What Is there to do in Eureka Springs? The Eureka Concierge local guide

What Is there to do in Eureka Springs?

That may be the number one Google ask. It sounds simple enough, but the answer depends on what Eureka you want to find.

"Eureka!" literally means "I have found it!" It came from the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, who reportedly blurted the word after discovering a principle of buoyancy while in the bath. Imagine that!

That’s what a little group of folks thought as they were sitting around the basin of a healing spring looking for a city name. It was July 4, 1879.

The thing about Eureka Springs is that it appeals to just about everyone. You can spend the day exploring history, hunting for art, following hidden trails and stair-steps, and shopping for things you didn’t know you needed but now can’t live without. Or you can wander with purpose to see what you can find.

Eureka Springs can feel a bit overwhelming to the first-time visitor. City rules seem a little different here. Eureka doesn’t have traffic lights. Our roads don’t fit a straight line. We have very eclectic tastes. And there are so many hidden treasures to explore!

That’s why Eureka Concierge suggests several ways to approach your time in Eureka Springs. Here are our recommendations for building a trip around your interests.

Take a trolley ride around the loop

We think one of the best ways to see Eureka Springs is by trolley. Make it from the back of the trolley if you can snag that spot. It’s a great way to see how the town unfolds before you launch your exploration on foot. Parking is pain. There. We’ve said it. It’s not impossible, but you will need a patient approach.

The Eureka Springs historic loop is only three-miles long. That’s a mere snap for a good trekker. Be forewarned: there are several uphill climbs and several downhill climbs on the loop. Along the route, you’ll see where Eureka lives, plays, and works. It's a great way to a 'round the loop' view of town.

Adult tickets are $6. A two-day pass is $10. You can leave your car at the hotel or at one of the Park and Ride locations. A trolley route serves just about every destination. Our city trolley is not get-to-work fast transportation, but then you aren’t here to work. For a visitor, the trolley is a fun part of Eureka’s past and present.

Find details at: http://www.eurekatrolley.org

Eureka is a walking town so explore on foot

Historic downtown is filled with independent shops, galleries, history, and tons of hidden details. For first timers we recommend a tour that sends you off on a discovery adventure. Tour activities include clues, quests, mini-scavenger hunts, and lots of great selfie stops. All of this is self-paced so you can explore on your own schedule with detours and diversions whenever and wherever your Eureka tour leads you.

Eureka Concierge offers downloadable adventures centered on history, art, romance, family discoveries, and local curiosities. Each purchase covers your group, downloads to your phone, and no special app is needed.

Choose your favorite EUREKA CONCIERGE walking tour here.

Or Start with the FIRST-TIMERS TOUR

Learn how Eureka Springs began

Visit the Eureka Springs Historical Museum for a fun look at our history. The town will make a lot more sense as you move downhill, all your riddles answered as you take in evidence of how this town began. The healing springs, buildings, and streets still reveal how this Victorian health resort grew into the place visitors know today. If you know where to look, that is.

The Eureka From the Start tour turns Magic City history into a walking adventure with stories, quests, and scavenger hunts along the way. This is a great tour for families.

See Eureka From the Start here.

Learn more about the Eureka Springs Historical Museum.

Look for art beyond the galleries

One of the 25 top small art towns in America, Eureka Springs had at one time over 30 art galleries. The number has lessened some, but art is still a big part of who we are. The thing about artists and creatives is that they leave their legacy behind, and in odd places. Like on the side of a building. Or in a parking lot. Our staircases have surprise art, like our two famous Rainbow Stairs and hidden fairy doors. We try to point out as many oddities as we can on our Art Walk tour, but be on the lookout for murals, mosaics, sculptures, and creative details threaded throughout the landscape. You never know what treasures you might find!

Art Walk Eureka guides visitors to discover the art and artist-inspired landmarks they might otherwise pass without noticing. As for galleries, don’t miss Visions on Main, Iris at the Basin Park, Wilson & Wilson Folk Art, and Arkansas Adventure Art. These are four of our favorite places for local art.

See Art Walk Eureka here.

Play time after dark

Weekend evenings in Eureka Springs offer live music, local theater, a magic show, and the occasional concert at The AUD. Adults looking for a flexible evening can opt for the Haunted Pub Crawl, a self-paced tour to six hideaway pubs paired with stories that still haunt the present. It’s not ghostly, drinks are not required, but you must be 21 with valid ID.

If you can’t get enough of Eureka’s spooky side, we recommend The Basin Park’s Peculiar Places and Paranormal Investigation tours at 9:00 and 10:30. Tickets are $25 per person. The Crescent Hotel Ghost Expert Tour starts at 10. Tickets are $35 per person. Melonlight Theater’s theatrical tour for Ghosts runs seasonally. Tickets are $35 per person. Be sure to check for current prices and availability.

Eureka Concierge is a big fan of all of these!

Download the Haunted Pub Crawl here.

Go beyond downtown

The appeal of Eureka Springs doesn’t end at the edge of town. A scenic drive north reveals a one-of-kind bridge, historic water crossings, overlooks, trails, picnic stops, and landmarks from Eureka’s history.

The Sightseeing Driving Tour follows a scenic loop through three historic eras, with lots of fun detours along the way. One of our favorite detours is a Railway Winery and Butler Distillery––a local vineyard, winery, and distillery that still makes moonshine the old-fashioned way. Find your way there on a Thursday afternoon to meet up with the locals. A short hike above the Beaver dam is a great photo spot. And if it’s Friday night, homemade pizza and local music is your draw to Riverside Resort & Cabins at the White River bridge. Allow two to four hours to complete this tour, depending on how long you linger.

Download the Sightseeing Driving Tour here.

There is no single answer to what there is to do in Eureka Springs. Choose what interests you, leave room for unexpected discoveries, and find the version of Eureka that feels like yours.

Find your Eureka! See all Eureka Concierge tours here.

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