Eureka Springs has been a favorite vacation spot in Arkansas for a long time. That’s because there are so many great things to do in Eureka Springs, Arkansas! My husband and I spent a winter weekend in Eureka Springs one year and it even snowed. It was beautiful. Absolutely unforgettable.
Eureka Springs is located in the Ozarks of northwest Arkansas. The entire city is on the National Register of Historic Places as the Eureka Springs Historic District.
It is a tourist destination for its unique character as a Victorian resort village. The city has steep winding streets filled with Victorian-style cottages and manors. The historic commercial downtown of the city has an extensive streetscape of well-preserved Victorian buildings. The streets wind around the town, and no two intersect at a 90 degree angle; there are no traffic lights. –Wikipedia
So, if you’re planning a trip to Eureka Springs but you aren’t sure what you should do when you get there, I’ve got a plan for you! Trust me. Arkansans know best.
Things to do in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs is a great town for an Arkansas mini-vacation. With delicious restaurants, excellent boutique shopping, spooky adventures, and kid-friendly activities, there is something for everyone!
1. Stay at the Crescent Hotel
The Crescent Hotel is an iconic place to stay in Eureka Springs. If you truly want to relax, this is where you need to go but don’t worry, this hotel is in the middle of the action for those of you who love to stay active!
Perched high above the Victorian Village of Eureka Springs, Arkansas is the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. An icon for Eureka Springs lodging, the full-service Crescent Hotel features 72 rooms with upscale suites and 4 luxury cottages. Guests enjoy the resort activities, hot tub, swimming pool, New Moon Spa & Salon, Crystal Dining Room, SkyBar Gourmet Pizza, concierge and bellman service and 15 acres of manicured gardens with hiking, biking and walking trails that loop through the city and pass the city Dog Park, Skate Park and City Playground. –Crescent Hotel
2. Lunch at Local Flavor Café
Gorgeous salads, spinach & artichoke dip, unbeatable burgers, crab cakes, and amazing house specialties – Local Flavor Café knows how to give you an excellent lunch experience!
Enjoy a quaint and eclectic dining experience in the heart of Historic Downtown Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Local Flavor Café offers fresh and creative dishes for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Delightful dining in a warm, friendly environment rich with art, Local Flavor Café has extensive wine offerings as well as cocktails to enhance your dining experience.
Local Flavor Cafe
3. Enjoy dinner at Ermilio’s Italian Restaurant
Nobody cooks like Ermilio’s.
Stuffed Mushrooms, Filet Mignon, Tuscan Chicken Pasta, and Hand-rolled meatballs, Ermilio’s makes the best. Be sure to save room for a Chocolate Pistachio Cannoli, Tiramisu, and a latte. You can thank me later.
We are located on the upper Historic Loop (old Highway 62 B) in Eureka Springs, AR, just a few blocks from the renowned Crescent Hotel.
Ermilio’s
You find Ermilio’s at 62 White Street, Eureka Springs AR 72632.
Phone: (479) 253-8806
4. Ice Skate at the Crescent Hotel
If you’re visiting Eureka Springs in the winter, be sure to practice your Triple Axel, Swizzles, and Twizzles on the ice skating rink at the Crescent Hotel.
“We create lifetime memories,” said Jack Moyer, hotel executive vice president and general manager, “and that is the reason why our hotel decided to add a ‘frozen pond’ in our Fountain Garden. We have also created a festive environment adjacent to the rink, with a nightly fire pit as well as tables and chairs where the family, when off the ice, can gather and perhaps enjoy a hot cup of cocoa and other beverages from our refreshment stand.”
Jack Moyer, Crescent Hotel
5. Go ziplining – Adventure for the Adrenaline Junkies
Personally, I’m not sure I am brave enough. People would be hearing me scream for miles around if I tried ziplining! But, if you’re braver than I, Ozark Mountain Ziplines has got the perfect adventure for you!
Address: 15927 Hwy 187 Eureka Springs, AR 72631
“Enjoy a zipline canopy tour in the beautiful Ozark Mountains! You may choose either the half course or full course tour experiencing the longest and highest cables in Arkansas. The course features a boardwalk, short nature walk, and a 4 x 4 Bigfoot Truck ride. This family-friendly adventure is great for ages 3 to 103! If you prefer to stay on the ground, we also offer E-bike rentals and gem panning.” –Ozark Mountain Ziplines
6. For those of you who like to be spooked, take the haunted hotel tour at the Crescent Hotel.
In addition to ziplining, here is another place where folks would be hearing me scream for miles around!
The haunted hotel where some guests checked out…but never left. You may have heard about Michael and Theodora…and “The Ghost in the Morgue.” But do you know about the “Nurse”…or the “Girl in the Mist”…or the Lady in the Victorian lingerie in room 3500. Hear all these tales and more when you tour America’s Most Haunted Hotel.
America’s Most Haunted Hotel
7. See the Big Cats at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
The kids in your life will love Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge!
Turpentine Creek is a wildlife refuge for big cats and bears. You can take tours and they even have lodging. It’s a wild experience! It has also been named one of the BEST zoos in Arkansas.
“Turpentine Creek is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) licensed facility for exotic and native wildlife. We rescue survivors of the Exotic Animal Trade with a focus on big cats and bear, providing them a safe lifelong home with exceptional diets and proper care, while working to preserve endangered species in the wild through public education and advocacy.” –Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Be sure to check it off your EPIC Arkansas Bucket List!
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8. For a truly unique experience, don’t miss Thorncrown Chapel
Nestled in a woodland setting, Thorncrown Chapel rises forty-eight feet into the Ozark sky. This magnificent wooden structure contains 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. It sits atop over 100 tons of native stone and colored flagstone, making it blend perfectly with its setting. The chapel’s simple design and majestic beauty combine to make it what critics have called “one of the finest religious spaces of modern times.”
Thorncrown Chapel
Since the chapel opened in 1980, over seven million people have visited this woodland sanctuary.
So while in the Ozarks, stop by what many have called one of the most beautiful and inspiring chapels in the world.
You will find Thorncrown Chapel on Highway 62 West right outside of Eureka Springs. Donations are accepted.
P.S. They have plenty of parking for buses and RVs.
Unforgettable Things to Do in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
If you can manage to do all of the things on this list, you will have an unforgettable experience in a place that many of us Arkansans love! You’ll leave knowing that a vacation in Arkansas is completely worth it.
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