Feel yourself unwind in the charming simplicity of the Arkansas great outdoors! Natural panoramic beauty and a heap of Southern hospitality welcome you to your lakeside escape. You’ll want to linger in the majestic scenery of multi-colored fall leaves and take time to appreciate the mysterious treks through nationally famous caverns. The effortless untouched landscapes are just part of what makes Fairfield Bay so special. For a stay that gets back to basics, spend your days exploring the water sports and land excursions of the area. Take an invigorating hike to a spectacular mountaintop view or a splashy boat ride waterskiing around Greers Ferry Lake. Fascinating exhibits showcase the pioneers of the land and the artisans who create specialized crafts of the Ozarks culture. Get your heart pumping and race an ATV over extreme trails, or slow it down for a soak in the resort hot tub. You can’t help but catch the hometown spirit when you shop or grab a bite to eat in town. Leave behind the hectic schedule and ease into your Fairfield Bay-cation for a wholesome outdoorsy family getaway. STAY: Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Bay Cozy comfort in the middle of a nature wonderland! Bring the family for one of those leisurely stays filled with the simple pleasures that inspire togetherness. At Club Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Bay, the top amenity is the scenic outdoors, offering activities all around the property. Located on the idyllic shores of Greers Ferry Lake, you’ll have all the benefits of the woodsy landscape along with lake excursions. Start your day by hiking or jogging around the shoreline to catch all the lakefront views. The Fairfield Bay Marina offers water sports equipment rentals, sightseeing trips, dinner cruises for amazing lake adventures. Ask about waterskiing, boating or fishing together on the lake, or just plunge in for a refreshing swim. On-site fun starts with the seasonal outdoor pool or indoor pool along with hot tubs for calming relaxation. Grab your putter for a game of mini golf or level up for a round of golf at the two neighboring golf courses. With volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, you can work up a sweat playing team sports. Dinner choices at the resort include restaurants and a grilled meal at the picnic and BBQ area. Visit grocery store on property to stock your fridge in the kitchen area of your resort suite for a home-cooked meal on vacation. One- or two-bedroom units also come with a washer/dryer and a private patio or balcony for some of the most interesting birdwatching in the state. Insider Tip: The best way to access all the amenities of this sprawling 14,000 acre resort property is by vehicle. ADVENTURE EXPLORATION: Hiking Not one, but two Sugarloaf Mountain trail areas for you to discover! Hikers will love to check out both similarly named but different ways to trek the landscape. Sugarloaf Mountain is located closer to the Heber Springs area with a hiking trail suited for anyone. Advanced hikers like the challenge of the Summit Trail while Hidden Pond Trail is handicap accessible and the Tonawanda Base Trail is in between. It’s well worth the exhilarating climb to the peak to take in the grand sweeping Arkansas mountaintop views. Mountain bikers can test out the new bike trail, curving around the natural plants and flowers of the region where you can spot occasional wildlife. Take some time out for a rest and picnic, as you look out on the pond after an invigorating adventure. If you need more hiking in your life, hop on over to Sugar Loaf Mountain Island, just a short jaunt away. As the name suggests, the peak is the only trail in Arkansas surrounded by water, situated in the middle of Greers Ferry Lake. The first leg of your excursion is boating or taking the Sugar Loaf Shuttle from the marina out to the island. Outdoorsy groups rent a canoe or kayak to enjoy the tranquility of the lake while paddling out. On the island, take to the trails to climb a vigorous 1,000 feet above sea level. The unmatched views and the possible glimpse of a bald eagle are your reward for all those steps through the shady woods. Most moderately athletic hikers complete the climb and descent in the 2 hours between scheduled water shuttle trips. Insider Tip: Both hiking trail areas are open year round, with gorgeous glimpses of the budding flowers in spring and the stunning colored leaves in autumn. CULTURAL EXPERIENCE: Ozark Folk Center State Park Dive into local culture with