The Best Staycation in Every State

Eureka Springs, Arkansas 

Eureka Springs, AR, USA

The curious and the afflicted were some of the earliest arrivals in Eureka Springs, drawn by the legends of miraculous healing waters veiled beneath the isolated wilderness of Northwest Arkansas. Today it’s the adventurous and the hungry who come seeking memorable experiences in this quirky Victorian town, where sequestered stairways provide passage to the eccentric eateries and artist-owned shops hidden throughout its steep, winding streets.

Only the bravest of souls stay the night at “America’s Most Haunted Hotel,” the 1886 Crescent Hotel and Spa, while a recently renovated motor lodge, The Wanderoo Lodge, offers the liveliest accommodations with an onsite adventure outfitter. A day hike out to Tea Kettle Falls will help work up an appetite for the mammoth burgers at Sparky’s Roadhouse Café or the sweet treats at MJ’s Macaron’s & More.

For dinner, hit up The Gravel Bar for live music and craft beer, or head underground for a romantic candle-lit experience inside the Grotto Wood-Fired Grill and Wine Cave. Eureka Springs Coffee House serves locally roasted coffee-to-go, perfect for fueling an early morning fishing trip on the White River or a mountain bike adventure through the Trails at the Great Passion Play. —Kristy Alpert