Canoeing, rafting, kayaking and fishing are enjoyed from one end of the county to the other. Big Sugar and Little Sugar creeks join in Pineville to form the Elk River. Indian Creek flows into the river between Lanagan and Noel, making that section of the river the most popular.

But campgrounds and outfitters can be found from the Powell area in eastern McDonald County to near the Missouri-Oklahoma line, where the Elk spills into Grand Lake.

The rivers offer spectacular views of bluff-topped forests of natural beauty. But there are many other things for visitors to take in.

Big Sugar Creek State Park is a 2,000-acre nature area with a rugged landscape of rare shrubs and trees not so common these days in Missouri. Visitors can find solitude in hiking through shady, upland woodlands and sunny, grassy glades while passing near numerous rock ledges. Notable plants such as the Ozark chinquapin tree and low prickly pear cactus can be found, along with animals such as armadillos and birds like scarlet tanagers.
The county has recently had two structures placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Powell Bridge over Big Sugar Creek has been saved from destruction by a small group of dedicated volunteers. The old steel trestle bridge is not far from the home of Albert E. Brumley, writer of gospel songs including “I’ll Fly Away” and

“Turn Your Radio On.”

The old McDonald County Courthouse on the square in Pineville is being converted to a museum by the McDonald County Historical Society. The building was placed on the National Register earlier this year.
The courthouse was used in the filming of the 1939 movie Jesse James, starring Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda. The filming of the movie is remembered each August with a four-day celebration hosted by the Pineville Fire Department. The event includes music, a carnival, a parade and a barbecue-chicken dinner.

Many of the cities in McDonald County have events similar to Pineville’s Jesse James Days. There is Winterfest each November in Anderson, and Southwest City is home to the 3rd of July celebration, which this year celebrated its 45th anniversary.

The county also is home to many caves, several that were once opened as tourist attractions. But the only one remaining open is Bluff Dwellers Cavern, on U.S. 59 south of Noel. The cave was discovered in 1925 by Arthur Browning and is still operated Browning family members.

The county’s economic development was greatly aided by the 2005 opening of a Walmart Supercenter on U.S. 71 near the Missouri-Arkansas line. The store became the centerpiece for a retail center that now includes two strip malls, two national fast food restaurants, an auto dealership and a bank.

Crowder College is moving forward with building a McDonald County campus in the Jane area. Construction is expected to begin soon, but until that happens, the school has remodeled a former lumber yard and hardware store in Pineville to be used for nursing classes.

Moreover, the area is replete with good folks.

Northwest Arkansas includes Benton, Washington, Carroll and Madison counties. Interstate 540 connects Fort Smith to the south and Bella Vista to the north. U.S. 412 provides a scenic journey east into Carroll and Madison counties. The most populated areas of this region are Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville.

Fayetteville is an eclectic mix of a major-college town, thriving business community, outdoors-lovers dream, and a cultural and arts center. It’s also home to the beloved Arkansas Razorbacks and recently was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America’s top five smaller towns to live and work. From trails and greenways to the ever-bustling and historic Dickson Street, home to the acclaimed Walton Arts Center, it is a truly unique city.

The city also boasts a nationally known farmers’ market, where patrons fill bags with the freshest produce, flowers and local handiwork.

The University of Arkansas is a land-grant institution on 345 acres and was recently named among the Carnegie Foundation’s most active research institutions. Enrollment typically hovers near 20,000 students.

Fine-arts lovers have a facility second to none in Crystal Bridges Museum of American Arts in Bentonville. The museum boasts 201,000 square feet of exhibit space and 120 acres that include trails dotted with exhibits.

The lineup of art pieces is seriously impressive — Andy Warhol’s Dolly Parton comes to mind — and there are interactive exhibits for both children and adults, guided tours and an on-site restaurant.

History buffs should be sure to pay a visit to the Civil War battlefields at Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove and their accompanying museums.

Other area attractions include Fayetteville’s magnificent botanical gardens and the elegant Pinnacle Hills Promenade shopping center in Rogers, where the state’s first Cabela’s location is set to open in August.

