8-night Arkansas River Cruise

This attractive and prosperous city was the oil-producing capital of the nation until newer oil boomtowns, such as Houston and Dallas, took the wind out of its sails.

Evidence of the city's onetime oil pre-eminence is an impressive collection of 1920s buildings and Italianate mansions, including Union Depot and the elaborate Philtower and Philcade buildings downtown.

Among the classic homes that are worth seeing are Harwelden Mansion, a 30-room, four-level Tudor-Gothic home listed on the National Register; the Jacobean Revival McBirney Estate, now a bed-and-breakfast but still open to visitors; and Westhope, which was designed in 1929 by Frank Lloyd Wright for one of his cousins.

You should also be sure to see Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, an impressive art-deco skyscraper that just happens to be a house of worship.

Destination Guide

Relax and enjoy your day as you cruise along the river and take in the magnificent scenery.

Muskogee is known to most people as the place where folks don't smoke marijuana (and don't do a lot of other things, either), claims made in Merle Haggard's late-1960s hit "Okie from Muskogee." It's the home of the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, which is housed in a restored Indian Agency building. It documents the cultures of the tribes who were exiled to Oklahoma from the southeastern U.S. More Indian artifacts are on display at the Ataloa Lodge Museum on the Bacone College campus. Muskogee's War Memorial Park is home to the USS Batfish, a World War II submarine. The park is open mid March-mid October. In April, Muskogee hosts its annual Azalea Festival, where you can see more than 70,000 of the flowering plants, plus roses and irises.

Mountain-bikers will want to stop at Sequoyah State Park, north of Muskogee, and ride the state park system's first mountain-bike trail. In Fort Gibson (just east of Muskogee), you'll find the Fort Gibson National Historic Site, which was at one time the nation's westernmost stockade.

Sallisaw (40 mi/65 km southeast of Muskogee) was the home of Sequoyah, the Native American leader who developed the 84-character Cherokee alphabet in 1823, making it possible for much of the Cherokee population to become literate within a few weeks' time. The site of his home has been preserved, and there's an interpretive center depicting the full story of his remarkable life.
Spiro Mounds Archaeological Park, southeast of Sallisaw, is the site of 12 Native American burial mounds from the 1200s and 1300s. Muskogee is 130 mi/210 km east of Oklahoma City.

Destination Guide

Located on the Arkansas River, 105 mi/170 km west of Little Rock and sitting on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border, Fort Smith feels more western than other Arkansas towns. It was founded in 1817 as a military outpost to protect settlers from Native American attacks. Ironically, most of the Native Americans in the area were passing through on the forced relocation known as the Trail of Tears.

The fort was later used by both armies in the Civil War, but it gained its greatest notoriety when the abandoned barracks became the court of "Hanging Judge" Parker, who sent 79 men to the gallows in the late 19th century. The judge's court and what's left of the old military outpost are preserved in the Fort Smith National Historic Site.

Across the street is the Fort Smith Museum of History, which is interesting in its own right and provides further detail about the history of the fort and city. The Fort Smith Trolley Museum is in the same area and includes a collection of vintage streetcars. The museum also operates a working streetcar along a route of several blocks.

You might also consider visits to the Fort Smith Art Center, which occupies a house built in the 1850s, and the Belle Grove Historic District, which has many well-preserved homes. The Old Fort River Festival is held each June in Fort Smith, offering arts, crafts, sporting events and food.

Destination Guide

Little Rock has a lot to offer outdoor enthusiasts and families. Visitors will discover a beautiful collection of parks, golf courses, walking trails, mountain hikes, and great sporting events. Families will enjoy visiting the Aerospace Education Center, Zoo, and Discovery Museum. Last but not least, a visit to Little Rock is not complete without a taste of southern comfort food. There are a number of restaurants in downtown offering Arkansas favorites such as catfish, barbecue, and grits.

Destination Guide

Relax and enjoy your day as you cruise along the river and take in the magnificent scenery.

Memphis is known as the home of Elvis Presley and as birth place of the blues. Don't forget to travel down Beale Street and listen to some of the worlds best blues bands. Hike, bike, golf, go for a balloon ride and take tours through the history of Elvis Presley's life. Don't forget some great sites in Memphis such as: Alex Haley's Home, Beale Street, and the W.C. Handy Home. Take a trip to the Memphis Zoo or jump on exiting amusement park rides at Libertyland Amusement Park.

Destination Guide

Memphis is known as the home of Elvis Presley and as birth place of the blues. Don't forget to travel down Beale Street and listen to some of the worlds best blues bands. Hike, bike, golf, go for a balloon ride and take tours through the history of Elvis Presley's life. Don't forget some great sites in Memphis such as: Alex Haley's Home, Beale Street, and the W.C. Handy Home. Take a trip to the Memphis Zoo or jump on exiting amusement park rides at Libertyland Amusement Park.

Destination Guide