[sightseeing] + [history] + [fun] Exploring Branson

Used our NWA location as a springboard for a couple more roadtrips - this time to Branson (yes, we went to Branson) and Little Rock.

Let's start with Branson, Little Rock is next.

There are lots of preconceived ideas about Branson, most negative. Is it a tourist town? Oh yeah. Are there tacky shows and country-themed tourist traps at every turn? Oh yeah. But what I didn't realize is that it's nestled into a really beautiful pocket of the Ozarks. Quick changes in elevation and windy roads give way to views of Table Rock Lake and rocky outcroppings. Natural beauty in Branson; who knew?

// enyndlessphotography.com //

Branson is absolutely a family vacation destination. For you Wisconsinites, think Wisconsin Dells on steroids. Oh and add in a big 1800s-themed amusement park. Silver Dollar City! This is where D and I, and D's parents spent a sunny May day, and had a great time. The two-part secret to our fun-filled day was the fact that it was beautiful weather in the low 80s and that it was a weekday while kids were still in school. Pretty sure the outcome would have been markedly different if we were swarmed by thousands of kids on an August scorcher.

Silver Dollar City grew around the popularity of Marvel Cave (which was closed due to flooding while we were there) and was run by Chicagoans Hugo and Mary Herschend. The family came up with the idea of recreating a 1880s Ozark town around the cave to increase tourism. Mary didn't want cheap storefronts, she commited herself to authenticity and preservation during the development of what is now Silver Dollar City (named for the idea of giving silver dollars as change).

// marvel cave then and now // photo credit: silverdollarcity.com //

I'm admitedly not much of a thrill-seeker when it comes to roller coasters but D managed to get me on a few! Upside-down is my roller coaster M.O. - WildFire. Big drops and jerky turns are very much NOT - Outlaw Run. Bonus of riding the roller coasters are the views - gorgeous! With feet planted firmly on the ground we had fun exploring the craftsmen's shops: glassblowing, candy making, pottery, leather, blacksmiths, creamery, furniture making and carpentry. And there is some serious skill and artistry - these are not just trinkets with a Silver Dollar City logo slapped on.

// roller coaster with a view // fire in the hole! // not-so-lazy river //

After a full day roaming the park and riding the rides we headed back to our hotel at Branson Landing for a quick refresh and then dinner. The Landing was built in 2006 along Lake Taneycomo. It offers some shopping, restaurants and entertainment geared towards the familys and tourists pouring into the area. We found a pretty outdoor dining area at Cantina Laredo to enjoy the riverwalk water and light show. Bottomless chips and salsa with margaritas on a 70-dgree night is the perfect end to any day in my book.

// the fam at branson landing // photo credit: bransonlanding.com and cantinalaredo.com //

We topped off our Branson excursion the next day with a requisite stop at a Northern favorite: Culver's Frozen Custard. Got my standard order - butter burger with cheese, fried onions and ketchup with a side of fries...and that scoop of Snickers custard (how could I say no). Didn't get the chocolate malt this time // regrets //

// culver's // a wisco fave //

[outdoors] Whitaker Point / Hawksbill Crag + Glory Hole Waterfall

The Upper Buffalo Wilderness Area has no shortage of hiking trails. Especially good day-hiking trails...which are right up my alley. D might be of another opinion, as overnight backpacking is more his cup of tea.  Me? Well I'm happy to have a day exploring the great outdoors capped with AC and a down comforter.

The Upper Buffalo Wilderness (part of the Ozark National Forest) is one of 154 national forests, operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Most of the trees here are oaks, hickory and pine. In the 12,108 acres of the wilderness, the only official trail is the one leading to Hawksbill Crag. This area is remote and pretty uninhabited!

Check out this cool National Forest locator map.

We set out with a pretty ambitious agenda for our day. Knowing we wanted to see Hawksbill Crag / Whitaker Point , we decided to tack on a hike to Glory Hole Waterfall (let's take a moment to get our giggles out of the way).

See why we were set on seeing this? Beautiful.

