A New American Town - Bentonville, Arkansas

The Ultimate Family Road Trip to Bentonville with Everyday Outdoor Family

• Visit Bentonville • Season 9 • Episode 9

Share episode

Join Visit Bentonville with travel creator and influencer Amy Eastin of Everyday Outdoor Family about the best family road trip to Bentonville, Arkansas! 

Amy shares her expert tips on biking downtown, exploring scenic trails, and visiting top family-friendly spots like the Amazeum and Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. From unforgettable meals to outdoor adventures, Amy discusses how her family made the most of Bentonville’s unique attractions and why they keep coming back. Tune in for essential advice on planning a perfect family getaway to Bentonville, and get insider recommendations for outdoor fun, dining, and much more!

Read more about Amy's family adventures in Bentonville, Arkansas: https://everydayoutdoorfamily.com/weekend-in-bentonville/ 

A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.

You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.

Natalie Stika:

Welcome to New American Town. I'm Natalie with Visit Bentonville and today I'm joined with travel creator and influencer Amy Easton of Everyday Outdoor Family. She focuses on highlighting unique destinations and family fun, successfully hiking, backpacking and paddling with three kids. She has explored 20 plus states and three countries with her family. Today, we're going to be diving in on how you can have the best family road trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. Amy, we are so excited to have you on the podcast and share with all of our listeners all of your secrets and wealth of knowledge. Hi, I'm happy to be here, and wealth of knowledge Hi, I'm happy to be here. So you visited us in November. We were so excited to host you, but you've been here more than once before. Can you tell me more about all your experiences here?

Amy Easton:

Sure, I think I've been to Bentonville at least four times in the last two years. I like it, so I just keep coming back. I came for a girl's trip one summer and we had a really good time. And then I brought my family a few times. We came for a scavenger hunt that happened in Bentonville and then also just for a fun family weekend as well.

Natalie Stika:

scavenger hunt. That sounds so much fun.

Amy Easton:

I did not, but actually another creator, Coley Ray she did, I know she's been to Benton Village. She was actually who I found out about it for the first time.

Natalie Stika:

Oh wow, yeah, we love her. That's so cool that you guys have like a little group going on. And you've been. You've had so many different kinds of experiences here. That's really exciting to learn about. I you've been. You've had so many different kinds of experiences here. That's really exciting to learn about. I know in November you visited during the holiday season. What were some of your initial takeaways?

Amy Easton:

Well, it's hard to top the lights in the square. That was just completely stunning and beautiful, and then our family kind of got to bike through them at nighttime, which just made it even more magical.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah, that's amazing. What about the time whenever you were on your girls trip? We?

Amy Easton:

went to the momentary. There's that rooftop bar, power bar. Yes, oh my goodness, that was so much fun and it was just the perfect spot for a girls trip. We ate a lot of really good food and then biked and hiked through the day.

Natalie Stika:

It was perfect yeah, yeah, tower bar is really a wonderful view, and now there's a the buckyball, which is this light up artwork just at the base of it. It's, it's stunning. So, yeah, it sounds like you've been in a huge outdoor adventure throughout your travels, but in Bentonville you specifically, have talked about biking and hiking multiple times already, so do you have any tips for families that are wanting to bike around town?

Amy Easton:

We biked on the roads, we biked on paved paths. We didn't have any problems getting around. There was one day where we literally just never got in our car. We stayed at the Downtowner and were able to just bike around the downtown and then we biked all the way out Coler Mountain Bike Preserve and we just had a great time. It was so much fun and so easy to get around and the kids loved it. I got to pull all three of them on my bike I have an e -bike, luckily, so my son rides behind me in his car seat and then my twins rode in a kind of like a pull behind stroller sort of trailer situation and they loved it because they could see everything and basically anytime they wanted to stop, we just got out. They played in the creek, we explored.

Natalie Stika:

It was awesome yeah, and for anyone not knowing, the downtowner is one of our AirBnbs in town, but seriously, almost everywhere you stay, you can just walk out your front door and then bike around and you don't have to get in your car, which is so special, and that's one thing that makes a visit here just so different. We always encourage people to get bikes, and you brought your own bike, which is so exciting, and that your kids know exactly what they're getting into with the, the trailer and your son behind you. What were their favorite things about biking around?

Amy Easton:

I think they just liked that they could see everything and experience it in a different way. Instead of being on roads where the views are kind of boring, you're going down trails and they got to see all the trees. They waved to all the dogs, so many dogs.

Natalie Stika:

There are a lot of those?

Amy Easton:

Yeah, they loved petting all the dogs.

Natalie Stika:

That's awesome, yeah, so did you start downtown and then make your way through Crystal Bridges first, or Coler, I'm forgetting.

