The heat must be getting to our heads because all we can think about is packing up and escaping town. With the onset of the summer months, we deserve a break from our everyday lives and the good news is that adventure, activity and stress relief are only a car ride away—or sometimes even closer! Pack your bags, fill up your gas tank, grab some snacks, make a playlist, it’s time to hit the road. Here are our favorite destinations, just a short car ride away, that are sure to get you through your summer slump. 

Silver Dollar City

After 50 years of great times and memories, Silver Dollar City is still one of the best places to visit in our area. Sure, most of us have been to Silver Dollar City more times than we can count. However, if you’re like us, you haven’t been in years. Well we’d like to remind you how much fun it is for the whole family! 

5 Great Things About Silver Dollar City 

Perfect Way to Waste a Summer Day 

 Does anything transport you back to your childhood quite like the idea of sweaty days spent at a theme park with people swarming everywhere? Definitely not. Take a day at Silver Dollar City, and remind yourself about what all the hype is about. Gather your friends and drag them along, you can’t beat a day trip to Branson! By the time you leave, the kids will be worn out, making for a perfectly quiet ride home. 

The Rides 

Put on your brave face and face that fear of heights, the rides are calling your name! With 30 different rides for all ages, there is fun to no prescription drugs be had at every corner of the park. If the heat has got you down, the new River Blast should be the first ride on your list. Just make sure you’ve packed some dry clothes, because no one is leaving without being soaked. 

The Shows 

There are only so many hours in a day, but if we had it our way, For more information visit www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com After 50 years of great times and memories, Silver Dollar City is still one of the best places to visit in our area. Sure, most of us have been to Silver Dollar City more times than we can count. However, if you’re like us, you haven’t been in years. Well we’d like to remind you how much fun it is for the whole family! Silver Dollar City there would be enough to ride all the rides and catch all the shows. Throughout the summer different shows will be featured at the park, but all are sure to be great. From country and bluegrass, to comedy and family friendly, there is certainly a show for everybody. 

Transport to Another Time 

Walking through the pathways that wind through the park, it’s easy to get swept to another time. Walk up to a vendor’s booth and catch a glimpse of craftsmen demonstrating their trade. From silversmiths to bakers and carvers to coppersmiths, get swept up in the art of creating a variety of things. A good excuse to escape the sun for a few minutes and you may even learn something too! 

Always Something to Do 

Hosting several festivals throughout the summer and the rest of the year, there is always a reason to celebrate at Silver Dollar City. Throughout the month of June and July, the park celebrates National Kids Fest, and throughout May they host the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival, which features exciting performances and delicious flavors. 

Gateway to the West

“Meet me in St. Louis Louis!” If the city of St. Louis is good enough to have a movie staring Judy Garland made about it, there must be something worth visiting for. As a bustling metropolitan town where exciting adventures await you, and a measly five hours away from the Northwest corner of Arkansas, consider it your mission to find out exactly what is so great about St. Louis. Head there for a weekend getaway, after all, as the song says, “all the girls and boys are going to be there!” 

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, oh my! 

If you’ve never been to the St. Louis Zoo, be prepared for all other zoos you have visited to be put to shame. Considered one of the best zoo’s in the nation, you really can’t go wrong by spending a day walking through this zoological park. The best part? It’s free! Well, most of it that is. Certain areas do require a small fee, but with all that there is to see and do at the park, it’s worth it! (www. stlzoo.com) 

Not Your Typical Museum 

Feast your eyes on the wonder that is the St. Louis City Museum. Housed in a 600,000 square-foot space, this museum is more of a playground than an exhibition. Consisting of all found objects, the City Museum is truly something you must see to believe. One attraction that will have adults acting like kids is MonstroCity, a massive playground for all ages. Trust us when we say wear something comfortable, and get ready to have the time of your life!  (www.citymuseum.org) 

Take in a Show 

Take in the nation’s oldest and largest outdoor amphitheatre in the best way possible, by watching an unforgettable show. The Muny (short for the Municipal Opera Association of St. Louis) will embark on its 92nd season of bringing outstanding musical lineups to St. Louis, with shows such as Beauty and the Beast, Cats, the Sound of Music and Footloose featured throughout the summer. The first 1,600 seats in the back of the amphitheatre are free, first come first served – so arrive early! Grab some snacks, pack a blanket and head to The Muny for an evening of unforgettable theatre under the stars. (www.muny.org) 

