Rock Town

Situated in the center of the state, Little Rock Arkansas is perched on the intersection of two major Interstates, I-30 and I-40 and has become a tourist destination in “The Natural State.” With a population that hovers around one hundred and eighty thousand people, Little Rock is home to several major corporations, including Alltel and Acxiom, as well as hosting the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Little Rock cemented its place in history with two historic events. The first was the desegregation of Central High School when the Governor refused to integrate the school. The second was the nurturing of two term President William J. Clinton who lived in Arkansas during his terms as Governor. Each event has a museum dedicated to it. A converted gas station across the street from Central High is filled with memorabilia and records of the historic moment. The Clinton Presidential Library has been lauded as visionary. A looming glass and metal structure, it just out over the Arkansas River, with commanding views of the Little Rock skyline, and the meandering river as it stretches out into the distance. The museum is filled with interactive exhibits, timelines and histories of Clinton’s two terms in office. Outside, the grounds are filled with gardens and pathways. The Clinton Library is also a hallmark of environmentalism with energy saving features such as using natural lighting, and solar energy for heating in the winter. There is also a rain collection system on the roof that diverts water to storage tanks or ponds for use in irrigation on the grounds. Across the street from the Clinton Presidential Library is Heifer International, a charity organization that provides food and farm animals to developing countries. The grounds of Heifer International are unique in that they are separated into various zones dedicated to areas of the world where the charity operates. A visitor could walk the grounds and tour from a mock Sub-Saharan African village to a collection of Thai huts. Little Rock has a River Market district that hosts a large farmers market where local growers gather to sell fresh farm grown produce and wares. The River Market district is the hub of a revitalized downtown that includes a hopping nightlife and the introduction of urban lofts for real big city living in a small town setting. Arkansas is called the Natural State and Little Rock builds on that reputation with miles of trails, several dozen parks, and The Dam Bridge, a pedestrian and bicycle pathway that crosses over the Arkansas River at a dam, connecting the river trail in North Little Rock and Little Rock. West of the city is Pinnacle Mountain, a brisk one hour hike up a rock edifice that results in spectacular views of the countryside in the western part of town. There are several famous eateries in Little Rock, the most famous being Cotham’s and Doe’s. Doe’s is a local haunt of politicians and is great for start sighting while in town, and Cotham’s is home to the Hubcap burger, a platter of grilled goodness that would satisfy even the most hearty appetite. Little Rock is a great place to visit, full of friendly people and down home goodness the South is so famous for. For more information on Little Rock, Arkansas visit http://littlerockmicroblog.com and http://arkansasmicroblog.com