This post is sponsored by Visit Bentonville. Opinions belong to the writer.
Road trip time. Let’s go to Bentonville, Arkansas – dubbed the Mountain Biking Capital of the World! There is so much to do and even more to eat.
My family and I are not bike riders, but this adventure wonderland has trails suited for every level, lots of rental options, and is a very bike friendly area. Start planning your mountain biking itinerary here.
Getting There
It’s a short 3.5 hour trip from the KC area with plenty of food and gas options along the way. Don’t miss the giant morel mushroom on the drive.
What to Do in Bentonville
You can thank the Waltons for pretty much everything in Bentonville. If you haven’t been recently (or ever) been, now is the perfect time. Set the tone for your visit with a tour of the Wal-Mart Museum. Learn all about Sam Walton and the Walmart story. Grab your scavenger hunt cards, print out your own barcodes, and don’t miss the 90’s vibe in the bathroom. The ice cream at Spark is also a must try. The F150 flavor was my favorite and the prices are very family friendly.
To get even more acquainted with Bentonville and see all the gorgeous Fixer to Fabulous houses, learn some cool historical facts while cruising in style, book a Big on Bentonville tour. Let them know what type of tour you want – from brewery hoppin’ to kid friendly, they will make it happen. My kids had such a blast touring this way.
If you have any future pilots check out Thaden Field. This airport is open to the public. Eat lunch right next to the runway and watch planes come and go. Take the pedal planes for a spin, and see if any planes are parked in the hanger. There’s a really great playground right outside the building as well.
Osage Park is a short walk/ or drive away from Thaden Field, which is a stroller friendly walk through the wetlands.You might even see beavers! There was a coffee popup and food trucks nearby as well. If you need an extra adventure nearby, check out The Quiver, a brand new archery range. There’s equipment to rent on site, and pros there to help you get started. Outdoor games and tables are located in front for anyone not shooting.
Sculptures, murals, and interesting architecture are utilized everywhere in Bentonville. Crystal Bridges is the Nelson Atkins of Bentonville. You can tour a Frank Lloyd Wright house (book your tour time online ahead of time), a sculpture trail on a paved walk, and view stunning collections of art. We really love looking in their library and getting souvenirs at their gift shop. Bring everyone back at night and sit under the Buckyball for a light show.
If you need more art, take a tour of the Momentary. Visit right before dark and get the best pictures in front of their iconic you belong here sign. Across the lawn is an amazing selection of food choices and a giant boulder that kids can climb.
Our favorite stop was a morning at Scott Family Amazeum. We climbed to the top of a nest, played in water, made stop motion videos, did a Hershey Lab experiment (reserve your times!). We built in the tinker lab, created in the art room, shopped a very realistic market and made friends with Pops! We played here for two hours and could have easily stayed longer. The Amazeum is an incredible place to play, so make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy.
What to Eat in Bentonville
You can come to Bentonville just for the food. After a busy day or touring Bentonville we ended up getting a pizza to go from Oven and Tap, and it was sooo yummy. Make sure you get an order of fried mozzarella. It’s a great way to eat yummy and have a low key night.
If you are looking for tacos, you have to try YeYos Mexican Food– James Beard nominated chef, amazing menu. I ordered rice and beans for the kids, and then they sampled what they wanted too from the taco platter and various appetizers I had.
Take advantage of all the wide selection of restaurants and try something new! Crepes, sushi, fine dining, all the food trucks… but make sure you save room for the ice cream!
We tried two ice cream stops: Superfine Desserts and Trash Creamery. Superfine was fun to go to at night, the yellow vibe makes some fun pictures. We can’t stop talking about Trash Creamery – you pick vanilla or chocolate, then choose from a list of items, and they trash your ice cream.
Of all the art, ice cream, and fun places the best part of Bentonville is that it’s actually family friendly! All the places we toured and ate were welcoming and accommodating to the kid’s experience. We love that it’s only a 3.5-hour drive and that we can experience something new every time we visit. We are already planning another trip!