At the northernmost tip of the U.S. 71/I-540 corridor, Bella Vista offers 126 holes of golf, seven lakes and home prices to rival any other popular retirement-themed village in the country.

Additional golf opportunities exist at the Fayetteville and Springdale country clubs, along with Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, where the LPGA Tour stops for its annual Walmart Northwest Arkansas Championship.

Public courses include nationally touted Stonebridge Meadows, The Creeks at Cave Springs, Prairie Creek Golf Course near Rogers, Big Sugar Golf Club in Pea Ridge, Razorback Park Golf Course in Fayetteville and Holiday Island near Eureka Springs.

Fayetteville also is the corporate home of Lindsey Management Co., which offers signature apartment complexes with golf courses in eight states.

Northwest Arkansas anglers can choose from Beaver Lake just east of Rogers or a number of smaller but productive lakes, including Bob Kidd Reservoir near Prairie Grove, Lake Hindsville east of Fayetteville and Lake Elmdale near Springdale.

For those who prefer streams, scenic choices include the renowned Buffalo National River, the White River both below and above Beaver Lake, War Eagle Creek, the Kings River, the Mulberry River, Clear Creek, the Illinois River and Crooked Creek, a world-class smallmouth bass haven just west of Harrison.

With funding finally in place, the long-anticipated 36-mile Greenway trails system is well under way.

This walking, hiking and bike pathway reaching from Fayetteville to Bella Vista will offer an outdoor experience like no other in Arkansas and much of the country.

Folks will be able to make an enjoyable weekend of hiking the paved trail and spending the night in a hotel or bed-and-breakfast along the way, or take a bike trip to a favorite restaurant along the path.

Out in nature
The Buffalo National River is located about 100 miles east of Fayetteville and offers some of Arkansas’ most striking natural scenery.

Suited for all levels of canoeing, the 135-mile river has both whitewater stretches and long, lazy pools. Several businesses rent canoes and rafts and will shuttle paddlers between put-in and take-out sites.

More information is available online at nps.gov/buff or by calling the Buffalo National River park office at (870) 365-2700.

SPRINGFIELD, MO

The wild side
Springfield, MO. Located 105 miles from Lowell, Springfield is close enough to be a day trip, but has enough to keep a family busy for days.

Guests can visit 450 animals from 160 different species at Dickerson Park Zoo, where five themed, educational exhibits highlight birds and Missouri wildlife habitats. dickersonparkzoo.org or (417) 864-1800

Hands-On fun
The Discovery Center is a hands-on museum in downtown Springfield featuring three floors of exhibits that are interactive and educational. Includes exhibits for preschoolers and older children and adults. discoverycenter.org or (417) 862-9910

TULSA, OK

Sky’s the limit
Tulsa, OK, just a two-hour drive from North- west Arkansas, Tulsa offers world-famous museums, a nationally known zoo, a water park and more.

Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium re- cently received an upgrade to its plane- tarium dome, increasing projection to more than 3 million pixels. The dome shape of the theater helps create a realistic appearance of the night sky, now with increased clarity. tulsaairandspacemuseum.org or (918) 834-9900

One big museum
Dedicated to preserving American art, the Gilcrease Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts and art from the American West and also features a huge collection of American Indian relics. Surrounded by 460 acres, the museum’s 23 themed gardens are a must-see. gilcrease.utulsa.edu or (918) 596-2720

ARKANSAS RIVER VALLEY

NWA MEDIA FILE PHOTO • LARGEMOUTH BASS ARE AMONG NATIVE GAMEFISH ON DISPLAY IN THE HUGE AQUARIUM AT DARDANELLE STATE PARK.

Water sports
Just two hours from Rogers, Lake Dardanelle State Park has much to offer, starting with a 10,527-square-foot, state-of-the-art visitor center with four aquariums.

