DownHome Arkansas

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Category: Summer

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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The Purple Passionflower: Beauty, Symbolism and Sweet Rewards by the Roadside

Keith Sutton September 27, 2024 No Comments

While visiting Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge in White County recently, Theresa and I spotted a purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) blooming beside the road. These flowers, with their otherworldly beauty and intricate design, have a rich history and hidden treasures in the form of delicious fruit. The Story Behind the Flower Known as “maypop” in the South, the purple passionflower’s striking appearance has inspired tales for centuries. Early Christian missionaries gave it its name, seeing

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Tigers

Shrews: Hidden Tigers in our Backyards

Keith Sutton September 25, 2024 No Comments

In a rural backyard, the carnivore hunts. Its bite is poisonous. Its blood-colored teeth are needle sharp. It never sleeps. Day and night, it kills and eats—one animal then another and another. Yet its hunger is never satisfied. As soon as one victim is devoured, another must be found. It travels unseen through a subsurface labyrinth of tunnels and trails. Others of its kind live nearby in woods and grassy edges—a dozen, perhaps, on a

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