Little Rock
District Guide
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Downtown Little Rock is bordered on the south by I-70, also known as Roosevelt Road, which runs east to west. On the east, downtown stretches a couple of blocks beyond I-30, which is just the on other side of MacArthur Park. To the west, the State Capitol area and the railroad tracks form the outer edge of downtown proper. These east and west and boundaries are somewhat irregular, and the downtown area continues to grow. The north end's border, however, is pretty clear cut—it's the Arkansas River.
River Market
If you are in downtown Little Rock, then you are close to what is becoming the most popular spot in town. The historic River Market District has been part of the rebirth that has been taking place on Little Rock's riverfront over the past decade. The River Market itself is an outdoor farmers market that offers all types of fresh local produce on Tuesdays and Saturdays, May through October. Year round, you'll find a daily indoor market where 17 shopkeepers sell everything from gourmet coffee to fresh sushi. The area has become a center of activity, continually fueled by the addition of new restaurants, bars and shops.
The City of Little Rock has done its best to keep the momentum going. From May through September, you'll find Big Downtown Thursdays, a sort of public happy hour held each week from 6p-10p. Memorial Day weekend's annual Riverfest features a carnival-type atmosphere and fireworks, and takes place in Riverfront Park adjacent to the River Market. The area also hosts the Summer Concert Series, winter ice-skating competitions and other special events that bring people down to the area.
Quapaw Quarter
Just a short way from the River Market is the Quapaw Quarter, a section of restored 19th-century homes situated around MacArthur Park and the Governor's Mansion. The area comprises nine square miles of beautiful antebellum and Victorian homes as well as the central business district. Most of the homes are privately owned, so access is mainly limited to walking and driving tours. However, many of the quarter's homes are opened for tours at various points in the year under the direction of the Landmarks Trust Association. The Annual Quapaw Quarter Spring Tour takes place in May, while December brings the Christmas Open House. Other historic landmarks are open to the public for tours at various points throughout the year, including the Empress Bed & Breakfast, Trapnall Hall Old State House Museum and Villa Marre, the home used as the Sugarbaker Design Studio on the TV show Designing Women. Some buildings are available for special occasion rental and may be used for weddings and other events.
Hillcrest Historic District and West
The area west of downtown along Markham Street is known as the Hillcrest Historic District. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this area is one of the city's earliest residential areas, with homes dating from the early part of the 20th century.
West Little Rock is the newest and fastest growing area of the city. The easiest route here from downtown is to take I-630 west until the interstate ends and runs into Shackleford Road. West Little Rock is the part of suburbia where large numbers of new upper middle-class homes are being built and where a wide variety of restaurants, shops and clubs are located. If you follow Chenal Parkway (the road I-630 turns into) west for about 10 miles, it will lead you to Chenal Valley, home to many of the area's elite.
The Heights
The Heights is a trendy, upscale area on the north-central side of town with its own particular flavor, almost as if it were a mini-village in itself. Here you will find quaint gift shops, exclusive boutiques, restaurants, cafes and antique shops mixed into a residential neighborhood that's a bit on the exclusive side. This area is north of Hillcrest and dates from the 1920s and 1930s. Many of the houses overlook the Arkansas River and are built high up on the bluffs, hence the name.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), the home of the Trojans, is spread over an area west of downtown. The Trojan basketball team plays at North Little Rock's Alltel Arena. The campus' north end houses the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Planetarium, the Fine Arts Building and its art gallery, and the Stella Boyle Smith Auditorium, in which stage plays and musical performances take place. The university area is also home to some of the best shopping in town, with two malls—Park Plaza and University Mall—located at the same intersection of West Markham Street and University Avenue.
North Little Rock
The city just north of the river, North Little Rock, has its own personality and is not to be outdone by its bigger cousin. Formerly known as Argenta, this municipality has preserved its own local history. The old mill in Old Mill Park, famous for being the backdrop during the opening credits in Gone with the Wind, is open for tours. The Argenta Historic District is a large area that includes city hall, several churches and a military post. A driving-tour brochure will point you in the right direction regarding these sites. North Little Rock is also the site of the newly built Alltel Arena, which is home of the UALR Trojan Basketball Team, the Arkansas Twisters Arena Football and the Riverblades hockey team, as well as a number of touring events.
