MOUNTAIN VIEW

So, you’re taking a trip and want to go somewhere neat. Somewhere with an old-timey feel like you’re walking on a set in the Andy Griffith Show. I’ve got JUST THE PLACE FOR YOU! You’ve got to check out Mountain View, Arkansas! Since we live in a suburb of Little Rock, Arkansas it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Here’s my list of the top 10 things to do in Mountain View, AR.

#9 – CAMPING

While this seems like a no-brainer, I just want to put it out there. There are MANY places to camp in Mountain View, but if you want to be on the water, you’d need to go to Angler’s Resort, or Sylamore Creek Camp (check out my review of Sylamore here). You can tent camp, RV camp or rent cabins at either of these places! Sylamore Creek is right on the water and offers canoe rentals for floating around on Sylamore Creek. Angler’s actually has a “resort” that has a restaurant overlooking the White River. There is also a gift shop/convenience store. You can also get rafting/canoe trips and guided fishing tours, which brings me to my next thing to do:

#8 – FISHING

The Ozarks are a famous fishing location for both trout and bass fishing. Bring your own boat, rent one, or just fish from the shore! Guided tours are available from several locations in the area for the best fishing results. You can also just bring your own rod & reel and fish from the shore of your campground (which is what we do) or canoe. It’s not uncommon to see folks floating down the river in a boat trailing their baited line behind them.

#7 – OTHER WATER ACTIVITIES

Us prepping for a weekend on the river!

Next up on my list is other water activities! In case you didn’t know it, Arkansas is as hot as the Devil’s toenails in summer! On days when the heat is STIFLING, put on your swimsuit and hop in the refreshing, crystal clear waters of the Sylamore Creek. There are several points along the creek that offer public swimming. You can also bring or rent a canoe/kayak for a day and enjoy the water that way! The breathtaking scenery is unimaginably beautiful here. Enjoy the shade of bluffs that jut out of the landscape for hundreds of feet upwards on those EXTREMELY hot days!

#6 – BLANCHARD SPRINGS

Just a few short miles away from the Sylamore Creek area, you’ll find Blanchard Springs Caverns and park (pardon their creepy auto-playing music!).

Did I mention it gets HOT in Arkansas in the summer? Yeah…well, if you’re looking for a way to escape the heat, book a tour into the dark, mysterious Blanchard Springs Caverns! The caverns are a constant 58 degrees YEAR ROUND! WHAT?! It’s true! You’ll feel like a dork, but bring a jacket or hoodie and wear your tennis shoes or something with grippy soles as the humidity is near 100% down there.

Prices range from $10-$75 depending on how much effort you want to exert, but the EASY ONES are around $10 per person. I would show you all of the 10 million pictures I took, but you’d tire of that, I’m sure. Be warned, you need to book your tour in advance because you can’t always get right in during peak season! Check out my post about Blanchard Springs Recreation Area.

#5 – MIRROR LAKE

If you’re staying in or nearer to Mountain View, you’ll want to make a whole day out of Blanchard Springs because it’s only a 15-minute drive. Book your tour later in the afternoon and go over to the Mirror Lake area for a hike and maybe a picnic. You can also bring your swimsuit and wade around and/or swim at the Blanchard Springs Campgrounds before or after your cavern tour if you get hot during your hike.

This is a pic of us on our anniversary weekend overlooking the lake. The falls are beautiful and there are remains of historic buildings throughout your walk to the lake. Make sure you have enough memory on your phone before you go, though. You’ll take a million pictures!

#4 – SWINGING BRIDGE

On your way back from Blanchard Springs, make sure to save a little bit of daylight for the Swinging Bridge over Sylamore Creek. Take a few minutes to park your car and walk across it. This is a FREE activity, but DEFINITELY, one I wouldn’t want to miss. The bridge was built in 1914, reworked in the 1940’s and again rehabilitated after a severe flash flood in the 1980’s, all using the original concrete anchors set in 1914! If you like history and nature, this is a MUST! I love to stand on the bridge and imagine the men building this small feat of engineering in 1914! If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy the fish below, squirrels nearby in the trees, and the birds soaring in the air above. We visit the bridge often when we go to Mountain View, just for a quick, free activity to fill the time. It’s also a nice place to steal a sweet kiss on the cheek! 🙂

#3 – ZIP LINE

I’ll be honest here, I haven’t gone to the zip line course in Mountain View, but I have my sight set on it! I did my first zip-line in Honduras and L-O-V-E, LOVED it! The one here is called Loco Ropes and they have adventures starting at $7.50 per person. Read the height and weight limits before going over there, and their website recommends booking in advance. They also have season passes available, so if you plan to visit Mountain View more than once, this might be a great option for you. It looks like a TON of fun!

#2 – ESCAPE ROOM

Example of what Escape Rooms look like, without the natural light! 🙂

If you haven’t had the pleasure of doing an escape room yet, you should TOTALLY do it when in Mountain View! It’s called Fiddlin’ Around Escape Room and it looks like they have 3 rooms to choose from. Just in case you’re not aware of this new type of entertainment, the hosts will lock you and up to 7 of your closest friends into a room. The rooms are usually set up with a “who dun it” kind of feel…like a vintage living room. You are expected to find clues that will ultimately allow you to escape. You better hurry, though. Most escape rooms have a 1-hour time limit! The cost of this one is $15 per person, so it’s a little more expensive than a night at the movies.

#1 – THE MUSIC!

The mayor of Mountain View playing harmonica and their band on the town square

Saving the best for last, the music! One of the main reasons I continue to come back to Mountain View is the music. If you’ve never been to Mountain View before, the music is the main draw. Dubbed the Bluegrass Capital of the World, Mountain View is unique in that musicians come from all over to make music with each other in the town square. Definitely every weekend night, but it seems like it’s not limited to weekends, you can find people with their guitars, fiddles, banjoes, mandolins, upright basses and other instruments teaming up and playing old bluegrass classics. Bring your lawn chairs and be prepared to be BLOWN AWAY at all the talent in this quaint little town!

SO MUCH MORE!

I haven’t even begun to mention all of the little stores and restaurants around town. You can also go to the Ozark Folk Center and enjoy local crafts, music & food, and go to local festivals, play golf, or just chill (which is my favorite)! Mountain View, Arkansas is just a great all-American place to visit!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

*UPDATE: It’s been brought to my attention that Mountain View is in a dry county, so if you like a little alcohol in the evening, you’ll have to bring it with you. Along these lines, be careful with that because it’s also my understanding that they DO NOT tolerate misbehavior due to alcohol. Welcome to small town, Arkansas! 🙂

Don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter and never miss a word!