~ Carmen

We love going to Mountain View, Arkansas for the weekend.  Just a three and a half hour drive from Memphis, Mountain View gives us the outdoor adventure we love with plenty of activities to balance out the rest and relaxation we need.  We recently went back to Mountain View for the annual BeanFest and Outhouse Races (read all about the quirky, fall festival here).  We not only enjoy a super fun festival, but experience all that Mountain View has to offer.

If you like mountain bike riding, read Ride the EPIC-Rated Syllamo Mountain Bike Trails.

A Weekend Away in Mountain View, Arkansas

Lodging in Mountain View

For our wonderful weekend away, we stayed in a jacuzzi cabin at the Pinewood Cabins.  For $90 a night, you get your own cabin, complete with a full kitchen, sitting area, queen-sized bed, and bathroom with jacuzzi tub.  We loved the front porch with chairs for people watching and reading.

Click here for other Mountain View, Arkansas Hotel Deals!

Food!

Mountain View is a pretty small town (population around 2,000), so there aren’t a ton of restaurants, but what is there is pretty good.  Country folk don’t mess around with bad service or food.

We always get a Chicago-style pizza at Tommy’s Famous!

The Wing Shack & Cheeseburger Grill- Known for their hubcap-sized burgers, great chicken wings, and a unique twist on a barbecue entree–barbecue fries!

Several fantastic catfish places!

Our best meal of the weekend was at the Rainbow Cafe. Great, homestyle cooking!

Blanchard Springs Caverns and Recreation Area

Right outside of Mountain is the Sylamore Scenic By-way which winds around the beautiful Ozark-St. Francis National Forests.

View from the Sylamore by-way

If you only see what’s above the ground, you’ll be missing a big part of this area’s natural beauty.  Blanchard Springs Caverns is highly rated for it’s abundant number of colorful rock formations.  A constant 58 damp degrees year around, the cavern is still slowly changing.

There are three tours– from the upper level Dripstone Trail, 1/2 mile of paved trail that is wheel-chair accessible to the strenuous 4-hour Wild Cave Tour for the adventurous.  I have toured this cavern several times and see and learn something new each time plus the limestone formations are spectacular!

Just outside of the caverns, you’ll find a beautiful camping and hiking recreational area.  Well worth the short drive to see waterfalls, old mill ruins, and tranquil hiking trails.

Scenic trails

Scenic Mirror Lake

Blanchard’s old mill

Sitting in the old mill window

Mirror Lake waterfalls

Ozark Folk Center

Not far from Blanchard Springs Caverns is the Ozark Folk Center State Park.  The Folk Center was established by the state of Arkansas to preserve the craftsmanship that is rooted in the Ozark hill country.  The park is made up of “shops” where you can watch artisans wearing traditional costumes.  On a daily basis they handcraft pottery, baskets, leather goods, iron works and much more.  The artists love to explain the history of their fine crafts and how they became involved.  There are also bluegrass bands that play, gift shops and food vendors to enjoy!

Bluegrass Music

What Mountain View is known for most of all is traditional bluegrass music.  Most weekends you can find clusters of impromptu “pickin'” sessions that spring up in the downtown park and surrounding the courthouse.  There may be as many as twenty different groups playing at the same time, spread out around the downtown so as not to drown each other out.  Many spectators bring lawn chairs to sit and enjoy the music.  You can listen to one group for a couple of songs then just slide your chair over to enjoy a different group.

Does this sound like a relaxing weekend away to you?  Please share by commenting below!  

Keep up with all of our travel, camping, and cycling tips by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.  Leave us your email (blue box on the bottom of the post) to subscribe to our weekly newsletter and never miss a post!

~ Carmen

PLEASE PIN ME!

SaveSave