The lake itself covers 34,300 acres of water and is known for great fishing. The park’s top-notch weigh-in pavilion, Lake Dardanelle is host to many national bass fishing tournaments. arkansasstateparks.com/lakedardanelle or (479) 967-5516

Take a step back
Restored to its original Victorian glory, Van Buren’s downtown historic district offers six blocks of dining, shopping and art galleries. A destination of the Arkansas-Missouri Railroad, the historical district has been used for scenes in the TV mini-series The Blue and the Gray. vanburen.org or (800) 332-5889.

Cluster of Wineries
Although Arkansas may not have the acclaim of California or other areas among wine experts, the sandy soil and different microclimates near Altus are ideal for vineyards.

Thousands of guests to Wiederkehr Village each year enjoy tours of the grounds, along with authentic Swiss and European foods at the Weinkeller Restaurant, which has won multiple awards. Three additional vineyards— Chateau Aux Arc, Mount Bethel Win- ery and Post Familie Winery — also offer tours, wine tasting and more. fortsmith.org/things-to-do/arkansas_ Wine_country or (479) 468-WINE.

BRANSON, MO

Located 85 miles from Bentonville, Branson has something for every member of the family. Along with turn-of-the-century theme park Silver Dollar City, there is shopping, live theater, comedy acts, museums, fishing, boating and even extreme adventures such as zip-lining and helicopter rides.

cruise the lake: The Branson Belle is a four-deck paddlewheel showboat that lets guest enjoy gorgeous views of Table Rock Lake, musical entertainment, comedy acts and gourmet dining. Each cruise lasts two hours, with departures at noon, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. showboatbransonbelle.com or (800) 475-9370

However, mental images of insolent patrons milling about a musty exhibit hall should be put away when considering a visit to Northwest Arkansas’ newest crown jewel, scheduled to open Nov. 11 in Bentonville.

From conception to completion, Crystal Bridges intends to attract, entertain and educate folks of all ages and levels of interest in the arts.

AN OBSERVATION DECK HAS ALLOWED VISITORS TO MONITOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE MUSEUM FROM THE TRAIL.

The Walton Family Foundation an-nounced the concept for the museum in May 2005. It would be built by distinguished architect Moshe Safdie from wood, concrete and abundant glass, along with copper for roofing. Safdie’s inspiration was to create a refuge in the middle of the forest.

The predominantly glass construction is intended to produce a sensation of being en- veloped in nature. Asher B. Durand’s Kindred Spirits, one of the first in the permanent collection, reflects the vision and heart of Crys- tal Bridges with its scenic, outdoor setting.

Founder Alice Walton shared that her mother, Helen, believed the land where Crystal Bridges stands was always meant for “something special.”

“The name Crystal Bridges was inspired by the wonderful design of the building, as well as the historic Crystal Spring that is one of the beautiful places within the park,” Walton said.

The spring was diverted and piped under- ground during construction. Eight pavilions, including the restaurant and the temporary-art wing for traveling exhibitions, will over- look 8-foot-deep pools of water.

NATURE EVERYWHERE
Even getting to Crystal Bridges is meant to be a connection to nature. Visitors can drive directly to the museum through the area’s scenic landscape, or walk to the museum along one of several trails.

A parking garage next to the museum is accessible from J Street or John DeSheilds Boulevard. Parking at Compton Gardens or downtown Bentonville leaves about a half-mile walk to the museum’s south entrance.

Parking for the handicap-accessible path is located just off NE 5th Street and leads to the skyspace sculpture The Way of Color by James Turrell on the Art Trail.

Additional access points will open in November, including the Dogwood Trail, Orchard Trail, Rock Ledge Trail, Tulip Trail and Crystal Springs Loop.
“The journey to the museum itself is a pilgrimage through nature,” said Amber Hen- drickson, senior administrative assistant.

There are two state champion trees near the start of the trail at Compton Gardens, sev- en multiuse trails and more than 400 species of native plants and trees. Parallel to the Crystal Bridges Trail is the All-American off-road biking path that leads to the city’s Slaughter Pen bike park.

Residents and visitors have been walking, biking and running the Crystal Bridges Trail since it opened in July 2009.

“We’ve had remarkable success with about 2,500 weekend visitors,” said Sandy Edwards, deputy director of museum relations.

