Cabot Checks out the Crystal Bridges Museum

Surrounded by 120 acres of forests and gardens, Crystal Bridges offers a revitalizing environment for experiencing art and cultural events. The grounds are a place of natural and artistic beauty, equally suited for quiet reflection and exploring with family and friends. Six pedestrian and multi-use trails wind through the campus, connecting the surrounding neighborhoods, parks, and downtown Bentonville to the Museum.

Opening November 11, 2011, the Museum takes its name from nearby Crystal Spring and the bridge construction incorporated in the building design by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A series of pavilions nestled around two creek-fed ponds will house galleries, meeting and classroom spaces, and a large, glass-enclosed gathering hall.

 

Visitor amenities will also include a café on a glass-enclosed bridge overlooking the ponds and a Marlon Blackwell-designed museum store. Sculpture and walking trails will link the Museum's 120-acre park and gardens to downtown Bentonville, Arkansas.

The museum is being built down in a small valley just tucked in the middle of town!

The pictures of the construction work do not do it justice as to the size of the project.

Art exists where you least expect it. Can you see what's special about this tree?

Cabot Visits Compton Gardens

The city of Bentonville, Arkansas has been doing an outstanding job over the past several years creating its residents beautiful walking trails. There is so much wooded land here that makes for create places to meander through and enjoy nature – plus get some good exercise at the same time!

 

Compton Gardens is a green oasis that serves as a public park for the residents of Bentonville and beyond.

This 6.5 acre garden has been developed into a native / woodland garden which is quickly becoming a regional destination garden and special events venue. Residents and visitors are able to take advantage of this beautiful and peaceful environment that contains a native plant collection.

 These bears are friendly...right?

Compton Gardens is named after Dr. Neil Compton, a noted Bentonville physician, writer, photographer, founder of the Ozark Society, and savior of the Buffalo River. The Conference Center is the re-modeled home of Dr. Compton and now serves as a rental facility for seminars, conferences, workshops, retreats, intimate weddings, and private events. This is the entrance to the conference center along with a humongous old White Oak tree.

 

Cabot Walks The Tanyard Creek Nature Trail

Off the beaten path in Bella Vista, Arkansas, below the Windsor Lake Dam, is a beautiful well maintained nature trail, commonly called Tanny Creek Trail. Here we are enjoying a beautiful walk through the natural world of Northwest Arkansas.

The beautiful waterfall created by run off of Windsor lake is a favorite resting place with a well placed bench and fenced concrete viewing area.  Rapids created by the falls present a wonderful recreation area for more daring adults and children alike who don't mind getting a bit wet.  

Signs of wildlife abound if you care to look for them and the deeper pockets of the creek are full of fish of all sizes.

Snakes are a common site in the creek (and sometimes sunning themselves beside the paths) but are mostly harmless and not a threat if they are left alone.  Contrary to popular belief, water moccasins are not a common snake in Northwest Arkansas and nearly all the snakes you will see in the creek is the harmless midland water snake or another harmless water snake species.

Arkansas' state motto is "The Natural State" and for good reason.  Arkansas attract many visitors to our wild places and native beauty.  People from all over drive hours, often just for a weekend, to hike the Ozark hills and mountains, enjoy the wildlife and the fresh air of Arkansas.  

Incorporating the path of a very old country road and the meanderings of Tanyard Creek, the trail loops lazily up hills and down with long stretches of straight-aways.  Most of the trail takes you through second growth Oak/Hickory forest, with some of the trails skirting meadow lands. 

They say the trail got its name because years ago there used to actually be a place where they tanned cow hides down there along the creek.  Along the trail there are signs of days gone by when a few early settlers actually lived in the area there.

 What a fun place to explore!

There’s even a suspension bridge!!

These craggy bluffs contain old caves.

 

I can hear and SEE water running down the wall of the rocks!!

Fun at the Bentonville Water Park with Cabot

It's been hot, hot, hot here in Northwest Arkansas with temperatures right before or right at 100 degrees. I'm sweltering! So my hostess took me somewhere to cool off - the Bentonville Water Park.

The park is right across the Bentonville Square. It opened last Christmas and in the winter time it becomes an ice skating rink. For the summer months it converts back to being a great place to cool off by running through multiple jets of water that dance high in the air!

Amelia tells me she's staying in where it's air conditioned as it's super hot in Western New York as well. Is it hot by you? What are you doing to stay cool?

Cabot Attends a Quinceanera

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Quinceanera. This was the 15^th birthday party for Stephanie.

 

In Spanish cultures the Quince is a very big deal!  It is supposed to signify the change to young adulthood for girls.  It is very much like a Sweet Sixteen or a Bat Mizvah.

They had a REALLY big party that was held at an event center and about 300 people were there!  Friends and family came from as far away as Texas, California, and Georgia to attend.  There was food and music, cake and even a choreographed dance routine from Steph and her friends as entertainment!  It was an amazing party!!

Here I am with a mariachi band they brought in to serenade us during the dinner hours!

Fireworks for Cabot

You know it’s a sure sign that summer is here in Northwest Arkansas when all the fireworks tents pop up around town about 2 weeks before July 4^th!

Although there are city ordinances about not shooting off fireworks in the city limits, it somehow seems odd that they are allowed to sell them!

Happy Independence Day!