Moving to Arkansas this weekend

Bet you won't say that to my face

you got me on the facial hair but your heart doesn't look in the best of shape with that cabg scar.

Oh nice I was born in Benton. Much different place now than it was then. Still a really nice town and an easy drive to LR. Welcome!

Make sure and hit up Dale's Donuts one morning once you're there. I used to eat it every saturday as a kid and still find myself craving them 20 years later haha. It's not just my nostalgia talking when I say they're some of the best donuts I've ever had.

Oh god my mouth is watering.

Welcome!

I was going to say that you should be glad you don't have to deal w/ this daily.




but you're getting into this





Good luck, hope you enjoy it here in Arkansas.

You can be on the water in the best lake in Arkansas n about 45 minutes from Benton.

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How are the Arkansas Travelers games?

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Not bad from what I remember of the handful of games I went too. Its a smaller stadium but that isn't a bad thing since you get to be closer to the action.

I'd warn you that there are some parts of LR that are a bit dicey, but moving here from the NE you know all about bad parts of town so no worries there. Most of the city is perfectly fine. Little Rock and Hot Springs both have some really nice places eat and see.

When you get some time off drive up to NW Arkansas to see things up here.

In the Central Arkansas area Saline County, as well as the two other Little Rock bedroom communities (Conway and Cabot), has experienced tremendous growth over the last couple of decades. Saline County now has well over 100K in population with many outsiders having moved in and relocated there. Benton and Bryant are the two largest cities and have changed as lot as Joker noted. Because of the Alcoa plant Benton was somewhat unique as having a population heavily labor union influenced. There's still some of that but it is nothing like it used to be. Many people do live there because of the schools which are good as you have the massive Bryant School District along with Benton and then some of the smaller ones.

It is a short drive to LR but as has been noted traffic is one of the negatives although it is definitely much better than it used to be with I-30 having 3 lanes of traffic each way to support it. The I-30--I-430 interchange is still somewhat of a nightmare and bottleneck although improvements have been and continue to be made there. Many people do endure the traffic and drive daily from Saline County to LR to work but the traffic can be a deal breaker for some and it's naturally worse during rush hour especially with the frequent accident on I-30.

The drive to Pine Bluff isn't that bad once you get off I-30 onto I-530 and fortunately you don't have to drive into downtown LR before you hit the interchange. There is generally (as now) some construction to deal with which causes a delay.

The drive from Saline County to Hot Springs on Highway 70 isn't bad although for some reason there seems to be an abnormal amount of traffic accidents there with some being bad. It is curvy in a few places but the highway has been widened with passing lanes along the way but it's better than it used to be. You encounter traffic there as well but nothing like you experience going to LR. Just be careful there.

Benton recently added an events center which is a plus and the shopping in the Benton-Bryant-Western Pulaski County area is infinitely better than it used to be and continues to get better. As mentioned we now have a Bass Pro and they added an outlet mall next to it. There are some good relatively new shopping centers and another significant one is in the works. I'd say the restaurant scene is pretty meh overall but has improved with some additions.

If you are an LSU fan my unofficial observation is that they are the second most prominent SEC fan base in the area--a number of folks reside there from Louisiana and other states as well.

As hogminer noted Lake Ouachita (at least I think that is the lake pictured) is a jewel and not all that far away. I haven't seen the list lately but historically it has ranked as one of the cleanest lakes in the United States--much of it rests within the Ouachita National Forest and residential construction is not allowed on the lake.

Here's a recent thread of some of the things to do (or maybe not to do) in Arkansas. LINK

Welcome aboard.

As to Saline County restaurants I can recommend some although it isn't LR for sure. Some have already been mentioned.

Eat My Catfish in Benton is good and they do the crawfish boil thing especially during the summer months. Then there's Riverside Grocery out Highway 5N with Friday being catfish day. Mo Betta Gumbo on the access road near Saline Memorial Hospital is relatively new and has some good Cajun-Creole dishes.

Sakura is good and Samarui which recently opened in Benton is good I'm told although I haven't eaten there. Buffet City nearby is a popular Chinese buffet place and has a variety of things.

As to drive in type places I like the Salem Dairy Bar and you have Garry's Slingblade in Benton and Kream Kastle out Highway 70 toward Hot Springs in the Ten Mile area.

As to Mexican there's Ta Molly's in Bryant (Tex Mex) and then the more authentic type Mexican places like Taqueria Azteca on Highway 5 near Hurricane Lake and Taqueria Queretaro in Bryant. There's La Hacienda in Benton and also what I believe is the original one in Hot Springs and one in LR near Riverdale.

As to BBQ Whole Hog in Bryant has been mentioned and Dickey's BBQ Pit also in Bryant. Flying Pig is in downtown Benton owned by the same guy that had Crazy Mikes in LR out on Bowman Curve. Smoky Haven BBQ out on Salem Road. I've eaten at several others but I'd go with some of the ones above.

Italian you've got Pasta Jacks in both Benton and Bryant. Then there's the Italian Villa just off I-30 near Peeler Bend Road.

As to pizza you've got U.S. Pizza in Bryant (in LR & NLR as well) probably noted more for the salads than pizzas, Pie Five Pizza relatively new in Benton-Bryant and Larry's Pizza in Bryant with locations elsewhere.

Browns Country Restaurant on I-30 and Western Sizzlin, and Abe's Ole Feed House in Benton are sort of staples.

There's many others and but that should get you started.

Edit-not in Saline County but I really need to mention 2 Guys Hibachi On Wheels in Sheridan. Damn good food truck.

In Little Rock...other than DT on Pres. Clinton Avenue I'd point you toward:

Table 28
The Pantry
Sims BBQ
Whole Hog (about the same as Benton)
Oyster Bar (in Stiff's Station)
Arthur's (steakhouse)
Ocean's at Arthur's (best Sushi around)
Doe's Eat House


Recreation:

Pinnacle Mountain
Big Dam Bridge and biking walking trails
Lots of great golf courses
Lake Maumelle...sailboats on Sunday

Again...just wandering around downtown is pretty easy to find what you're after.