{"id":58900,"date":"2017-05-23T14:24:54","date_gmt":"2017-05-23T19:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=58900"},"modified":"2017-09-18T23:17:32","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T04:17:32","slug":"6-things-must-eureka-springs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/6-things-must-eureka-springs\/","title":{"rendered":"6 things you must do in Eureka Springs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eureka means \u201cI found it\u201d and that\u2019s just what you\u2019ll say when you visit this quirky little town in Northwest Arkansas. It may have a population of just 2,000, but don\u2019t tell that to the more than 750,000 annual visitors who come to this Ozarks mecca to honeymoon, hike the nature trails or stay in the \u201cmost haunted hotel in America.\u201d There are no stop lights in the town and most of the streets don\u2019t quite match up. But in this historic village, where the entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, you\u2019ll find restored Victorian shops, tree houses, great eateries and lots of history.<\/p>\n

RELATED<\/strong>: The 12 most ridiculed states in America (and why you should visit them now)<\/a><\/p>\n

Take a tram<\/strong>
\nA great place to start a Eureka vacation is on Joe Grunnel\u2019s 90-minute Tram Tour<\/a>, which meanders through the beautiful city streets and brings you up close and personal to the Crescent Hotel and Grotto Spring (one of several springs for which the town earned its name).<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of the Crescent Hotel<\/p><\/div>\n

Stay at the most haunted hotel in America<\/strong>
\nSituated on a palatial estate is the Crescent Hotel<\/a>, which opened in 1886. This mountain-top spa resort offers 76 boutique hotel rooms, as well as the New Moon Spa. Be sure to take in the awesome views from the 4th floor observation terrace and go for a stroll through the Victorian gardens. But the hotel\u2019s real draw is that it\u2019s reportedly haunted and has been featured on \u201cGhost Hunters\u201d and other paranormal shows. If you dare, learn about some of the guests who \u201cchecked out,\u201d via the nightly ghost tours.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, stay at the Basin Park Hotel<\/a> in historic downtown, which is built into the side of a mountain, so that every floor is technically a ground floor. Recommended is the \u201cSpirits of the Basin Tour,\u201d which gives you access to the rooftop of the hotel and a chance to view the underground cave where bootleg liquor was stored. Prepare for a very \u201cspirited\u201d evening. You\u2019re also at the perfect spot for the city\u2019s vibrant nightlife and concerts in the park.<\/p>\n

\"\"

A 65-foot statue overlooks the Ozarks | Photo courtesy of Arkansas Dept of Parks and Tourism<\/p><\/div>\n

Meet the Christ of the Ozarks<\/strong>
\nYou can\u2019t miss this larger-than-life statue that sits atop a sprawling evangelical campus. Here, the largest Passion Play in the country tells the story of Christ\u2019s last days on earth, performed in an open-air 4,100 seat auditorium, complete with a cast of 150, live animals and special lighting\/sound effects. While on campus, see the Bible Museum with thousands of Bibles\u2014from a Genesis scroll on deerskin to the Gideon Bible.<\/p>\n

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Serene Thorncrown Chapel | Photo courtesy of Arkansas Dept of Parks and Tourism<\/p><\/div>\n

Visit Thorncrown Chapel<\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t miss Thorncrown Chapel, created by Frank Lloyd Wright prot\u00e9g\u00e9 and world renowned architect, E. Fay Jones. Constructed of glass, this exquisite chapel is considered one of the most beautiful and inspiring sanctuaries in the world.<\/p>\n

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The Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge | Photo courtesy of Arkansas Dept of Parks and Tourism<\/p><\/div>\n

Have a big day with some big cats<\/strong>
\nStretching 450 acres and including more than 100 exotic cats, lions, tigers and bears, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is the largest big cat sanctuary in North America. Tour the park and see how this non-profit organization provides a refuge for abandoned, abused and neglected “big cats.\u201d Say yes to sleeping overnight in a tent and hearing the roars of the jungle!<\/p>\n

ALSO<\/strong>: Eureka! You will uncover big savings when you sign up for Orbitz Rewards!<\/a><\/p>\n

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Bentonville’s Wal-Mart Museum | Photo courtesy of Arkansas Dept of Parks and Tourism<\/p><\/div>\n

Visit Crystal Bridges<\/strong>
\nAbout an hour’s drive from Eureka Springs lies Bentonville<\/a>, the birthplace of Wal-Mart. Bentonville has a traditional town square that looks like something out of \u201cBack to the Future.\u201d Along the square is the Wal-Mart Museum which showcases the rags-to-riches story of Wal-Mart and its founder, Sam Walton. Like pretty much everything else, there\u2019s no admission charge for the museum. Enjoy an ice cream treat from the Spark Caf\u00e9 Soda Fountain and buy a souvenir from days gone at the Walton\u2019s 5&10.<\/p>\n

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Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Photo courtesy of Arkansas Dept of Parks and Tourism<\/p><\/div>\n

Meanwhile, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is the Walton family\u2019s gift to America. With exquisite design by Moshe Safdi, the museum itself is a work of art. Inside, Crystal Bridges houses a permanent collection of American Art masterworks from the Colonial era to contemporary times. The museum caters to families with special programs, including an Experience Art Studio and free family tours. Admission is always free.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Orbitz,<\/a><\/p>\n

Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You’ll never fully appreciate Arkansas until visiting this quirky gem.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":190,"featured_media":58908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1695],"tags":[1856,287,2722],"class_list":["post-58900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-destinations","tag-destinations-2","tag-family","tag-long-weekend"],"acf":{"api_active":null,"api_title":null,"api_excerpt":null,"api_featured_image":null,"api_lob":null},"posts_api_cpm_point":[{"name":"","description":"","thumbnail":"","address":"Eureka Springs, AR, USA","latitude":"36.4011825","longitude":"-93.73797109999998","icon":"\/images\/icons\/marker.png"}],"yoast_head":"\n6 things you must do in Eureka Springs | Orbitz<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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