So many places, so little time; this was what we felt in Arkansas. My main reason to go was to visit the Clinton museum near the University of Arkansas, but it was not meant to be. We covered as much as we could in one weekend, but it did not include the Clinton Museum.
Airbnb. When we arrived in Fayetteville, we checked into our Airbnb house. It was a two-story detached house in a neat neighborhood (below). The house was well-equipped with all the amenities, including cable TV, dishwasher, etc. Visitors may use what’s inside the refrigerator except for those in the freezer. Banana loaf bread greeted us with free unlimited coffee.
There were a master’s bedroom and two guest rooms. This was my room (below) and the view outside (above).
The University of Arkansas. It was late afternoon, so we used the available time to explore the nearby University of Arkansas on foot after parking the van. The University of Arkansas (U of A, UARK, or UA) is composed of 412 acres (1.67 km2) and is a public land-grant, doctoral research university located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Arkansas
Turning right we saw these fraternity/sorority houses fronting the university (below); an inviting reason to join the Greek Life in UA. https://uagreeks.uark.edu/. Entering the campus, we saw Carnall Hall (below), right on the Lawn of Old Main (0.2 mile) http://www.innatcarnallhall.com/.
Completed in 1875, Old Main, a two-towered brick building designed in the Second Empire style, was the primary instructional and administrative building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Arkansas.
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| Old Main (background). |
Inside the campus are paved streets with rows and rows of shrubs and trees that provide a relaxing atmosphere for students who have so much on their plates, balancing their studies, sports, and other socialization activities (below). Tierra enjoyed playing on the ground of UA (below).
I was quite amazed to see a Fulbright statue (below). At 7 feet tall with a granite base that almost doubles its overall height off the ground, the statue of J. William Fulbright towers over the Old Main courtyard at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2012/apr/10/ua-welcomes-fulbright-statue-back-campus-20120410/.
The UA has too many similarities with our own University of
the Philippines Los Baños and Oregon University where Tyler and Trina took up
their graduate studies. The sprawling campus, buildings that are spread around
the university, trees along paved streets, the ‘Greek life’, and the mere feeling
of being in a school environment made us believe that UA was a very good
candidate for a comfortable place to live.
Farmer’s Market. The
following day was Farmer’s Market day. Usually, this is where farmers have the chance to display and sell
their fresh produce. As it was still spring, the profusion of color was a sight
to behold.
Walton’s
five-and-dime museum. Walmart began in Bentonville, when the Walton family
– Sam and Helen, sons, Rob, John, and Jim, and daughter Alice – moved in
northwest Arkansas from the eastern side of the state. Sam acquired in 1951 a Ben
Franklin five-and-dime franchise. Sam established Walton’s 5&10 as the huge
success Sam knew it could be. Today, visitors to The Walmart Museum can see Sam’s
Office where it used to be, with his belongings still inside (below). https://www.walmartmuseum.com/visit/5-10/
Fishing. Any
place worth living should have fishing, that is, according to Tyler’s standard.
And so after visiting Bentonville, we went to check out this lake to explore
its fishing possibilities.
Sure enough, the lake allowed for camping where RVs could park.
The lake looked so serene and bassy; perfect for Tyler’s
specifications.
The adventure continued with an exploration of the best
Arkansas cuisine; to be continued in the next Arkansas installment.
