TEXARKANA -- Nichole Holze, founder of ArkLaTex Adventure was asked for her top destinations in and near Texarkana. Here are five recommendations she provided.
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RELATED: Content creator Nichole Holze forms ArkLaTex Adventure Club to help area residents find fun in their own backyards. Read the story here.
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DOWNTOWN TEXARKANA
Enjoy the local coffee shops -- Alley Cats, The Stained Page, The Rabbit Hole. See a show at Silvermoon Children's Theater, The Perot or The Banana Club. Go on a mural scavenger hunt for fun photo ops. Eat at TLC, Pecan Point or Hopkins Icehouse. Check out Bookhound Haven, Harts on Broad and Crystal Moon for shopping. Get a photo at the State Line photo island outside the federal building.
We love exploring downtown Texarkana, because there are so many unique things to do, beautiful murals to go see, a unique history, photo ops and great local restaurants. An ideal day downtown for us would be to get coffee at one of the local spots, go see the exhibit at the Regional Arts Center, grab photos in Kress Gap, walk the activated alley way and look for new murals before heading to eat at Pecan Point.
OUTDOORS IN TEXARKANA
Hike, bike, and explore the single track trails at Bringle Lake East (the narrow trails), or go all the way around the lake on the Bringle Nature Trail. For younger children, there are a series of gnome homes on the narrow trails that are charming. The entrance to those trails is behind the large sign with the map. Walkers and hikers follow the trail to the right, bikers to the left when the trail splits. The artpark at the Bringle Lake Spillway is fun too. Bobby Ferguson Park on the Arkansas side has a wonderful, paved walking path that is almost 1 mile, plus several playgrounds and a lake. Spring Lake Park has a great walking path as well, the fitness court, splash pad and disc golf. For more things to do in Texarkana, here is a blog post.
We love Bringle Lake because the trails give you the feeling of really getting away from it all, without leaving the city. If you're looking for a bike challenge, there are trails for that. If you're looking for a nice nature walk, there are trails for that too. One of my favorite things was the new business Paddle TXK that offers kayak rental on Bringle Lake. Yes, I know there are alligators there. No, they won't bother you unless you bother them.
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA
There are lots of fun things to do in this city and it's only an hour away. We love going to Sci-Port and the Aquarium. A tip: If you get a family membership to SciPort -- because it is an Association of Science Technology Centers -- you can get free admission into The Perot in Dallas, The Discovery Museum in Little Rock, The Museum of Discovery in Hot Springs, and the Discovery Place in Tyler, along with any other ASTC museum across the country. Other things we love in Shreveport: the RW Norton Art Museum (free), Rhino Coffee Uptown, Moor Coffee (a coffee shop with an indoor play area for young children), Walter B. Jacobs Nature Center (currently closed for renovations), Risen Rock Climbing Gym, Red River Wildlife Refuge Nature Center and Trails, and Whole Foods.
Shreveport is one of our favorite day trips because there are so many unique things to do and it is only an hour away. You can visit a respected fine art museum, see an aquarium, a science museum, explore nature, get in some great shopping and enjoy delicious food all in one day. One of our favorite day trips is to go grab coffee at Coffee on the Red, go climbing at Risen Rock, use our aquarium membership to visit the aquarium, go grocery shopping at Whole Foods and then grabbing food before heading home.
IDABEL/BROKEN BOW/HOCHATOWN, OKLAHOMA
A blog summary of the sites is here. The Museum of the Red River in Idabel is a wonderful, free museum covering cultural history locally and worldwide. Plus, a dino skeleton of an Acrocanthesaurus (OK state dinosaur). Beavers Bend State Park for the hiking, nature center and history museum. Skyline and Friends trails are our two favorite trails. The Maze of Hochatown and Chili Dippers Golf Club.
Local Habit will have a coffee shop location there soon at the new Hochabow shopping center. Stay at Willow Creek Cabin, owned by Texarkana locals Osburn Cabins. Also check out Sasquatch Candy Den. Grateful Head Pizza for food (they have a gluten-free pizza option).
The Museum of the Red River in Idabel is an absolute hidden gem, especially for homeschooling families. It's entirely free and they have lots of great programs available. Beavers Bend State Park has some of the most beautiful hiking around, and the nature center and Forest Heritage History Museum also have wonderful learning opportunities. It's a short drive to a really fun getaway destination. Our favorite hike is the Skyline Trail, which is almost 10 miles and connects all of the trails at Beavers Bend State Park. It's a strenuous hike, though.
HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
This area is well known, but here are our favorite things to do. Digging for crystals (here is a guide for families). Walking bathhouse row and earning a Junior Ranger badge at the National Park. Coffee and food at Kollective Coffee. Dining at Superior Bathhouse Brewery, or The Vault (gluten free options). Say hi to Zoltar at one of the gift shops. The Museum of Discovery. Lake Catherine State Park. Lake Ouachita State Park. We love camping on the islands. Read about that here. Biking the trails at Northwoods Trails. Exploring the children's garden and treehouse at Garvan Gardens. Hot Springs was one of the first day trips we took when moving to Texarkana. It was, and still is, so exciting to be able to drive two hours and be at a National Park location with such a fun history. My kids have earned all the options for Junior Ranger badges there. The science museum is one of our most favorite places, along with Kollective coffee and digging for crystals at Ron Coleman. It's a city we keep going back to, and I know we always will.