Central Arkansas * attractions.

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Central Arkansas, with Little Rock at its heart, is the population and geographic center of Arkansas and offers an abundance of sites for meetings, conventions and special events. It also offers fantastic sight-seeing, dining and cultural opportunities.

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 features fine dining and shopping. The center also offers a children's theater and art school. Admission is free Call [phone].

PERFORMING ARTS

Arkansas Repertory Theatre With a focus on dramatic storytelling that illuminates the human journey, The Rep entertains, engages and enriches Ioca 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. Call [phone]. Ballet Arkansas State's only professional ballet company presents several major productions each year, including the holiday production of "The Nutcracker." Performances are at Robinson Center Music Hall in Little Rock. Call [phone]. Celebrity Attractions Hosts Broadway shows performed by national touring companies. The 2007-2008 schedule includes "Ring of Fire," "The Ten Tenors," "Annie" and "Movin' Out." Performances are at the Robinson Center Music Hall in downtown Little Rock. Call [phone]. Murry's Dinner Playhouse A unique facility that combines a great buffet dinner with professional theater. The 2007 season includes the mystery-comedy "Smoke and Mirrors" and the farce "Love, Sex and the IRS." Call [phone]. Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Nine-month symphony season offering classical, popular and chamber music concerts. The 2007-08 schedule includes pianists Misha Dichter and Navah Perlman and violinist Giora Schmidt as well as soprano Marie Plette, tenor Mark Brown and massed choruses from several area universities, who will perform a concert version of Puccini's "Madame Butterfly." The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is also on the schedule. Regular performances are held at Robinson Center Music Hall in downtown Little Rock. Call [phone].

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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 (501) 376-IMAX for show times. 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 open house in the fall. In Jacksonville. Call [phone].

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ENTERTAINMENT

Alltel Arena Multipurpose civic center in North Little Rock offering concerts, sporting events and other entertainment. Call the arena box office, [phone]. Arkansas State Fairgrounds Circuses, musical events and antique sales are popular attractions at Barton Coliseum and the surrounding fairgrounds in Little Rock. In October, the Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show features a rodeo and concerts. Call [phone]. Arkansas Travelers This double A baseball team plays at the new Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. April-August. In Little Rock. Call [phone]. Arkansas Twisters Arkansas' only arena football team. Plays a 16-game season at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock. Tickets available from Ticketmaster or the arena box office. Call [phone]. Clinton Museum Store Offers a collection of campaign and presidential memorabilia and souvenirs. Conveniently located two blocks from the Clinton Presidential Center. Call [phone]. Pickles Gap Village Shop for antiques and enjoy lunch at this unique attraction on U.S. Highway 65 north of Conway. Call [phone]. River Market District Downtown Little Rock is brimming with dining and drinking establishments, eclectic shops and outdoor entertainment. The Farmers' Market is open 7 am.-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays from May-October. 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].

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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]. Central High School Museum and 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]. MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History Gen. Douglas MacArthur was born here. 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]. 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. Six period rooms, three temporary exhibits, permanent exhibits on Arkansas' first families and much more. Self-guided tours. In downtown Little Rock. Call [phone]. Quapaw Quarter Historic downtown Little Rock neighborhood offers walking or driving tours of Victorian splendor. Call [phone].

MUSEUMS

Clinton Presidential Center Located within a 30-acre city park along the Arkansas River, the center features 20,000 square feet of exhibit space, classrooms, a great hall for events, a cafe, and an extensive archival collection of 76 million documents, 75,000 artifacts and 2 million photographs accumulated during Clinton's presidency. Self-guided tours welcome. Call [phone]. EMOBA, The Museum of Black Arkansans Hosts changing exhibits that explore the African-American experience in Arkansas. Housed in an old church on Louisiana Street in downtown Little Rock. Call [phone]. 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]. 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]. Plantation Agriculture 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].

PARKS AND RECREATION

Burns Park Second-largest city park in the country. Includes a golf course, tennis courts and a picnic area. In North Little Rock. Call [phone]. Cadron Creek Cuts through northwest Faulkner County; popular for floating. Plenty of access from U.S., state and county highways. Joe Hogan Fish Hatchery One of the largest fish hatcheries on the planet. Tours available. In Lonoke. Call [phone]. Little Rock Zoo Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish are housed in natural-looking environments. The Kiddieland train, duck pond and petting zoo are popular with children. Call [phone]. Pinnacle Mountain State Park A central Arkansas landmark and an ideal place for early morning hiking or meditation. More than 40 miles of hiking trails and the Arkansas Arboretum. On state Highway 10, west of Little Rock. Call [phone]. Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park American Indian mounds dating from A.D. 600. Interpretive center offers exhibits, a theater and a research laboratory. Southeast of Scott on U.S. Highway 165. Call [phone].