How to Enjoy Little Rock for Free

The Arkansas State House in Little Rock

Little Rock, the capital and largest city in Arkansas, is not a huge metropolis--just slight more than 180,000 residents--but it offers a vast array of free attractions and activities, from museums to parks to the duck parade at the Peabody Hotel. A sampling of free things to do in Little Rock are detailed here.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Tour the Old Arkansas State House. The domed Arkansas State House in the center of downtown was replaced as a seat of government in 1912, but the gracious old building has not been forgotten. In addition to being the site of Bill Clinton's election night celebrations after his presidential victories, the Old State House houses a variety of historical artifacts, including many pieces of Clinton memorabilia.

2. Watch the Peabody Ducks. Everyday, promptly at 11:00 a.m., the residents ducks of downtown Little Rock's Peabody Hotel march outside amid much fanfare, music, and quacking to spend the day in the hotel's outdoor fountain. At 5:00 p.m., the ceremony repeats itself. You really have to see it.

3. Relive history at Central High School. This Gothic-style school witnessed history in 1957 when nine black students tried to enter school there. It was one of the incidents that sparked civil rights reform in the United States. Today, the school is a museum that offers changing exhibits about freedoms and the civil rights movement.

4. Relax at Burns Park. Burns Park, at 1,575 acres, is one of the largest parks in the United States. Located just off of I-40 in North Little Rock, the park features a pre-Civil War era log cabin, a 36-hole golf course, a covered bridge and miles of hiking and biking trails.