When you live somewhere as beautiful as the Natural State, it’s easy to find wonder everywhere. Some places, however, are still more beautiful than others. Below you’re going to find places so beautiful and whimsical that they look like they’re from the pages of an epic adventure book. All 13 places are exceptionally awe-inspiring, and you’ll feel like you might be an unwitting character in an epic story when you look at them.
1. Wattle Hollow Retreat Center (near Devil’s Den State Park)
If there’s a place in the Natural State that is practically guaranteed to be the abode of good fairies and charming elves, it’s Wattle Hollow Retreat Center. This peaceful space is full of dense woods and buildings that are basically large scale sculpture. If there’s a more magical place anywhere, I honestly don’t know where you’d find it.
You can find Wattle Hollow Retreat Center three miles north of Devil’s Den State Park.
2. Crooked Creek Falls (Little Missouri Falls Recreation Area)
Crooked Creek Falls could definitely be a place where the heroes from a story book stop to gather strength and relax, and with a gorgeous, unique waterfall like Crooked Creek Falls, it’s no wonder that a story book character would want to rest from their adventures there.
You’ll find Crooked Creek Falls near Caddo Gap in the Ouachita National Forest.
3. White Rock Mountain (near Mulberry)
With sweeping views of the Ozark National Forest, you can’t ask for a more picturesque spot than White Rock Mountain. It isn’t difficult to visualize adventure as you gaze out at the forest below or make your way through the woods on the trails of White Rock.
White Rock Mountain is located at 474 Hwy 917 South near Mulberry.
4. Terra Studios (near Fayetteville)
Terra Studios is already full of trolls and dragons, so it’s not a stretch to imagine all the characters come to life in this art park and play in the woods while visitors aren’t looking. Terra Studios has been around for decades, and they’ve been scattering fanciful sculptures all over the woods where this idyllic artists’ haven is located.
Terra Studios is located at 12103 Hazel Valley Road in Fayetteville.
5. Downtown Eureka Springs
If it seems like you might see a princess wandering around downtown Eureka Springs with her nose in a book, it’s because the little Victorian village tucked away in the Ozarks has some serious old world appeal. In fact, Arkansas’s favorite quirky little city is sometimes called "Little Switzerland."
You can find Eureka Springs in Carroll County.
6. Bayou Bartholomew
If anything says ancient and haunting more than a bayou, I don’t know what that would be. Bayou Bartholomew is a place that looks worthy of adventure because it is worthy of adventure. After all, it’s the longest bayou in the world.
To find Bayou Bartholomew, drive to Pine Bluff.
7. Wilson Park (Fayetteville)
Wilson Park is more than just your average city park. It’s a gorgeous city park with its very own castle. It’s also the perfect place to play pretend a story book tale that involves a small castle hiding in the middle of a gorgeous greenscape.
Wilson Park is located at 675 North Park Avenue in Fayetteville.
8. Glory Hole Falls (Ozone)
Glory Hole Falls is only truly impressive after rainfall. This natural wonder of Arkansas is impressive to look at, for sure, and there’s never been a better place to imagine divine inspiration or good luck being bestowed upon a character.
Glory Hole Falls is located in the Ozark National Forest near Ozone.
9. Parkin Archaeological State Park (Parkin)
Exploring the ancient mounds of Parkin Archeological State Park is an incredible way to feel like you’ve gone back in time—way, way back in time. The mounds are objects of curiosity, for sure, and they seems like a perfect place for a story book hero to ponder the origins of the strange mounds that seem to rise up from the earth.
Parkin Archeological State Park is located at 60 State Hwy 184 in Parkin.
10. Lake Ouachita
Depending on the water level, Lake Ouachita has hundreds of scenic islands just waiting to be explored. It also has some of the most pristine water in the Natural State, which makes it one of the only places in the world where (totally harmless) freshwater jellyfish can thrive. Lake Ouachita is a lovely place to imagine intrepid explorers checking off every single island on their adventure, and it’s a great place for you to become an explorer, too.
Lake Ouachita is located near Hot Springs.
11. Blue Spring Heritage Center (near Eureka Springs)
It wouldn’t be too surprising to me if a mythological creature waited beneath the waters of the lagoon at Blue Spring. Just look at that blue, blue water! The whole place is full of herbs and history, and holds great spiritual significance for Native American tribes in the region.
Blue Spring Heritage Center is located at 1537 County Road 210 in Eureka Springs.
12. Empress of Little Rock
If you’re going to have a story book brunch in Arkansas, it’s likely going to be at the Empress of Little Rock. This old B & B offers an exterior worthy of royalty, and a parlor room sure to make Cinderella’s stepmother green with envy.
The Empress of Little Rock is located at 2120 Louisiana Street in Little Rock.
13. Pinnacle Mountain
Pinnacle Mountain looks like the perfect, intimidating end point of an epic quest. It’s an incredibly scenic, unique mountain that isn’t like anything else in the Natural State. This central Arkansas landmark certainly looks like the perfect setting for an epic adventure.
Pinnacle Mountain is located at 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road near Roland.
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