I just got back from a random road trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

[Scout1071]

My best friend and I decided to take an overnight road trip and I remembered Eureka Springs from a trip in my childhood. So, we hopped in the car and 5 hours later we were in the unique, artistic community of Eureka Springs.

We shopped all the hundreds of artists shops and sampled all the local fare. Although not a particularly religious person, we even visited the 90 ft Jesus on the cliffs on the Ozark Mountains. On the same site, they host the "Passion Play" that has apparently been selling out to millions for years on end. I didn't feel the need to go so the show, but the giant statue was beautiful - especially surrounded by Ozark mountains. Natural springs abound and there are spa services available on every single block.

It is very biker friendly and there were thousands of bikers riding the mountains. Lots of honeymooners and couples there for romantic weekends at the B&B's, as well as the random travelers like myself and my friend.

I bought a 3 ft tall, handmade, metal Buddha (flat metal used for yard art) for my garden. A bottle of local Cabernet, a soft NASA space helmet/hat for my nephew and an old sign that says:

All GAMBLERS and
FANCY WOMEN
must sign up with the Captain
before boat leaves for NEW ORLEANS

Mississippi River Boat Owner's Assoc.


All in all, I cannot believe how much we saw and did in 48 hours time.

If you are ever in the neighborhood (5 hour radius) of Eureka Springs, I'd say it's worth a visit.

Edited to note that Arkansas is in the "Bible Belt." You should be forewarned that Eureka Springs is one of the only cities in Arkansas that serves alcohol on Sundays and even then, they must halt all liquor sales promptly at 10pm. They literally take the drink away from you at that time, even if you aren't finished. In that case, be prepared to buy and bring your own if you want cocktails on Sunday - even on a holiday weekend.

[Scout1071]

1. Kick with pics!

Not my pics, but narrative pics nonetheless:

[ForrestGump]

2. Thanks!

I'd love to go there. Looks like a pretty cool place, with beautiful surroundings.

One day!

[Scout1071]

3. Many, many famous and rising artists live in the community.

And it's probably the most "alternative" city in the state. Eureka Springs has many gay-owned businesses and the community in general is very tolerant. Hundreds of "commitment ceremonies" take place each year, along with all the other couple ceremonies.

I'm not gay, but I do enjoy being amongst tolerant people. However, it is a very odd balance with the tremendous "Christian" travel that flocks to the area for The Passion Play and Branson attractions nearby.

[ccjlld]

4. Went there several years ago

Hubby and I agree it was one of our best weekend road trips ever. Beautiful country, quaint fun little town.

Did you see Thorncrown Chapel? We went there on a beautiful spring day and it was overwhelming for me. So peaceful, calming, and hushed, we found ourselves whispering for no specific reason, just because it seemed right. That beautiful glass building, sitting among the trees on the side of a mountain, was incredible. It felt like the building belonged there. That is the one place I've been in my life where I actually felt a strong spiritual presence. We just sat there for a long time, saying nothing and taking it all in.

[Scout1071]

5. Yes, we stopped in the Thorncrown Chapel today. Pic is above.

And we whispered too! It was a magical place.

[clyrc]

6. I had my honeymoon there!

I was lovely and Eureka Springs will always have a special place in my heart. I haven't been back in 8 years, but I think about the place a lot and hopefully I'll get to go back sometime soon.

[Scout1071]

12. It looked like a fun place for a wedding.

At the Thorncrown Chapel and a reception in Eureka proper. A fun place for your guests to explore and beautiful place for a ceremony.

[clyrc]

13. I didn't get married there, but my sister did

It was about 105 the day she got married, and the cake and flowers wilted really quickly in that heat. She was five months pregnant and marrying a real loser, in a tacky wedding place that was not anything like Thorncrown, which I agree is beautiful. The only guests were me and my then fiance, and my parents. None of us were happy about the whole thing. A cousin of mine also got married there, secretly, before having a big wedding in Tulsa. Apparrently this was to assuage my cousin's guilt at having sex before marriage... you can maybe tell what kind of family I have.

But my honeymoon could not have been nicer. The food was so good, and we loved the rooms we stayed in.

[Scout1071]

14. I was hot while we were there.

Especially since the entire town and all the shops are on those hilly Ozark roads and you have no choice but to walk.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to walking, but up and down those hills with sweat rolling down my back, to pop in and out of little shops - only 1/2 of which were air conditioned - well, that was the worst part of the trip. It's just hard to maintain a good attitude about shopping all day when your bra and back are sweat soaked.

Other than that...lovely.

[Nicole]

7. I love it there

I could see myself living there if I didn't have family keeping me here.

The glass chapel is amazing. So is the Christ of the Ozarks. This time of year the Eureka Garden is a beautiful place to visit.

I spent hours browsing the shops, especially the quilt & antique shops. I liked that we could ride the trolley from our hotel to downtown & then walk everywhere.

The beautiful Queen Anne mansion with all the birds was a favorite stop also.

[Cannikin]

8. I live in Arkansas, and I look for ways to get OUT.

[Scout1071]

9. I'm not saying I'd want to hang in the rest of the state, but Eureka is

very nice.

[KamaAina]

10. Ah yes, the Christ of the Ozarks, a/k/a the "milk carton with arms".

I used to spend summers there (or in nearby Berryville) with my old social worker from school, who had retired there. Her little granddaughter dubbed the great statue "a milk carton with arms". Apparently, due to FAA regs or some such, the proportions are all wrong.

In that day, as you approached Eureka from the east on Hwy. 62, you were greeted by a billboard shouting "Get US Out! Of the U.N." Then again, I served as guest math instructor for one day at a small private school run by authentic hippies. Kind of a jangled mix.

[Scout1071]

11. That is EXACTLY what I'm talking about!

It is a very odd mix of extreme religious right (aka The Bible Belt) and eclectic, liberal artistic types. And some that are both. And some that are neither.

Very odd indeed, but worth a visit.

[1gobluedem]

15. I love Eureka Springs!

My mother and I found it more or less by accident and just loved it. It reminded me a little bit of Mackinac Island except there were cars.

Before we left, we checked the map and decided to stay in Mountain Home which looked to be about an hour east of us. As we drove out of Eureka Springs we saw a liquor store with a huge sign that said LAST LIQUOR IN ARKANSAS FOR THE NEXT SIXTY MILES. My mother looked at me in horror and said "Maybe we'd better stay in Missouri." Fortunately, though, Mountain Home was sixty miles away and you could buy beer and wine there although not by the glass in a restaurant; you bought it at the gas station. So we bought our beer and wine and ordered a pizza to eat at the motel.

[Scout1071]

16. Yes, liquor laws are weird.

Our waitress warned us on Sunday night that they would have to take our drinks at 10pm sharp. She said that Eureka was one of the only places in Arkansas that could serve liquor in restaurants/bars on Sundays! And at 10pm, the waitress promptly took away our drinks.

Caught us by surprise - especially on a holiday weekend. Fortunately we'd pick up a couple of bottles of local wine earlier in the day and were able to keep rolling!

[sinkingfeeling]

17. Eureka is something like stepping back in time a hundred years. I

think it's getting way too commercialized, but I have loved touring the historic houses. When I first came to Arkansas in 1991, I actually put a contract on a house there. I had a position in Fayetteville and stayed in a rental unit for two months in Eureka. The drive down and back was wearing....Highway 62 was impossible due to tourists and the back ways were blocked with Tyson chicken trucks. My Corvette loved the curves when the road was clear, but after having 6 chickens fly into the windshield from the truck in front of me, I changed my mind. I bought the house in Fayetteville.