DAY TWO

If it’s Saturday morning, start out at the Farmer’s Market in the downtown square, 7:30 a.m. 

to 1 p.m., mid-April to October. Farmers, ranchers, local artisans and lots of tastes. Perk up with 
a morning coffee at the innovative Arkansas-based seed-to-cup Onyx Coffee Lab (100 NW 2 St., 
#106). Carry your coffee and a pastry over to the town square to sit on a bench. Inhale Norman 
Rockwell, relax and get ready for the pilgrimage to retail lore. onyxcoffeelab.com

You will need at least an hour to take in The Walmart Museum, set in the original Walton’s 

5 & 10 store. Opened in 1950 by Sam Walton, it was the grandpa of the Walmart retail chain. 
No matter your feelings about Walmart, you can appreciate the fascinating history of its 
founder, his dream and the marketing he used to achieve it. Walton’s stark office (unchanged for 
decades) speaks to an emphasis on the bottom-line. Start with the video for an overview. Try a 
float at Spark’s Café, a 1950s style soda shop on the premises, and check out the toys and candy 
in the store. I expected to walk in and walk out, but ended up spending two hours. Admission is 
free. walmartmuseum.com 

For lunch, try Table Mesa, a fusion restaurant on town square where you can order burgers, 

a carnitas sandwich and lobster tacos. I loved their famous “Cheap Dates” appetizer (huge 
Medjool dates stuffed with gorgonzola and cream cheese, wrapped in smoked bacon), hummus 
with plantain chips, and squash enchiladas. tablemesabistro.com

After lunch, spend a few hours downtown meandering through side streets, local galleries 

and shops. Don’t miss Meteor Guitar Gallery and Museum, set in the 1920s Plaza Theater, a 
must-see for any die-hard guitar-lover or musician (hundreds of instruments and amps, vintage 
to new, and rare musical gear). Decidedly niche. The gallery also features local artists, their 
pottery, sculptures and more. meteorguitargallery.com 

You also might want to consider the Museum of Native American History, an older 

museum divided into five time periods with thousands of artifacts from multiple Native 
nations. You’ll learn a lot from a casual walk-through, but this is a gem for anyone seriously 
interested in Native-American culture. Free. Closed Sundays. monah.us 

For dinner, relax at The Hive, an art gallery restaurant at 21 c Museum Hotel. The Hive’s 

famous fried chicken is generally only available on Wednesdays and Sundays, but if you call 
an hour or so ahead, they’ll make it to order anytime. It’s that kind of service that makes 
Bentonville special. After eating, explore all the gallery spaces at the venue, a combination hotel 
and contemporary art museum (a hotel with its own art curator!). It is an impressive display of 
rotating exhibitions by living artists—with a global and inclusive perspective—and it is open 24 
hours a day. 21cmuseumhotels.com/Bentonville

DAY THREE

Enjoy the natural Ozark beauty by dedicating a day to exploring nearby parks and 

waterways. I recommend a drive to Beaver Lake for a late morning and early afternoon of 
picnicking, swimming, fishing or water sports. You can also book a short kayak adventure 
down the Buffalo River. Check in with the Visitor’s Bureau in advance for recommendations on 
excursion guides and equipment rentals.

Bentonville has become, in a mere decade, a mountain biking destination, with many 

miles of city trails connecting to 200+ miles of the Oz Trail System (not Dorothy and the 
Wizard, but “Oz” for Ozark). Bentonville, which just hosted the International Mountain Biking 
World Summit in the fall of 2016, features nine annual cycling events (both rides and races). 
For a fun day exploring the local trails, rent bikes at Phat Tire Bike Shop (just off the square) or 
Bentonville Parks and Rec. bikebentonville.com 

If you have kids, then The Amazeum (Scott Family Amazeum) is a must-do. This is an 

interactive, play-focused, hands-on children’s museum with a Nickelodeon Play Lab, water play, 
cave and canopy climbing, art studios, pretend markets and homesteads, tinkering and science 
experiments with chocolate (seriously). Kids can spend all day here. On Sundays, it is open from 
1–5 p.m., and if you are still around at closing time, join in the big bass drum parade. Bring your 
own food to enjoy in the outdoor playscape. Admission is $9.50 for adults and kids older than 2, 
and you can always check out their “Priceless Nights” when admission is free on most Wednesdays 
from 4–7:30 p.m. Closed Tuesdays. amazeum.org

BONUS: 

SUMMER EVENINGS

Bentonville has several local music 
venues for evening entertainments, 
but you can make the most of your 
visit by timing it to coincide with a 
film festival, art and culinary festival 
or summer concert series. 

Geena Davis teamed up with 
corporate sponsors in 2015 to 
create Bentonville Film Festival, 
which is becoming a must-see 
annual event that celebrates and 
promotes women and diversity 
in film. It runs from May 2–7. 
bentonvillefilmfestival.com

Summer Concert Series events are 
Friday evenings in central Orchard 
Park, with the music ranging from 
blues to country to classic to rock. 

First Fridays from April to November 
transform the downtown square 
into a giant block party (and much 
of downtown as well) with food, 
music, children’s activities, and 
gallery openings. 

The Arts and Culinary Festival 
continues throughout June with 
chef demonstrations, live music and 
themed culinary events. 

Trike Theatre offers summertime 
week-long drama and theater camps 
for kids. Imagine a vacation where 
your kids (or grandkids) get to do 
what they enjoy and make new 
friends while you get several hours 
every day to do what you want. 
triketheatre.org. 

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