Exploring Arkansas

The B 17 "Flying Fortress" was one of the most famous planes ever built. The legacy it left behind is unmatched in aviation history. We'll take you flying in one and talk to some of the men who flew the plane during World War II. The "Winding Stairs" area along the Little Missouri River Trail is the most popular trail in the Ouachitas-and we'll show you why. This episode concludes with the U.S. Championship of Champions Regatta on Lake Maumelle.

Canoeing down Bayou DeView near Brinkley provides a wonderful adventure viewing cypress trees estimated to be 450 to 1200 years old. The Womble Trail near Mt. Ida in the Ouachita National Forest offers some of the best mountain biking opportunities in the entire mid South. Lake Chicot in the southeast corner of the state is the perfect place to experience the Mississippi Delta region-especially with a sunset swamp tour.

Hot-air balloon races; the ivory-billed woodpecker; Buffalo National River; fly-fishing for trout on Spring River; an elephant sanctuary; the Ozark's waterfalls; trumpeter swans.

One of the gems of the Ozarks is in the Buffalo National River Region – Lost Valley – offering unique features found nowhere else. The other popular trails at Petit Jean Mountain State Park are the ones that lead to a Native American rock shelter and the sandstone/crevice area to Bear Cave. The old riverport town of Jacksonport is explored near Newport, along with the last paddlewheeler to travel the White River – Mary Woods No.2.

It's one of the oldest and largest quartz crystal mines in Arkansas - the Coleman Quartz Mine north of Hot Springs - and it's where you and I can dig for our own treasure. White Oak Lake State Park near Prescott offers abundant wildlife and hiking within the boundaries of the state's only state forest. A new look at the unique geological formation known as Crowley's Ridge in eastern Arkansas can be explored at the Crowley's Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro. Episode concludes with a drive along Crowley's Ridge Parkway.

The Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area in the Ozark National Forest northeast of Clarksville offers, waterfalls, cascades and towering bluffs. Seven Devils Swamp near Monticello may sound eerie, but it's a picturesque example of the original habitat that existed in the Delta. The Tanyard Creek Nature Trail in Bella Vista offers a wilderness experience complete with a waterfall right in the city limits.

Wildcaving in Arkansas' largest cave - Beauty Cave in the Buffalo National River area. The state's largest tree happens to be in the White River National Wildlife Refuge at St. Charles. We'll close it out with a rafting expedition on the Big Piney north of Russellville.

The Owens and Ricketts mountain areas south of Jasper near Cowell, offer some of the most spectacular rock formations in the state. Centuries old pictographs are also located here, which were drawn by prehistoric Native Americans. Kayak touring is becoming more and more popular, and a kayak excursion on Cane Creek Lake near Star City has an added attraction-giant water lily blooms. The Kings River Falls Natural Area in the Ozark National Forest is one of those pristine secrets of the Natural State. The beauty along this clear mountain stream really is something to behold.

Named after a whale and not the Arkansas Razorbacks-the submarine called the "Razorback" is quite an enlightening experience into the "silent service" of WW II. Tours of it are provided daily at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum at n Little Rock. Our tour is with a crewmember who knew the sub all too well. The B 17 "Flying Fortress" was one of the most famous planes ever built. The legacy it left behind is unmatched in aviation history. The so called amphibian duck boats were used in most of the major battles during WW II, including D Day. They now serve as tourist attraction rides in quite a few cities, including Hot Springs. The duck boats' transformation from a military vehicle to a tourist ride, is quite the story.

The Nature Conservancy's newest preserve south of Boxley in northwest Arkansas is a haven for endangered bats and other wildlife. We'll take you on a hike through a portion of the 1200 acre tract. A wild cave tour at Cosmic Cavern near Berryville includes two underground lakes, the bottoms of which have never been found. A unique trail in Pine Bluff takes hikers along the world's longest bayou-Bayou Bartholomew, which stretches all the way into Louisiana.

Fern Gully northeast of Ft. Smith is one of the many "special interest" areas that can be found throughout the Ozark National Forest. The many bluff features and ferns make this a unique area. Rock Creek Natural Area is actually within the Spring River Wildlife Management Area south of Hardy.Under the protection of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, here you'll find one of the clearest streams in the Ozarks, which leads to Bubbling Spring. Robe Bayou in the Dagmar Wildlife Management Area near Brinkley, offers both-a scenic auto tour and a canoe route, either one which will give you a wonderful experience of this pristine and picturesque setting.

Unique rock formations resembling huge molars, crevices and a natural bridge are all what await you at a place known as Buzzard Roost in the Ozark National Forest near Pelsor The history of Round Top Mountain south of Jasper is quite intriguing, especially what happened there in 1948. The Winona Forest Drive in the Ouachita National Forest in west central Arkansas is referred to as the "Grandaddy Auto Tour of the Ouachitas."