Courtesy of Ledger Bentonville
It’s not exactly a Cinderella story, but it’s close. There was a time, not so long ago, that Bentonville, Arkansas, was not unlike most other small towns across the Natural State. A single blinking stoplight hung like a burnished pendant at the intersection of Walton Boulevard and 14th Street. Vendors for Walmart, headquartered here, breezed through town, as eager to leave as they’d been to arrive. But then something changed. In November 2011, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened its billion-dollar doors. Miles (and miles) of world-class bike trails sprouted and multiplied. And, oh, the food. Although it hasn’t exactly been a grassroots effort—most any improvement can be traced either directly or indirectly to the Waltons (the retail giant’s founding family)—the results are undeniable. Midnight has passed, and the gilded carriage remains.
FOODIE
FEAST
Treat yourself to seasonally upscale fare and family-style Sunday suppers at Conifer, Bentonville’s hottest ticket. Peruse the in-store farmstand brimming with local greens and artisan honeys. Not that you needed another reason, but the recent James Beard nomination for chef Matt Cooper, a longtime fixture of regional culinary circles, doesn’t hurt either.
Courtesy of Conifer
COZY UP
Bar Cleeta, opened in 2019 just steps off the square, has won a loyal following with its cozy cosmopolitan vibes and a stellar wine list. Bring a friend because you’ll want (at least) one of every creative small plate.
BRANCH OUT
Craving artisan-made chocolate? Torn between ramen and James Beard-nominated birria? Thirsty for craft beer? Consider all these boxes checked at 8th Street Market.
Courtesy of Coop Ramen
INDULGE
In 2010, Paula Jo Chitty Henry and her French husband, Frédéric, opened Crepes Paulette—filling the crepe-sized hole Bentonville locals never knew they had. Order a savory crepe for lunch, a sweet one for dessert, and a third just because.
MEAT UP
Texas-style brisket is the star at Wright’s Barbecue. Spring for a combination plate or opt for the Rocket Man, a satisfying amalgam of mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and home-made pickles mixed with your choice of meat.
ART LOVER
ADMORE
Clear your schedule for Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. The Walton-backed, Moshe Safdie–designed museum is a gem—and free to visit. Take a selfie in Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room, and gape at the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Bachman-Wilson House, moved piece by piece from New Jersey.
REFRESH
Once home to a Kraft cheese factory, the sprawling Momentary modern art complex offers a serious spread of immersive, multidisciplinary work—with exhibitions ranging from brooding, murder ballad–inspired photographs to a reimagining of African American and African visual culture.
Courtesy of the Momentary
STAY
Make your stay count at 21c Museum Hotel. The downtown boutique hotel and gallery rotates some of the finest contemporary art in town. Post up at buzz-worthy in-house restaurant the Hive for elevated Southern fare and toast with an art-inspired cocktail.
REFLECT
The breadth and scope of the Museum of Native American History’s 24,000-year-spanning exhibition of pre-historic and historic art makes it a must-visit. Come for the ceramic effigies and Mississippian pottery. Stay for the nods to the area’s indigenous peoples: the Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw.
SURVEY
Take a breath of plein air with an art-filled stroll seeking dozens of pieces of public art. Don’t miss the light-bending James Turrell installation (“The Way of Color”) just north of Compton Gardens, the patinated paper plane roughly the size of a Volkswagen Beetle resting in Osage Park, and the eminently ‘grammable “You Belong Here” neon script.
Photo by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker
BIKING ENTHUSIAST
EXPLORE
Biking is big in Bentonville. Seventy-odd miles of bike trails loop and curl through town, leading to long, cross-country jaunts on undulating gravel hills and well-kept, world-class mountain biking trails like Slaughter Pen and Hand Cut Hollow. No wonder the U.S. National Mountain Bike Team now calls Bentonville home.
Photo by Garrett Hubbard
ZOOM
Mount up for Coler Mountain Bike Preserve. Some will brave the 17 miles of trail plunging through flowy downhills and rocky stretches. Others may opt for the easy, pedestrian-friendly concrete ribbon that rambles through scenic greenery. But the open-air Airship Coffee set in the woods? That’s for everyone.
Courtesy of Drager Creative
TOUR
37 North Expeditions helps outdoor enthusiasts avoid analysis paralysis. Join a small group tour to experience the area’s best activities: hiking, biking, kayaking, rock climbing, and horseback riding. Bonus: They’re often paired with a brewery visit.
FUEL UP
Give your appetite a tune-up at one of the many bike-centric eateries. Start your morning with a pour-over at The Meteor (peruse the in-house bike shop while you wait). Carbo load with a wood-fired pizza at Pedaler’s Pub, and raise a pint of Slaughter Pen American IPA at Bike Rack Brewing.
Courtesy of Bike Rack Brewing Co.
PUMP THE BRAKES
Park it at Bike Inn, which offers bike wash facilities, tools, and a vending machine stocked with gear and trail snacks. No bike? No problem. The on-site e-mountain-bike rentals offer packages with guided tours.
Courtesy of Bike Inn
This article appears in the Summer 2024 issue of Southbound.
The post One City, Three Ways: Bentonville, Arkansas appeared first on Atlanta Magazine.