Several sculptures are in place along the Art Trail, including Shore Lunch by Dan Ostermill- er, a bronze work depicting a bear fishing by a stream. Children are welcome to wade in the stream and climb on the rocks in this area.

EMPHASIS ON INTERACTION
The emphasis on interaction continues inside the museum in The Experience Studio Area, a hands-on studio to engage all ages.
“How experience ties into education is a principle of our founder, Alice Walton,” said Hendrickson.

The area is intended to help children and adults to express their own creative nature as well as learn the stories behind certain pieces of artwork.

The educational outreach of Crystal Bridges has two branches — general public and school programs. Public programs will be held on and off-site and will include tours, in-depth workshops, films, lectures, annual events and festivals. School programs will be curriculum-based offerings ranging from stu- dent tours to professional development for educators.

Also in keeping with the education theme, the building and grounds include many “re- flection areas” with comfortable seating and exhibition books to provide details about different artists, genres and works of art.

“People will easily be able to go between the inside and outside. Between the galleries are spaces that allow people to stop, view and enjoy the surroundings,” Edwards said.

DAY TRIP DESTINATION
The museum is sure to be popular with local and regional residents alike looking to make a day trip. But with 201,000 square feet of inside space and 120 acres outside, cover- ing it all in a day figures to be quite a challedge.

AP/SOTHEBY’S • THE 1849 OIL PAINTING KINDRED SPIRITS BY ASHER DURAND WAS AMONG THE FIRST wORKS OF ART SECURED FOR PERMANENT DISPLAY AT CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART.

“One may experience a good survey of the collection and other museum-related offerings within a full day,” Edwards said. “Of course, much depends on the guest’s personal interests. If time in the library or a walk along the trails seems appealing, it could easily blend into another day.”
So although it might be a bit rushed, a worthwhile one-day visit is possible.

The permanent collection will hold about 600 pieces of artwork from the Colonial Era to current day, occupying about 40,000 square feet of gallery space.

A number of pieces should not be missed, museum officials say, including the rare historic publication Victoria Regia that illustrates the monument of American color printing during the 1850s. There is also the collection of 400 postcards from Frank Warren’s cultural phenomenon PostSecret, the infamous Norman Rockwell paining Rosie the Riveter, the portrait of George Washington by Charles Wilson Peale, The Indian and the Lily by George de Forest Brush, the dynamic Valley of the Catawissa in Autumn by Thomas Moran, The Island by Walton Ford and Dolly Parton by Andy Warhol.

REASONS TO RETURN
During construction of the museum, many pieces from the permanent collection were on loan at other art institutions. By this gesture, Crystal Bridges was able to build relationships with museums nationwide before its baptism into the art community. This in turn should help stock the 9,000 square feet reserved for traveling exhibits.

“To date, Crystal Bridges has loaned 77 works of art to 40 institutions throughout the world. Moving into the future, these partner- ships will afford Crystal Bridges the opportu- nity to present important artwork from inter- national museums, private collections and an enhanced calendar of traveling exhibitions,” Hendrickson said.

“Our intention is to change out the exhibitions frequently so that people will revisit the museum often,” Edwards said.

Another reason to return to Crystal Bridges will be the on-site restaurant. The full-service dining room is centrally located with the pools of water on each side.

Local restaurateur Case Dighero will serve as director of culinary services, overseeing a menu of American fare described as “pro- gressive, yet accessible.”

The museum aims to build relationships with local farmers, businesses and artisans to embrace the region’s local work force.

In addition to art galleries, Crystal Bridges will host a library, meeting and office spaces, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Also, the glasen-closed auditorium named The Great Hall is a flat-floor gathering area that can accommodate up to 300 persons for community and private receptions.

The walkway to The Great Hall will spotlight other area attractions.

“We believe it is all of our jobs to encour- age people to visit other areas,” said Edwards. “Crystal Bridges will definitely enhance local business. There will be impact whether visi- tors are here for a day trip or from out of the area.”

