March 3, 2023 …. Since 2020 I have been pretty picky about where and how I travel. Why, a long weekend in Little Rock, Arkansas???
My son, Richie, is on a quest to run a marathon (26.2 miles) in all 50 States. Arkansas marks off his 43 rd State. Wahoo!!!
We flew out a day early, because of an impending storm. Airlines have been taking a lot of heat recently for not providing good customer service. That was not the case this time. American Airlines was very accommodating with changing our flights. It only cost us $6 pp additional and on one of our flights we were upgraded to business class. Wahoo!
You’re probably thinking I might call this blog my “Wahoo Tour!”. Nope I’m calling it my “World Tour”! As I was doing my research for this trip and making my list of “must see or do’s”, phrases like best in the WORLD, longest in the WORLD kept popping up. I’m going to say the people we met and interacted with in Little Rock are the friendliest in the WORLD.
We stayed at the Residence Inn Little Rock Downtown/Marriot, 219 River Market Ave, LR. This is a GREAT location. Fortunately, they offered Marathon runners a generous discount or I would call it pricey. 5 Stars for location, location, location!
The gal that checked us in on Friday, put a smile on my face every time I saw her. First impression, I wouldn’t be asking for extra towels. When she spoke, I knew I could’ve ask for extra towels and all the little soaps and shampoos I wanted. She checked us in on Friday night, got breakfast out (five stars for a hotel breakfast) on Saturday and was still behind the desk Sunday morning and still being nice to people. Best Front Desk Clerk in the WORLD!
IMO Little Rock is a VERY unusual City. Its downtown/river market area’s focus is on culture, art, entertainment, recreation and everything Clinton. There are no retail/souvenir shops, no pharmacies or grocery stores. I found one small market to buy water and essentials in a block from the Residence Inn.
We got in late on Friday and decided to walk across the street to Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro (200 River Market Ave, LR) for dinner. “A whimsical setting with colorful chandeliers and art covered walls.” Five stars everything!
Saturday morning we headed out to rent Bicycles at Town River Outfitters (400 President Clinton Ave, LR). The plan was to bike ride approximately 6 miles on the Arkansas River Trail to the Big Dam Bridge. On the way we see two Lime Scooters calling our names.
We had been tempted to rent scooters in Idaho Falls, but had opted out, it was too hot that day. The weather was perfect here, so why NOT? So, close your eyes and those of you that know me, picture me …. those that don’t know me I am a “slightly” overweight, 70 year old, gray haired lady … that day I was wearing a “This Gramma Belongs to” sweatshirt (with pics of all the grands on it) and a “Snake and The Mongoose” (drag racing legends) backpack. Now imagine the looks I was getting as I zipped around LR on a Lime green scooter! O.K. I wasn’t quite zipping. At first it was more of a snails pace then as I got more comfortable it was a casual cruise. I won’t be competing anytime soon in any WORLD Scooter races. It was easier than I’d thought it would be.
It was FUN! Until we noticed … the signs
Hmmmm … I ask Richie … “ Do they mean the scooters were on? Ours are battery operated, not motorized? “ Richie just laughed! ooops! $500 fines, Yikes! We had gone a little over 2 miles in 45 minutes on the Arkansas River Trail. We had another 4 miles to go to get to our destination, the Big Dam Bridge. Scooter rentals were 40 cents a minute (I had thought it said 40 cents a mile.). This could be a VERY expensive ride. We turned around. We’d Uber/Lyft to the dam, not quite as pricey, but definitely not as much fun.
Little Rock has 3 bicycle/pedestrian bridges and one pedestrian bridge that connect Little Rock (LR) to North Little Rock (NLR). We did not do the Junction Pedestrian Bridge, too many stairs to carry our scooters up!
Richie needed to pick up his Runners Packet at the State Convention Center, which is in front of Riverfront Park (400 President Clinton NE, LR) , the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden and the Riverwalk which runs from the Clinton Library ($12 adult/$10 senior) on the east to the Old State House Museum (FREE)on the west. We decide to check out the Sculpture Park, before going to the Big Dam Bridge. There is just so much to see and do here walking, that it’s easy to get distracted.
We finally make it to the Big Dam Bridge (7700 Rebsamen Park Rd, LR). This is well hyped as one of Little Rock’s most popular attractions. It is the longest (spanning 4,226 ft over the Murray Lock and Dam) bicycle/pedestrian bridge in the WORLD, (small print) built specifically for that purpose! It is 90 ft above the Arkansas River.
Dinner is at Stickyz Rock N Roll Chicken Shack (107 River Market Ave, LR) “Little Rocks original gourmet chicken finger and live music shake shack. We chose patio seating and the Sticky Fingerz Salad ($11.49). I don’t think you’ll find any Sticky Fingerz in the WORLD better than these! Good food, great atmosphere, reasonably priced.
The Arkansas River Trail is an approx 18 mile loop, connecting the Little Rock (LR) and North Little Rock (NLR) sections by the Clinton Presidential Pathway on the south and the Big Dam Bridge on the North.
On our list of to dos was walking the William Clark Presidential Park 1,600 ft Boardwalk and look for alligators. I had read that there could be alligators as long as 14 ft in the marshy area. Unfortunately, it was closed, because of flood damage. Nice views from park though.
We did walk the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge and the Park grounds.
“Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet” is public art with a purpose that are on display throughout Clinton Presidential Park. Very WORLDLY!
We did not go inside the Clinton Library and Museum (1200 President Clinton Ave, LR) . The weather has been wonderful and there is so much to see and do outside. The building may not be a Wonder of the WORLD, but it is an architectural wonder.
We were only here for a long weekend and didn’t even make a dent in the list of “things to do”.
Just strolling through downtown or in the River Market district you are surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature, art, history, music ….
Next door to Kilwins Chocolate Shop ( 415 President Clinton Ave, LR) there is a patio where every time we’ve walked by there has been someone performing. The one time we walked by and there was an empty table we sat down to listen. Earl Waymon Jr. Rocked my WORLD with his rendition of “What a Wonderful WORLD” and again when he sang “Rainy Night in Georgia”. I even got asked to dance!
What in the WORLD is better than a FREE Trolley Tour? Having the best Trolley Tour Driver/Guide in the WORLD, Murphy! He kept us listening and laughing the entire ride.
Two Trolleys run the route simultaneously. I made Richie ride a second time so we could compare the Tours. Murphy is by far the WORLD best Trolley Tour Driver/Guide, at least in my WORLD! The Trolleys run seven days a week. There are two lines, the Blue and the Green. Until 2025 only the Blue is running, because of construction. The Blue Line takes you across the River to NLR and the Simmons Bank Arena and circles Downtown/River Market area.
There are a lot of entertainment venues in Little Rock … Robinson Center for Performing Arts, Simmons Bank Arena, Arkansas Reperatory Theater are some of the larger. Sunday night choices were a little limited. Richie found that Tre Williamson, WORLD class actor/comedian was doing a special performance at the Looney Bin Comedy Club (West Little Rock’s Breckinridge Village Center). Five star entertainment, pub style food, nice venue. Good thing we weren’t drinking alcoholic beverages… Arkansas has a 32.6 % tax on alcoholic beverages!
We cannot leave Little Rock without having lunch at Gus’s WORLD famous Fried Chicken (300 President Clinton Ave, LR) … special of the day CHICKEN! I don’t know about WORLDS famous, but it was Clucking Good!
Note: A lot of museums and restaurants are closed on Mondays … The Historic Arkansas Museum (free), Old State House Museum (free), Central Arkansas Nature Center (Free)
This weekend was out of this WORLD!