Warm temperatures are the preference for most Arkansans. If you don’t believe us, just check the nearest body of water here in the Natural State any time between April and October. That said, we often get a little cabin fever during the colder months, so it’s good to have a list of climate-controlled activities that will keep your family active and smiling all winter long.
We’ve pulled together a list of some of the best spots to have a little indoor fun while we wait on the thermometer to rise a bit more. From Smackover to Jonesboro and Little Rock to Bentonville, here’s a list of 9 great options for non-stop action that should definitely hold you over until it’s shorts-and-sandals season again.
Mid-America Science Museum – Hot Springs
Mid-America Science Museum is a resource for innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and serves as a unique destination for families. It provides an escape for curious minds of all ages and is located less than a mile from Hot Springs National Park.
Little Rock Climbing Center – Little Rock
This indoor hub of fun and fitness features climbing walls, top-rope stations, auto-belay stations, a fitness gym, large bouldering area and much more! Day passes are available and they’re open seven days a week.
Scott Family Amazeum – Bentonville
The Amazeum features approximately 50,000 square feet of exhibit and learning spaces inside the museum to bring learning to life and enhance family involvement, while evoking a sense of curiosity and discovery through hands-on activities.
Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center – Jonesboro
The Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center on the southern edge of Jonesboro tells the story of a unique ridge atop the Mississippi Delta with indoor and outdoor exhibits, films and trails. The three-story facility adjoins the southern boundary of Craighead Forest Park and includes a 5.5-acre prairie, 2.5-acre pond and approximately 100 acres of woodlands. Game and Fish Nature Centers are also located in other areas of the state. See a full list here.
U.S. Marshals Museum – Fort Smith
Complete with immersive exhibits and interactive storytelling, get the history of the U.S. Marshals Service. From tales of colonial days and the western frontier to challenges of a Marshal’s life today, you’ll encounter an America you never knew and be inspired by the men and women whose service and strength helps hold it all together.
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources – Smackover
South Arkansas is home to the unique story of the 1920s oil boom. Inside the museum, tour a reproduction of a boomtown with an old jail and café. The streets are even lined with vintage trucks and gas pumps. Walking the grounds of the state park, you’ll see working oil field equipment used in the area, including a replica of a 112-foot derrick and a central power station that could pull up to 15 wells.
Blanchard Springs Caverns – Fifty Six
Located in Stone County, approximately 2 miles off Highway 14 near Mountain View, the Blanchard Springs Caverns is one of the most spectacular and carefully developed caves found anywhere. Visitors enter a “living” cave where glistening formations like stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flowstones are still changing.
Hijinx – Jonesboro
From bowling to ropes courses to laser tag and everything in between, there’s lots to choose from at this NEA hotspot offering a host of family entertainment options for fun-seekers of all ages and skill levels. The only problem might be getting your family to leave!
Museum of Discovery – Little Rock
The Museum of Discovery is Little Rock’s premier science and technology center, with a mission to ignite and fuel a passion for science, technology, engineering, arts and math through dynamic, interactive experiences. For kids young and old, the museum is a great place to explore the exciting world of science!