// flickr // exploretheozarksonline.com //

After a pretty hour and a half drive over hills and into valleys (with a couple large coffees and breakfast), we hit the Glory Hole Waterfall trailhead. It is NOT marked from the highway, so use GPS coordinates (35.828473, -93.390474). Understand that there isn't any designated parking here, so pull over onto the generous shoulder off the highway at your own risk. The trail starts as a jeep road that we didn't feel like testing our Outback on - a bit muddy and rutted out. With the extra 1/4 mile to the trailhead, it's a 2.5-mile round trip. The trail winds down along the unfortunately named Dismal Creek and dumps you at the base of the overhand and Hole. It's a 30-foot fall that bore straight through the limestone rock overhead. Pretty fun to take some time exploring inside the overhang and watching the water rush out.

Overall, it's a quick, fairly easy hike to a unique waterfall that's absolutely worth it...all jokes aside.

// our pics //

Next up...one of the most iconic places in our state, Whitaker Point. Outside of Boxley Valley, Cave Point Road took us waaaaay up a dirt road to the trailhead. When I say 'waaaaay' I mean about 5 miles. At the top there's some parking and a dedication to Governor and Senator Dale Bumpers who was dedicated to preserving Arkansas' natural beauty. Seems it's aptly placed!

Check out these awesome photos from the interwebs. Isn't this place amazing?!

// fineartamerica.com // thousandwonders.net // buffaloriver.com //

The hike to Hawksbill Crag is about 1.5 miles (3 round trip). You wind down through a forest and creek and hit Haley Falls below you. It's a wide, trickling fall, so you could easily miss it! We opted to continue along and get to the Crag - next time it would be nice to hike down around the falls. But we pressed on, followed the bluff line and kept anticipating the view of the Crag. At last we got to see our first glimpse from an overlook - breathtaking. Made me wish we had come at sunrise or set for that beautiful light. Next time. And there definitely be a next time.

// view from Hawksbill Crag // our pics //

[food adventures] Good Eats Lately: NWA

D and I have been here in Fayetteville going on four months and we've eaten our way through a good portion of the food trucks and restaurants around town. We have our favorites and we have a long list of spots still left to check out. Here are some places we've tried and love.

Apple Blossom Brewing Company
Fayetteville
Grilled polenta: tomato, squash, corn salad, buffalo mozzarella, balsamic pesto viniagrette over grilled polenta. Seems to be a strange choice for an order at a brewpub, but trust. This dish is awesome. We order it EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.
Going back for...
Fayettechille Weiss on the patio after a full day of sand volleyball at Veterans Memorial Park.

Grub's Bar and Grille
Fayetteville
Buffalo chicken sandwich: absolutely huge - so share or come hungry. Fried to perfection and smothered in blue cheese dressing, what's not to love?!?
Pizza dip: good, but could easily whip this up at home. And probably will thanks to lots of Pinterest posts.
Going back for...
Trivia (now that the students are gone!), fried pickles and half price patty melts on Tuesdays (AFTER the gym).

// photocredit: my own and allrecipes.com //

Meiji
Fayetteville
Chirashi: the premium platter serves up a selection of super fresh fish on top of sushi rice (Meiji's is cooked to perfection - mushy rice seems to be the norm around here). Also comes with with squid and seaweed salad. Fish selection of the day was octopus, salmon, yellowtail, superwhite, maguro.
Grilled Shishito Peppers: basted in soy, these semi-spicy skewers of peppers were perfection. Hoping that we can find some at one of the local Asian Supermarkets.
Going back for...
The exact same meal, plus a bottle of sake. And the Tune Poke...see the next listing.

Wasabi
Fayetteville
Hawaiian Poke: spring mix tossed in a spicy ponzu, topped with a generous amount of maguro pieces,  seaweed salad and roe. I have a love for poke thanks to our trips to the Hawaiian Islands - such an easy way to eat fresh fish! And a refreshing change from the heavy rolls of NWA...where cream cheese, tempura crumbs, spicy mayo and eel sauce are king.
Going back for...
The patio! And a tall glass of Sapporo on a summer night.

