Have you wondered what it would be like to revisit some of the places in central Arkansas where you went on a field trip as a kid — minus the kids? Or maybe you've recently moved to Arkansas or are visiting and would like to find some fun activities in the area.
Look no further. We've come up with a list of 10 places worth visiting (or revisiting) within a short distance of the Little Rock metro.
So pack your brown-sack lunch, pull on your backpack and sign your own permission slip — it's time for an adult field trip.
1. Museum of Discovery - Science after Dark
500 President Clinton Ave., Suite 105, Little Rock
While showing up at the Museum of Discovery in the middle of the day might earn adults some weird stares if they aren't accompanied by someone under the age of 12 ("Which one is yours?" "None I'm just here to ... browse."), grown-ups don't have to say goodbye to the science center forever. The museum hosts Science After Dark on the last Wednesday of each month. Browse the center, munch on some Damgoode Pies pizza and drink a Stone's Throw beer while exploring the world of science.
Each month is a different topic and provides adults a chance to explore the museum's regular exhibits as well. On Wednesday, June 25, the museum will feature "The Science of Cinema." Admission is $5 and a cash bar will be available. People must be 21 or older to attend. The event will last from 6-8 p.m.
2. Toltec Mounds
490 Toltec Road, Scott
Looking at three or four large grass hills may not sound like a good time, but it's surprising how cool this lost bit of history really is. The Toltec Mounds are about 30 minutes from Little Rock but well worth the drive. When visitors arrive, they will be encouraged to watch an educational video before starting on the trails. While somewhat corny — one of the concluding lines of the video is "Today the real treasure is knowledge." — it does offer some great insight into the history and extraordinary nature of these mounds. The shorter trail, Knapp Trail, is paved and wheelchair accessible, takes about a half hour to complete and gets you close to the three largest mounds. The Plum Bayou trail, named for the people who inhabited the area, takes a little under an hour to complete and is mainly a dirt road, overlapping in some areas with Knapp Trail. Both trails are very peaceful with plenty of rest stops and informational markers. The trails also go over the Toltec Lake with a beautiful view of the surrounding area. The park costs $5 for a guided tour and $1 for a self-guided tour.
3. Pinnacle Mountain State Park
11901 Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock
One of the most diverse outdoor recreation hubs near Little Rock, Pinnacle Mountain State Park provides varying geographic hikes and many activities for adults looking to get out of the city for a while. For people looking for a hike, there is everything from easy and wheelchair accessible, to strenuous with beautiful views of the expansive park. The park also provides canoeing, kayaking and mountain biking. If visitors are willing to spend a little extra money, $25 will get them a horseback riding lesson and an hour riding through the trails at the park. The main focal point is the mountain, however, and every day from sunrise to sunset, people climb the trails for free like little ants.
4. Plantation Agriculture Museum
U.S. 165, Scott
Arkansas' extensive agricultural history is made interesting at this local museum. While a little bit of a drive out of Little Rock for a museum (20 to 30 minutes), visitors can often find an event worth their while by checking the website before they go. With everything from cotton-carding to ice cream socials, the museum uses the space well and draws visitors from all around the area to check out not only the exhibits but whatever program they have scheduled for that day. Costs vary for each event but many are free, and visitors can reserve their space online.
5. Scott Plantation Settlement
U.S. 165, Scott
When visitors are done at the Plantation Agriculture Museum they can skip across the highway to Scott Plantation, where everything people learn about in the museum is shown in real life. From one-room school houses to a blacksmith's shop, this plantation lets one travel back in time to the Antebellum period. Juanita Williams, who works in the train station at the plantation, said most visitors really enjoy themselves. On most days, admission to the park is $3 for adults, which pays for a guided tour of the plantations. However, on the first Saturday of October, the plantation hosts a variety of different activities, including lessons in how to churn butter and the chance to watch a blacksmith shoe a horse.
6. Grant County Museum
521 Shackle Ford St., Sheridan
Easily overlooked due to its distance, Grant County Museum is a must-visit location. With one of the largest collections of War World II military vehicle collections in the country, it's the perfect place to go feel patriotic and slightly terrified of the large guns and tanks. Only $3 at the entrance, visitors not only pay for the museum but a nature walk and access to the picnic area as well. This trip can easily encompass a few hours with multiple facets of the museum showing different eras of America's history and a plethora of little-known facts.
7. Maritime Museum
120 Riverpark Drive, North Little Rock
One word: submarine. Seriously. There is just a giant submarine hanging out at this museum that visitors can tour. The USS Razorback provides a window into the life of a submarine sailor and the incredibly close quarters they lived in. The park is well-maintained with beautiful memorials for sailors nearby and friendly tour guides who clearly enjoy their work. The park's museum costs $7.50 for the tour and the museum admission, or $2 if visitors do not wish to take the tour, recommended for those who may feel claustrophobic. For those planning a large adult party, the museum also provides a submarine sleep-over that visitors can book for a large group. That is slightly more expensive at $35 per person, but the museum does provide breakfast for the group.
8. Clinton Presidential Center
1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock
Most people in Little Rock have probably seen the Presidential Center, but even so, it's still worth a revisit. The best part about the museum is that it opens for free to the public a few times during the year. For the remainder of this year, the library will have free admission on July 3, President Clinton's Birthday (Aug. 19) and Election Day (Nov. 4). A suggested activity from the tour guides is to check out the archives of the president's daily schedule and look for important dates. Visitors who are more academically inclined can also read about multiple topics from Bill Clinton's presidency.
9. Historic Arkansas Museum
200 E. Third St, Little Rock
If visitors don't want to travel too far out of the city to get their taste of history, the Historic Arkansas Museum is one of the closest spots to check out everything from the Civil War period to the oldest house still standing in Arkansas. Throughout June and July, the museum will be hosting the Bowie knife exhibit, which educates visitors on the extensive history of Arkansas' most famous weapon. The exhibit is free unless visitors wish to see the historic grounds, which is a $2 fee.
10. Little Rock Central High School
2120 W. Daisy L. Gaston Bates Drive, Little Rock
The most prominent example of desegregation in the country, Little Rock Central High School is still a working school, where in 1957 nine black students attended the formerly all-white school. Visitors can tour the school — inside and out — and learn a little bit about the history of desegregation in the United States. Tour groups must be planned in advance, but admission is free except for special programs.