Crystal Bridges will conduct outreach programs through area schools to cultivate an interest in the arts. The museum houses classrooms for workshops, films and lectures and curriculum based-programs. Family pro- grams, public events, concerts and annual festivals also are planned.
Memberships, family and individual passes are available.

More information is available online at crystalbridges.org.

Boston Mountain Scenic Loop
arkansas.com/things-to-do/scenic-drives/ boston-loop.aspx
From Fayetteville, take U.S. 71 over Mount Gayler to Alma. From Alma, take Interstate 540 through the rolling hills of a pastoral countryside, through a mountain tunnel and back to Fayetteville in an 80-mile loop.

Pig Trail Scenic Byway
arkansas.com/things-to-do/scenic-drives/ pig-trail.asp
Known as “The Pig Trail” to generations of University of Arkansas students and Razorback fans, it includes 19 miles of Arkansas 23 from the south boundary of the Ozark National Forest north of Ozark to its intersection with Arkansas 16 at Brashears. tanyard creek nature traiL beautifulbellavista.com/tanyardcreek.htm This Bella Vista loop includes a swinging bridge and an overlook of a waterfall from Windsor Lake. The .8-mile trail is 1.5 miles west of U.S. 71 on Arkansas 340.

Cross Overlook
(479) 443-4531
This relaxing spot atop Mount Sequoyah provides a nighttime view of sparkling lights from downtown Fayetteville and its surroundings. The large lighted cross oversees the Mount Sequoyah Retreat and Conference Center with free “Music on the Mountain” concerts at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month.

Devil’s Den State Park
(479) 761-3325; arkansasstateparks.com
Devil’s Den State Park is on Arkansas 74, north of the Washington-Crawford county line in the Ozark National Forest. Walk or bike more than 10 miles of trails, or explore Devil’s Den or Devil’s Icebox caves. Cave visitors should bring lights and water.

Fayetteville Historic Walking Tour
(479) 521-5776, experiencefayetteville.com
This self-guided tour begins with a trip to the Fayetteville Visitors Bureau, 21 S. Block St., Suite 100, where a brochure describing the tour is available. Twenty-five sites of interest are explained in detail, including the Old Washington County Courthouse, Headquarters House and Guisinger’s Music House.

War Eagle Mill
11045 War Eagle Road, Rogers (479) 789-5343, wareaglemill.com
Visitors can watch this water-powered grist mill in operation on War Eagle Road about 13 miles east of Rogers. An 18-foot water wheel splashes and mill stones grind corn meal daily from corn grown organically in a pastoral setting that includes War Eagle Creek and a historic bridge.

Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel
504 Memorial Drive, Bella Vista
(479) 855-6598 beautifulbellavista.com/chapel.htm
Situated on a wooded hilltop overlooking Lake Norwood, the chapel of steel and glass is a popular site. Arkansas native architect E. Fay Jones and partner Maurice Jennings designed it based on the pointed Gothic arch, which is repeated throughout the length of the structure.

Terra Studios
(800) 255-8995, terrastudios.com
Located in the Durham community, just southeast of Fayetteville, the studio with free admission houses artisans who produce glass and pottery housewares, gifts and fine-art pieces. Visitors can stroll among the mural and sculpture gardens and visit the Bluebird Gazebo, home to about 1,800 glass Bluebirds of Happiness.
Guests also can watch glass workers making the bluebirds and other creations.

Thorncrown Chapel
(479) 253-7401, thorncrown.com
Designed by noted Arkansas architect E. Fay Jones, the Eureka Springs chapel has been named among the top four buildings of the 20th century by the American Institute of Architects. The chapel uses 425 large panels of glass
to showcase the natural beauty of the Ozarks. Open March-December, it features a nondenominational staff of musicians and ministers who will arrange a special one-hour devotional service upon request. Groups can reserve the worship center for private services, revivals and retreats.

