Central Arkansas: attractions.

Central Arkansas not only offers plentiful choices of venues for meetings, conventions and special events, it possesses a wealth of sightseeing, dining, shopping, recreational and cultural opportunities. What follows is just a sampling.

ART/GALLERIES

Arkansas Arts Center--The state's largest arts center, in historic MacArthur Park in Little Rock, features a range of galleries that exhibit the works of old masters and contemporary artists, including a world-renowned drawing collection. A sun-filled atrium offers fine dining and shopping. The center also has a children's theater and art school. Admission is free. Call [phone] or visit www.arkarts.com.

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PERFORMING ARTS

Arkansas Repertory Theatre--With a focus on dramatic storytelling that illuminates the human journey, The Rep entertains, engages and enriches local and regional audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Performances are held in a restored building at the corner of Sixth and Main streets in downtown Little Rock. Among the offerings for the 2009-10 season are "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Call [phone] or visit www.therep.org.

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra--Nine-month symphony season offering classical, popular and chamber music concerts. The .2009-10 schedule includes Beethoven's Fifth and Grieg's Romantic Piano Concerto. Regular performances are held at the Robinson Center Music Hall in downtown Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.arkansassymphony.org.

Ballet Arkansas--The state's only professional ballet company presents several productions each year, including the holiday production of "The Nutcracker" at Robinson Center Auditorium in Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.balletarkansas.org.

Celebrity Attractions--Hosts Broadway shows performed by national touring companies. The 2009-10 schedule includes "Stomp" and "The Wizard of Oz." Performances are at the Robinson Center Music Hall in downtown Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.celebrityattractions.com.

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Murry's Dinner Playhouse--A unique facility that combines a great buffet dinner with professional theater. Call [phone] or visit www.murrysdinnerplayhouse.com.

EDUCATION

Aerospace Education Center/ IMAX Theater--Permanent and temporary exhibits focusing on the evolution of aviation. The IMAX Theater boasts a screen 10 times larger than a conventional movie screen. In Little Rock. Call [phone] for show times or visit www.aerospaced.org.

Heifer Village

Interactive exhibits and engaging educational programming address the solutions to world hunger. On the campus of Heifer International, next to the Clinton Presidential Library. Call [phone] or visit www.heifer. org/heifervillage.

Little Rock Air Force Base--Country's largest training and maintenance facility for C-130 aircraft. The base is the home of Combat Airlift. The 314th Airlift Wing is the host unit that reports to Air Education and Training Command. Tours are available, and the base hosts an annual air show and open house in the fall. In Jacksonville. Call [phone] or visit www.littlerock.af.mil.

ENTERTAINMENT

Argenta Downtown Historic District--Restaurants, galleries, bars and the Northshore Riverwalk are just a few of the attractions in this historic district in downtown North Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.argentadc.org.

Arkansas State Fairgrounds--Circuses, musical events and antique sales are popular events at Barton Coliseum and the surrounding fairgrounds in Little Rock. In October, the Arkansas State Fair & Livestock Show features a rodeo and concerts. Call [phone] or visit www. arkansasstatefair.com.

Arkansas Travelers--This double A baseball team plays at the Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. April-August. Call [phone] or visit www. travs.com.

Arkansas Twisters--Arkansas' only arena football team. Plays a 16-game season at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. Tickets available from Ticketmaster or the arena box office. Call [phone] or visit www.arkansastwisters.com.

Big Dam Bridge--The Pulaski County Pedestrian & Bicycle Bridge, better known as the Big Dam Bridge, spans the Arkansas River at Little Rock over the Murray Lock & Dam and is open only to pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The bridge is one of the longest pedestrian-only bridges in North America.

Clinton Museum Store--Offers a collection of campaign and presidential memorabilia and souvenirs. Conveniently located two blocks from the Clinton Presidential Center. Call [phone] or visit www.clintonmuseumstore.com.

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Pickles Gap Village--Shop for antiques and enjoy lunch at this unique attraction on U.S. Highway 65 north of Conway. Call [phone] or visit www. picklesgap.com.

River Market District--Downtown Little Rock is brimming with dining and drinking establishments, eclectic shops and outdoor entertainment. The Farmers' Market is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays from May-September. To check out the River Market, visit www.rivermarket.info.

Verizon Arena--Multipurpose civic center in North Little Rock offering concerts, sporting events and other entertainment. Call the arena box office, [phone], or visit www.verizonarena.com.

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War Memorial Stadium Site of major concerts and several Arkansas Razorback football games each year. In Little Rock. For game times and ticket information, call the stadium at [phone] or visit www.wmstadium.com.

HISTORIC SITES

Arkansas State Capitol 

A scaled-down version of the nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C. There is no admission charge for the 45-minute tour. In Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.sosweb.state.ar.us/ tours.html.

Central High School Museum & Visitors Center

Chronicles the events surrounding the 1957 Central High School crisis, during which nine black students attended an all-white high school in Little Rock. On 14th Street in Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.nps.gov/ chsc.

MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History--Gen. Douglas MacArthur was born in Little Rock. Exhibits and artifacts explore the state's military history from the territorial period to the present. In MacArthur Park in downtown Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.arkmilitaryheritage.com.

Old Mill--Re-creation of a water-powered gristmill. Featured in the opening shots of "Gone With the Wind." At Lakeshore Drive and Fairway in North Little Rock. Call [phone].

Old State House--The state's first Capitol and the backdrop for President Bill Clinton's election night speeches. Period rooms, temporary exhibits, permanent exhibits on Arkansas' first families and much more. Self-guided tours. In downtown Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.oldstatehouse.com.

Quapaw Quarter--Historic downtown Little Rock neighborhood offers walking or driving tours of Victorian splendor. Call [phone] or visit www. quapaw.com.

MUSEUMS

Arkansas Museum of Discovery--Hands-on fun site in Little Rock's River Market District offering interactive games, exhibits and theater programs. Museum also maintains several collections of artifacts, ranging from space toys to globes. Call [phone] or visit www.amod.org.

Clinton Presidential Library & Museum--Located within a 30-acre city park along the Arkansas River, the center features 20,000 SF of exhibit space, classrooms, a great hall for events, a cafe and an extensive archival collection of documents, artifacts and photographs accumulated during Clinton's presidency. Self-guided tours. Call [phone] or visit www.clintonlibrary.gov.

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EMOBA, The Museum of Black Arkansans--Hosts changing exhibits that explore the African-American experience in Arkansas. At 12th and Louisiana streets in downtown Little Rock. Call [phone] or visit www.onlinelittlerock.com/emoba.htm.

Historic Arkansas Museum Little Rock's oldest neighborhood comes to life every day through living history performances and temporary exhibits. A gift shop features Arkansas-made crafts, books and memorabilia. Call [phone] or visit www. arkansashistory.com.

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center--The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center features exhibits on Little Rock's West Ninth Street African-American business district, providing a window into the social, political and cultural world of the city's thriving black community during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Call [phone] or visit www.mosaic templarscenter.com.

PlantationAgriculture Museum--Interprets the history of cotton agriculture from 1836 through World War II. See early cultivation tools, the blacksmith shop and rare gins. East of Little Rock, at the junction of U.S. Highway 165 and state Highway 161 in Scott. Call [phone].