// photo credit: luvmetender and my own //

Cafe Rue Orleans - Avenue Seafood Lounge
Fayetteville
Oysters: the meatiest, freshest, most delicious (seriously) Gulf oysters I've ever had. Briny and soooo good - we just kept ordering more. We lucked out stopping in here after a few hours sampling beer with Hogshead Tours. *UPDATE* We went again on a Friday night and had THE BEST oysters...AGAIN. Turns out they get them in fresh on Thursdays.
Going back for...
Brunch upstairs in their dining room (although the building is strangely in the center of a run-down motel). Eggplant Napolean, Shrimp and Grits, mimosas - sounds like a perfect nap-inducing Sunday brunch.

Arsaga's at the Depot
Fayetteville
Salted caramel chocolate chunk cookie: Self-explanatory. If you like salty and sweet, this is the treat for you.
Ethiopian Michele Yirgacheffe: French pressed for a deeper flavor. Medium, but complex - fruity with a touch of cocoa. My go-to is the Farmer's Market Blend when I'm drinking a whole pot, but this is perfect for a one-cup sitting.
Going back for*...
Salad Nicoise (had this for brunch a few weeks back...delish!) and the Butterbean - espresso pulled over butter?! Sign me up. *Arsaga's has never disappointed, everything we've had, we've loved! I'd go back for it all.

La Hacienda
Fayetteville
Stuffed, fried avocado: This is an off-menu special, so make sure you ask for it! It's a grenade...avocado stuffed with steak and cheese, battered and fried. AND smothered with queso. Voila! Three day's worth of calories and worth every bite. But the queso served with the chips was goopy, and room temp, ick. And margaritas were pre-mixed and weak. Sticking with la cerveza next time.
Going back for...
Fried avocado, chips and salsa, and Pacifico on the covered second-story deck. 

// photo credit: my own and freeweekly.com //

Crepes Paulette
Bentonville Food Trucks
Elvis: bananas, bacon, peanut butter, dark chocolate ganache
Thai: chicken, cabbage, cilantro, sunflower seeds, peanut sauce
Going back for...
EVERYTHING, but have my eye on the sweet and salty caramel with pecans.

Big Rub BBQ
Bentonville Food Trucks
Jordan sandwich: Costini bun, burnt ends, shredded cheese, blue cheese, bacon and brisket sauce. Best thing we've eaten in a long time. I mean it's essentially a maxed out burnt ends sandwich, can't go wrong.
Going back for...
A repeat of the Jordan sandwich and Hero taco (brisket, Doritos, avocado, cheese...sounds like a yummier Doritos Locos).

Trick Dilly Tacos - "no son los tacos de tu papa"
Bentonville Food Trucks
PorkDilly taco: smoked pork belly, queso fresco, shaved radish, green apple. Super rich and meaty pork belly - cooked perfectly with a little crunch. Yum!
Smoked brisket taco: brisket, pickled watermeloon, daikon sprouts, stonefruit bbq sauce. This was just *meh*. Flavorless brisket, but good crunch and zest to watermelon and sauce.
Going back for...
Finger-lickin' tater salad made with bacon lardons, oh and it's the warm German style. Just grill me up a brat and I'm in heaven (brat taco in the works?).

// photo credit: my own and yachtcluboncollege.com //

Zuppa Zuppa Soup Kitchen
Yacht Club Food Trucks, Fayetteville
Corn chowder: rich, creamy and spicy take on corn chowder. And man is it GOOD. Sweet corn is a fave of mine, so naturally corn chowder is right up there with elote on my Top Ten list. Order this, you won't be disappointed.
Ensalate erotica: greens, strawberries, sunflower seeds, red onion, cucumber, avocado and feta. Topped with the most flavorful and delicious balsamic-y viniagrette dressing you've ever had. I think we licked the bowl.
Going back for...
The chowder of course. But gotta try the crostinis and dumplings.