Activity Centers

Jones Center for Families
922 E. Emma Ave., Springdale (479) 756-8090, thejonescenter.org
Founded by Springdale philanthropist Bernice Jones, the center’s purpose is to provide a “safe harbor” for the community with many free and low-cost activities. The center includes the Joel Carver Ice Arena, available year-round. Skating clubs offer group and individual ice-skating lessons. There’s also an indoor basketball court, indoor track and pool area. The pool area includes a family leisure pool, water slide and fountain.The center is closed Mondays. The education wing offers subjects including basic computer classes, boating and dancing and martial arts. A computer center is also available. Other programs include child care, community health and wellness, and after-school activities. The Community LIFE program includes Senior LIFE, Teen LIFE and a ropes course.

Springdale Youth Center
600 Ash St., Springdale (479) 750-8185 springdalear.gov/parks_and_recreation/ youth_center.asp
Membership rates for children and adults average $1-$2 per month to use the game room, gyms, track and weight machines Mondays through Saturdays. The center is near Murphy Park and the Springdale Public Library.

Rogers Activity Center
315 W. Olive St., Rogers, (479) 631-0336 rogersarkansas.com/parks/activitycenter
This center offers two full-court gymnasiums, an interactive health club for youth, indoor track, cardio/strength training facility and aerobics suite. Annual memberships are youth $20, adult $40 and family $80 with $5 for a three-time pass.

Rogers Adult Wellness Center
2001 W. Persimmon St., Rogers (479) 631-3333 rogersarkansas.com/wellnesscenter
Membership is $25 a year for anyone age 50 and older. Open 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, the center offers an 880- square-foot arts and crafts studio, a library and computer lab, “how to” classes and activities.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton County
Carl and Eileen McKinney Unit
2801 N. Walker, Bentonville (479) 273-7187

HLM Teen Center
1207 N.W. Leopard Lane, Bentonville (479) 271-1121

Rogers Unit
409 S. Eighth St., Rogers (479) 633-0044

Bella Vista Unit
2260 Forrest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista (479) 876-6786

Boys and Girls Club of Fayetteville
560 N. Rupple Road, Fayetteville (479) 442-9242 fayettevillekids.org
Facility offers a pool, fitness center, indoor track, rock-climbing wall, and team sport instruction at low costs. Membership fees vary or pass is $5 per day.

Yvonne Richardson Center
113 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville (479) 444-3461 accessfayetteville.org/government/yvonne_ richardson_center
Programs include homework help and after- school activities, judo and basketball for adults. Free city facility for ages 6 and up.

Making History

Ozark Folk Ways Heritage Center
22733 U.S. 71, south of Winslow (479) 634-3791 ozarkfolkways.com
This unique stone building houses a gift gallery showcasing traditional crafts, occasional classes and craft groups.

Confederate Cemetery
500 E. Rock, Fayetteville
Inside the stone gates, 600 graves are maintained by volunteers to honor the dead who fought in this area as Confederate troops during the Civil War.

Fayetteville National Cemetery
700 Government Ave., Fayetteville (479) 444-5051
Open daily from sunrise to sunset (closed federal holidays except Memorial Day), the 15 acres contain the graves of 8,000 U.S. veterans and their eligible dependents from the Civil War to the present.

Clinton House Museum
930 California Blvd., Fayetteville (479) 444-0066 clintonhousemuseum.org
Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and $1 for kids under 12, to see where Bill and Hillary Clinton lived as they got married and taught law at the University of Arkansas.

Jerry Jones-Jim Lindsey Hall of Champions
(479) 575-2755 arkansasfansite.com/stadium.asp
The two-story atrium in the Broyles Athletic Center at the north end of the University of Arkansas’ Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, offers displays and video screens outlining more than 100 years of Razorback football.

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park
506 E. Douglas St., Prairie Grove (479) 846-2990 ArkansasStateParks.com/prairiegrovebattlefield
Visitors can follow the path of soldiers who fought Dec. 7, 1862, resulting in 2,700 casualties. Fees are $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-12. Guided tours are slightly more. A five-mile driving tour is free.