an immersive attraction celebrating life in the Ozarks. A stroll around the grounds welcomes you to the lovely outdoor scenes of musicians along with craftsmen and craftswomen sharing their passions. At the Craft Village, more than 20 artisans of all kinds demonstrate their skillful work of fashioning all types of wares. Study the creativity as they sew, weave and carve intricate items like quilts, pottery, leather goods, baskets and stained glass. Learn about the benefits of medicinal herbs, pass-along plants and their uses in food at the Heritage Herb Garden. The sound of the Ozarks will guide you around the park to the Blacksmith Stage, where talented local musicians perform live in the open-air venue. Renowned artists have been known to hold Americana music concerts at the larger Ozark Highlands Theater, featuring the fiddle, guitar, mandolin and banjo. Your group may be inspired to sign up for a workshop to learn some of the Ozark skills such as dancing, instrument playing, jewelry creating, soap making, and cooking with herbs. Fully embrace the Ozarks with a meal of Southern cuisine like skillet chicken pot pie and fried green tomatoes at the Skillet Restaurant or Heirlooms Kitchens. Plan ahead to catch park events including Nature Storytime, Weekly Garden Tour and Mountainview Fall Bluegrass Festival. Insider Tip: Ozark Folk Center State Park is open mid-April to late October. CLASSIC OUTDOORS: Woolly Hollow State Park The perfect day in the outdoors! Pack the picnic basket and head over to Woolly Hollow State Park, the ideal day enjoying natural Arkansas with the family. Set up at the picnic area to leisurely grill your meal while the kids swing in the shaded playground. Your group can arrange a game of volleyball or take a hike - literally! Follow the tree-lined paths of Huckleberry Trail on mountain bike by foot for enchanting views and even some birdwatching. At the boat ramp, kayaks, pedal boats and canoes are available for rental. Cruise around 40 acres of Lake Bennett for some of the top fishing in the area with catfish and largemouth bass biting. As lifeguards overlook the area, you’ll feel safe swimming with the kids to cool off in the warm months. This charming state park is a way for the family to enjoy a secluded simple day of togetherness. Insider Tip: Look for the preserved John Woolly Cabin, named for a notable settler of the area in 1882. Inside, you’ll find a pioneer museum with points of interest about early Arkansas life. FAMILY FUN: Fairfield Bay Lanes Come on in for some classic family fun at the bowling lanes. On a rainy day or any day, visit Fairfield Bay Lanes and make some vacation memories. Pick your lane and get your teams set up for light-hearted competition, whether you’re a seasoned bowler or a first-timer. Nothing beats a great time together knocking down pins and cheering for one another. Be sure to order appetizers to share like popcorn chicken, fried pickles or chips and salsa. Pizza and burgers are always popular as a meal between games. Remember to add the salad and wings with countless selected sauces. The kids will love to take a break and visit the game room for an air hockey game, a match at the pool table or some arcade games. A casual day of carefree games is just what you need on your vacay. COOL FACTOR: Blanchard Springs Caverns For an extraordinary excursion, go underground in Arkansas! Make your descent into Blanchard Springs Caverns, one of the most well developed and intricate caves in the country. It’s a “living cave” where constantly dripping water deposits minerals that create the continually changing formations. Get an up-close look at the remarkable development of stalagmites, stalactites and flowstones. The three-level system offers a choice of tours for your degree of comfort. The vigorous tour is over a mile long with over 700 stairs, guiding you through the middle level of the cavern. You can also avoid the stairs with a shorter, smoother trail, accessible to strollers and wheelchairs. The cave rooms are lighted and the trails are paved and equipped with handrails. Agile visitors will climb, slide and step over the more rugged spots. After your tour, check out the “Water Works” exhibit hall to watch a film that further explores caving and the underground environment. Insider Tip: It’s recommended that visitors wear low, non-slip shoes to navigate the wet paths. Many visitors are comfortable wearing jackets in the atmosphere that is a constant 58˚ F and 100% relative humidity. ADRENALINE RUSH: