Arkansas | Bentonville
Home to more than 70 miles of purpose-built trails that you can access for free, Bentonville should be on the radar of anyone who loves mountain biking. You’ll find routes for all skill levels including the Slaughter Pen network (which is also a favourite among hikers) and the Coler Mountain Bike Preserve trails, as well as plenty of places to rent your wheels. The town is also a gateway to northwest Arkansas’ more than 400 miles of mountain bike trails.
Bentonville holds the claim of being the birthplace of Walmart and there’s a museum dedicated to the store. Other museums worth a visit include the Museum of Native American History, the Peel Museum and Botanical Garden, Bentonville History Museum, and the Scott Family Amazeum.
The 21c Museum Hotel located just off Downtown Square is part-boutique hotel, part-museum and part-cultural centre. It’s also just a 15-minute walk to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, making it the perfect place to stay if you want to fully immerse yourself in arty Bentonville. Mountain bike enthusiasts should check out the locally owned and operated Bike Inn, a former 1950s roadside motel that has been refurbished into the perfect spot for cyclists.
