Never fear, spring break is here. If you haven’t settled on where you’re going this year, Rogers is an excellent destination to bask in the warming weather outside while enjoying historical attractions and local restaurants. It’s not just for prospective tourists from northwest Arkansas, either. If you live in neighboring areas in Missouri, Oklahoma, or Kansas, Rogers is only a couple hours’ car ride away. So whether you’re an outdoor adventurer, a student looking to get away or a parent planning for a family road trip, Rogers is an accessible, exciting city to enjoy your precious time off. Come one, come all!

Outdoor Adventures in and Around Rogers

As part of the tapestry of the Ozark Mountains, the highlands in and around Rogers offer beautiful landscapes for a variety of outdoor activities. Drive half an hour east of Rogers to reach Beaver Lake, a 28,370-acre reservoir of the White River that’s lined with limestone bluffs and lush forest. Kayak, paddleboard or fish on the water, then set up at one of the hundreds of nearby campsites to enjoy a picnic on land.

Just south of Beaver Lake is Arkansas’ largest state park, Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. With over 36 miles of trails, you’ll have plenty of space to hike among the rich oak, hickory, and shortleaf pine trees of the region. Head to the interactive visitor center to plan your course and learn more about the wildlife—deers, turkeys and more—that you may spot along the way.

Looking for something closer to town? The largely paved paths surrounding Lake Atalanta make for ultra-accessible trails, both in terms of their location from town and their walkability. Also at the eastern edge of town, the Railyard Bike Park boasts a sprawling hard-surface terrain outfitted with 8 jump lines, where bikers of all skill levels can test themselves.

Family-Friendly Attractions

If you have kiddos in tow, make sure to hit up some of Rogers’ family-friendly attractions to ensure they have a memorable spring break. First, let your little ones get some much-needed time away from screens at Rogers Aquatics Center. The outdoor water park is filled with all the kid-friendly classics—water slides, pools, and a 500-foot lazy river—and children under three feet tall get in for free. Forgot to pack swimsuits? Mount Hebron Park has an epic, inclusive playground with color-coded sections for kids of all ages to enjoy. And if the weather happens to heat up while you’re here, the park and the Rogers Activity Center both have splash pads to cool off.

After your kids get their energy out, engage their minds with more experiential fun. If they love animals, book a guided tram tour at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Rescue, a big cat sanctuary where they can view rescued tigers, lions, and other fearsome predators in all of their magnificent beauty.

Or, maybe your youngsters are more into live entertainment. Then book tickets at the Walmart AMP or the Butterfield Stage, where they can sing their little hearts out to their favorite band, or laugh their tushies off to a comedy show.

Cultural and Historical Attractions

As one of the most prominent cities of northwest Arkansas, Rogers’ history represents the region’s impact on national business and commerce. So why not spend a few hours of your spring break learning about it? Start at the Rogers Historical Museum, where you can learn about the city from its early settlement through to the 21st century. Interactive exhibits geared towards young minds ensure that the whole family will take away something meaningful from the museum.

For a deeper dive, also march down to Daisy Airgun Museum, where you can learn about the 143-year history of the iconic BB gun brand in a building that itself is almost 130 years old. Plus, if you’re already out near Hobbs State Park, don’t miss the War Eagle Mill, where the long-standing traditions of grist milling still stand. This nearly 200-year-old landmark is one of the last water-wheel-powered mills in the United States and still provides nourishment to its corner of the country to this day. Inside, take a guided tour, sit and relax at the in-house cafe, then peruse the general store to acquire some organic flour for your own kitchen.

In March and April, Rogers has it all: Family-friendly entertainment options, grand environments for outdoor activity and rich historical attractions that put the city’s vacation appeal into context. So, get ahead by planning your unforgettable getaway to Rogers now, and experience its charm for yourself.