Ready for some down-home adventure? Want to watch outhouses cruise down the streets during the Beanfest & Great Championship Outhouse Race? Or listen to banjos and mandolins fill the night air during one of the Bluegrass Festivals? Well then, make plans to visit Mountain View, Arkansas and the nearby Sylamore Scenic Byway.
Nestled inside the southeast corner of the Ozark National Forest, Sylamore Scenic Byway will draw you into the heart of the Ozarks where you'll find lavish fall colors or sweet-smelling blossoms of dogwood and redbuds in spring. Go deeper by following hiking trails, either on foot or on horseback, and discover the brushy undergrowth teeming with wildlife. Fishers and hunters will want to obtain permits for pursuing whitetail deer throughout the forest or small-mouth bass in one of the many clear streams and lakes. Rent a kayak, or bring your own, to explore the nooks and crannies of the White River. Summer weather might find you lazily floating downstream or pitching a tent for a weekend of relaxation. Runners will want to keep a lookout for waterfalls as they dash along the North Sylamore Trail. The Ozark National Forest abounds in opportunities to get away from routine.
If you've exhausted the possibilities above ground, put on a warm jacket and head below the earth's surface for an enlightening experience with spelunking at Blanchard Springs Caverns. This "living cave" becomes a cathedral of stalactites and stalagmites with opalescent colors and deep shadows.
Get back to civilization by touring Calico Rock where the whole downtown is on the National Historic Register. Perched on rocky outcroppings, the town's mellow atmosphere will help make your entry back to city life more smooth. For a lively calendar of events, make your way south to Mountain View, home to folk music festivals and the Ozark Folk Center, where you can watch artisans hard at work or enjoy a home-cooked meal. Either way, Sylamore Scenic Byway will start you off in the right direction.
