UNDERRATED US STATES

Arkansas

From the Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains to the lowland forests and prairies that give way to the Mississippi Delta, Arkansas fully embraces its nickname as the Natural State. Hundreds of miles of hiking and mountain-biking trails and seemingly endless lakes, rivers and streams make it an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. Arkansas history is part western frontier forts, part enterprising Ozark pioneers and part Old South heritage, creating a complex regional identity before even accounting for Native American tribes. Visitors can stand at the foundations of the original Fort Smith and retrace the steps of civil rights pioneers at Little Rock Central High School. The state is also home to industry giants like Walmart and Tyson Foods.

FOOD & DRINK

CATFISH FRY Whether you’re at a fish fry in a park or in the beloved booths of Little Rock’s Flying Fish, this is a classic way to celebrate the most iconic sport fish in the Natural State. The first state to develop a commercial catfish industry has lakes and waterways that abound with ‘river kitties’.

NATURAL ESCAPES

• BLANCHARD SPRINGS CAVERNS This ‘living’ cave system of stalactites and stalagmites has three levels, two of them open for guided tours. The half-mile Dripstone Trail travels through two huge rooms, while the 1.2-mile Discovery Trail’s 700 stairway explores the cave’s middle level. A Wild Cave Tour is available too. blanchardsprings.org

• CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK An average of 600 diamonds are found each year at one of the only places in the world where visitors can search for real diamonds and keep what they find. This park in Murfreesboro boasts several notable finds including the over 40-carat Uncle Sam, the largest diamond ever uncovered in the US. arkansasstateparks.com

• MT MAGAZINE STATE PARK At 839 metres, Mt Magazine is the highest point in Arkansas. Besides taking in sweeping vistas, nature lovers can hike, ride a horse or hop in an ATV, bike and rock climb. The park also offers hang-gliding launch areas. While there’s plenty of camping space, visitors can stay at the Lodge at Mt Magazine and dine at Skycrest Restaurant. arkansasstateparks.com

• WHITE RIVER REFUGE One of the largest bottomland hardwood forests in the lower Mississippi River valley has 300 lakes connected by streams, swamps and bayous that are home to a myriad of wildlife. Visitors to this site near St Charles can hike hundreds of miles of trails or paddle a canoe trail. fws.gov/refuge/ white_river

ARTS, HISTORY & CULTURE

• CHAFFEE BARBERSHOP MUSEUM Elvis got his first GI cut at Fort Chaffee after enlisting in in 1958. This museum in Fort Smith steps back in