I am originally from Arkansas. I was born in a town called De Queen and I lived in several cities in Arkansas before moving to Lafayette, Louisiana. When meeting new friends from other states in college, I have realized that the main perception of Arkansas is that we have a lot of rock shops. Well, if you are ever in the area, I hope that you check out these very interesting places in my home state and gain the appreciation I have to be from Arkansas. Woo Pig Sooie! (Look that up if you don't get it).

1. Murfreesboro, Arkansas

In southern Arkansas, Murfreesboro is sort of a hidden gem, literally. Murfreesboro is well known for being the only place in the United States of America where you can dig for diamonds and keep what you find! You can pay an entrance fee and rent equipment to dig with at the Crater of Diamonds State Park. There is also a water park for when digging in the dirt all morning gets too hot and you need to dip into a pool. Like any other small town, Murfreesboro might not be everyone's cup of tea for permanent residence (because there isn't even a Wal-Mart) but it is definitely a must see town.

2. Hot Springs, Arkansas

In Garland County, Hot Springs is also a spot anyone driving through should stop at. Hot Springs is located in the Ouachita (pronounced Wa-shi-ta) Mountains and is somewhat self explanatory. There are many hot springs that natives and people across the world in the past have claimed to have magical properties to fix ailments and improve health. Even children can enjoy Hot Springs because there is an amusement/water park called Magic Springs that Arkansans from all over the state travel to! The history of Hot Springs has much to do with the tourist attractions and culture of the city as well. Gangsters and fugitives were known to hideout in Hot Springs and that is still very relevant in current day Hot Springs. (If you don't believe me then check out the wax museum!) The infamous Al Capone favored a place called the Arlington Hotel and Owney Madden led gambling in his own Hotel Arkansas casino. As you may already know some large cities such as Branson have Duck Tours, which is a big boat/truck vehicle. Hot Springs has its very own Duck Tours through the city. Riding The Duck is one of my favorite childhood memories.

3. Terra Studios - Fayetteville, Arkansas

Terra Studios, located in Fayetteville Arkansas is the absolute best place to walk around and explore or even have a picnic! If you have ever seen a little blue or pink or other various colored glass bird knicknack objects sitting around somewhere, then you've already discovered a little piece of Terra Studios. Terra Studios is the home of the Blue Bird of Happiness.These glass birds (and other critters) are made by glass blowing which is demonstrated behind a window at Terra Studios. Another aspect of Terra Studios is all of the clay critters around the land. There are goblin-looking clay statues all around which is very kid-friendly and even as a teenager going there is like another world for me. There is a building with clay molded walls and domes with colored glass for windows, distorting the reality of the room which is absolutely beautiful. To top all of this off, there are little trails lined with the clay creatures and at the end is a little labyrinth that anyone can walk through. Granted, it isn't grand or complex. It is still a bunch of fun for the whole family or just a group of friends.

4. Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a city in northern Arkansas that you can not drive through and miss. Eureka is full of artists and the town is an array of pinks, oranges, yellows, blues, and greens. The houses are painted these bright colors and are a Victorian-Style, so they are very hard to miss. Eureka is also full of store fronts downtown varying from clothing stores, bars, jewelry shops, and fudge shops. Trolley's run up and down Eureka Springs allowing easier transportation to all of the attractions. One of my personal favorite places in Eureka Springs is Thornhill Chapel, which is a building that no words can do justice. It is situated in the middle of trees and foliage and is almost completely made of glass, which is so calming and serene. The only parts of the building that are not covered in glass are the silver metal pieces which stand out so much against the forest and makes it unbearable to look away. For anyone who is into spooky trips, there are two different things to choose from in Eureka Springs. There are two haunted hotels that you can stay in or just tour. The first hotel is the Crescent Hotel and the second is the Basin hotel. Coming from the perspective of someone who has been to both, they are not something to miss out on if you are in the area!