Fayetteville, Arkansas
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CITIES & CULTURE
 

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By Rhonda Crone

Fayetteville, Arkansas may not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a family vacation yet according to Kiplinger's magazine this town of just 62,000 is the 7th best place in America to work, live and play. Fayetteville is home to the University of Arkansas, a Top Tier university with an NCAA football team. It boasts a green approach to city planning. Fayetteville has numerous parks, most of which are connected by the citywide trail system. The historic downtown is host to a whole range of nightlife from music venues to beer joints and fine dinning. The city's calendar of festivals, including the Fayetteville Film Festival, Springfest, and Bikes, Blues and Barbeque motorcycle rally, keep Fayetteville hopping. The Walton Arts Center, the cornerstone of culture in Fayetteville, features high quality national productions such as R.E.N.T, Annie, and C.A.T.S. Fayetteville is a sort of oasis in Arkansas, it has a different vibe than any other city in the state.

Copyright © Rhonda Crone. All rights reserved. Rhonda Crone is a freelance writer who lives in the Ozarks with two kids, a husband, a Welsh Corgie and a dwarf bunny. After finishing her journalism degree and starting her family six years ago, Rhonda has been blogging and writing for local magazines and various websites. She writes about anything that interests her, from wine to wellness to parenting, but her main love is travel writing, despite her intense fear of flying.
Getting There
 
Fayetteville is the southernmost city in the four-city (Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville) area known as northwest Arkansas. The nearest airport is in Bentonville, AR (airport code XNA), 30 minutes to the north. Other nearby airports include Branson Airport (BKG) in Branson, MO and Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM) in Fort Smith, AK.
Getting Around
 
While the traffic in Fayetteville is hardly horrendous it is best to avoid I-540 during rush hour and on Razorback game days. There are two providers of public transport in Fayetteville. Razorback Transit Service is geared to students and provides bus service during the school year only. Ozark Regional Transit services the urban and rural areas of northwest Arkansas.
When to Travel
 
Fayetteville is at its best when it blooms in spring and in September when gorgeous fall foliage is at its most vibrant and Razorback football season is kicking into high gear. Bikes, Blues & Barbeque, one of Fayetteville's largest and growing festivals, also happens in fall, usually in October.
Health & Safety
 
Arkansas law requires that children 5 years and younger and less than 60 pounds (23 kg) travel in a properly restrained child safety seat. Children aged 6 - 15 or more than 60 pounds must buckle up.
Things to Keep in Mind
 
Lodging is difficult to come by on home game weekends and throughout the Bikes, Blues & Barbeque festival held annually each fall. Book early if your trip to Fayetteville coincides with either.
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Travel Trivia
At Four Corners you can stand in which four U.S. States?