Baller Food Truck
Fayetteville
Bacon cheeseburger: hamburger meat blended with melty velveeta, breaded with bacon, fried and topped with all the fixin's. Why grill when you can fry?
Mac n' cheese: Just like it sounds, but better. Batter a ball of super rich (not mushy!) mac n' cheese and throw it in the fryer. Soooo gooood.
Buffalo chicken: shredded chicken with buffalo sauce, rolled in Doritos and fried and served with ranch. Yummy, but not as yummy as the top two.
Going back for...
Banana + nutella. Is there any way this won't be amazing?

The Pie Hole
Food Truck, Little Rock (at Block Street Block Party)
Ice box lemon pie: tart and creamy with a not-too-sweet graham cracker crust.
Going back for...
Oatmeal creme pie. Have always been a sucker for the Lil' Debbie version, Pie Hole's looks divine.

// photo credit: my own and freeweekly.com //

Burton's Creamery
Shulertown Food Trucks, Fayetteville
Mocha Lisa: soft-serve shake blended with fudge and Onyx cold brew/grounds
Salty Dog: waffle cone, vanilla soft-serve, rolled in crushed pretzels, injected with caramel
Going back for...
"Pup cups" the friendly folks at Burton's have on-hand so our furry friends can have a treat too.

[sightseeing] + [outdoors] + [history] NWA Exploring

Still so much to see in our new home state! Got the chance to take in more of NWA and explored a bit around Beaver Lake - a man-made lake formed by damming the White River in the 1960s. The lake itself is big - almost 500 miles of shoreline - and has beautiful limestone bluffs, lots of fishing (not so much my bag) and recreational boating (can you say pontoon?!). Can't wait to spend more time here as the weather warms up.

capturearkansas.com //eric studer

We stopped by the dam that forms the river - Beaver Dam - built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Learned a bit about the dam's construction, made a few "dam" jokes and took in the view.

Because the White River was dammed to form Beaver Lake, there were areas of land that are now submerged. One of those is an early 1900's health resort called Monte Ne. The amphitheater and several buildings are now under water and the remaining others are on the National Historic Register. But thanks to growling stomachs and a poorly (or perfectly!) timed thunderstorm we opted to get some of the Monte Ne Inn's well-known broasted chicken. //great decision

And I would be remiss if I didn't mention my first experience eating crawfish! We popped into Ozark Brew Company to fill a growler and it just so happened they were setting up a crawfish boil. All in all, it's a lot of work and a lot of mess for a little nibble of tail meat. But hey, it's part of the fun! And as an added bonus, I got to try the local collab brew between Ozark and Onyx Coffee Labs - cream stout infused with Guatemalen french roast. //now that's a go together

We also squeezed in some military history at Pea Ridge National Military Park. Lucked out with a visit during National Park Week - all parks granting complimentary admission. The park itself sits on the site of a Civil War battle that took place in 1862, significant because it saved Missouri for the Union. The national park building shows a 20 minute film setting the stage for the battle before you take off on a seven-mile loop with points of interest around the battlefield. Absolutely worth the stop to take in this place and learn a little more about our country's history.

[cooking] Lasagna cupcakes

Working from home has it's perks. Aside from having the luxury of working from my kitchen table and living in yoga pants, getting the laundry done and spending some QT with the pup and kitties; I also have some time to cook, try out a few new recipes and listen to new tunes and latest Audible purchases (will share a couple book reviews as soon as I wrap up listening Dead Wake and reading All the Light We Cannot See.)

Back to food - yeah! An old faithful that's tried and true (and one of D's faves) are lasagna cupcakes. Sounds downright strange, but man are these delicious.

Start off with your preferred meat sauce. I opted for a jar of Prego, doctored up with a 1/2 pound of italian sausage, a 1/2 pound of ground beef a dash of allspice, cinnamon and red pepper flakes. Oh and some sauteed carrots, onions and celery that happened to be in the fridge. But, hey, this adds time. The extra stuff makes for a tastier lasagnas, but they will still be super yummy if you opt to used plain old jarred marinara sauce, promise. So its your choice!

