Arrival & Check-in, Registration & Orientation, Welcome & Introductions, Attend "Tales from the South” Radio Broadcast

Note: Orientation meeting at 4:30. Take public trolley to restaurant for radio show in evening.

Arrive To: Arrive at Little Rock's Doubletree Hotel Downtown- check in at 3:00 PM.

Afternoon: ORIENTATION MEETING 4:30 PM. Pick up your Road Scholar arrival packet containing your name tag, up-to-date schedule, list of participants, maps, and other important information we will review.

The on-site coordinator will greet you with a warm welcome, introduce everyone, and provide key staff contact names and phone numbers. We will review the up-to-date daily schedule, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. If you arrive late, pick up your packet at the hotel front desk.

Dinner: PERFORMANCE: Immerse yourself in the Arkansas experience right away when you attend a National Public Radio show, “Tales from the South.” Enjoy listening to local writers read their own short stories based on growing up in the South in an unrehearsed live show, which also features lively music! These writers come from all walks of life. Their stories are funny, touching and sometimes tragic. You’ll be there to enjoy the tales, the live music, and a great dinner at North Little Rock’s Starving Artist Café.

Lodging: Double Tree Hotel Little Rock

Meals Included: Dinner

Historic Central High School; Ozark Folk Life Center; Folk Music Performance

Note: Must be able to walk on uneven surfaces up to 2 miles per day, stand in museums for up to 3 hours, and climb on and off motor coach without difficulty.

Breakfast: Enjoy at full breakfast at your hotel before check-out and departure on your journey through Arkansas.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Plunge into your experience in the South with a Ranger-led visit to Little Rock’s Central High School. Central High, once a national symbol of resistance to desegregation, is still in use as a public school. Visit the National Park Service Historic Site Visitor’s Center to find out more about the struggles of the Little Rock Nine, followed by an insider’s visit to the school, led by a Park Ranger with extensive knowledge of the school’s history. Following your tour, travel to Mountain View, Arkansas, to begin your discovery of the Ozark Mountains and the state’s rich cultural history.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at the Smoke House located in the Ozark Folk Life Center, a living history state park devoted to the preservation of the cultural history of the area. Learn more about Ozark history and culture during a colorful presentation from a staff member.

Afternoon: Enjoy the rest of your day at the Ozark Folk Life Center, which is dedicated to perpetuating the crafts, herbal wisdom and music of the Ozark Mountain people of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Visit working crafters and musicians. Learn how to throw a bowl, forge iron, stitch a quilt or any of more than 20 crafts. Find out about local traditions through exploration of the center and its demonstrations of pioneer skills and crafts. Check-in to your cabin at the center for your overnight stay.

Dinner: Enjoy great country cooking at the Skillet Restaurant, with weekly specials. Treat yourself to entrees made with locally grown herbs or a fried pie, if you wish.

Evening: PERFORMANCE: Witness first-hand the important role that music played in the life of Ozark Mountain people during a concert in the center’s auditorium. Enjoy regional folk and dance tunes performed on fiddles, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, autoharps and more. See how dancing and story-telling are blended in with musical performances to preserve mountain traditions.

Lodging: Ozark Folk Life Center Cabins at Dry Creek

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Buffalo National River; Eureka Springs- Crescent Hotel, Thorncrown Chapel, Historic Buildings

Note: Must be able to walk on uneven surfaces up to 2 miles per day, stand in museums for up to 3 hours, and climb on and off motor coach without difficulty.

Breakfast: Enjoy a hearty breakfast at the Skillet Restaurant before departing from the Ozark Folk Life Center.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Leave Mountain View to continue your discovery of the Natural State. Stop at the Tyler Bend Visitor Center of the Buffalo National River Park. The Buffalo River was the first river in the country to be designated as a national river. It originates in the highest part of the Ozarks and flows for just over 150 miles. The national river designation protects the river from industrial use or obstruction by dam. Stop at the Visitors Center to learn more about the beautiful river and its habitat, or walk ½ miles down an easy trail to see stunning views of the river. Continue your journey as you head to Eureka Springs to spend the rest of the day.

Lunch: Savor lunch in the Crystal Ballroom of the Crescent Hotel. Built in 1886, the Crescent Hotel has been the crown jewel of Eureka Springs, providing great food in an elegant setting.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: With a local guide, explore Eureka Springs, named one a distinctive destination by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Be inspired by the majestic glass and wood beam frame of the beautiful Throwncrown Chapel, nestled on a mountainside. Get inside the award-winning chapel to marvel at its design. See the seven-story statue, “Christ of the Ozarks,” created by one of the sculptors of Mount Rushmore. You’ll have some free time to explore the town’s quaint shops, art galleries, boutiques and museums.

Afternoon: PRESENTATION: Learn about the early history of Eureka Springs through the eyes of a long-time citizen and student of history.

Dinner: Continue your tour of the state as you move on to Bentonville/Rogers, where you will enjoy dinner at a well-known local restaurant and check in to your hotel.

Lodging: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Rogers - Pinnacle Hills

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bentonville: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Walmart Visitors Center and Bentonville town square

Note: Must be able to walk on uneven surfaces up to 2 miles per day, stand in museums for up to 3 hours, and climb on and off motor coach without difficulty.

Breakfast: Enjoy a full breakfast at your hotel.

Morning: PRESENTATION: The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is the most-talked-about museum in the United States in a generation. Find out more about the origins and development of the project from a local expert. Endowed by the Walton Family Foundation, it joins the ranks of the richest museums in the country and has collected an impressive collection of American art. Find out more about the museum before your visit.