Rogers Historical Museum
(479) 621-1154 rogersarkansas.com/museum
The museum, with free admission, features a main exhibition hall, research library and the 1895 Hawkins House, which is representative of a middle-class family home at the turn of the 20th century. The Attic, popular with children, is a permanent hands-on exhibit where visitors are encouraged to try on clothes and play with old tools, kitchen wares and other interactive links to the past. Also featured is the Centennial Caboose at First and Walnut streets. The caboose is managed by the museum and open for tours during regular museum hours from May through October.

Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
(479) 750-8165 springdaleark.org/shiloh/
Visitors can try their hand at using a grinding stone, try on clothes from the past or listen to folk music. Exhibits and six historic buildings are available to explore. The museum also is the site of numerous club meetings and educational programs for kids and adults alike.

Rogers Daisy Airgun Museum
202 W. Walnut St., Rogers (479) 986-6873 daisymuseum.com
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, this museum in downtown Rogers is $2 for ages 16 and up and free for children to see the popular toys made by the local company. Other airguns on display date back to the 1600s.

Pea Ridge National Military Park
15930 E. U.S. 62, Garfield (479) 451-8122 nps.gov/peri/index.htm
Fees are $5 per person over age 15, or $10 per vehicle at the 4,300-acre park that honors the 26,000 soldiers who fought there in March 1862. The most intact Civil War battlefield in the country, the federal site offers a video and interpretive displays telling of the battle.

Peel Mansion Museum and Heritage Gardens
400 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville (479) 273-9664 peelmansion.org
The 1875 villa with antique furnishings fronts an outdoor museum of historic roses, perennials and native plants around brick and gravel paths. Admission is $1 for children 6-12 and $3 for 13 and up, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Museum of Native American Artifacts
202 S.W. O St., Bentonville (479) 273-2456 museumofnativeamericanartifacts.org
With free admission Monday through Saturday, visitors follow their own audio- visual tours to view weapons, fossils, pottery and other items from the mastodon era 10,000 years ago to the more familiar headdresses and beadwork of the 1800s.

WaL-Mart Visitor Center
110 W. Central Ave., Bentonville (479) 273-1329 walmartstores.com/aboutus/287.aspx
A temporary home for the museum opened June 29 as renovations began at Sam Walton’s original Bentonville variety store, the center traces the formation and growth of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Cherokee Casino

West Siloam Springs, Okla.
cherokeecasino.com
The renovated 50,000-square-foot casino displays 900 electronic slot machines; 12-table poker room with Texas Hold ’Em, Pai Gow poker, Omaha poker and seven-card stud; blackjack room; Rivercane Buffet and Flint Creek Steakhouse; and Sevens bar and nightclub. A seven-story, 140-room hotel opened in June.

Downstream Casino Resort
Quapaw, Okla.
downstreamcasino.com
This 100,000-square-foot casino and resort hotel is at the Kansas-Missouri state line. Amenities include a 12-story, 222-room hotel, spa and convention center; five restaurants; 18-hole golf course; 70,000-square-foot gaming area featur- ing 2,000 slot machines, 30 table games and 14-table poker room; and a 500-seat outdoor concert theater.

Buffalo Run Casino and Resort
Miami, Okla.
buffalorun.com
The casino and resort has more than 70,000 square feet of entertainment — including 925 slot machines; Joe’s Outback Casino; 14-table game room; Coleman House Restaurant; Joe’s Grill; Joe’s Saloon; High-Stakes Room; 100-room luxury hotel; and 1,500-seat event center.

High Winds Casino
Miami, Okla.
highwindscasino.com
High Winds Casino has more than 450 slot machines, including progressives; poker; blackjack; video poker; and Bedlam Sports Grille, with multiple big-screen televisions and satellite music options in the comfort of a state-of-the-art air-filtration system.

Quapaw Casino
Miami, Okla.
quapawcasino.com
This casino has more than 500 electronic slot machines; blackjack; poker; and the Jackpot Grill with beer and pool tables.

The Stables Casino
Miami, Okla.
the-stables.com
This casino has about 500 Las Vegas-style electronic games; table games, including blackjack; an off-track betting parlor with coast-to-coast tracks; the Clubhouse Restaurant; and the Starting Gate Lounge.