While your sauce simmers, get your layers ready and prep your full-size muffin tins with a good coat of non-stick cooking spray. And now's the time to preheat your oven to 375 degrees. 

(Always thought these would be fun to make in mini muffin tins too, but would be much fussier to assemble.)

Ricotta: 1 container of ricotta, some chopped fresh basil, a pinch of salt and pepper and a little bit of shredded parmesan - borrowed from the bag you're using for the cheese layer. 

"Pasta": Potsticker wrappers (round) work GREAT to layer the circular muffin tins. If you use wonton wrappers (square) you will need to use a juice glass to cut them into circles or just leave 'em as-is for a more unfinished lasagna. You can find both the wonton and potsticker wrappers in the grocer's produce area near the tofu and Shirataki noodles (my fave).

Cheese: 1 small bag of shredded parmesan and 1 large bag of shredded mozzarella. Or grate your own - I was feeling lazy! 

Now start assembling. First, push a potsticker wrap into the bottom of each muffin tin. Top with a tablespoon of tomato sauce, then ricotta, then cheese. Add another potsticker wrap on top of that and repeat sauce, ricotta, cheese. Voila! Make sure you're ending with the shredded cheese so you get a pretty, melty, cheesey top to the cupcake. Depending how much meat is in the sauce, you might have room in your muffin tins for three layers...mine just allowed for two.

Fill the empty muffin cups with a bit of water so they don't burn. Now pop them in the oven for about 20 minutes - check the tops to be sure they're not burning. That would be the worst //

Once they're out of the oven resist the temptation to dive right in with a big bite. Your mouth will suffer! Patience young grasshopper.

Once cooled a bit these are great eaten right away but they also reheat and freeze super well. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Bon appetit//

[culture] + [sightseeing] Exploring Northwest Arkansas: Bentonville

It's been just shy of three months since the we ditched the big city for our new home in Northwest Arkansas - more familiarly known as NWA.  Fayetteville's funky little college town vibe blends with global headquarters of the world's largest company (yep, Walmart); who's presence here brings us world-class art, architecture and entertainment.

For Arkansas newbies (my parents!), D and I showed off NWA's cultural pride and joy, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. This museum turned Bentonville into more than just the home of Walmart, but into a bit of an American art destination. The youngest heir to the Walmart empire, Alice Walton, used a large portion of her wealth (Forbes estimates she's worth $37 billion) to build a museum to showcase her extensive collection - with free general admission (score!). That means everyone has the opportunity to see works by Georgia O'Keefe, Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol - pretty amazing considering we're not in a major metropolitan city like NYC or Chicago.

Designed by Moshe Safdie, the museum is a series of galleries and pavilions/bridges set into 120 wooded acres over several creek-fed ponds. The interior galleries are beautifully done - using natural light and reflections from the water to draw you through the spaces. Enough about the commentary - the pictures speak for themselves! (Only complaint is that the water isn't so "crystal" - maybe it was the recent rain, but the ponds could stand to gain a little clarity.) 

Photo credit upper left: Huffington Post

Art and architecture aside, the grounds warrant their own visit with over 3.5 miles of manicured trails sprinkled with sculpture and pavilions. The latest addition is the Bachman Wilson residence, a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonion home; relocated from New Jersey thanks to the threat of flooding. The rebuild is underway and should be done in August - can't wait to check it out.

We hooked up with the Art Trail to the Museum on the edge of Historic Downtown Bentonville, where we had brunch at Tusk and Trotter (I'd been wanting to try this place since we moved!). Sadly we weren't wowed - we agreed that our casual outdoor dining the morning before at Arsaga's was far superior to the James Beard chef's food, what a disappointment. But that's part of the fun of trying new places and learning what makes the "favorites" list! Next Bentonville brunch will be Crepes Paulette food truck - the line was at least 20-deep and we couldn't help but notice the banana Nutella crepe on the menu - yes, we will be back.

