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Amanda's Little Rock Blog

Visit the Little Rock Zoo: Kids Get In Free

Wednesday July 23, 2008
Blue and Gold Macaw
One of the many animals you may meet at the zoo.
Copyright Amanda Galiano (More Photos)
Today through Labor Day, the Little Rock Zoo is letting all kids twelve and under get in free. If you haven't been to the zoo in a while, now is the perfect time to check it out again. There have been many new exhibits in the past few years including Lorikeet Landing, the new rhino overlooks, Cafe Africa, the largest snake in Arkansas and the carousel. If you haven't been in a while, even the entrance and gift shop are different.

Cafe Africa is also having a promotion. Hot dogs are just $1, making a day at the zoo even more economical.

Regular adult admission is $8 and there must be one adult for every 10 kids admitted. Regular children's admission is $6.

Park A Day: Withrow Springs State Park

Tuesday July 22, 2008
Withrow Springs State Park
Withrow Springs State Park
Copyright lankford on Flickr.
This park is located in northern Arkansas in Huntsville, which is about 3 hours away from Little Rock. The park is in the middle of the Ozark mountains and War Eagle Creek.

The park's most prominent feature is the warm spring (Withrow Spring), The spring is fifty-four degrees year round and named for Richard Withrow who homesteaded much of the surrounding area. The spring flows from a cave at the foot of a bluff and flows into War Eagle Creek. Those interested can venture inside the cave, or you can just walk along the creek.

The park is perfect for fishing for catfish, bream, perch, or bass. They have picnic sites, pavillions and baseball and softball fields.

I featured this park today because this weekend, there are a lot of fun things going on. They have some cave tours, a GPS tutorial, some fun arts and crafts for kids. It seems like a great place to camp this weekend! Check out their events and plan your day.

Park A Day: Plantation Agriculture Museum

Monday July 21, 2008
Plantation Agriculture Museum
Plantation Agriculture Museum
Copyright Ninjapoodles on Flickr.
Since we're wrapping up the park a day series, I thought I'd hit some good parks I hadn't hit yet instead of doing the "this day in history" theme I've been doing. Plantation Agriculture Museum is a park close to Arkansas' heart and close to the capitol city. It's about a 30 minute drive from Little Rock.

Our history, the good and the bad, was centered around cotton. The museum interprets what life was like on a cotton plantation. Families can learn how cotton was "ginned" and learn how the cotton gin really changed the landscape of Arkansas farms. You get to see a real cotton gin. It is the only one known to exist in the continental United States. There are also cotton bales, plows, fertilizers, planters, cultivators, a blacksmith shop, a old fashioned kitchen and store and more. If you have young boys into tractors and agriculture (or old boys) this is a great place to bring them. With all the antique farming equipment, it's a really cool place for farm fans.

They do have group tours for schools and groups. Admission for a self-guided tour is $3. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., but please call 501-961-1409 for details.

The museum is at the junction of U.S. 165 and Ark. 161 in Scott. Take Exit #7 off I-440 and go south on U.S. 165 five miles to the museum. (Google Map)

Ninjapoodles has some great photos of some of the farm equipment on her Flickr feed. Check it out!

Rescue At Devil's Den

Sunday July 20, 2008
Devil's Den is a popular spot for underground exploration here in Arkansas, but this weekend it was the site for an underground rescue. On Friday, a 17-year old girl, Bianca Calloway, who was exploring the cave lost her footing, slipped and became trapped inside the rock work in the cave.

Unlike Blanchard Springs, Devil's Den is really not modified to make it easy for tourist to explore. It is a more primitive cave experience. However, it is generally safe with relatively few problems being reported each year.

It looks like the main fear of rescuers, despite the 100 degree weather outside, was hypothermia. The temperature is below 50 degree inside the caves at night. It's reported that Calloway needed a hair dryer and blankets to keep her warm.

Crews had to drill holes in the rock throughout the Devil's Maze section of the cave to remove parts of the area that Calloway was stuck in with chisels and hammers. She was removed safely and will have no permanent effects from her adventure.

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