Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Harrison, AR

  • Published 2022/07/19

As the seat of Boone County, Arkansas, Harrison boasts a rich culture, an exciting history, and a beautiful city environment.

There are so many places to visit if you decide to see them, and you’re never going to run out of things to do.

The city hosts activities that many people may consider new, making it a prime destination for people looking for novel experiences.

Plan out your itinerary as you learn more about what this place has to offer.

Here are the best things to do in Harrison, AR:

Go to the Buffalo National River

Aerial view of Buffalo National River

Mattsrealm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Buffalo National River was once in the country’s top ten underappreciated parks.

Today, the title still holds true.

The Buffalo River is one of the last remaining unpolluted and free-flowing rivers in the lower 48 states.

You can find the river source in the park itself.

Rocky shore of Buffalo National River

OakleyOriginals, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The water cuts through massive limestones to travel eastward and into the Ozarks, eventually ending up in the white river.

Seeing something so vast can make you feel so small and so big simultaneously.

See your place and importance in the world with your own two eyes.

Pay the place a visit and express as much appreciation as possible.

This park is gorgeous and deserves all the love it can get.

Join the Natural Art Mural Tour

You can always learn something about the place based on the art that people create within it.

Through art, you’ll get a glimpse of culture and history that you can’t find from just reading or hearing about it.

In downtown Harrison, you’ll find several murals that tell the different stories of the people who live there.

Local and nationally prominent artists paint the murals, so don’t forget to take a picture of the paintings as a souvenir.

Watch the Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship

Hot Air Balloons aren’t something the average person sees every day.

Watch the Arkansas Hot Air Balloon State Championship and witness a spectacle that you might have seen only in movies.

The event started in 1995, and it has continued to amaze audiences today.

Watch the balloons float in the sky and see those marvelous contraptions defy the laws of gravity.

The event also features other highlights, such as concerts and booths, so make sure not to miss out on those.

Grab Antiques at Lovejoy Collectibles

Everyone has their hobbies.

For a lot of people, getting a hobby means collecting a lot of unique and exciting trinkets to display in their homes.

It’s a good habit to form if you enjoy traveling as well.

Just find an interesting knick-knack wherever you go and bring it home.

You’ll always have a piece of that place with you.

At Lovejoy Collectibles, you’ll find a host of different items and antiques that’ll surely catch your fancy.

Who knows?

You may come across a rare find you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life.

Try Japanese Dishes at the New Tokyo of Harrison

Established in 2017, the New Tokyo of Harrison is a modern branch of Hibachi dining and sushi restaurant in the city.

If you’re looking for exquisite Japanese dishes while on vacation, this is the best place to find them.

The place has an incredibly extensive menu catering to a host of different tastes, so you’ll never run short on options.

Start with some of their delicious appetizers, such as the calamari tempura, spring rolls, or some crab meat and avocado salad.

Afterward, you have to try out their chef’s specials to get an authentic taste of the best this restaurant has to offer.

One of the best dishes they have is the Tokyo salmon wrap, which consists of crab salad wrapped in salmon and avocado and topped with some fresh lemon juice and sea salts.

You can also build your custom bento box to fill your stomach with your favorite dishes.

Watch the Fourth of July Fireworks

During the Fourth of July, Harrison hosts an extensive and bombastic event to commemorate the country’s freedom.

It’s an event you won’t want to miss.

You’ll see fireworks and visit fairs, eat food and join competitions.

Everything is fun, and absolutely nothing is boring.

Take the opportunity to mingle with the locals and maybe make some new friends along the way.

After all, what is the use of freedom if not to connect with other people?

Try the Bread at Neighbor’s Mill Bakery and Cafe

Bread is a staple food that most people attach to good memories.

Your childhood might feature the scent and sounds of baking or meals shared with loved ones.

It’s hard to ignore the impact such a simple dish has on the lives of so many people.

It’s essential to return to those kinds of memories even when you’re traveling far from home.

The Neighbor’s Mill Bakery and Cafe offers traditional American bread made from scratch and with so much love.

Visit their shop and savor the hypnotic aroma of bread floating through the air.

They offer more than 25 kinds of handcrafted bread, made with the utmost care and attention to detail to ensure the best results possible.

The place lies at the intersection of hospitality and wholesome food.

Visiting the store will make you feel like you have stepped back in time to memories of better days.

Savor Delicious Meals at Jamie’s Local Flavor

Jamie’s is at the heart and center of Harrison.

It is the perfect place for coffee on the go, a hot meal, or some tasty desserts.

The place serves traditional dishes, giving you the local Ozarks taste that you’ve been searching for.

Some fan favorites from the restaurant include fried catfish, sandwiches, and pasta.