En route from brunch to the trailhead we ran across the original Walton's 5 & 10 (now the Walmart museum) and 21c Museum Hotel - a combo contemporary art museum, hotel and hip restaurant. I love them for their hard-to-miss, neon green penguins that roam the property - oh and for their restaurant's pimiento cheese spread (The Hive). And last stop was to pick up some teas and spices at the aptly named Tea & Spice Exchange. Needed to mix up the flavors in our kitchen so we added some togarashi, tandoori spice blend, jasmine tea and chai tea.

There's still more to explore in Bentonville - restaurants, community activities, bike paths and walking trails, and of course the Bark Park for Bayla once this outbreak of the doggie flu dies down.

And I failed to mention that NW Arkansas got it's FIRST Eater.com article...ever "How Walmart's Hometown is Fast-Becoming a Restaurant Hotspot". Bentonville has arrived! *update: a New York Times article on the Film Festival and other Bentonville growth

Belfry, northwesterner.com / Tea & Spice Exchange, my own pic / Blu Fresh Fish Marketplace Facebook page

Quick list of future To-Do's:
Compton Gardens | privately-owned gardens and paths
Table Mesa | creative latin dining
Bike Rack Brewing | we've picked up a growler, but need to do some tasting
Ramo D'Olivo | wine, olive oil and balsamic flights
Blu Fresh Fish Market | retail and cafe for...you guessed it...fresh fish *update: they are now OPEN!
Belfry and Old 71 Club | church conversion to contemporary restaurant+cocktail lounge *coming soon

[staycation] + [sightseeing] Fayetteville Spring Break '15

We spent Arkansas' spring break hangin' at home in Fayetteville, playing host + hostess to D's pal, and exploring the University of Arkansas campus.

Sunshine and warm temps lured us outside for a stroll down the Frisco Trail - part of the Fayetteville trail system that connects our place in South Fayetteville with Dickson Street...and beyond. Bayla and I have become regulars on this part of the Frisco and at our favorite pitstop, Arsaga's Coffee Roasters. They're a family-run business and are doing it all right. Small batch roasting, great atmosphere (old train depot), tasty/quality/inventive/local menu. Winning! On this particular stop, D gets the best order award: polenta creamed with smoked gouda, topped with sauteed kale, sundried tomatoes, shitakes and blue cheese. // flavor bomb. no meat needed

In an effort to walk off the brunch, we strolled up the trail and over to campus. Why not take advantage of the quiet while the kids are in Cancun and Panama City?

We started at the Inn at Carnall Hall, a 1905 residence hall now functioning as an inn ranked by Conde Nast as a Top Hotel in the South. From there we stepped off the front porch and onto the lawn of Old Main - the oldest building on the U of A campus, built in 1875. The names of the first graduating class of 1876 are etched into the sidewalk that criss-cross the front lawn. This began the tradition of all graduates getting their names etched into sidewalks that run throughout campus. And yep, D's name is there!

Departing form the uber-traditional architecture of Old Main is the new addition to the Fay Jones School of Architecture building housing the architcture, interior deisgn and landscape architecture programs. Now's probably the right time to gush about Fay Jones. A Frank Lloyd Wright disciple, AIA Gold Medal winner and Arkansas native, Fay Jones' work is intimate and organic. I can't wait to go back to his Thorncrown and Mildred B. Cooper chapels.

Walking around hilly Fayetteville really makes ya work up a thirst! We popped into a couple of our favorite spots for an afternoon refreshment or two. Puritan Brew Co. sits at the top of Dickson and serves brew - of the coffee and beer varieties. They just put in their built-in outdoor lounge areas and we couldn't ask for a more perfect spot! Next on the walking tour of our hometown was classic/craft cocktail destination, Maxine's Tap Room, opened in 1950 by charismatic Maxine Miller. Loved them from the start - they make a perfect Aviation. For you Big Lebowski fans, they serve one heckuva White Russian during happy hour. And even dog friendly, what's not to like?!