Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel, board our motorcoach, and drive to Thorncrown Chapel outside Eureka Springs. Nestled on a wooded hillside, the majestic glass and wood beam frame encompasses 425 windows and more than 6,000 square feet of glass, providing a connection with nature and opportunity for quiet reflection. We’ll then head into Eureka Springs and take a narrated tram ride around the historic town, learning about local history as we admire the Victorian architecture.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
As we ride through the Buffalo River National Recreation Area, we’ll learn something of its natural history. We expect to arrive at the Ozark Folk Center mid-afternoon. This state park is dedicated to preserving the region’s cultural traditions. We will go to the Crafts Village for a self-directed exploration. We’ll be able to see working artisans who make and sell wares in the traditional method in these areas: blacksmithing, weaving, candle making, wood carving, pottery, quilting, broom making, and much more. We’ll then get our room keys and take the shuttle to our cabins with some time to freshen up and relax on the deck amid the beauty of the mountains.
Dinner:
We’ll take the shuttle (those who wish to climb the hill are welcome to do so) to the Skillet Restaurant on site at the Folk Center for a meal featuring down-home Southern cooking.
Evening:
Near the restaurant, we will walk to a performance space and experience the important role that music plays in the life of Ozark Mountain people during a concert in the center’s auditorium. In addition to regional folk tunes played on fiddles, banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, autoharps, and more, we’ll see how dancing and story-telling blend with the music and preserve mountain traditions. Returning to the hotel, prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.