Arkansas & The Great American Eclipse

Day 1 – Welcome to Little Rock, Arkansas!

Optional transfers from our departure points will have us at LAX this morning for a flight to Little Rock, Arkansas. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight arrival time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the hotel. Upon arrival, we’ll board a deluxe motorcoach and continue to our deluxe Midtown hotel where we’ll begin a three-night stay in the heart of Little Rock, Arkansas’ capital city.

Day 2 – Hot Springs National Park

This morning we’ll travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas, the historic small mountain town known for its famed thermal springs. Enjoy an included lunch and time at leisure for exploration in charming Historic Downtown Hot Springs in the heart of Hot Springs National Park. As you stroll along Central Avenue you’ll find one side of the street features historic Bathhouse Row while the opposite side features a collection of artisanal shops, galleries, sweet shops and museums in Greek Revival, Italianate, and Colonial Revival structures. The town features several thermal spring fountains so you can, “quaff the elixir,” as they used to say in the heyday of the spas. For those looking for some relaxation, Bathhouse Row features two bathhouses where the thermal springs are piped directly in so you can fully submerge and relax in the thermal water, providing a true and authentic experience (reservations and additional fee payments are to be made directly to the bathhouse; reservations are highly recommended). Enjoy an an included dinner and entertainment at a locals’ favorite before we return to Little Rock with this evening. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 – Total Eclipse of the Sun in Little Rock

The momentous day has arrived – April 8, 2024 – a total eclipse of the sun will be visible (weather permitting), only from a narrow corridor that traverses the U.S., including this portion of Arkansas. Witnessing a total eclipse of the sun is a rare and possibly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our experience includes a private eclipse viewing party at a local winery with an included lunch, entertainment, viewing glasses and a completely unobstructed view of the eclipse. We’ll watch for several hours as the moon slowly moves across to cover the sun leading to “totality” beginning at 1:49 p.m. and lasting 3 minutes and 39 seconds. This evening, we’ll enjoy time at leisure for browsing and dinner on your own at Little Rock’s River Market Entertainment District. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 – Little Rock to Fayetteville

After an included breakfast, we’ll visit the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum, the architectural masterpiece nestled on the Arkansas River. The Clinton Presidential Center features a full-scale replica of the Oval Office and the White House Cabinet Room, interactive exhibits and historic artifacts related to the 42nd president. We’ll visit Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, where in 1957 the “Little Rock Nine” made a courageous stand in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. This afternoon we’ll travel to Fort Smith, Arkansas and visit the new United States Marshals Museum, the iconic, star-shaped museum that sits on the picturesque banks of the Arkansas River. The immersive and interactive exhibits within the 53,000 square-foot museum tell the story of U.S. Marshals from the colonial days to today. This evening, we arrive in Fayetteville, Arkansas and begin a three-night stay with dinner on your own. (Breakfast)

Day 5 – Bentonville, Arkansas

This morning we’ll travel north to Bentonville, nestled in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountain Region. We’ll visit the Museum of Native American History, home to some of the finest ancient artifacts of early man: brilliant headdresses, artistic effigy vessels, the famous Sweetwater Biface, and an Ice Age Woolly Mammoth. This afternoon we’ll visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art where we’ll enjoy an included lunch and time at leisure to explore this iconic destination that celebrates the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Founded by philanthropist and arts patron Alice Walton (daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton) and designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie, Crystal Bridges features a massive art collection spanning the colonial era to contemporary works with pieces by renowned artists such as Norman Rockwell, Georgia O’Keeffe and Andy Warhol. On display is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Bachman-Wilson House, a classic “Usonian” house designed and built in New Jersey in the 1950s, but acquired and relocated here in 2013. Five miles of sculpture and walking trails link the museum’s 120-acre park to downtown Bentonville. Enjoy time at leisure this evening for dinner on your own in Fayetteville’s, Dickson Street, a dynamic dining and entertainment district. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 6 – Bentonville, Arkansas

This morning we’ll visit The Walmart Museum or The Walmart Museum Heritage Lab which feature exhibits, interactive displays and fascinating artifacts that tell the Walmart story – from the beginnings of the Walton family and the founding of Walmart to today’s global dominance. The Walmart Museum is currently closed for renovations and scheduled to reopen Spring, 2024. Enjoy time at leisure for lunch on your own in Bentonville Square, the heart of historic downtown Bentonville, featuring restaurants, stylish boutiques, delicious bakeries, coffee shops, and unique public artwork. This afternoon, we’ll experience what life was like for the Peel family and other Bentonville families in the late 1800s while touring the Peel Museum & Botanical Garden. The beautiful, Civil War era Italianate mansion was built in 1875 by Colonel Samuel West Peel, the first Arkansas native to be elected to the United States Congress. Enjoy an included farewell dinner this evening. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 7 – Will Rogers Museum, Journey Home

After an included breakfast, we’ll travel west to Claremore, Oklahoma and visit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Established in 1938 to honor the “Cowboy Philosopher,” the beautiful limestone museum has 12 galleries filled with the largest collection of Will Rogers memorabilia in the world including artifacts from his cowboy and vaudeville days and all of his writings. This afternoon we’ll arrive at the Tulsa International Airport for a return flight to Los Angeles. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight departure time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the airport. Back in Los Angeles, those guests with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective drop-off points. (Breakfast)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.