I had to go to Bela Vista this weekend.

Never been to the state before.

My goodness I love Texas, but Arkansa is truly beautiful.

Might retire there instead of Brownsville, Texas.

Yep. I grew up in Texas, and fell in love with Arkansas too. Unlike Texas, it has mountains and four seasons. Been here for over two decades now. Come on up!

Just note that Northern Arkansas is much different from Southern Arkansas. If hills and natural scenery are what you're after, stick with Northwest/Northern Arkansas rather than the flat farm/timber land and river delta plains of Southern/Southeastern Arkansas. That's more like Louisiana or Mississippi.

Also note that, while Bella Vista was specifically started as a dedicated retirement village back in the day, it is no longer that. It has become another suburb/bedroom community in the Northwest Arkansas Metroplex, with young professionals taking over as the ranks of the retired folks diminish. Still a good option for a place to retire, it's just not the same "retirement village" that it originally was and that it may still have a reputation as. So don't feel locked in to just Bella Vista as a retirement location option.

I like to stay in the cabins at Mt. Magazine state park. Arkansas has a lot of areas I like but I prefer the northern area. The Cliff House restaurant is a nice place to stop by for lunch in the Jasper area.

Name some good spots so I csn put them on my list.

Never been to Arkansas except traveling through.
I wouldn't mind moving more the Texas coast but with the border madness - just can't do it.

I can remember when Bella Vista was farms and woods, population of Rogers was slightly over 5000, Bentonville a little over 3000, and Springdale around 7000. It was unspoiled by people then and I used to hunt quail in the area that is now city between Rogers and Bentonville. I grew up in the little community of Avoca just North of Rogers. Left in 1966 but my wife and my parents lived there till their deaths in the 90s. Wife still has some kin there and we go back occasionally to visit.

And now the population of Rogers, Bentonville, and Springdale are ~12x-15x those figures, and growing further every day.

(The growth hasn't quite reached all the way out to Avoca yet, though. That's still a small town of ~500.)

Millwood Reservoir - had some great bass fishing. Located kind of at the corner of east Texas, southwest Arkansas, and northwest Louisiana. Typically several 8-10 pound large mouth pretty much every weekend. Haven’t fished it for years but hope it’s been taken care of as a wildlife reserve.

Arkansas is truly diverse. The terrain varies from woodlands to rice paddies to swamps.

Hunting is equally diverse. From Bear to Alligator and just about everything in between.

And we still have dry counties.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Yep. I grew up in Texas, and fell in love with Arkansas too. Unlike Texas, it has mountains and four seasons. Been here for over two decades now. Come on up!

We've driven from south to north Arkansas. You forgot one thing Rogue. Very nice people live there. The wife and I couldn't help but notice how easy it was to visit with the locals. We had a lot of fun on that drive.

RogueJSK, mind if I hit you up in the near future? NW Arkansas might be a possibility for us before long and I’d like to chat with someone local. Already kinda/sorta know about the area after our 4 years in Springfield, MO, but would like some first hand experience and possibly suggestions from a local.

Feel free. I don't mind helping out other members as the unofficial Northwest Arkansas retirement location scout/tourism advisor/real estate pontificator.

Usually go motorcycle riding in Eureka Springs about every year. Have ridden a lot of this great country of ours and Arkansas is my favorite place to ride.