Arkansas Adventures: Day Trip to Eureka Springs

Since living in Southwest Missouri, Arkansas became a favorite place for a quick day trip or weekend getaway. On a Saturday in September 2020, we decided to check out Eureka Springs, which is about 2 hours away from where we live. We had a lot of fun visiting beautifully ornate Christian monuments and enjoying local food & drinks.

Stop 1: Christ of the Ozarks

Fun fact: this is one of out five Jesus statues in the whole world! The statue is around 65 feet tall and the area is also home to the outdoor amipheather where the "The Great Passion Play" takes place (I believe they had a gift shop, but we didn't go in). The grounds were massive, and made for a nice stroll. The monument was beautifully sculpted, and the park was adorned with other sweet sentiments, such as the prayer box and the wooden cross.

Stop 2: Thorncrown Chapel

A short hike in the middle of the woods to a breathtaking glass chapel. The surrounding nature and high ceilings made for an incredibly serene place for people to pray, read, or just simply sit and take in all in. Sunday church services and weddings are also held here (how gorgeous would that be?!).

Stop 3: St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church

We aren't Catholic, but it was still fun looking at the neat architecture. None of the buildings were open when we went, but it was a peaceful walk through beautiful gardens full of small statues and old brick buildings. Very picturesque!

Stop 4: Lake Leatherwood State Park

We had a picnic here near a campsite with picnic tables. We didn't do much else here since it wasn't swimming weather, but still enjoyed a waterfront walk.

Stop 5: Inspiration Point

We didn't look too much into this sight-seeing spot before arriving, and it didn't quite meet our expectations. We were assuming it would be some sort of hike with an overlook at the end, but realized it was just a drive up viewing area of Ozark mountains. Still pretty, but not the adventure we were hoping for. However, there were some cute gift shops close by and I got a hand-made wooden ornament to commorate Eureka Springs.

Last Stop: Drinks + Dinner

Eurkea Springs Brewery was a quaint spot with a disc golf course in the back. They had pretty good brew flights (according to Hunter) and I got some great cider from another local brewery in Arkansas. Prices were about average ($10-$12 for a flight and $5 for my cider).We also bought the beer glass for $5 as a souvenir. I don't believe they had any appetizers or snacks available. Sitting outside was really nice and quiet!

We ended up getting dinner at Angler's Restaurant afterwards and enjoyed eating American-style food outside on the patio.

Taking short walks and hopping from spot to spot made for a fun day trip. A lot of time spent in nature and getting away from the crowds was a day well spent.