmark was built in the 1840s and depicts Arkansas military from
pioneer days to the present.

Now a national historical site,
Central High School is the site of the 1957 Civil Rights confrontation.
Courtesy Arkansas Dept. Parks and Tourism.
All of Little Rock's history
can be found in the interesting visits to sites in the Quapaw Quarter. This
nine-square mile area includes the city's central business district and adjacent
neighborhoods. (The word 'Quapaw' is from the Quapaw Indians who lived in
central Arkansas in the early 19th century before white settlers
came.) It is here that you will find the MacArthur Museum, Central High School,
and many other restored buildings. The structures in this area date from mid
1800s to about 1920. Most of them are occupied structures and not open to the
public, but a walking or driving tour past them can reveal how the historic
preservation efforts have progressed over the past 40 years.
Be sure to spend some time at
the Aerospace Education Center and IMAX theater. Several different movies play
daily on a six-story screen. There's also a rare Sopwith Camel F-1 aircraft and
a full-size replica of Apollo command module.
As much as there are
interesting places in Little Rock, the surrounding area also holds fine
attractions. North Little Rock beckons. Wander over to the authentic
reproduction of a water-powered gristmill. If it looks familiar, you saw it in
the opening scene of classic film 'Gone With The Wind' and is believed to be the
only building from this film that is still standing. Although built in 1933, it
was designed to look as though it was a product of the 1800s.
Also here in North Little Rock
is the 311-foot submarine that was present in Tokyo Bay at the signing of the
surrender ending World War II. (The USS Razorback was named after the
whale, not the fighting sports teams of the University of Arkansas.) After it
was decommissioned, it was sold to Turkey and thirty years later obtained by
North Little Rock and now serves as the foundation for the Arkansas Inland
Maritime Museum.
Only 20 minutes southeast of
Little Rock visit two tiny communities - Scott/Keo - that have the flavor of the
old south. Antique aficionados will find Keo a delight. Morris Antiques boasts
more than 60,000 square feet of American and European pieces and there are
several other stores featuring a wide array of offerings. To satisfy your sweet
tooth, take a rest in Charlotte's Eats and Sweets, a delightful stop in an old
pharmacy complete with an original walnut soda fountain and cabinets. Scott is a
plantation settlement depicting a typical plantation with Cotham's, a restaurant
offering down-home cooking.
A fine way to cap off one of
your evenings is to take a river cruise on the beautiful Arkansas River aboard
the Arkansas Queen. You can enjoy a fine dinner, dance to the music of
the Riverboat Ramblers, or just relax stretched out on one of the deck chairs.
During the trip the captain's commentary will give you a new understanding of
the area. You will see Little Rock and North Little Rock differently than when
touring the streets.
If you have time to move away
from the city attractions, take a tour through the Ozark foothills for feel of
the mountain living. Head out highway U.S. 67-167. One of your first stops
should be the William Carl Garner Visitor Center. This provides museum exhibits,
a movie, and information to help you enjoy the area. Take state road 5-25 to the
little town of Mountain View. You'll see the sign directing you to Ozark Folk
Center. At the center enjoy the folk culture, hear traditional American mountain
music, and even learn to play the dulcimer, autoharp or fiddle, or learn hand
quilting or wing broom making.
If you like the underground, a
bit farther on you can visit the Blanchard Springs Caverns, which are
administered by the U.S. Park Service. Take your choice of any of the three
tours offered. They range from touring one level in relative ease of walking to
'I'm glad I'm still young enough to take this.'
Another unique spot to get the
flavor of the Ozarks is the town of Calico Rocks, on the banks of the White
River. Its historic downtown area will give you a fine sense of the quiet
atmosphere of small town mountain living.
In a few days or an extended
stay, you'll pleasantly discover that there is nothing little about Little Rock.
Little Rock Details
How to Get
There
Take your choice of two
airports near this destination:
LIT - Little Rock Municipal
- Tower: 24 hours
- Approaches: ILS, VOR, ASR, VOR/DME RNAV, GPS RNAV
- Runways:
18-36'5124x150
4L-22R'8273x150
4R-22L'7200x150
- Fees: overnight parking;
Choice of several good FBOs
- Fuel: 100 LL, Jet, Jet-premix
- Helicopter operations, military operations
1M1 - North
Little Rock
- Approaches: VOR, GPS RNAV
- Runways:
17-35'3019x75 asphalt
5-23'5002x75'concrete
- Fuel: 100LL, Jet
- Lights: pilot controlled
- Fees: overnight parking
- Ultralights, ballooning
Places to Stay
There's a wide
range of tourist accommodations in and around Little Rock to suit
your likes and purse. They range from inexpensive motels to plush
suites. Some are in the center of the River Market District; others
are only a short trolley ride away. Two Bed and Breakfasts are
popular. They are: Empress of Little Rock where you can sleep on
feather beds in the opulence of a 1800s structure; and Rosemont in
the River Market District that is a Victorian era's gentleman
farmer's in-town estate. Check the many lodging sites at
http://www.arkansas.com.
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Places to Eat
Elegant dining or
fast food eat-on-the-run places, Little Rock area has the eating
places to meet your personal tastes. A few of the spots you may want
to check out are:
- Cajuns Wharf
Seafood Restaurant. Dine overlooking the Arkansas River and enjoy
entertainment and dancing.
- Cotham's in the
City. The legendary Hubcap hamburger must be tried before you leave
the area. They also feature southern-fried catfish and Mississippi
Mud deserts.
- Ernie Biggs. Not
just good food but an entertaining dueling piano bar with different
prominent piano players coming to town for your entertainment.
- Bosco's. Try the
fresh salmon baked on a cedar plank in Bosco's brick oven.
Notice: This information is current as of August 2006. It is recommended that
you contact the numbers, and/or visit the websites above to determine any
changes to the information.
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