Looking for things to do in Bentonville, AR? Just what is all the buzz about regarding the beautiful city of Bentonville Arkansas? Many things actually. Bentonville is an amazing mix of culture, cycling, recreation, business, shopping and also chef-driven restaurants that are incredible places to eat.
Here is a List of Things To Do in Bentonville AR
1. Visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Permanent Collection and Special Exhibits
2. Explore the Compton Gardens and Conference Center
3. Visit Walmart Visitor Center
4. Go mountain biking on Slaughter Pen Trail or Coler Creek Mtb Preserve
5. Stroll through Downtown Bentonville Square and Farmers Market
6. Check out the Thaden Fieldhouse, an aviation facility
7. Attend a concert or event at The Momentary contemporary arts space
8. Play Pickleball at Osage Park
9. Check out live music and other events happening this week in Bentonville.
10. Check out the Bentonville Community Center
11. Walk and explore the Razorback Greenway
12. Tour the Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House
13.Enjoy fishing with family or friends for Osage Park
14. Explore the grounds and art trails at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
15. Attend various music festivals at the Momentary or FORMAT
16.Check out the Quiver Archery Range at Osage Park
17.Take your dog to a dog park – Bentonville AR Dog Park (Furry Friend Hangouts)
18. Explore Crystal Bridges Art Trail
19. Try your ability at Climb Bentonville
20. Take in a performance at Trike Theatre
21. Take in a movie at Skylight Cinema
22. Explore Osage Park wetlands and lake.
23. Check out any of the 19 Parks in Bentonville and Bella Vista
24. Eat at one of the Top 10 Restaurants in Bentonville
25. Explore Museum of Native American History
26. Walk the paved trail at Coler Creek Mountain Bike Preserve
27. Rent bikes or ebikes and explore Razorback Greenway
28. Check out a list all of the Best Places To Eat in Bentonville
29. Check out Art at various galleries in town including First National Bank of NWA
30. Indulge in taste treat delights at Top 10 Ice Cream In Bentonville Ar + Desserts
31. Check out the Bentonville History Museum
32. Dine at The Louise while watching planes take off and land at Thaden Field
33. Explore the Bentonville Library
34. Spend time at Lawrence Plaza (either the Splash Pad or The Ice Rink)
35. Enjoy an upscale dining experience at an award winning Bentonville restaurant.
36. Take in the Scott Family Amazeum – an interactive children’s museum
37. Attend monthly Bentonville First Friday events on the downtown Bentonville Square
38. Grab coffee or ice cream from local shops
39. Enjoy drink at the Tower Bar atop the Momentary Museum (Top 10 Bars in Bentonville AR
40. Explore the shops and restaurants at 8th Street Market
41.Take in the shops in downtown Bentonville
42 Ride the Back 40 or the Little Sugar MTB trails in Bella Vista
43.Play a round of miniature golf course (Kingsdale in Bella Vista)
44. Go skating at Great Day Skate Place
45. Take in a show at Meteor Guitar in downtown Bentonville
46. Enjoy a delicious cup of java at one of the Top 9 Coffee Shops in Bentonville
47. Hang out with the locals at one of the popular spots.
THINGS TO DO IN BELLA VISTA
48.Explore Tanyard Creek Nature Trail and Hike to the waterfalls in Bella Vista
46.Golf at one of Bella Vista Golf Courses
47. Explore Blowing Springs
48.Visit Bella Vista Historical Museum
49.Play disc golf in Bella Vista (Branchwood)
50.Fish the Little Sugar Creek in Bella Vista
BELOW IS AN ITINERARY OF FUN THINGS TO DO IN BENTONVILLE AR!
1) RIDING THE TRAILS
Cyclists come from near and far to check out the OZ Trails. Bentonville is the perfect launching off spot for ride the trails. Take a ride on some of the stunningly beautiful trails around the city proper including Coler Creek, Slaughter Pen and the Razorback Greenway. Here is a a top 10 list of resources for Bentonville Mountain Biking.
If you’re up for a bit of adventure, you can rent a bike or an ebike (here is a list of Top 10 Bike Rentals). Rentals include all you will need for a safe, comfortable ride, or you can always welcome to BYOB (bring your own bike). The Meteor Cafe and The HUB Bike Shop are both bike shops that are popular gathering places for cyclists who enjoy great food, drinks and socializing.
If biking is not your thing, visit the recently restored Meteor Guitar Gallery or shop the wonderful little art galleries, specialty stores & trendy boutiques around the Historic Bentonville square including Remedy Road, In Season, Label and many others. Once Upon a Time Books is a full-line, on-line, used bookstore that is a delight place to enjoy.
You might like to check out the world’s first bikeable building, “The Ledger”. It is a 6 story mixed space office building. You can walk up it or ride your bike for incredible views of Bentonville.
Here is a something you will really enjoy if you are looking for a master list of things to do in Bentonville Arkansas.
Click Here are the Top 10 Bentonville AR Restaurants
2) COCKTAILS & CRAFT BEER
Scotch and Soda,Oven & Tap, Pedaler’s Pub, The Lady Slipper and the Undercroft located in the basement of Preacher’s Sonare all places to sample the tasty creations of the area’s top mixologists. If beer is your thing, make a pit stop at Bike Rack Brewing located in the 8th Street Market. They have an excellent selection of craft brews, and the customers and staff are welcoming and helpful.
