Life imitates art for new Crystal Bridges board chair Olivia Walton

Life imitates art for new Crystal Bridges board chair Olivia Walton

Olivia Walton is also enthusiastic about Northwest Arkansas’ place in the national arts conversation.

“I think we’re on the map; I think Bentonville is up there with Marfa,” she said, referencing the small west Texas town that’s known as an arts hub. “Whenever I’m on the coasts, people know of Crystal Bridges, and they respect what Alice is doing. They admire the collection, and I think we’re on the shortlist for top art destinations in the country.

The Next Austin? How About Arkansas. Seriously.

The Next Austin? How About Arkansas. Seriously.

Ambitious young college graduates are looking for an affordable home base where they can build their families and careers. Here’s a place that may not (yet) be on their list: Arkansas. For the past decade, coastal metros like New York and San Francisco dominated the landscape for the upwardly mobile, but the main story became how to cope with the high cost of living in those cities. One solution was to move into lower-cost neighborhoods, further pushing up rents and home prices. Others moved to lower-cost metros that shared some of the characteristics of those high-cost places; Austin, Texas, was one of the biggest beneficiaries of that trend.

Familiar Territory – The Preacher’s Son

Familiar Territory – The Preacher’s Son

Downtown Bentonville is filled with a bunch of great dining options. When we were researching our upcoming visit, one name piqued our interest. Being a minister’s son, the premise behind The Preacher’s Son sounded intriguing. Working with Visit Bentonville, we were able to make our visit a reality. When the day arrived, we found ourselves in familiar territory, as we made our way to the restaurant. Having read a little about this upscale eatery and its head chef, Neal Gray, we were anxious to sample their menu.

The Most Underrated Travel Destinations In The U.S.

The Most Underrated Travel Destinations In The U.S.

Bentonville is probably most famous for being the birthplace of Walmart, but the growing Arkansas city offers more than just big-box history. Museum fans can check out the Museum of Native American History, as well as the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and its satellite, the Momentary. There are also a number of trails and lakes in the area to get your nature fix.