Lunch: Begin your visit with lunch at the museum’s restaurant, Eleven, which works with local farmers and food artisans to produce fresh, healthy and locally grown food in a vibrant, modern setting.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Visit the Crystal Bridges museum to see a collection of American art masterworks from the colonial era to modern day, as well as touring collections from national art institutions. The collection includes masterpieces such as Charles Wilson Peale’s and Gilbert Stuart’s portraits of George Washington, Normal Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter and works by John Singer Sargent, William Merritt Chase and Andy Warhol. Designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, the museum consists of a series of pavilions nestled around two creek-fed ponds. A series of outdoor trails covering 120 acres of forests and gardens surrounds the museum. Enjoy a guided tour and time for independent exploration of the museum.

Evening: FIELD TRIP: No trip to Bentonville is complete without considering the influence of the Walton family and the Walmart Corporation on the community. Stop by the original 5 & 10 store to see where the Walmart story began. Look through an interactive gallery that tells the story of the development of the Walmart Corporation.

Evening: Find the restaurant of your choice from one of many on the Bentonville town square, adjacent to the Walmart Visitor Center, before heading back to the hotel for the night.

Lodging: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Rogers - Pinnacle Hills

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Short hike in state park- less than 2 miles.

Breakfast: Enjoy a full breakfast at your hotel before your departure from the Bentonville/Rogers area.

Morning: Check out from your hotel and head out to see more natural wonders of Arkansas at Petit Jean State Park.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch in the Legacy Room of the Mather Lodge in Petit Jean State Park. This beautiful, rustic lodge was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Afternoon: PRESENTATION: Discover the history of the park and the legend of Petit Jean and early French explorers. Get an overview of the park and its features from a park ranger.

FIELD TRIP: Get out into the park to see some scenic overlooks and waterfalls before heading back to Little Rock.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own. Relax and eat in or near the hotel, or take the trolley to the River Market to explore the restaurants and other offerings there.

Evening: After your initial exploration of the Natural State, return to Little Rock for some well-deserved rest and time on your own to explore the city. You may choose to eat at the restaurant in the hotel, or venture out into the nearby River Market district to find your favorite foods.

Lodging: Double Tree Hotel Little Rock

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hot Springs- National Park, Thermal Bathhouses, Garvan Gardens; Arkansas Politics

Note: Must be able to walk on uneven surfaces up to 2 miles per day, stand in museums for up to 3 hours, and climb on and off motor coach without difficulty.

Breakfast: Enjoy a full breakfast at your hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Venture out for a day in Hot Springs, which draws its name from the array of natural springs that still supply heated water for thermal baths. We’ll start out in the Hot Springs National Park, the smallest in the National Park System. The park was designated as Hot Springs Reservation in 1832 to protect the naturally flowing thermal springs. Explore the history and geology of the area with an expert. Stroll through Bathhouse Row and visit a bathhouse. Following your tour, you’ll have some free time, during which you may choose to take a bath, get a massage, or just explore the downtown area on your own.

Lunch: Eat lunch on your own in Hot Springs during your free time activities.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Nature lovers will delight in a visit to Garvan Woodland Gardens, featuring over 200 acres of floral landscapes, streams, waterfalls in a natural woodland setting. A docent will show you the highlights of the gardens, and then you will have time to explore the buildings and trails on your own as you discover this gem of the Ouachita Mountains.

Dinner: You can’t leave Arkansas without trying some of its famous barbecue. Return to Little Rock to feast at the Whole Hog Café, home of world champion barbecue. Try the succulent pulled pork, some other meat, or a variety of vegetable side dishes for a dinner you won’t soon forget!

Evening: Before you visit the Clinton Presidential Center, hear about Arkansas politics from a university professor who recently wrote a book on the subject. Learn about the dynamics of the state’s politics and Bill Clinton’s rise to national prominence.

Lodging: Double Tree Hotel Little Rock

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Clinton Presidential Center; Clinton School of Public Service; Historic Arkansas Museum; Farewell Dinner

Note: Must be able to walk on uneven surfaces up to 2 miles per day, stand in museums for up to 3 hours, and climb on and off motor coach without difficulty.

Breakfast: Enjoy a full breakfast at your hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Clinton Presidential Center- Spend an intriguing day at the Clinton Presidential Center, a stunning building on the banks of the Arkansas River. Take part in a guided tour of the presidential library, and learn of Bill Clinton’s vision of the center as a place where people come together to discuss issues of today and challenges of tomorrow. Enjoy some free time to explore the 20,000 square feet of exhibit space on your own.

Lunch: Your lunch today is in the Clinton Center’s award-winning restaurant, Forty Two. Sample the culinary creations of Chef Stephen Burrow and his staff, who advocate the “farm to table” movement in the menu. Many herbs and vegetables are grown on the grounds, and many ingredients are purchased from local sources.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Historic Arkansas Museum- Step back in time to explore the frontier history of Arkansas. Tour the museum’s historic grounds to visit pre-Civil War buildings and interact with living history characters. View the museum’s collection of Arkansas-made decorative objects as you contemplate the life of early settlers.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Clinton School of Public Service- Find out more about the first graduate school in the country to offer a Master of Public Service degree. Hear about Clinton’s vision for the school, and its efforts to equip students with the skills needed to participate in public service in the US and around the world. A staff member from the school will enlighten you about its mission and current programs.

Dinner: At a festive farewell dinner, say good-bye to the other participants and reflect on the many diverse things you have learned about Arkansas during your week. We hope you appreciate the state’s history, natural beauty, and cultural offerings.

Lodging: Double Tree Hotel Little Rock

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Full breakfast served at your hotel.

Morning: Check-out and departure. We hope you have enjoyed this very special event and will return for other rewarding Road Scholar programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals Included: Breakfast