A St. Louis Classic 

What’s a visit to St. Louis, without checking out the best view in the city, from inside the Gateway Arch! Built from 1963 to 1965, the monument stands 630 feet tall, and 630 feet wide, making it the tallest monument in the United States. At the top you will find 32 small windows, offering views across the Mississippi River into southern Illinois, and west across the city of St. Louis. On a clear day, visitors can see up to thirty miles. (www.gatewayarch.com) 

Sweet Treats 

You’ve never had frozen custard like the stuff you’ll find at Ted Drewes in St. Louis. An iconic stop for the locals, Ted Drewes is truly part of any summer tradition and your trip would not be complete without a daytime or late night visit to one of their two locations. (www.teddrewes.com) 

The Heart of America

Three hours is a synch when you consider all that awaits you in the great town of Kansas City. Head north for the simple delights that this Midwestern city has to offer. From shopping and amusement parks to sports and sightseeing, your days will be so jam packed with activities that you’ll need two trips to accomplish it all! 

Shop ‘Til You Drop 

You can never go anywhere without doing at least a little bit of shopping. Head to Country Club Plaza in Kansas City to take in the finer shops that Kansas City has to offer. With some great stores that you won’t find in our little corner of the world, don’t forget to leave a little extra room in the car for your purchases on the way home! (www. countryclubplaza.com) 

Have a Ball 

Here in the South, we take our college basketball seriously. Well, we take every sport seriously, basketball just happens to be one of them. It is in Kansas City though, that you can learn to appreciate college basketball even more. At the College Basketball Experience, visitors get to enjoy 41,500 square feet of basketball exuberance. You’ll find interactive activities that may even make you break out in sweat. Don’t leave you’re A-Game at home, you’ll need it here. (www.collegebasketballexperience.com) 

Art Apreciation 

Take some time to enjoy the finer things in life, and take in a little art at the Nelson- Atkins Museum of Art. With a collection of more than 33,500 objects, all free to visitors, this art museum has a lot to offer. The Block Building, which opened in 2007, is a revolutionary building in the art world, and has been recognized for its architectural excellence. This building also houses the museum’s renowned collection of Asian art that is not to be missed. (www.nelson-atkins.org) 

Mad Scientists  

School may be out for summer soon, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to end. Head to Science City, the hands-on and interactive science center in Kansas City’s Union Station, which proves that science can be fun and exciting. Our favorite part is the Planetarium, where you can see the stars in the middle of the afternoon. The kids will be entertained and engaged, and Mom and Dad may learn a thing or two, too! (www. sciencecity.com) 

Shake it Up 

For a quick and delicious bite, head to Winstead’s for their outstanding hamburgers and milkshakes that are known to be the best in the Kansas City region. With an art deco diner style that will take you to another era, this burger chain is an iconic Kansas City restaurant. Order the Skyscraper Shake, big enough to feed the family, and you certainly won’t be disappointed. (www. winsteadskc.com) 

Our Own Backyard

There is much to be said about this great corner of Arkansas. We are lucky inhabitants to have so much to do right within arms reach. So even if there is no time to pack the car and escape for a weekend, here are some of our favorite things to do if we have a day off throughout the summer months. 

Call of Nature 

Get in touch with nature at Mount Magazine State Park. Two hours south of Fayetteville, Mount Magazine offers plenty of activities to keep you entertained for a simple day trip, or a quick weekend away. Go camping, take a hike, ride a horse, or even try rock climbing. Afraid you’re not outdoorsy enough? Visit the Blue Mountain Lodge to “rough it” in style. With all the comforts of home, surely you won’t want to leave! (www.mountmagazinestatepark.com) 

Get “AMPed” Up 

It may not be much of a getaway, but it sure would be nice to spend a night on the town! With several shows throughout the summer, the Arkansas Music Pavilion is our go-to place to spend a summer evening. The AMP is a treat for us Northwest Arkansans looking for a good time, and the ease and convenience of the location only makes the shows that much better. For three years, the AMP has given us the setting to enjoy a show, and we’re looking forward to another great summer. (www.arkansasmusicpavilion.com) 

Find Your Wild Side 

Hop in the car and take the kids for a ride out to the Wild Wilderness Drive- Through Safari. Located in Gentry, the Drive-Through Safari features 180 acres of exotic animals, a treat for adults and children alike. Watch the primates swing from tree-to-tree, see elephants roaming the land, you won’t even believe you are still in Arkansas. (www.wildwildernessdrivethroughsafari. com) 

