June 25, 2025 • 22 mins
Join Visit Bentonville and creator Nichole as we share expert local insights on how to make the most of your time in Bentonville, Arkansas! Whether you're a first-time visitor or a frequent traveler to the MTB Capital of the World, this episode is packed with insider tips on top attractions, outdoor adventures, and must-visit spots around town.
From biking downtown and exploring world-class trails to discovering hidden gems and indulging in unforgettable dining experiences, we’ll help you plan an itinerary that showcases the very best of Bentonville. Get ready to experience the town like a local and uncover what makes it a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts, art lovers, and foodies alike!
Follow Nichole: @coleyraeh or luckeywanderers.com
A New American Town is here to help you plan your trip to Bentonville, Arkansas. From guides, events, and restaurant highlights. Find all this and more at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.
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Episode Transcript
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Natalie Stika (00:11):
Welcome to A New American Town.
I'm Natalie with VisitBentonville.
Today's episode is a specialfeature where we wanted to share
our local insights with you onhow to maximize your summer
visit to Bentonville, arkansas.
Insights with you on how tomaximize your summer visit to
Bentonville, arkansas.
Nicole Holtz has been visitingBentonville since she was a kid
and she's seen this placecontinue to grow from a small
(00:32):
town to a bustling hub forcreativity, cycling, experiences
and more.
I've lived here in Bentonvillefor two years and I have
completely dived into the insand outs of this city through my
role at Visit Bentonville.
Nicole is a travel creatorrooted in outdoor adventure,
homeschool and familyexploration, so let's get into
it.
Thanks for joining us, nicole.
Nichole (00:51):
Thank you so much for having me.
I'm so excited to sit down andtalk with you, yeah me too.
Natalie Stika (00:57):
Can you share how you got into travel blogging
first and what kind of inspiredyour journey as a creator?
Nichole (01:04):
Yeah, absolutely so, in all honesty and in full
disclosure.
It was kind of by accident.
I never intended to take thispath.
I just we happened to move 19hours away from all of our
family right after my son wasborn, and then my daughter was
born after we moved and Irealized that I didn't really
wanna have to ask my husband totake vacation time just so I
(01:26):
could drive home and see my mom.
And so we live in SouthwestArkansas.
My family was in Iowa and so,truthfully, bentonville has been
on my direct path.
It's usually where, when mykids were tiny, we would get out
to let them stretch.
And once I realized I could doit, once I realized that I was
capable of traveling alone withmy kids just so that I could get
home and see my mom, I starteddoing what my mom calls
(01:49):
squirreling, which was we juststarted to take little detours
and adventures and I just kindof casually started sharing
about them on social media andit started getting some traction
and attention.
And I've been incrediblyhonored to hold the position
that I do to help encourageother families to get out and
explore with their kids.
Natalie Stika (02:07):
Yeah, it's so special what you do.
You have two children correct?
Nichole (02:12):
Yes, I do my son.
They're not little anymore.
In fact, my son is two inchestaller than me, he's 14 and my
daughter is 11.
Natalie Stika (02:19):
But you've been traveling with them since they
were babies.
Yes, quite literally.
Nichole (02:23):
My daughter was about three months old when we started
these adventures, and it wasn'talways pretty and in fact it
usually ended with one or allthree of us crying.
But it was worth the hard work,because the memories that we've
cultivated along the way I'llcarry with me the rest of my
life.
Natalie Stika (02:40):
That's really sweet, cool.
Well, you'reline on yourwebsite, so you have so many
talents.
A woman of so many wonders.
Your online blog is calledLucky Wonders and your tagline
is may you find the wonder asyou wander.
I love that line.
What does this phrase mean toyou in the context of family
travel and kind of what inspiredthat?
Nichole (03:02):
Oh, thank you.
It actually has multiple layersof meaning to it.
A big part of that is when wefirst moved to where we
currently, and kind of whatinspired that learn.
Things like bless your heartdoesn't mean what I thought it
(03:22):
meant and I just really wantedto dive into loving where I live
but then also, along with that,really learning to bloom where
you're planted.
