DownHome Arkansas

Food, Travel, Wildlife & More

Category: Summer

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A Perfect Arkansas Day Trip: State Parks, Scenic Views and Fried Pies

Keith Sutton July 21, 2025 No Comments

We’ve entered a new chapter in our lives. With Theresa now retired, we made a pact: one day a week, we’ll hit the road and explore a different corner of Arkansas. Our goal? To complete the Arkansas State Parks Passport and take in as much of the Arkansas Farm Trail as we can along the way. No interstate. No chain businesses. Just real downhome Arkansas, one backroad at a time. Day Trip #1 – River

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Sims Bar-B-Que: Arkansas Flavor That’s Stood the Test of Time

Keith Sutton July 7, 2025 No Comments

Theresa and I have been chasing great barbecue across Arkansas for more than 30 years. From small-town smokehouses to big-city restaurants, we’ve sampled ribs, brisket, chicken, bologna and every sauce you can imagine. But no matter where we roam, we keep coming back to one place: Sims Bar-B-Que. Simply put, nobody does it better. Sims has been a fixture in our lives and on our plates for decades, and in all that time we’ve never

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Bucket List

Conway County Cuisine: The Bucket List Café

Keith Sutton February 21, 2025 No Comments

If you’re cruising through Conway County and find yourself craving a home-cooked meal, there’s one place you absolutely can’t miss: the Bucket List Café. Tucked away off Highway 9 between Morrilton and Center Ridge, it’s the kind of hole-in-the-wall gem that could easily slip by if you’re not paying attention. But trust me, you’ll want to make a stop. I first heard about the Bucket List Café from my friend Matt Jackson, a local from

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The Historic Dyess Colony and Johnny Cash Boyhood Home

Keith Sutton October 11, 2024 No Comments

One would be hard-pressed to find an Arkansan from any era more famous than Johnny Cash. On September 24 of this year, a statue of Cash sculpted by artist Kevin Kresse was placed in the U.S. Capitol, greeting visitors to Statuary Hall. He is the first musician ever to be honored in this iconic space, which includes two statues from each state commemorating notable historical figures. The bronze statue depicts Cash with a guitar slung

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Cool Facts About Arkansas Roadrunners

Keith Sutton October 8, 2024 No Comments

If you think Arkansas is too lush for a roadrunner, think again. These zippy birds, synonymous with the deserts of the Southwest, have found a home right here in the Natural State. Many of you might say you’ve never seen one, but the greater roadrunner, as it’s formally known, lives throughout much of Arkansas, from the edges of Ozark Mountain woodlands to the bayou bottoms of the Delta. Watch closely as you travel, and you

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Stream Fishing for Autumn Bream

Keith Sutton October 5, 2024 No Comments

We had hoped to catch a mess of bream while fishing on the lake. But despite enjoying the beauty of the fall colors and the coolness of the autumn air, my friend Jim and I hadn’t had a nibble all morning. The lake had started its seasonal “turnover,” a process where cooler surface water mixes with warmer layers below, causing fish to scatter. To improve our situation, we decided a change of plans was in

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The Czech National Cemetery: A Reminder of Arkansas’ Eastern European Heritage

Keith Sutton October 3, 2024 No Comments

A few years ago, while driving along U.S. Highway 63 from Hazen to Stuttgart, I stumbled upon an unexpected piece of Arkansas history: the Czech National Cemetery. Tucked away just two miles south of Hazen, this quiet cemetery serves as a poignant reminder of the Czech immigrants who helped shape the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. What began as a scenic drive soon became a journey into the rich heritage of

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Lakeport Plantation: A Window into Arkansas’ Delta History

Keith Sutton October 1, 2024 No Comments

The Delta of eastern Arkansas holds a special place in my heart, and one of my absolute favorite spots to visit in the Delta is Lakeport Plantation in Chicot County. On a recent trip, I was once again captivated by its rich history and timeless beauty. Walking through the grounds, I found myself reflecting on the many untold stories woven into the very fabric of this grand plantation. If you’re looking for a destination that

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The Alligator And The Raccoons

Predator and Prey: An Alligator’s Smug Smile

Keith Sutton September 29, 2024 No Comments

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, on the Arkansas River not far from Russellville, isn’t the kind of place where I’d normally expect to spot an alligator. But as I drove along the refuge’s winding auto tour route, I pulled over at a scenic overlook on the elevated roadway and caught sight of one, resting motionless in the still waters below. I had seen gators before—in Florida and Louisiana. But this was the first I had

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