Bordertown Outpost Casino
Wyandotte, Okla.
bordertownbingo.com
The newest Bordertown branch offers 265 slot machines and Three Sisters restaurant.

Wyandotte Nation Casino
Wyandotte, Okla.
wyandottecasinos.com
Operated by the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma, this branch of the casino features 500 video slot machines and six blackjack tables.

Grand Lake Casino
Grove, Okla.
grandlakecasino.com
More than 900 slot machines, poker room and blackjack pit are available in a 45,000-square-foot casino, along with the Endzone Restaurant and Bar.

Osage MIllIon Dollar Elm Casino
Bartlesville, Okla.
milliondollarelm.com
The casino offers 1,000 electronic games, 11 table games, an eight-table poker room, a deli and lounge.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Tulsa
hardrockcasinotulsa.com
A $245 million renovation made room for more than 2,100 electronic slot machines, where Cherokee Star Rewards Club cards may be used. Poker and blackjack are augment- ed by live music, and there’s dancing at County Creek and the Friction club. Eight restaurants and the C Note jazz club offer variety, and the Center Bar’s 80-foot, ice-topped bar at- tracts those who like to savor different flavors. The Cherokee Hills Golf Club is nearby.

RIver Spirit Casino
Tulsa
creeknationcasino.com
The 300,000-square foot casino, renovated at a cost of $195 million, offers 2,600 electronic slot machines, 24 tables for games, 15 poker tables and will soon add roulette. Three channels show sporting events from machine seats. There’s free live entertainment in the Mystic River Lounge and dining in five restaurants. Shuttle buses run visitors to area hotels.

Cherokee Casino – Tahlequah
Tahlequah, Okla.
cherokeecasino.com
Although considerably smaller than its West Siloam Springs counterpart, this 20,000-square-foot casino in the traditional Cherokee capital received a $7.5 million renovation in 2006. There are 350 slot machines; five poker tables; three black- jack tables; and River City Cafe; and the Cherokee Trails nine-hole golf course is nearby.

Keetoowah Cherokee Casino
Tahlequah, Okla.
500nations.com/casinos/okKeetoowah.asp
The Keetoowah band of Cherokees owns this casino, which features 500 slot machines. Hours are 8 a.m.-2 a.m. Mon- day-Wednesday and 24 hours Thursday-Sunday. Bever- ages are complimentary. Ages 18 and up.

Cherokee Casino – Sallisaw
Sallisaw, Okla.
cherokeecasino.com
This 22,000-square-foot casino has 256 slot machines, six blackjack and poker tables and the Back 40 Bar and Grill.

Cherokee Casino – Roland
Roland, Okla.
cherokeecasino.com
With 614 slot machines and 12 card tables, this casino is attached to a travel plaza that includes a grill, Subway restaurant, gas station and gift shop.

Choctaw Casino – McAlester
McAlester, Okla.
choctawcasinos.com
Offers eight tables of games, a poker room, slot machines and Main Street Cafe.

Choctaw Casino and Resort
Durant, Okla.
choctawcasinos.com
This 800-seat bingo parlor also has 3,000 slots, seven blackjack tables, three restaurants and a 101-room hotel.

Choctaw Casino – Broken Bow
Broken Bow, Okla.
choctawcasinos.com
The Blue Moon Cafe with a retro rock-n-roll vibe offers clas- sic milk shakes and slot machines costing from a penny to $25 a play, including progressive.

Oaklawn Park
Hot Springs
oaklawn.com
The popular thoroughbred track, open to ages 18 and up, offers both live racing in season and off-track betting, along with video poker, electronic blackjack and instant racing. The casino floor, open to ages 21 and up, has 800 slot ma- chines with blackjack and poker tables. Open 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-4 a.m. Friday and Saturday in the casino.

Bordertown Bingo and Casino
Seneca, Mo.
bordertownbingo.com
This 73,000-square-foot facility offers a 650-seat bingo hall, 500 slot machines, 20 table games and off-track betting.