And as I started continuing totravel with my kids and diving
more into the travel, I justreally really embraced the fact
that every town, no matter howbig, no matter how small, no
(03:42):
matter how scenic, no matter howbig the mountains are, every
town has something special andevery place has something you
can learn from it.
Every place, every person has astory to tell and I really felt
like you know, if we just have,if I, as the mom, have an
attitude and embrace wonderwherever we're going, it's going
to make it magic wherever we'retraveling.
(04:03):
And you know things will behard.
There might not be.
It's not always big, flashy,exciting places that we're going
, but if we have a mindset ofwonder and curiosity, every
place can be amazing, that'sawesome.
Natalie Stika (04:15):
Yeah, that's such a fabulous philosophy and you
can definitely see that that'srooted in your blog and your
content, and your kids arereally going to take that with
them forever.
Nichole (04:26):
So super special?
I sure hope so.
It's just that for us it's akind of a core family value for
us is just really living withthe glass half full.
Natalie Stika (04:34):
Yeah, oh sweet.
Well, I would love to get intoour summer recommendations for
everyone.
Listening, I feel like you knowall the things that I don't
know, and back and forth.
We recently just posted Nicoleon a creator visit.
Her kids were at camps here inNorthwest Arkansas which I'd
love for you to talk about.
And yeah, we can just open upwith that.
(04:58):
Do you want to talk about someof your favorite highlights from
your recent trip here?
Nichole (05:04):
I would love to and I will try to be succinct, but
that's difficult to do becauseif you talk to my kids, all
three of us have favorites.
We could list on and on all day.
But yeah, like you said, I wasthrilled to come up and work
with you guys last week.
And what made this trip extraspecial?
It was a new travel endeavorfor us, which was I called it
destination summer camps.
(05:26):
So we're picking a city, andBentonville is always at the top
of our list and my daughter didsome incredible camps at
Crystal Bridges Museum of Artand it was such a treat to pick
her up every day and I got towalk to pick her up.
But we'll get into that.
It was just so exciting to hearher excitement at the end of
each day where she's getting togo to this summer camp at, I
think, a world-renowned artmuseum.
Natalie Stika (05:48):
um and just it is a world-renowned.
It is world renowned and andbeing able.
Nichole (05:52):
you know she uh, we can dive into that more, but she
was one of the camps was anarchitecture camp and she
aspires to be an architect, andso being able to take this camp
at some place iconic likeCrystal Bridges um, there's Fay
Jones School of Designinstructors involved was amazing
.
But the added layer of amazingto that is I actually got to
explore Bentonville in a new tome way, because my entire life
(06:15):
I've always been coming throughBentonville with my kids and so
to have some time to explore bymyself during the day was a
really.
It put a unique spin onexploring Bentonville that I
haven't been able to do before.
So it was.
I think probably all of my topfavorites involve coffee and
walking and being outdoors, butyou know, off the hop, crystal
(06:38):
Bridges will always be at thetop of my list for both the
permanent collection and thecontemporary exhibits that are
brought in.
They're always world-class.
They're always so well done.
I learn so much, which is alsoa core value of mine is I want
to be a lifelong learner and Iwant my kids to be lifelong
learners, so Crystal Bridges isalways at the top.
Kohler is always at the top.
(06:58):
Again, I've never had thechance to go by myself.
So being able to go by myselfand do some hikes and then just
sit in nature with really goodcoffee and being able to sit
there I actually had my Seek appout, I had my Merlin Birds app
out and I got to just sit thereand check off some really
(07:19):
exciting things.
I could go on and on, but theexcellent coffee, access to
nature and art are always at thetop of my list.
That is so so special.
Natalie Stika (07:29):
Yeah, I love how um trendy I don't even know if
that's the right word likeresting and relaxing vacation,
is becoming R and R vacation.
Um, and that Bentonville isthat place for that you can do
really exciting.
Fun things too.
You know, we have super awesomeconcerts and so much to see, so
much great architecture and artand cycling.
(07:50):
Of course, that's like majoradrenaline right there.
Nichole (07:54):
Otherwise, you know this was actually the first trip
through Bentonville where wedidn't bring our bikes.
Usually we have our bikes withus and we're biking to all the
places, but you know, so it wasa different experience, but it
was just as fantastic.
