Destination: Arkansas Meeting & Event Planning City Guide
Destination Articles
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Rich In Native Tradition
By Diana Lambdin Meyer
March 05, 2013
The Convergence Of traditional Southern hospitality and the intrigue of Southwest culture create dynamic settings for meetings in Arkansas and Oklahoma; however, the ever-present influence of Native Americans has helped define the personalities of the communities in the two states.
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Opposites Attract
By Steve Winston
February 28, 2012
It seems like a sort of odd coupling. One state’s Southern, and the other’s Western. Folks in Arkansas like their grits of hominy and their apples fried, while Oklahomans prefer their grits of cheese, washed down with PB&J in a Glass (PB&J mixed with milk, grape juice and graham crackers). Baseball caps are common in Arkansas, while it’s cowboy hats in Oklahoma. The accents are different. The lifestyles are different. Yet—in addition to a common border of roughly 200 miles—there are still things these two neighbors have in common.
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The Element of Surprise
By Macie Schreibman
December 29, 2010
If you’re a person who loves surprises, you’ll love the neighboring states of Arkansas and Oklahoma. ’Cause, quite frankly, they’re full of them.
Learn about Arkansas for Event Venues, Services & Meeting Destinations
Destination Description
Like most great destinations, Arkansas has some secrets to share with its visitors. “A lot of what I hear is that [attendees] are surprised. People that aren’t from Arkansas think of it as a southern, rural state; then they get here and they fly into Little Rock and see that it’s very cosmopolitan,” says Dena Woerner, tourism communications manager for the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. “It’s a big, bustling city that’s easy to get around in.”
Part of the bustle comes from the state’s culture and unique meeting venues, as well as its shopping and dining options—Arkansas has surprises for its visitors around every corner. On its western edge is Fort Smith, which was once a military outpost. Move a little closer to the center and you’ll find Hot Springs, the only city that’s built within a national park (it’s also home to The Gangster Museum of America). Then, make your way north to visit Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville, which make up one of America’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas.
This line-up doesn’t even include the state’s capital city of Little Rock, where your group will find not only an easily accessible airport, but also 2,200 hotel rooms citywide. But, there are even more surprises in store. Arkansas is also where the Ozark Medieval Fortress is being constructed (using only techniques from the Middle Ages), as well as where the only diamond mine that’s open to the public can be found. The best part? “What you dig for, you can keep,” Woerner says.
