Author: Ken McClary

Lake Avalon is Bella Vista's go-to lake for a day at the beach. Along with fishing and paddling, it's one of the few Bella Vista lakes with a swimming beach and a covered picnic area, plus an enclosed, heated fishing dock that lets anglers fish comfortably even in cooler months.…

Lake Ann is one of Bella Vista's most popular and family-friendly lakes. Completed in 1970 as the community's second lake, it sits near the center of town and is ringed with picnic-ready amenities — a pavilion, grills, restrooms, and an easy boat ramp — making it a favorite for a…

Loch Lomond is the largest of Bella Vista's seven lakes — a 477-acre reservoir up to 80 feet deep, built in 1982 and named for the famous loch in Scotland. It's the recreational heart of Bella Vista's water scene, home to the community's only full-service marina, a lakeside restaurant, open…

Bella Vista was built around water. Seven lakes wind through its wooded Ozark hills, offering boating, kayaking, swimming beaches, and some of the best bass and crappie fishing in Northwest Arkansas. Here's your guide to each Bella Vista lake — where to launch, where to fish, and how to get…

The Tanyard Creek Nature Trail is Bella Vista's most-loved hike — an easy, scenic loop through the woods along Tanyard and Sunshine creeks, complete with a suspension bridge and a picture-perfect waterfall. It's a short, family-friendly outing just minutes from Bella Vista's Town Center. The Waterfall & Suspension Bridge The…

Blowing Springs Park in southern Bella Vista is a scenic creekside park and a gateway to the region's trails — with a roughly 6-mile loop that skirts cliff sides dotted with caves, waterfalls, and springs. It's a favorite for mountain biking, hiking, and camping close to town. Trails Blowing Springs…

The Back 40 is Bella Vista's signature trail system — roughly 40 miles of soft-surface singletrack winding through the wooded hills on the east side of town. Built primarily for mountain biking but loved by hikers too, it's one of the crown jewels of Northwest Arkansas's OZ Trails network. The…

Bella Vista is a trail town through and through — from a 40-mile mountain-bike system to a waterfall hike the whole family can enjoy. Here are the best trails in Bella Vista, with a full guide to each. For detailed maps and conditions, our sister site NWA Bike Trails has…

The Fayetteville Square is the soul of downtown — a green, walkable historic plaza built around the 1911 Old Post Office, ringed by restaurants and shops, and home to the oldest farmers market in Arkansas plus beloved events like Lights of the Ozarks. It's the city's living room, busy from…

The University of Arkansas is the beating heart of Fayetteville — a beautiful campus crowned by the historic Old Main, and the home of Razorback athletics. Whether you're strolling Senior Walk or cheering on the Hogs at one of the best game-day atmospheres in college sports, the U of A…

Dickson Street is the entertainment and nightlife capital of Northwest Arkansas — a walkable strip between the University of Arkansas campus and downtown Fayetteville, packed with live music, bars, restaurants, and two of the state's premier performing-arts venues. On a weekend night, there's music almost everywhere you turn. Live Music…

Kessler Mountain Regional Park is Fayetteville's flagship outdoor playground on the city's southwest side — a roughly 620-acre park wrapped around the highest point in Fayetteville, with a big athletic complex, a 24-hole disc golf course, and, most famously, some of the rockiest, most technical mountain-bike trails in Arkansas. It's…

Lake Fayetteville is a favorite outdoor escape on the city's north side — a roughly 194-acre lake ringed by trails and parkland, with boat and bike rentals, an 18-hole disc golf course, sand volleyball, and the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks right next door. Whether you want to paddle, ride,…

Wilson Park is Fayetteville's oldest and most-loved park — a 22.75-acre green space in the center of the city, famous for its whimsical hand-built Castle, a summer pool, playgrounds, and tennis. It's a quintessential Fayetteville spot for families and photos alike. The Castle The park's beloved Castle, created by local…

Fayetteville is a true outdoors town, with a whimsical city park, a lake wrapped in trails, and mountain biking on the ridges. Here are the best parks, trails, and outdoor recreation spots in Fayetteville, with a full guide to each. Wilson Park Fayetteville's oldest and most popular park, home to…