Amy Easton:

I think we went to. We started in downtown and then we went Coler and and then we biked to Crepes, Paulette for lunch and then went back to downtown and sort of explored down there.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah, that's awesome. Out of all the experiences here, aside from biking, what are some of your favorite family-friendly activities?

Amy Easton:

We went to the Amazium. It's the children's museum and my kids absolutely loved that. The only hard part of that spot was getting my kids to leave, because I think they just wanted to move in. But it was a really cool experience. They had a lot of fun doing all the different activities and I think we spent like maybe four or five hours there and they still wanted to stay longer.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah, that's a museum is so special and like it caters to so many different ages of kids, hands-on learning yeah. What were their favorite things about the museum?

Amy Easton:

They really liked the shopping area. It looked like a little Walmart, which was adorable. They put on the vests and I kept getting served like raw chicken and things like that. There was a little restaurant area so they kept bringing me all the food and were like what's your order? And we did that for a long time. It was really sweet and they loved all the climbing and I was glad that they could get some wiggles out before we headed home that day. So then that way, before we got in the car for a road trip, they were all runned out.

Natalie Stika:

If you're interested in learning more about Amy's visit with her family, don't forget to follow her on social media at Everyday Outdoor Family. Read her blog from Visit Bentonville, titled A Family Fun Weekend in Bentonville, Arkansas, on her website everydayoutdoorfamily. com, or go to the show notes to see more. That's exactly what you want as a parent, right? I know I probably would always say that every time of year in Bentonville is perfect, but what is your favorite time of year to visit?

Amy Easton:

I really like coming whenever it's late fall and also early spring, because in Kansas City, where I live, it's just a little bit colder. So I've been twice now at the end of October, beginning of November time, and the trees are all beautiful and it's not too cold there, like it's already a little bit cold in Kansas city, but it's warmer there and it's just stunningly beautiful. And then same with the springtime, like if I, if you can come in March. Like in Kansas city today it's 80 and tomorrow it might snow, so it's all over the place, but if you drive three hours south to Bentonville, it's just lovely.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah, it is. We do that on purpose. We have a have a thing with mother nature.

Amy Easton:

I believe it um.

Natalie Stika:

What is something that you always return to here, that you like? Everyone must make sure that they get there, ok, so I have a slight obsession with Crepes Paulette.

Amy Easton:

I have celiac disease and I can't eat gluten, and so it's pretty rare for me to be able to eat crepes. But they have these really good gluten free crepes and my kids love it too. They have this window where they can look through the window and watch them make everything, and so they are just mesmerized by them making these crepes, which means that I actually get to relax, which is bizarre. Whenever we're waiting for food, usually my kids are pretty, you know, like when's it coming, and things like that. So, and then they just love the crepes too, like they have savory ones and they have sweet ones.

Natalie Stika:

I was gonna ask and yeah, yeah, we always get one of both.

Amy Easton:

Like my kids love the Nutella and strawberry. Um, and then I there's one that has like ham and maple syrup and eggs and cheese and it is so good and seriously I've driven out of my way on road trips to stop in Bentonville just for these crepes it really is that good and it's so special.

Natalie Stika:

I also have celiac, so I can totally, totally relate. They are made with buckwheat and it just makes everyone have a wonderful experience. And they're really good on the go too. You don't have to sit there and wait. You can grab them, because they're wrapped up perfect in aluminum foil.

Natalie Stika:

Take them on a picnic so special um so good so you travel with your kids so much and for the people listening that want to have that amazing family trip here in Bentonville, um, what are some packing essentials that you bring whenever you go on an outdoor adventure?

Amy Easton:

Well, if you can bring your bike, I'd highly recommend it. I know you can rent bikes in Bentonville, but that's definitely the best way to get around if you can swing it. Our family we always bring kind of the basic hiking essentials sunscreen, water, backpack. It's good to have a change of clothes. There are some really awesome creeks in Bentonville and, like Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, my kids always like to get in the water there, so it's good to have a change of clothes. Sometimes we've worn our rain boots and that's been a good move. So, yeah, basically anything that you think you'll need to get outdoors, you probably will want it in Bentonville.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah, true, that's. That is such so many good recommendations. The creeks here are so special and cooling off in the summer is a must, whenever you guys are hopping between all the outdoor excursions what are some? Of your other favorite dining options.

Amy Easton:

Let's see. So the Buttered Biscuit Is that right? Yes, yes, okay, yeah, the Buttered Biscuit is really good. They've got a lot of good gluten- free options. When we came for the girls trip, I actually made my friends go like three times because I was just so excited about being able to get gluten-free chicken and waffles and gluten-free cinnamon rolls and all these things I can't find otherwise, and biscuits.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah.

