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Things to do in Fort Smith

Some have called Fort Smith the place “where the new south meets the old west.” Visit Fort Smith and you’ll see why! It’s an evolving, modern city full of friendly, authentic people, who are proud of the community’s heritage and actively involved in trailblazing new paths and projects for the city they love.

The community through preservation of numerous historic homes and with annual festivals, such as its Old Fort Days Rodeo, held each spring.

Downtown, Garrison Avenue provides a center of commerce where shopping, dining, and experiencing entertainment and art is just within blocks of each other. Several major hotels provide lodging opportunities in the downtown and are located conveniently next to the Fort Smith Convention Center. The downtown’s historic charm is well preserved and serves as an interesting backdrop for many colorful murals in the downtown.

For many years, True West magazine has tipped their hats to Fort Smith – declaring it a “Top True Western Town,” for several years. This award recognizes Fort Smith for preserving and sharing its authentic western heritage. The Fort Smith Museum of History plays an important role in preserving Fort Smith’s past.

You can visit several special historically significant sites that commemorate Fort Smith’s past – such as the National Park Services’ National Historic Site and National Cemetery. Explore the many heritage trails that came through Fort Smith such as the Butterfield Trail, the Arkansas Trail of Tears and Trail of Tears Overlook and River Walk, and Civil War Trails – all part of the Arkansas Heritage Trails System.

Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy biking or walking along many of the City’s trails, or the State of Arkansas’ Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center where families can find tons of activities to do, including kayaking, paddle boarding, or canoeing on Well’s Lake. During the summer months, Parrot Island Waterpark provides the region with a multitude of aquatic options alongside the City’s Creekmore Park for more fun!

There’s something for everyone in Fort Smith, Arkansas! If you would like to discover Fort Smith, we can point you in the right direction! Just visit our official tourism website or pay a visit to our visitor center, located at Miss Laura’s Social Club.