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When you begin thinking about planning a trip, there are no doubt several lush, tropical,
and popular destinations that begin to fill your mind. Perhaps places like the Grand Canyon, New
York City, Paris, Miami, Rome, and a whole host of others scattered across the vast world.
However, very seldom are many people going to consider a little capital city nestled in the south,
a place called Little Rock, Arkansas as a travel destination. For most, Little Rock is a pass
through to Texas at best, but in my humble opinion, most are missing out on a hidden gem in that
regard.
I stumbled upon Little Rock (or I guess stumbled into Little Rock), completely by
accident. I was traveling with my father, as I frequently do, for one of his hobbies, and on a
rather hot Friday in the middle of July, we touched down at Bill and Hillary Clinton National
Airport, and immediately I knew this was going to be a special trip. We were soon whisked west
of Little Rock for a brief time, before returning to the city later that afternoon to settle into our
downtown apartment for the weekend. After we were unpacked, we took a walk from our
apartment near 7th street down to the riverfront. This was my first introduction to the charm and
beauty of this city. The area was full of beautiful architecturally designed buildings, and quaint
eateries, but somehow lacked many of the drawbacks of Modern American citiscapes such as
mass panhandling, a glaringly obvious crime, and drug presence. In fact, we found none of those
things, a pleasant surprise to what has become commonplace when exploring the streets of any
major American city, and that was as much of a contributor to my placing of Little Rock in the
premier of traveling as many of its main attractions, because the last thing anyone wants to do
while traveling is fear for their safety. While exploring all that the city had to offer, we quickly
stumbled upon Little Rock’s picturesque and meticulously groomed waterfront park which is
perched right on the banks of the Arkansas River. Stretching an impressive 12 blocks, this park
has managed to preserve the riverfront as a place for nature to thrive, while still being in close
walking proximity from the heart of the city. Across the river, you will find North Little Rock,
which is home to Simmons Bank Arena, the city's largest indoor event venue, and a fascinating
World War 2 submarine, which is now functioning as a museum. Back on the main thoroughfare
you will find the Little Rock River Market and surrounding areas, which are home to many
unique gift stores featuring local wares, and the best eats in town with places such as the Flying
Fish and Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken (If it's not really world famous it deserves to be).
Moving west you will see the Old Arkansas State house, now a museum, historic Little
Rock Union Station, and of course the current Arkansas State Capitol, which despite being under
renovation comes with all the grandeur that one would expect from such a building. Western
Little Rock also features Central High School, where in 1957 nine African American students
entered and desegregated the high school, thus sparking national controversy. Central High
School is preserved as both a historical sight and a functioning high school. The last of Little
Rock’s major attractions that must not be missed is the William J. Clinton Presidential Library,
which in addition to being a marvel of modern architecture encapsulates the life long history of
president Bill Clinton, and is worth the time for anyone visiting central Arkansas.
Thus far, we have touched on the attractions that would bring you to Little Rock, but
what about the feels? This city makes the visitors feel at home and eagerly welcomed into its
fold, perhaps if you’re like me, makes you feel like staying a little longer. For starters, the ease at
which you travel in, out, and around the city is incredible for a city of this population. During my
time in Little Rock, I never sat in traffic once, the road system was simple, effective, and easy to
navigate for visitors. Further, the airport was located right outside of Downtown and
conveniently connected to the city, so that upon my sad departure from Little Rock, driving to
the airport was accomplished with minimal effort of movement. Another aspect that I simply fell
in love with while visiting Little Rock (and I hope you will too, if you get the chance to travel
there) is the local newspaper. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette (The ADG) is the city's
newspaper and publishes wonderful, informative stories covering local, state, and national news.
During my time in Little Rock, I spent several hours reading stories from two issues of the
ADG. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, in Little Rock you will find kind, compassionate
people eager to welcome you into their city. The people I encountered all across Little Rock
made me feel welcome, made me feel like I was in a second home, the people that live in the
city, are what make it an amazing destination.
With all the knowledge you now have, I hope to soon hear about your upcoming travels
to Little Rock, and if you’re looking for someone to tag along-feel free to reach out, I have been
really seeking an excuse to go back!
Trey Stephens is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2028. He is studying political science.