If a fun wine bar is on your list, then Ramo d’Olivo will serve you well!
The First Seat, tucked away down a cute alley is a cozy pub where you can relax, have a drink and have a delicious bite to eat. The Bentonville Dive is a fun little bar that has a large patio area to see and be seen while enjoying a beer.
Bentonville Dive
3) Restaurants on the Square
Oven & Tap, Preacher’s Son, Tusk & Trotter (all on the square or just off the square) and The Hive Bentonville are all favorite places to experience the unique chef-driven cuisine found only in Northwest Arkansas.
Bar Cleeta, a rustic fine-dining restaurant, offers an eclectic wine program, cocktails, oysters, charcuterie and shared/small plates focused on seasonal ingredients.
Conifer Bentonville, Azul Tequila Bistro and Bentonville Taco and Tamale located either on or close to the downtown square all wow diners.Want additional dining options? Here are the Best Restaurants in Bentonville.
Charcuterie board . Image Courtesy Tusk and Trotter
4) NIGHTLIFE
Head on over to Scotch and Soda serving with open wall, sidewalk seating or The Undercroft with its speakeasy atmosphere and friendly, knowledgeable bartenders and creative delicious libations. Bentonville Taproom is a fun bar with occasional live music. If you enjoy live music Check out Bentonville Live Music for nightly music listings and upcoming music festivals.
Scotch and Soda
5) BENTONVILLEDOWNTOWN SQUARE
Saturday Farmers’ Market has coffee, sweet rolls, every sort of organic produce you might want, live music and a lively, fun atmosphere. If you are looking for a fantastic bagel, stop by Ozark Mountain Bagel Co. just off the Square.
Or you could start your morning off with a short bike ride, run, walk or jog through nearby Compton Gardens, a 6.5-acre, amazing nature/woodland. If you’ve worked up an appetite, the Table Mesa is the place to go for breakfast. Just want a coffee?
Onyx Coffee, also just off the square, delights in creating the coffee of your dreams. How about some mexican food? You are in luck, Bentonville Taco and Tamale as well as Azul Tequila Bistro are excellent choices for your Tex-Mex fix.
The Walmart Museum is a wonderful interactive museum covering the fascinating history of Walmart and the life of Sam Walton and other Walton family members.
Note, it has been temporarily relocated to Walmart Museum Heritage Lab at 240 S Main St Suite #190 (The Ledger Building).
6) ART
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the 1.2 billion dollar museum founded by Alice Walton, youngest of Sam Walton’s children, is the crown jewel of the art scene in NWA. Make sure you make time to visit this breathtaking museum, and its beautiful surrounding grounds with its many lovely landscaped trails and awe inspiring sculptures.
The Momentary, is a contemporary art space and performance venue that serves as a satellite of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. It is Located in downtown Bentonville near 8th Street Market, the Momentary spotlights emerging visual, performing and culinary artists in a welcoming, communal space.
21C Museum Hotel and First National Bank of NWA (FNBNWA) also displays outstanding art on a rotating basis.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art – Photo Courtesy Arkansas Dept of Parks and Tourism
7) LUNCH FOR FOODIES
While you’re at Crystal Bridges, enjoy a farm-to-table fresh lunch at Eleven, or stop by Crepes Paulette and sample the best crepe you’ve ever put in your mouth.
Yeyo’s, has a season food truck and a brick and mortar restaurant in the 8th Street Market, and offers delicious authentic Mexican flavors made from only farm fresh ingredients.
Wright’s Barbecue located north of the Lawrence Splash Park/Ice Rink might be the best BBQ you have ever had in your life. In addition, Wright’s is conveniently located across the street from the Comptoms Garden and Crystal Bridges trails.
You also will want to check out, Trash Creamery, a fun 80’s themed Ice Cream shop. Here is a list of Places To Eat In Bentonville AR ~Top 10 Lists Of Best Food.
Image courtesy of Wright’s BBQ
8) SHOPPING
Shop the wonderful art galleries and specialty stores and boutiques on the square and up and down the adjoining side streets. Remedy Road specializes in gifts that give back. You’ll find clothing, purses, exotic gifts and more at this delightful boutique located just off the square.
9) RESTAURANTS
Treat yourself to some of the most delicious food to be found in Northwest Arkansas. Table Mesa Bistro, a boutique style restaurant, features multicultural offerings that include the perfect blend of delicious seasonal ingredients.
Regardless of which dish you order, your taste buds will rejoice and thank you for it. Table Mesa is a great place to relax with friends after enjoying a fabulous meal. The drinks are out-of-this-world, and the service is friendly and efficient.
Blu Fish House specializes in fresh-from-the-docks seafood. This unique fresh market and restaurant features tantalizingly delicious seafood and sushi, a casual friendly atmosphere, great service, indoor and outdoor seating and an overall dining experience that you will never forget.
If world-class sushi is your thing, then you have to experience AOI Sushi, located across the street from 21c.
Salmon and mango sushi – Image courtesy of Blu Fish
10) HANGING OUT
The Undercroft, the speakeasy-like bar in the basement of the Preacher’s Son or Scotch & Soda are the places to finish off your evening. Both are lively local favorites. The nearby Momentary (Tower Bar) is a favorite local spot as well.
Want more ideas of things to do in Bentonville? Here you go.
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