A Diamond in the Rough 

If you haven’t made it out to Arvest Ballpark yet, you better make plans to catch a Naturals’ game at least once this season! If the exciting games aren’t enough to get you out to the ballpark, the great promotions should do the trick. From kids eat free nights to dollar hot dogs nights and fire-works displays; the excitement never ends all summer long. Head to Springdale for a chance to cheer on our Northwest Arkansas Naturals and enjoy a summer night at the ballpark! (http://web.minorleaguebaseball. com/index.jsp?sid=t1350) 

Beat the Heat 

We all know that summer in Arkansas can get a little, shall we say, intense. On the days when the heat and humidity gets to be too much, head over to the Jones Center to explore the great indoors. With an indoor pool and gymnasium, the whole family will have fun and maybe even wear themselves out a bit. To chill off, visit the indoor ice skating rink, where you can dream of the colder days of winter. Located in Springdale, the Jones Center is the perfect escape for a day. (www.jonesnet.org) 

Music Madness:  Wakarusa

Clear your calendar for the first weekend in June, and head down to Mulberry Mountain for Wakarusa Music Festival. Four days (June 3rd-6th) jam packed with amazing musical talents, outdoors activities, and all around good times. You can catch artists such as the John Butler Trio, Blues Traveler, State Radio and Umphrey’s McGee, all from the beautiful scenery of Mulberry Mountain, located in Ozark. Plan on camping out, meeting new people and experiencing the fun that summer music festivals are all about, which Wakarusa is certainly no stranger to. Since 2004, Wakarusa has been defining good times, and for it’s second year in Arkansas, Wakarusa is sure to be just that, right here in our very own backyard. 

Go for the music, but stay for array of activities that make Wakarusa much more than just your typical music fest. From a costume contest on Friday night (break out those old Halloween costumes) to morning yoga and other outdoors activities, Wakarusa wants you to get in touch with your adventurous side. Take your fishing poles, pack your hiking boots, sharpen your disc golf skills, make plans to go kayaking, because all of these activities will be happening down on Mulberry Mountain. Buy your ticket now, before they sell out, and join us in counting down the days to what will be one of the best weekends of the summer. Find out more and purchase tickets at www. wakarusa.com. 

It’s A Hard Rock Life

5 Great Things About the Hard Rock 

Okay, so you most likely will never join a rock band, but that doesn’t mean you can’t live like a rock star (for one weekend at least). While flying to Vegas for the weekend may be too hard for your busy schedule, a quick drive to Tulsa is perfect. You can dine at amazing eateries, play a little poker, and hang by the pool, throw a party for all of your groupies (or just sleep) in a suite truly fit for a star. 

Mad About McGill’s 

Maybe it was the fact I began my evening with a delectable red wine called Ménage a trios, but McGills was truly one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. The staff was knowledgeable and attentive, the view was breathtaking, and the food was beyond memorable. The chilled shrimp cocktail came out literally smoking, neatly placed around the rim of a martini glass. A bite of a shrimp cigar and I didn’t want to share with the rest of the party. The filet, perfect. But the best part of it all came at the very end with a simple shot of milk – The Chocolate Tower. The name should truly be the best damn chocolate cake you’ll ever have in your life, but I’m guessing that’s not catchy enough for the menu. McGill’s on 19 is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The bar is open until 1:30 a.m. 

Party Like A Rockstar 

Get the feel of a Vegas club without the cost. Friction is Hard Rock’s nightclub, placed right on the gaming floor. No need to worry about catching a cab, just the elevator! Friction features live music (the stage sits above the bar), DJs and bottle service. Friction is open Thursday through Saturday from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. 

Culture Shock 

Not only is the Hard Rock filled with awesome music memorabilia of legends like Elvis, Mariah Carey and Jimmy Hendrix, but unique artwork celebrating Cherokee culture. There is even an art gallery dedicated to the Cherokee Nation. 

The Suite Life 

The suites at the Hard Rock are something that have to be mentioned. Not only are they actually used for real life rockstars, they have amenities that would make you never want to leave your room. Of course they come with flat screen TVs and king size beds, but they also boast some pretty unique touches. One room has a jacquzi in the middle of it, one has a pool table, and all three have club style seating and bars, so you and all of your friends can have your own club! Who needs Vegas? 

On Top Of The World 

If you truly want to hit rock star status, rent out The Sky Room for your own private event. The 5,000 square foot room boasts views of Tulsa, a bar, and private dining rooms.