So you’re looking for things to do in Little Rock? Well look no further, you have come to the right place! There is such a wide variety of things to do in Little Rock, there will be something for everyone. There are plenty of museums to see and even a state park for you to explore.
Little Rock lies in the very heart of the state of Arkansas and was founded in 1920 shortly after the Arkansas territory was established.
Little Rock is a great tourist city with plenty of family friendly activities to do, consisting both of natural and cultural attractions depending on what mood you are in or what you fancy doing or seeing.
Little Rock is such a fun city, and we have complied a list of our favourite things to do in Little Rock to make your trip even easier.
This is truly one of the Best Towns In Arkansas That You Must Visit!!
William Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
The William Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is one of the great things to do in Little Rock, especially for tourists! President Bill Clinton is an Arkansas native, and the museum features many exhibitions, and even includes replicas of the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room.
The museum and library are located within the Clinton Presidential Center and Park and have opening hours of 9-5 Monday-Saturday and 1-5 on Sundays. The William Clinton Presidential Library and Museum is fun and educational for all the family, and includes documents, photographs, videos, interactive stations, and a timeline and alcoves that highlight domestic and foreign policy, as well as what life is like inside the White House. You can even see a Presidential Limousine!
There are over 100,000 works of art and objects located in the museum, and the library has approximately 78 million pages of official records and 2.6 million photographs, so there are plenty of things to see here, making it the perfect day out in Little Rock, Arkansas!
Admission for Adults is only $10 and $6 for youth (kids under 5 are free!) and with free parking for visitors, it makes it one of the best things to do in Little Rock if you’re on a budget.
Pinnacle Mountain State Park
If you’re looking to see beautiful views and nature, then Pinnacle Mountain State Park should be on your list of things to do in Little Rock!
Just west of Little Rock, you’ll find Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Of course, the 2,356 acre park is best known for Pinnacle Mountain, the iconic landmark surrounded by the Big Maumelle and Little Maumelle Rivers.
With over 22 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles of mountain biking trails, there is a hike to suit every sort of experience that makes it one of the most popular things to do in Little Rock. The West Summit Trail is 1.5 miles and the standard route up Pinnacle Mountain and is one of the most trafficked trails in the whole of Arkansas.
If you’re looking for a shorter hike, the 0.5 mile Kingfisher Trail would be perfect for you and passes by the Little Maumelle River. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a longer, slightly more challenging route, the 2.5 mile Base Trail will be great, and it completely loops around the base of Pinnacle Mountain.
Be sure to bring some things for a picnic, as there are plenty of spots to stop for lunch in this State Park along the trails!
Museum of Discovery
If you’re looking for something to do with all the family, the Museum of Discovery is one of the perfect things to do in Little Rock!
Located in Downtown Little Rock in the River Market District, the Museum of Discovery is right next to the Arkansas river and is within walking distance of the The Clinton Presidential Center.
The museum is all about Science and Technology. Their mission is to “ignite and fuel passion for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math through dynamic, interactive experiences”
With over 90 hands-on exhibits, there are plenty of things to do to get your children excited about science. They also run a Girls in STEM programme. Each summer, the museum offers FREE one-week workshops for girls aged 12-15. The purpose is to give girls the opportunity to explore STEM careers with hands on activities run by women in STEM careers. The hope is to encourage young women to pursue STEM careers and we think it is an absolutely amazing programme!
The Old Mill
If you have ever seen ‘Gone With the Wind’ then you will recognise the mill from the opening scene of the movie! It is believed to be the only remaining structure from the movie, so it is quite special. It’s not often known about by tourists, so is a great hidden gem to add to your list of things to do in Little Rock, Arkansas!
The Old Mill is official known as Pugh’s Mill and is located in the T. R. Pugh Memorial Park, but has become affectionately known as The Old Mill over the years. This is truly one of the best romantic getaways in Arkansas!
The building was built in 1933, and was designed to look like it was built in the 1800s. The 3 acre site is decorated with sculptures of toadstools, tree stumps, and a tree branch-entwined bridge that connects the mill to the rest of the park. It was designed by Senor Dionico Rodriguez of Mexico City, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Its an absolutely magical looking place – straight out of a fairytale! The park is open to the public and is the perfect place for a photoshoot location or for a picnic amongst the flowers that bloom all 12 months of the year. It is a place that has been on our list for a while, and one of our favourite spots of things to do in little Rock, Arkansas.
Wildwood Park for the Arts
Speaking of flowers, Wildwood Park for the Arts is another spot that you shouldn’t miss when you’re looking for things to do in Little Rock.
Wildwood Park for the Arts is located in west Little Rock’s Chenal Valley. The 105 acre park is home to to the 625 seat Lucy Lockett Cabe Festival Theatre complex and contains both manicured landscapes and wild, natural forests. It is a developing botanical garden and center for the arts whose mission is the challenge the intelect, engage the imagination, and celebrate the human spirit through encounters with nature.
It’s truly a beautiful place and contains multiple amazing gardens for you to explore. The Asian Woodland Garden, Butler Arboretum, and Swan Lake are personal favourites of ours!
Admission is free everyday, with the exception being festival weekends and some holidays. The park is open until sunset.
Rock Town Distillery
If you’re looking for the perfect date night activity, look no further than Rock Town Distillery! It’s the perfect adult activity to do in Little Rock!
Rock Town Distillery is located on Main Street in Downtown Little Rock. They are an award winning artisan distillery that uses grains from Arkansas to make their spirits.
They have an excellent cocktail menu if you are just looking to grab a drink, but there are some really activities to do at Rock Town Distillery too!
