Well, you know about the mineral baths in Hot Springs, and finding diamonds at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, but what else makes up the essence of Arkansas? After searching and reading, searching and reading - I came up with two icons, like the ones above, that are truly Arkansas.

Celebrate the Ozark Heritage

Mountain View is regarded as the “Folk Music Capital of the World,” and happens to be home to the Ozark Folk Center. This state park celebrates Ozark crafts, music and heritage. Aside from live folk music performances, there is a crafts village where you can watch live demonstrations. Various workshops on different facets of the Ozark heritage are held throughout the year as well.

And Speaking of State Parks

Arkansas is home to 52 state parks. You can spend the day snorkeling in Lake Ouachita or take in the views from Mount Magazine, the highest point in the state. From history parks to adventure parks, you are sure to find one that suits your interest. 

Photo credits: (upper right) Ozark Folk Center, (left) Lake Ouachita, and (below right) Mount Magazine. All photos are courtesy of Arkansas Parks & Tourism.

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The Natchez Trace Compact has unveiled their newly redesigned website.   The site provides you with a more in depth look at the 444-mile National Scenic Byway that cuts through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee.  On the site, you can find sample itineraries, information on the corridor communities, and an up-to-date event calendar.

Map of Natchez Trace, courtesy of Scenic Trace.

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It’s considered to be the longest-running and largest hot-air balloon festival in Alabama, the 31st Annual Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic is slated for May 24-25 at Point Mallard Park in Decatur. This free event not only features over 60 hot-air balloons from around the nation taking flight, but also a variety of events and live entertainment.

Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic, photo courtesy of Decatur-Morgan County CVB

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Okay, so what makes Texas, well, Texas? Some may answer it’s the barbecue or the Tex-Mex dishes, others may think its the cities and towns, and others will tell you it’s football.  Everyone has their own opinions, but when I think of Texas, especially the icons (remember it’s icons and traditions being celebrated for National Tourism Week) the Alamo and Big Tex comes to mind.

A Quick Guide to The Alamo  

Many cities say their heart can be traced to their downtown area, and for San Antonio that is true. Here youll find the small, yet stately Mission San Antonio de Valero, or better known as The Alamo. Only the chapel and the Long Barracks (now the Long Barracks Museum and Library) are left of the original fort. Be sure to enter through the chapel to view such artifacts as Davy Crocketts buckskin vest. Admission is free.

The Alamo is located at the northern part of the San Antonio Mission Trail. This 9-mile trail connects it with four other 18th-century missions. You can either drive along, or use the hiking and biking trail.

Say Hello to Big Tex

Everything is  bigger in Texas, even its icons. If you have ever been to the Texas State Fair in Dallas, you’ve seen Big Tex. At 52 feet tall, he can’t be missed. According to history, he started out as a Santa Claus in 1949, in a small town south of Dallas. While everyone enjoyed the rather tall Santa (he was only 49 feet tall then), his shine wore off the next year. In 1951, the state fair president decided to purchase him, and hired an artist to create a cowboy. Thus, Big Tex tenure as the official greeter to the State Fair began. He spoke his first words a year later, and in 1997, he waved and in 1998, he started to turn his head.

Photo credits: (right) The Alamo, courtesy of San Antonio CVB, (left) Big Tex at the Entrance of Texas State Fair, courtesy of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau

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It’s National Tourism Week, presented by the Travel Industry Association and for the 25th anniversary, the theme is “Discover Great American Traditions.” Now as you may know, the South is rich in traditions. So for this week as part of the celebration, I would highlight two traditions, or icons (for length and sanity sake, I have to limit it to two) of all the states in the region. These arrange from sites you have to see to thing you must do. Maybe you have heard of some of them, maybe you haven’t. It will be fun to discover some of special places that gives each state their unique appeal.

Stay tuned, because tomorrow I’ll begin this journey with the state of Texas.

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