This article was originally written and published here

As a self proclaimed Southern Ambassador, I’m ashamed to admit I know very little about the state of Arkansas. Any first hand knowledge, was from driving across I-40 on a road trip to California, with unfortunately, no stops in the actual state.

Arkansas is considered a Southern state but for us Deep South Southerners, it’s kind of like the cousin you only hear from occasionally. So when I was invited to visit Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas for a “Savor Arkansas” culinary tour, I jumped at the opportunity to learn more about it.

Even with my limited knowledge of the state, I did at least know that Bentonville is home to Walmart. Because of this, the area has seen major growth in recent years. With growth comes the challenges of an increasing population. However, the city and Walmart, via the Walton Family Foundation and other resources, have met those challenges head on. They are improving and creating a viable, affordable community to live in and visit.

Bentonville is much more than a culinary destination. It’s a thriving community working together to make it the best of the best. Not only for tourism and the people that visit for work but for the people that currently live there and prospective families they hope to attract to the area. Here are some of the reasons that make it a great place to visit and live.

Food

When there’s a Fortune 500 company in town doing business with vendors and people from all over the world you’re bound to see the influence on the community. One of the first things I noticed in Bentonville was the diversity of food choices. Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, Salvadorean, just to name a few of the different cuisines I saw. You want Ramen? You got it. Have a taste for Arepas? You can get them too. For a Southern town of less than fifty thousand, there are so many choices that some much larger places don’t even have.

Two of the restaurants at which I had the pleasure of dining, have been nominated for James Beard awards. The Preacher’s Son and The Hive were two of the most memorable meals I had all year. Who wouldn’t enjoy eating a meal in a church built in 1904 that’s now a restaurant? Or a restaurant in hotel that has a museum and serves cotton candy at the end of the meal?

Another brilliant meeting place concept that has a little something for everyone is 8th Street Market. If you’ve read anything on my blog, you know how much I love repurposed buildings. What once was a Tyson chicken plant is now a community focused food hub. Restaurants, merchants, and a Brewery under one roof offer food, shopping, a Farmer’s Market once a week and a just great place to meet friends and hang out.

In the same 8th Street Market complex, the growing need for chefs and food service workers is being addressed by Brightwater. A division of Northwest Arkansas Community College, they offer training in culinary nutrition, artisanal food, beverage management and food entrepreneurship. The best part is anyone can take a class. Individuals, students and professionals. They cater events, work closely with the restaurants in the market and even have a hydroponic greenhouse. The focus on local and seasonal food is teaching to students that what goes into the kitchen is just as important as what comes out.

Museums

Just like their food, there’s no lack of diversity in museum options in Bentonville.

Crystal Bridges, a Museum of American Art, is the vision of Sam Walton’s daughter Alice. Since it opened, the museum has been redefining art. Not afraid to take chances with exhibitions, you can see Amy Sherald (temporary exhibit) mixed in with John Singer Sargent, Pollack and Warhol. From the moment you arrive and see Roxy Paine’s “Yield” or the silver tree, out front, you know it’s going to be special experience. The design of the buildings, the windows, the water and the grounds that surround the museum are just as interesting as what’s inside. Visitors can enjoy trails, sculptures and an entire Frank Lloyd Wright house, that was dismantled and moved from New Jersey. One of the best things is, except for special exhibits, admission is free.

Another museum in Bentonville is The Museum of Native American History. It’s a privately owned museum that takes visitors on a 14,000 year journey showing Native Americans are much more than what’s been depicted on TV and in movies. With over 10,000 Native American artifacts, all Native Americans, from South America to Canada are represented. Kids will love the real mammoth skeleton, Tuskers, from Siberia and the tee pee. They really have some great interactive displays just in case you want to know what you look like in full tribal makeup. Admission is free.

You might think a place called the Amazeum would just be for kids. Even though it was designed with kids in mind, the Scott Family Amazeum with 50,000 sq. feet of exhibits and learning space, has something for everyone in the family. Part museum, part science experiment, there are all kinds of activities, educational programs and things to climb on. I loved the street art, murals and the happy vibe of the place. Of course, it wouldn’t be Bentonville if there wasn’t a small kid sized Walmart to play in. Members are free. Adults and kids over two are $9.50.

Last but not least is, you guessed it, the Walmart Museum. Sam Walton opened his Walton’s 5-10 in 1950, right on the Bentonville Square. Even though he isn’t originally from there, it’s where he created his business and grew his family. As you tour, you can see Mr. Walton’s office just as it was on his last day there, the truck he drove everyday and learn more about his personal life. Mr. Walton also loved ice cream. The Spark Cafe at the end of the tour offers you a taste of his favorite flavor, Butter Pecan and others. They even have a special Spark flavor, named after the Walmart Spark Logo. Admission is free.

Nature

With sixteen parks in the area, Bentonville has invested a lot into getting people outside and moving. They have over 40 miles of bike paths and walking trails that take you through all kinds of terrain. Many of these trails connect the downtown area with parks and even Crystal Bridges.

There are also several lakes in the area for boating and fishing and Climb Bentonville, opening soon, is the area’s only climbing and fitness facilities.

Aviation

Even though I love road trips, there’s enough room in my heart for airplanes too. So what Bentonville is doing for local aviation may just be my favorite thing there. While this area of Arkansas is serviced by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Bentonville has it’s own small airfield, the Louise Thaden Field, used smaller aircraft and helicopters.

Last year, they opened The Fieldhouse at Thaden Field. If you have ever checked into learning to fly, you probably found out it’s not that easy to do and it’s expensive. The idea behind opening The Fieldhouse is to make learning to fly easier and more accessible to the general public. The Fieldhouse is kind of like a clubhouse for pilots. You can train, test, rest and just hang out. But the public is welcome to come and enjoy it as well.

There’s an exhibition hangar, where they will have aircraft on display. I was there the week after they opened so they were still bringing things in and setting up. Eventually they will have information and videos of Louise Thaden.

Who exactly is Louise Thaden? You may have never heard of her but she’s actually one of the most important women in aviation. As an aviation pioneer, she set world records, was a friend to Amelia Earhart and was the first woman to win a National Air Race. It just so happens that she was born in Bentonville.

In true celebration of her accomplishments, the Fieldhouse also has a cozy cafe named “Louise”. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. With indoor and outdoor seating, you can dine and watch the planes take off at the same time.

There’s also a huge outdoor space for lawn games in the summer. You can rent bikes and canoe on Lake Bentonville adjacent to the airfield. I know where I would be hanging out on warm weekends.

All of these things make Bentonville a great place to visit but it was the people and the sense of community I really enjoyed. I hope to return in the future. In fact, I’m planning on including it in a Summer road trip. I want my daughter, an art student, to see Crystal Bridges among other things.

Sometimes we just need a little help to see an overlooked place. I’m grateful to the Bentonville Convention & Visitors Bureau for putting it on my radar. Even though I was hosted by them, all experiences and opinions are my own. And my opinion is: put Bentonville on your list!