You can book a Rock Town Distillery guided tour that lasts for an hour and will take you through the whole process of making spirits from grain to glass! The tour itself will last for around half an hour, and afterwards you’ll get to taste eight of Rock Town’s award winning spirits!
If you want to take this one step further, you can book a Cocktail making class that includes the tour as well as being taught how to make classic cocktails by the Rock Town’s expert bar team. It sounds like so much fun!
Boyle Park
Are you a fan of mountain biking? Then Boyle Park should definitely be one of your things to do in Little Rock!
Boyle Park is a 250 acre urban park located in west-central Little Rock. Boyle Park was one of the original parks built by the civilian conservation corps, and many of the original structures are still present today.
Whilst Boyle Park is most well known for its biking trails, the variety of terrain means riders can mix it up for different challenges, there are also playgrounds, basketball pads, open fields, pavilions, fishing ponds, and picnic trails. It’s a great place to spend a slow afternoon.
Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area
Located in Pulaski County, just west of Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area offers over 5 miles of of trails (with even more on the way!)
This is one of the best things to do in Little Rock if you are a mountain biker as there are plenty of berms, jumps, and drops to keep the ride exciting! It’s also great for a hike as the trails offer multiple beautiful views.
Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area also has a higher purpose. Its purpose is to conserve the habitats of rare plant and animal species.The conservation also protects Lake Maumelle which is central Arkansas drinking water supply.
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
The Arkansas Museum of fine Arts is the perfect place to add on your list of things to do in Little Rock for Art lovers.
Located on the corner of 9th and Commerce Streets in McArthur Park, the museum is home to a renowned art collection, an Art School, and exceptional performing arts experiences.
We recommend checking their website for exhibitions as they always update the current and upcoming ones.
Please note that the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is currently under construction until the Spring of 2022, but you can visit their temporary home in the Riverdale Shopping Center
Little Rock Zoo
Are you looking for something fun for all of the family? Then look no further than Little Rock Zoo. It is one of the best things to do in Little Rock with kids!
Little Rock Zoo was founded in 1926 and is home to over 725 animals representing over 200 species across 33 acres of land.
The zoo offers a wide variety of animals to see, from Big Cats to Amphibians, Great Apes to Insects, and Rhinos to Farm Animals! The zoo also have a currently breeding programme for the Rhinos, and they welcomed their first rhino birth in November 2021.
Of course, the animals are the main attraction, but there are other things to enjoy at Little Rock Zoo too! The Safari Trader Market offers a unique selection of gifts and souvenirs for both children and adults. They also offer train rides, fish feeding, and Little Rock Zoo is also home to the Over-The-Jumper Carousel, which is an antique and fully operational!
If you fancy a bite to eat during your visit, Cafe Africa is open all year round, with the Lorikeet Landing Snack Shack being open during the spring and summer months.
Eat Possum Pie at Blue Cake Honey Pies at Bowman
Don’t worry, it’s not what you think!
Did you know that Little Rock is actually one of the Best Food Cities in the South USA?
Little Rock is known for its cheese dip, such as the Mexico Chiquito dip and The Everything Dip. If you’re looking for something with more substance, Little Rock are known for making great burgers too!
And for dessert, we really recommend trying some Possum pie at Blue Cake Honey Pies. Don’t worry, its not actually possum. It’s in fact chocolate and cream cheese on a pecan shortbread crust. It’s very delicious!
Old State House Museum
Are you a fan of history? Then the Old State house Museum is definitely a place that you need to visit in Little Rock.
The Old State house Museum is the original state capital building of Arkansas. Since 1833 when it started being built, this building has seen some of the most important events of Arkansas’s history. It saw Arkansas being admitted into the union, a fatal knife fight between two sitting legislators, join the confederacy, pioneer medical research into hookworm and malaria… This building really has seen a lot!
The Old State House was made a museum in 1947, and has been welcoming visitors ever since. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997.
There a number of ways to enjoy the museum You can either walk around the exhibits at your own pace with a self-guided tour map, or alternatively, you can take a guided tour or a group tour.
Some of the exhibitions you can see at the Old State House Museum include The First Ladies of Arkansas which explores the lives and accomplishments of governor’s wives throughout history. The exhibition features many gowns worn by First Ladies, some of which has recently gone through extensive conservation processes.
River Market District
Fancy doing a little bit of shopping? Head down to the River Market district.
For many, the River Market District is heart of downtown Little Rock. It’s a great place to socialise with friends, grab something amazing to eat, and even listen to live music.
If you are visiting the Museum of Discovery, you may as well add the River Market District to your list of things to do in Little Rock as it offers quick access.
The River Market is open all year round and has over 10,000 square feet of shops, stalls, and tables that sell food. The market is an open concept building that has a wide variety of food stalls, coffee vendors, and take out options.
A lot of events take place at River Market, such as Jazz in the Park and a Farmer’s Market, it’s always a good time at the River Market District!
State Capitol
If you think the State Capitol in Little Rock looks familiar, you wouldn’t be wrong. The design is based off the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington. In fact, it looks so similar that it has been used as a stand-in for movies many times!
The building was designed in the Neo-classical style and features Arkansas granite and white marble. The building also features six bronze doors and three chandeliers crafted by Tiffany’s of New York.
You can tour the building by either a self-guided or a guided tour. Popular public areas include the Governor’s Reception Room and the Old Supreme Court Chamber. With permanent and rotating exhibits al year round, your trip to the Arkansas State Capitol is bound to be an educational one.
The Arkansas State Capitol building is a great things to do in Little Rock if you’re a fan of history or if you’re a tourist as you will learn a lot about American history.
And that is our list of things to do in Little Rock! We hope you have found something to your liking and enjoy your visit to the city of Little Rock
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