Amy Easton:

So good, yeah, oh yeah, yeah, so good, so good. And then last time also, eighth street market was a really cool spot. There's a lot of good eateries there. I think we ate at a place, a Mexican place, called Yeyos Is that right? Yeyos yeah, and oh, it was so good. Um, there's just like that whole area has a lot of really good options. The downtown has quite a few good options as well. You have to get the ice cream from the Spark. Yes, you have to get the ice cream from the Spark. It's super cheap and the kids loved it and we just got a cup or a cone and then walked around the downtown. It was really nice.

Natalie Stika:

I know I love that. Our community does that. Like everyone just gets ice cream and hangs out on the square. It's like really a movie, but it's just normal life here. It's so special. Really exciting news the Walmart Museum just opened back up this last weekend and so the Spark ice cream shop and soda fountain is back open in their original location, which you need to come and check out, since you were here when the truck was on the square.

Amy Easton:

Yes, yeah, I was surprised last time. I didn't realize it would be under construction, but they made it. They did a good job of making it feel really seamless. But I will be excited to go back and see the inside, now that it's all been remodeled and redone, and everything.

Natalie Stika:

It's phenomenal. Yeah, that is a must for families now, since we haven't had that for like two years, close to two years. It looks really great. There's a second floor now and you'll be happy to know that there's 100% gluten-free brewery now downtown called Stoic Brews their whole. They have food to pizza, calzones, tons of nachos, tons of things that are gluten free, and it's already such a hot spot, oh that sounds amazing.

Amy Easton:

I need to go right now.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah for whoever is looking for some gluten-free food or just normal food. It's good too, yeah that's awesome.

Amy Easton:

I will definitely put that on my list for next time I'm there.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah, Speaking of next time. What are some things that you already know. You want to go back to and experience.

Amy Easton:

Well, every single time we come to town, we go Coler Mountain Mountain Bike Preserve just because it's such a unique and special spot with the airship coffee right there and the kids always love exploring. We did camp there one time when we came in town for the scavenger hunt and I'd like to get back there and camp there again. It's actually included in my blog of my favorite places to camp within three hours of Kansas City because it is just such like a nice facility. I called it the four seasons of campgrounds because the bathroom looks like it was designed by like a world-class architect and the whole. Just the vibes are so great, so I'd like to get back there for a camping trip. We need to get back to Crystal Bridges. My kids really love all of the trails around there and I would love to get back and explore Osage Park. We haven't really explored that area and we drove past it and I saw the playground and it looked like some wetlands, and so we need to plan another trip so we can check that out.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah, that's so cool to hear your experience Coler Campground. I really haven't been able to head over there or spend time camping since I live here, but I have heard that the facilities are just phenomenal and so unique, very different, and I feel like that's a lot of our attractions here, like Osage Park is so unique. There are beautiful and open to the public pickleball courts there, dog parks, a playground that is actually themed on the airport. We have an airport right there on Osage Park, lake Bentonville, with a cafe inside and so many other special things. You could spend a whole day at Osage Park and you wouldn't know it. Other special things.

Amy Easton:

you could spend a whole day at Osage Park and you wouldn't know it. Yes, my kids love any sort of transportation, so they would love to watch the planes, and they might actually eat their food if there were planes that they could watch.

Natalie Stika:

Yeah, that's a good tip. Well, whenever you're thinking of your next trip, what are some big things that you take into consideration and how? How has Bentonville, you know, hitting all the right points for you and your family to come multiple times?

Amy Easton:

You know it, I was trying to think about this for this podcast because, like, what is it about Bentonville that makes it so special? And it's just a really hard thing to encompass in a few words. But I think if I had to sum it up, it would be the vibes, and I think that it just those good vibes come from lots of different things, like the friendly people, the great art scene, the great trails, the natural beauty, and it just has this like fun, funky feeling, like it's got this small town feel with big city amenities and you just have to go and experience it for yourself.

Natalie Stika:

It's completely unique, so true. You have to see it if you haven't been here before. It's so hard to explain and it's so special. And you are speaking like everything that I always say to all my friends and family that I want to join me here. And yeah, it's the vibes, I agree. So what's next for you? Are you planning another trip to Bentonville soon? What's been on the back of your brain?

Amy Easton:

So I'm not sure when I'm going to be back in Bentonville hopefully sometime this year. I have a good friend that moved to Fayetteville, and so that's a reason to come back to Northwest Arkansas sometime soon. We are for spring break. We're going to head south, so if our route takes us through Bentonville, I'm 100% stopping at that brewery on the way down. Yeah, I knew you were going to say that.

Natalie Stika:

That's awesome Cool. Thank you so much for joining us today, amy. That's a wrap for today's episode, but don't forget to visit Bentonville, and we're here for you to help navigate things to do, where to eat and stay and what's going in our new American town. Give us a follow on social media, sign up for our newsletter and check out our website at visitbentonvillecom. Thanks for listening.