DAY TRIP DESTINATIONS IN LITTLE ROCK | MCLARTY DANIEL BUICK GMC

While we’ve got a lot going on here in Northwest Arkansas when it comes to shopping and entertainment, sometimes you just get the itch to try something different. If the urge to indulge your shopping wanderlust find you in the mood to roll some miles onto the odometer, the good news is there’s plenty of great fun to be had in cities that are less than a tank of gas away in that new Buick or GMC you bought from your friends at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC!

Little Rock, for example, is more than just the capital city of Arkansas. Packed with great things to eat, see and do, Little Rock is a great destination for a shopping and dining road trip. If you’re planning on getting down that way this summer, read on for five of our favorite things to do during a shopping and dining road trip to Little Rock.

Shop The Outlets of Little Rock11201 Bass Pro Drive, Little RockNo fashionista’s trip to the capital city would be complete without a stop at The Outlets of Little Rock, a mecca of material goods, featuring over 80 stores by some of the country’s most well-known brands, including Levi’s, Converse, Gap, Cole Haan, Banana Republic, American Outfitters, Lindt chocolatiers and more. In addition to the outlets situated in the walkable outdoor mall, the 35-acre site includes several other well-known dining and shopping opportunities, including the massive Little Rock outlet of Bass Pro Shops, Cavendar’s Western Wear, and pizza, beer and arcade games chain Dave & Busters.

Walk, run or bike the Big Dam Bridge7600 Rebsamen Park Road, Little RockWhile everything is supposed to be bigger in Texas, the Lone Star State has yet to one-up Arkansas when it comes to the longest pedestrian-only bridge in North America. Currently, that honor belongs to Central Arkansas’s Big Dam Bridge, which spans 4,226 feet and soars 90 feet over the churning waters of the Arkansas River. Built atop Murray Lock and Dam between Little Rock and North Little Rock, the bridge opened in September 2006 and has since drawn visitors from around the world who want to catch a run, walk or ride plus spectacular views of Little Rock to the east and Pinnacle Mountain to the west, with sunrises and sunsets being particularly gorgeous. For more information, visit: bigdambridge.org/

Catch dinner and a movie at Movie Tavern11300 Bass Pro Parkway, Little RockThough going to the movies is a great way to kill a few lazy summer hours in the cool dark, one drawback has always been the food selection. Sure, if you’re in the mood for popcorn, nachos or a hot dog, most theaters have you (expensively) covered, but have you ever wished that you could enjoy a real dinner while watching that first-run Hollywood movie you’ve been dying to see? With Movie Tavern in Little Rock, you can! The latest in a chain of theaters with locations in 10 states, Movie Tavern Little Rock features a real menu of affordable food and beverage options, including salads, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, wine, craft beer and even brunch items on Saturday and Sunday, all of which you can eat right in the theater while you watch the movie. Seems a little weird at first, but once you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder why you’d ever go to any other theater. For more information or to check showtimes, visit: www.movietavern.com/locations/littlerock

Go back to the future at Vortex Arcade4027 E. Kiehl Avenue, Sherwood If you’re of the right age, you likely have fond memories of the local video game arcade. Usually boiling hot and smelling slightly of fried wiring, the video game arcade of the 1980s and early 1990s was the ultimate destination and hang-out of many a teenager in those years; a place where even those who didn’t take to sports could impress their peers and show their stuff. Just outside of North Little Rock in Sherwood, there’s still a place where Mario, Donkey Kong and Pac-Man roam free: Vortex Arcade! Originally opened as Z82 Retrocade, Vortex includes dozens of lovingly restored console arcade and pinball games, all playable for as long as you like for a flat fee. If you’re one of those lucky souls who grew up finding joy in a handful of quarters, it’ll put a smile on your face quicker than up-up-down-down-left-right-left-right-A-B-start. For more information, check them out on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/thevortexarcade

Find your inner foodie at Eggshells Kitchen Co. 5501 Kavanaugh Boulevard, Little RockFor a lot of people, food is more than just a way to take in the calories needed to keep the body humming along, it’s a way to feed the soul, with lovingly-sourced ingredients gathered from all over the world and their own backyard coming together to create dishes that are true works of culinary art. If you’re one of those people, or need a gift for someone who is, be sure to stop in at Eggshells Kitchen Co. in Little Rock. A locally-owned business run by and for true gastrophiles, Eggshells a truly dizzying array of cookware, implements, sauces, spices, cookbooks, bar ware, ingredients and more, all designed to take your next meal from blah to wow! Need help getting there? They also offer gourmet cooking classes. Check out their website at www.eggshellskitchencompany.com for more information.

One big reason we love it here in the Natural State is how many things there are to see and experience without ever leaving the borders of Arkansas. If you need a comfortable new or used vehicle to ferry you on your next day trip to Little Rock, stop in and see us at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC! With hundreds of new and used cars, trucks, SUVs and vans in stock, we’re sure to have something that’s exactly right for you and your needs.

McLarty Daniel Buick GMC is a new and used vehicle dealership that is proud to serve the communities of Northwest Arkansas, including Farmington, Bentonville, Rogers, Fayetteville, West Fork, Bull Shoals, Bella Vista, Siloam Springs, Springdale, Pea Ridge, and all points in between.

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