Perhaps you’ve never heard of a small Arkansas town by the name of Bentonville, but most likely you have heard of a company by the name of Walmart. This company has it’s roots in this small town and it is a great place to visit with kids. There are many attractions that make it a nice place to stop in while visiting Arkansas.
Amazeum: A Bentonville Children’s Museum
Children love places where they can play, have fun, and learn. The Amazeum in Bentonville has some great hands on features that will entertain kids for hours (it is free if you have an ASTC membership). There is a large grocery store where they can shop for food, work the register or make and serve food at the cafe counter. The cash registers really scan the items so it’s a great way for them to learn math skills.
In another corner you will find a log cabin complete with a bed, a baby and crib, plus a broom to sweep up. Outside there is a cow to milk, apple trees with apples to harvest, and chickens laying eggs. My kids really enjoyed collecting eggs and apples, taking them inside and baking pies. There is also a wash basin, washboard, and clothes line, so they can get a real, old time, farm life experience.
Other areas of the Amazeum include, a trucking section with conveyors, circuit building, outdoor play area, stop animation film making, indoor climbing structure, and so much more. It is place kids can have fun and learn, without even realizing they are learning. It is clean and the staff is helpful and friendly.
Crystal Bridges
This might be one of the best art museums to visit with kids in the country. There are a couple of reasons that I believe this, but mainly because it is totally free. Yes, that’s right, there is no admission charge to get into this place.
With kids, free is a definite bonus because sometimes they don’t want to look at paintings and sculptures for long, so you don’t have to feel cheated when you didn’t get to see them all. That’s not the only reason to go with kids, however, it is also laid out well, has interesting works, and there are some great outdoor areas to take them too.
The mix of paintings and sculptures keeps you wondering what you will see next. Even the building is like a work of art. On the trails outside you will find even more cool sculptures, picnic tables, and plenty of room to run. While there is plenty to see here it is not so big that you can’t see it all if you choose to. These are my reasons that it is the best art museum to visit with kids.
Pea Ridge National Battlefield
If you are interested in history, the Civil War or both this is an interesting site to visit. The visitors center has some great displays in regards to the battle that took place here. We enjoyed the storytelling map that lights up the areas where the fighting occurred as the events are narrated. It gives an excellent perspective of the way it happened.
Kids can participate in the Junior Ranger Program which will have them answer questions along the driving tour. There are about ten stops along the tour where you can get out and read the signs that explain what significance each one has. One of the stops has the Trail of Tears, so not all of the history is Civil War related. It is a wonderful way to learn more about this tragic piece of American History.
Walmart Museum
As I mentioned Bentonville is where the Walmart corporation has it’s roots. The headquarters is here and this is where Sam Walton opened his first 5 and 10 store. He grew the company from the ground up and it would be hard to find a person today who hasn’t heard of Walmart.
The museum itself is not big, but it is full of great information about the man who started it all, Sam Walton (plus it’s free). You enter through the gift shop, but just go right into the museum entrance. Start by watching the short film which talks about who Sam was and what he stood for.
Many of the displays have drawers to open or flaps to lift which the kids will enjoy, but there is a great deal of information to read as well. They even have his office and his truck on display just as he left them. It is very interesting to learn about his life and the building of this company that is now a household name.
Have Fun and Learn Something Too
If having fun while learning is for you then definitely visit Bentonville, Arkansas. Make sure you get an ice cream cone or a root beer float on your way out of the Walmart Museum, they are reasonably priced and delicious. We love to visit museums, especially free ones, but maybe you are into something different. Tell us about some of your favorite places in the comments or feel free to like and share this article.
Pea Ridge is on my list of places to visit soon as I am trying to visit all 417 national parks. I love exploring the history of the United States.
I like that you dream big. Visiting all 417 is a tall order, but so worth the effort. We are up to about 65 National Park Sites now and we plan to see many more!
I never knew Walmart had its roots at Bentonville Arkansas. It will be so damn interesting to learn about him and his things. The Junior ranger program is definitely going to keep kids engaged. The building too look like an art in itseff. Will love visiting it whenever we get a chance.
I love the concept of the junior ranger program. It makes the kids so much responsible and quite in touch with nature. I wish we had something like that in here. I know my daughter would have enjoyed it
This will be great for kids! Museums are a great experience and exposure to children!
I love the family-friendly destinations at Bentonville. Not only are they fun but pretty educational too.. 🙂 I’m not in the US, but I know Walmart.. As a grown-up, personally, it’ll be fun to learn how the company started and where it’s roots came from.. 🙂
How fun! looks like a blast even for adults too…the giant deer is so interesting! I want to visit all the states in our lovely country and Arkansas is now a priority! thanks for the tips!
The sculptures in the art museum look really interesting, and, a visit to the walmart museum in Bentonville would be a must do
I wouldn’t have expected to find so much to do in a small town in Arkansas! Nor would I have expected to find a WalMart museum anywhere! The art museum sounds like a lot of fun. Especially when there is a good variety of both paintings and sculptures… for free!
Those pics from museum are mind blowing! I can imagine the fun and thrill children experience there.
I was not aware of Walmart Museum! Great place to be in.
I hadn’t heard of Bentonville, but their Walmart claim to fame made me smile. The art museum looks particularly good, especially with the free entry, as you say, then you can not worry about having to spend longer there to justify a ticket price.
We are not Walmart shoppers, but after learning about Sam Walton I can respect the empire he built.
Looks neat guys. I never knew Walmart began in that town but do recall a really good basketball player hailing from Bentonville, I believe. He is a young star in the NBA now, Malik Monk. Pretty sure he grew up there. Plenty of fun things to do with the fam.