11/10/2021
About Northwest Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas is lovingly referred to as NWA. It defines the region located in the northwest corner of the state of Arkansas from the Missouri line to the Bobby Hopper Tunnel on I-49 north to south and from the Oklahoma line to Huntsville out Hwy. 412 west to east. It encompasses over 2,674 square miles of Ozark mountains, hills, and valleys. NWA is popular with travelers and beloved by its home folk.
NWA is growing rapidly! Travelers come here and love it so much they decide to make it their home. Newcomers arrive here at a rate of about 30 people per day. Houses and apartments are being built in every township to accommodate the influx. We welcome you, neighbor, and traveler to this wonderful place!
Part of the draw toward NWA is how multi-faceted it is. Our food and our people are diverse. We are not the stereotypical hillbillies my cousins used to think we are. NWA has several international communities of significant size including Marshallese, Hmong, Laotian, Salvadorian, Vietnamese, Guatemalan, Mexican, Indian, Russian, Saudi Arabian, and Iraqi. There are more than 50 languages spoken here and a wide variety of religious observances.
You can find pretty much any type of thing you might like to do in this region!
Originally known for nature, NWA has hiking trails, biking tracks, caves, running/marathons, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, boating, equestrian sports, and water sports of every kind. There are 37 parks in the city of Fayetteville alone!
The Razorback Regional Greenway is a 36-mile trail between Fayetteville and Bella Vista. It is rated easy and welcomes bicycles, runners, and pedestrians. The Jones Center in Springdale has a state-of-the-art bike park.
Lovers of the Arts will appreciate the world-class Crystal Bridges Museum, The Momentary, the Bentonville Film Festival and The Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, known as SoNA.
For sports fans, Northwest Arkansas is the home of the minor league Northwest Arkansas Naturals baseball team and our beloved Razorbacks college teams. There are 21 golf courses in the area and the LPGA P&G NWA Championship takes place here in late September. The Rodeo of the Ozarks is another popular annual event. The rodeo grounds also host various events throughout the year.
History buffs will enjoy the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History and the Museum of Native American History. Civil War Battlefields found in Prairie Grove and Pea Ridge. Walmart has a museum on the Bentonville square commemorating its history. The first home of President Bill Clinton is in Fayetteville. The outlying town of Lincoln hosts the Arkansas Country Doctor Museum. The Arkansas Air & Military Museum in Fayetteville is another favorite of locals and travelers alike.
Nearby Eureka Springs has a delightful history all its own and is well worth the short drive to take it all in.
Nationally acclaimed festivals take place here. Bikes, Blues, & BBQ, held in September, rivals the Sturgis motorcycle rally. The Ozark Regional Arts & Crafts Festival takes place in October. It is a regionally collaborated celebration and exhibition by crafters of all kinds. Most major venues and many smaller ones are filled with crafters and shoppers who travel from far away to attend.
Antique Shops and Flea Markets are part of the culture of NWA. We were repurposing before repurposing was popular. We were loving the farmhouse style long before it was a trend! We love our Auction Houses and Thrift /Consignment Stores too. Pickin' Time on 59 is a perennial favorite for pickers of all ages.
I can't begin to name all the wonderful experiences waiting for you in Northwest Arkansas. This shortlist doesn't even come close. That's why we are embarking on this blogging journey that we want to share with you. Check back often to see what new adventures we'll go on together!