This Arkansas Downtown Is Made For Strolling
Eureka Springs is located in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas. Aside from Eureka Springs’ peaceful mountain setting with its Victorian house-lined streets winding down the mountainside, Eureka Springs is also an incredibly walkable location, with its entire downtown on the National Register of Historic Places. Pair its walkable downtown with its vibrant art scene, and you have a premier shopping destination with blocks of retail shops, boutiques, art galleries, and craft stores. Take a walk through downtown Eureka Springs and see why it is truly made for strolling.
Town Park
Basin Spring Park is at the heart of downtown Eureka Springs, making it an ideal first stop when exploring. It is located on Spring Street, which veers off from Main Street. The park has strong ties to the town’s history as the park was built on top of the natural spring that founded the town in the late 1800s. The park was established in 1890 and is best known for the circular limestone fountain at the center of the park, which is fed by the spring that lies eight to ten feet below. Other historical features, such as original retaining walls and a wishing well, signify Basin Spring Park as the birthplace of Eureka Springs.
Today, it is enjoyed by residents and visitors alike who enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, live music throughout the summer, when the park hosts the Basin Park Music Series, which features performances by regional artists.
Dining Options
Balcony Bar and Restaurant is just a short walk up Spring Street. It is located within the Basin Park Hotel and is regarded as one of the most popular dining options within a relaxed setting in the whole of town. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, making it a great choice to fuel before a day of exploring the town. Alternatively, make your way back here at the end of your day to enjoy craft beer and live musical performances.
Eureka’s Nut House is a short walk farther up Spring Street from the Balcony Bar and Restaurant and is an ideal pit stop to pick up a light snack to enjoy while exploring Eureka Springs' historic downtown district. They specialize in a wide variety of nuts and seeds from all over the world. Their signature items are house-roasted and glazed nuts, which are small-batch and handmade to order. Other items available in store include vintage candy, glass-bottled sodas, beer and wine brewed in Arkansas, popcorn, jerky, and ice cream.
Art Scene
Quicksilver Gallery is located across the road from Eureka’s Nut House, also on Spring Street. Eureka Springs has been a constant within the downtown district for over three decades. The gallery is spread across two different levels and showcases the works of around 160 local, regional, and nationally recognized artists. Their works appear in a variety of different media, including jewelry, apparel, watercolors, photographs, prints, glass, pottery, woodworks, and much more. Eureka Springs has a wide range of independently owned stores, which are dotted throughout its sloping downtown streets.
Historic Hotel
As the last remaining original bathhouse in Eureka Springs, Palace Hotel and Bath House is worth a stop when making your way up Spring Street. The hotel was once regarded as the best-equipped bathhouse in Arkansas, with guests of today enjoying original clawfoot tubs and wood-barrel steamers. Guests of the hotel will experience personalized treatment, including nightly turn-down service and continental breakfast delivered to their suite each morning. However, you do not need to be a guest at this hotel to enjoy it. While wandering through downtown, stop by and take in the impressive limestone structure of the hotel, and the famous neon sign that hangs above the entrance. It was the first neon sign installed west of the Mississippi River and is lighted in the early evening hours and on cloudy days.
Similar Nearby Towns
Eureka Springs is not the only walkable downtown you will find in Arkansas. Bentonville is located about 30 miles west of Eureka Springs and is just as walkable as Eureka Springs. It is also known for its selection of restaurants, unique stores, attractions, and historical context. Visit the Walmart Museum, which features interactive exhibits and showcases Walmart’s history as it became the retailer it is today.
Fort Smith is around 80 miles from Eureka Springs, which, like Eureka Springs, has an art scene of its own. Each year, The Unexpected, an art project, lures international artists to town to contribute to the street art located downtown. Additionally, visit the Fort Smith Museum of History to learn about Fort Smith’s historical roots in the Old West.
Arkansas' Most Walkable Downtown
Downtown Eureka Springs is best explored on foot, which gives insight into living in this small Arkansas town nestled within the Ozark Mountains. Whether you like relaxing in public spaces, taking in Victorian-style architecture lining the streets, or indulging in the local arts culture, there is something for everyone. Take the time to follow Spring Street as it winds up the mountains, stopping at everything that catches your eye. Walking through Eureka Springs allows you to experience the town at your leisure for everything it has to offer.