Make sure to give those a shot while you’re there.

Besides the great food and drinks, the place is also a local hot spot.

This restaurant is an incredible destination for people looking to mingle and make new friends.

Take a Spa Day at Benton’s House Design

The best way to relax on any vacation is going to the spa.

Leta professional coax your body into unwinding and letting go of everything that stresses it out.

The place offers a wide variety of services to keep you happy and beautiful, so try those out if you have the chance.

Get the facial and watch as the worry lines fade from around your eyes.

Marvel at skin restored to its youthful luster.

The place also offers waxing services to keep your skin smooth and healthy.

Try it, and you’re not going to regret it.

You can also get your nails done, so you’ll look your best by the time you leave.

Go Fishing at Devito’s Trout Farm

Fishing is a traditional American pastime.

Seize the opportunity to try it whenever the situation arises.

When you go to Devito’s Trout Farm, you won’t have any trouble casting your line.

All you need is your line, with no licenses required and no limits to follow.

The best part is the place will even cook your catch for you, making the experience much more fun and enjoyable.

Explore the Baker Prairie Natural Area

Next to the local middle school and high school is the Baker Prairie, a natural area that also serves as one of the finest educational sites in the entire state.

When you visit that place, you’ll find over two hundred species of plants and animals.

Check out the few rare florae like prairie violet, downy gentian, and other kinds of flowers.

You can also find some willow flycatchers in the area, as well as the grasshopper sparrow, ornate box turtle, and prairie mole cricket.

The mission of its caretakers is to protect the Baker Prairie and ensure that the future generation can enjoy it themselves.

If you want to learn more about the environment or bask in the presence of nature, this is one of the best destinations to add to your list.

View the plant life and savor the clean and fresh air that surrounds you while you wander through the area.

It’s also a great spot to take your kids.

Nurture in them a love and fascination for the environment that’ll serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Learn Local History at the Boone County Heritage Museum

Exterior of Boone County Heritage Museum

Mattsrealm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Ozarks have a unique and exciting history you won’t find anywhere else.

The best place in Harrison to learn about this history is at the Boone County Heritage Museum.

The place features exhibits detailing the story of the earliest settlers in the area.

Learn how the forebearers of the Ozarks built their homes and lived in the mountains of Arkansas.

You’ll find something new and wonderful in every room of the establishment.

Prepare to learn a lot and gain a unique view of Harrison by the time you’re finished.

Dine at DeVito’s Restaurant

For generations, a single family has operated the DeVito’s restaurant.

The family’s dedication to their craft and the act of serving good food to others has made them into one of the best food destinations in Harrison.

Go there if you’re looking for Italian dishes.

Who doesn’t crave Italian dishes at least once a day?

The food they serve is flavorful and unique, so you’ll never be bored.

They also have an extensive menu so patrons will always have options to choose from.

Try their homestyle fried trout, a whole boneless trout, seasoned with cornmeal, lightly breaded, and fried until golden brown.

The dish comes with tartar sauce to enhance the dining experience further.

You can also sample more traditional and familiar Italian dinners, such as spaghetti with meatballs, Italian sausage, or just a simple sauce.

Cap off your meal with the apple pie or baked fudge, and you’re not going to be disappointed.

See a Performance at the Lyric Theater

Exterior of the Lyric Theater

Mattsrealm, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Lyric Theater is a historic site built in 1929.

It was one of the first movie theaters in the area that could screen the “talkies,” which replaced silent movies.

Until now, the place has served as one of the best places to go for cultural performances in Harrison.

The place hosts a wide variety of events, including films and plays.

You can even see some concerts there if you’re lucky.

Catch a show there if you get the chance, and you’re not going to be disappointed.

See the Triple Falls

Scenic view of Triple Falls

Steve Brigman / Shutterstock.com

These triple falls is one of the most beautiful sights in the entire Harrison area.

Visiting this place is the perfect last stop on a fantastic vacation.

Its official name is the Twin Falls.

However, heavy rainfall creates a third waterfall, appearing as water cascades down the craggy and rocky cliff face.

The waters of Triple Falls

Steve Brigman / Shutterstock.com

The hike to the trail is short and easy, so you should have no trouble getting to the area.

The journey is more than worth it by the time you reach your destination and see the gorgeous falls.

Remember to take as many pictures as possible to preserve the beautiful view.

Keep the memory close to your heart.

You’ll always have something lovely and wondrous to look back on when you remember this vacation in the future.

Final Thoughts

With so many things to do in Harrison, AR, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Remember that no matter your travel plans, ensure you’re enjoying yourself in everything you do.

Book your trip to Harrison today!

Start a remarkable journey that you’ll fondly remember with your friends or family for years to come.

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