UTV/ATV Trails of Fairfield Bay Buckle your seatbelt for high-speed action at the Trails of Fairfield Bay. Bring your own ATV or UTV or rent one for rollicking fun on the back roads. With four connecting color-coded trail systems, choose your own route and level of difficulty. Start off at one of the many easily accessible staging areas that lead to the generally wide comfortable dirt trails. After you find your path, accelerate toward the forested landscape for a liberating wind-in-your-hair rush. Rumble over rocks, through stream beds and around tree-filled turns. Some trails will have you splashing through the mud and dodging rough terrain alongside views of Greers Ferry Lake. With 90 miles of trails, you’ll have enough road to feel free amid plenty of picturesque scenes like waterfalls. Navigating is easy with well marked signs and printed or digital maps. Insider Tip: Dirt bikes and motorcycles are not permitted on the Fairfield Bay Trails. The trails are only open during daylight hours. SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS: Golf Courses With two highly-rated golf courses in the Fairfield Bay area, you can’t go wrong booking a vacation tee time. Presenting eighteen holes of exquisite turf, Mountain Ranch Golf Club is considered a demanding golf experience created by Edmund Ault. The award-winning course has been home to over five state championships, garnering accolades including the #1 Arkansas resort golf course. All golfers enjoy the challenge of the course, which begins with gentle fairways to ease into the flow. Fine-tune your game on the back nine, calling for a meticulous touch and masterful skill. In fact, the uphill 15th hole is known to many to be the toughest in the state. Celebrate your golf match at Bogey’s Restaurant to enjoy a relaxing post-round meal and refreshments. With reasonable prices and a friendly staff, locals and vacationers love to return to Mountain Ranch. Bring the whole family to Indian Hills Golf Resort, where a day on the links is a delight for everyone. Featuring four sets of tees, the natural course has a place for golfers of all skill levels. Special highlights of the course include deep bunkers and small greens that are elevated or sloped. Low-hanging tree limbs and some sharp slopes are unusual hazards that increase the difficulty and fun. Discover the hidden gem of the Indian Rock Cave near the fairway of hole nine, for a sidetrack adventure! After your round of golf, lounge in the Little Red restaurant for tasty American and Italian cuisine. An excellent meal after a top-quality day of golf makes for an unforgettable time together. FAMILY DINING: Little Red at Indian Hills Ring the dinner bell for some home cooking on your Arkansas vacation! Conveniently located at the Indian Hills Golf Resort, Little Red calls in the whole family for a sit-down meal Fairfield Bay-style. Step into the welcoming vibes of cozy indoor seating or look out at the stunning fairways from the breezy outdoor patio. You’ll watch the scenes from the local golf course as you order from the lunch or dinner menu filled with comfort food. The selections are freshly made from soup to sandwiches. You’ll find some of your favorite entrees like the Cajun Ribeye or Chicken Alfredo. Order your pork chops how you like them with sides of mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. The BBQ Sampler and Beef Tamale come highly recommended for a hungry crew. Insider Tip: Check ahead for holiday and special occasion meal offerings. ( https://www.facebook.com/littleredindianhills/ ) LOCAL SHOPPING: Sweet & Unique Candy & Craft Designs Vacation souvenirs are a must! Take home something offbeat and very “Fairfield Bay” from the Sweet & Unique Candy & Craft Designs shop. “Local everything” is the specialty, where you can sample honey harvested from the area or find a gift basket of town-related goodies. The shop prides itself on its customized items. Order wallets, cups, necklaces, knives, license plates and water bottles to be personalized with names or messages. You’ll love to browse through souvenir t-shirts, key chains and crafted blankets. Support the local sports teams with spirt wear and team items. It’s a fun way to feel like a true Arkansan! Insider Tip: Visiting on a Saturday? Check out the Conway Farmers Market and look for the Sweet & Unique booth. Families, groups and couples visit Fairfield Bay, Arkansas to discover an unplugged vacation of renewal in nature and adventurous lakefront fun when you Stay in the Bay!
