It’s interesting to go to a city that has been built around a corporation, but while Bentonville has been put on the map because of Walmart, it has also become a hub of artists, culinary arts, and mountain biking enthusiasts.  

The Walmart Museum is at the heart of Bentonville. Located in the original storefront for Walton’s 5&10, the museum walks you through the history of the store and the Walton family. You can participate in a scavenger hunt (it wasn’t all that easy) and other interactive elements. 

Alice Walton, the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton, set out to create a world class art museum: Crystal Bridges. Opened in 2011, Crystal Bridges houses a large collection of American art from the Colonial era through today.  Work from famous artists like Norman Rockwell, Winslow Homer and Jackson Pollock grace the walls, while the building and the grounds are art pieces in themselves. 

Located on the grounds of the museum is also a house designed by Frank Llyod Wright (you need to reserve tickets for this separately). 

Five miles of trails featuring sculptures and sitting areas weave through the woods, water features, and grounds of the museum. These trails even link the museum to downtown Bentonville.  And all of this is free to the public. 

I made my way around Bentonville by bike and this seems to be the preferred means of transport.  Everywhere I went were bike racks teeming with bikes, so it’s not a surprise that one of the local breweries is called Bike Rack Brewery. This Brewery is located at 8th street market: “a community-focused food hub”. Housing multiple food venues and the brewery, which features a great outdoor patio and live music , 8th Street Market is a great place to spend an evening. 

Just outside of Bentonville, the art and culinary scene continues in downtown Rogers. The town is full of color with the facades of the historic buildings, brick walkways, and vibrant new playground.  I found some hidden surprises – like a small courtyard behind a bookstore, the caboose of the Frisco railway, and resident cats – that made this town memorable. If you’re around during the 2nd Thursday of the month, make sure to check out  Art on the Bricks. 

A little further afield, Siloam Springs is a cute town that has also dedicated itself to art.  Set along a river and near the universities, Siloam Springs created an Art Walk to feature a yearly rotating collection of art from the University of Arkansas School of Art. I was lucky enough to visit during their annual Dogwood Festival which featured an arts and crafts fair, live music, and traditional fair food stands.  

Places mentioned in this post appear in green on the map below.