It’s a pleasure to write to “y’all.” Having been in Arkansas for a familiarization trip with the North American Travel Journalists Association, you can’t fault me for throwing in a bit of dialect.
Arkansas is a state that brands itself “The Natural State,” and indeed it is. My journey took me to Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Hot Springs for a deep dive into the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, the brave story of anti-segregation, and the contemporary growth in music, art, and adventure travel.
There is so much unexpected excitement in Arkansas that I dedicate this entire newsletter to encouraging you to visit. I remember the lyrics of the song from the award-winning Broadway show Big River: “I love my ma, I love my pa, but oh, how I love Arkansas.” The reimagining of Huckleberry Finn on stage might lead you to believe that Arkansas is hillbilly country. I found it steeped in sophistication, fine dining, and, yes, natural experiences that can be enjoyed at any age.
For example, Culture Vulture is devoted to the fine food experiences in Hot Springs. Did you know that Hot Springs has the only craft brewery located within a national park? In Luxury Travel for Less, we experience the finest in racing and gambling culture, both down and dirty, at the Gangster Museum of America in Hot Springs and at Arkansas’s answer to Ascot Racecourse and the Kentucky Derby — Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.
On a personal note, I dubbed Arkansas “The Kindness State.” At the At the Corner Café in Little Rock, near the elegant and historic Capital Hotel, I witnessed a waitress bringing out a chair for an older gentleman so he could wait comfortably for the bus.
I was treated with kindness and dignity as I rather ungracefully got in and out of my one-person kayak and paddled my way down the Arkansas River.
I was amazed at how each restaurant — funky and five-star alike — accommodated our quirks, from vegetarians and pescatarians to beer drinkers and martini sippers, and at 501 Prime, I discovered the best bourbon in the universe.
On this week’s podcast, I feature travel for wellness with Jeanne Neylon Decker, creator of Travel Tawk. Jeanne shares unexpected places where wellness is the destination and the goal.
Enjoy this eye-opening newsletter.
Never stop traveling
Cheers,
Adriane
P.S. Register for the June 10th webinar to discover what travel coaching is and how you can make money, travel more, and help others:
Meet like-minded people to share experiences and stay in contact with people you meet on your travels.
This Week’s Highlights
On Our Podcast
The Dolomites, Tyrol, Normandy, Bentonville Ark and Nude Bathing!
On this week’s podcast, we focus on wellness with Jeanne Neylon Decker, creator of Travel Tawk. We focus on the Dolomites, Tyrol and interesting wellness baths and luxury experiences for health and relaxation. And we shmooze about Arkansas as a wellness retreat for all ages.
France and Scotland are not the only places to experience a well-developed drinking culture. Arkansas is rich in the history of prohibition; the mob dug in during the roaring 20s. A visit to the Gangster Museum of America is a journey down mafia family lane!
Today, Arkansas offers high-end breweries and ultimate bar experiences. It’s been a long time since Al Capone, Mae West, who got her start in the Ohio jazz club in Hot Springs, and Lucky Luciano built prohibition highways.
For example, Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the only brewery located in a National Park. I tried two of the 20 or so enticing varieties, staying with chocolate and espresso flavors. 501 Prime offers the largest selection of bourbon in the state. 53 or more, depending on how you count. I’ve already scheduled The Ageless Traveler podcast to delve into the quintessentially American travel experiences for beer, bourbon, and mixology… after all, it’s our 250th anniversary. Let’s raise a glass.
Of course, black history is woven into the fabric of our lives, and our 250th celebration must include its seminal events, many of which took place in Arkansas… events we can vividly remember, such as school integration and the bravery of black children who bore the burden of segregation. I promise you I will podcast and send a further newsletter covering Pine Bluff and its music scene, along with Black History travel for our Juneteenth podcast.
Luxury Travel for Less
The value for money is outstanding in accommodations, restaurants, and activities in Hot Springs, Little Rock, and North Little Rock, locally known as Argenta. For example, I was impressed by the Embassy Suites, which reminded me of a very high-end Hilton Hotel I often frequented, with its beautiful central atrium, omelets to order at breakfast, and large, totally refurbished suites.
The Capitol Hotel in Little Rock is an English-style Grand Dame with a long history, situated across from the old State House. With the willing staff and the elevator that once housed President Ulysses S. Grant’s horse before it became an elevator. Don’t miss it.
But the number one luxury for less is experiencing Oaklawn’s own Derby with magnificent hats and colors, and the excitement the Oaklawn Hotel offers: a huge, well-appointed casino, Bugler, a truly exceptional restaurant, and a private alternative The OAK Room & Bar for fine dining. The casino is well arranged and offers entertainment and gambling for racing aficionados, including a sports book.
Here’s a must-do tip from one of the outstanding members of the Age Wise Collective to which I belong:
Join gerontologist Sally Duplantier for Wellness Wednesdays to learn practical, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.
These programs are free to The Ageless Travelers and are also recorded in case you can’t attend in real time.