Where I live is not a walkablecommunity, so being able to stay
somewhere that was it is abeautiful walkable community,
and it's not just walkable.
(08:14):
There, somewhere that was it isa beautiful walkable community,
and it's not just walkable.
There are flowers andwildflowers and art and so many
things yeah, I can just um, it'sreally soul soothing, no matter
if you're, you know, chasing,which I did the rise a couple of
times, so there was like theactive part of it as well, but,
um, whatever you're looking for,you can find it.
Natalie Stika (08:31):
Yeah, oh my gosh, I'm so glad you talked about
the wildflowers.
That is like my number onereason that you should come to
Bentonville in the summer is thewildflowers.
It is so amazing.
And the spring here isabsolutely incredible.
We get so much visitors in thespring, but I don't know where
I'm from.
Before here, I had never hadflowers in the summer.
(08:51):
It was always too dry and toohot.
But here, because we get somuch rain in the spring, we
still have beautiful blooms inthe summer and it is just so
magical and so special and youlike kind of what you were
saying.
Please let's talk more about ithow you can walk from the square
to crystal bridges and then getto your Airbnb if you're
staying downtown or at one ofthe hotels yeah, that actually
(09:14):
was such a treat.
Nichole (09:15):
Also, it's the first time that I've stayed, you know,
in Bentonville that's walkablewhere I could.
This was phenomenal.
The place that we stayed wasright next to the Greenway Trail
and then the Crystal BridgesTrail, so I was able to walk to
drop my daughter off and pickher up, which was just.
There was something reallybeautiful about being able to
leisurely stroll away fromCrystal Bridges to hear about
our day.
(09:35):
We got to connect and stop andlook at the creek and some of
the art, and then we could walkback to where we were staying,
at our Airbnb, so we could chillfor a minute, change clothes,
you know, relax, and then wecould walk right back out and
we're right on the main square.
And it's just, it's so specialto be able to be somewhere
that's walkable.
I think that's something thatit sometimes gets overlooked.
(09:56):
And Bentonville not only is ita bikeable community where you
can bike these incredible trailsin every part of the city.
You can walk to almost everypart of the city, which is
exactly what I was seeking, Iwanted to have, I wanted my kids
to have this incredibleexperience, and I was after a
little bit of a mom retreat, Iguess, and so for me, just being
able to move my body in abeautiful place with beautiful
(10:19):
scenery, bentonville checks allthose boxes.
Natalie Stika (10:22):
Yeah, oh my gosh.
Can we get more into the momretreat aspect?
I know you did some specificthings that were able to help
you kind of relax more.
What?
What were some of thosehighlights?
Nichole (10:34):
Yeah.
So this again, this was a new,a new perspective for us.
I'm in a season now where allof a sudden, I'm the mom with
the older kids and I feel okaydropping them off at a summer
camp in a city where they andthey're confident enough.
They were like it's fine, wedon't know anybody, let's go
have a good time, and they wereokay with it.
So it was.
(11:02):
It was new to me and I wasn'tsure how it would go.
We're a homeschool family.
We've homeschooled from thebeginning, just so that we have
the flexibility in our scheduleto travel.
So time alone to explore is aforeign concept.
It's a little bit new for me,but I'm always solo.
Travel is really important tome and being a mom who gets some
time alone, it was.
It was really beautiful.
So just being able to enjoy youknow there's quite a line at
Onyx Coffee sometimes in themorning, but just being able to
(11:23):
stand in line and appreciate thescene around me was wonderful.
Being able to walk places waswonderful.
I got to do a hot yoga class atYoga Story, which was such a
fun studio.
The instructor was justphenomenal.
I also got, you know, I got togo to Kohler and I spent half a
day at Kohler and I went and didthe rise back to back a couple
(11:45):
of times, which my legs paid forthe next day.
It's rather flat where I live,but you know, just being able to
take on some things that mykids would have happily done it
with me, but being able to do itby myself and just have those
moments of like I'm justlistening to my own breath, even
if I sound like I'm dying justbeing able to move and
experience stillness and quietor sit or listen to the birds at
(12:08):
Kohler, being able to strollthrough the square with some
coffee and just check out someof the shops or I got another
coffee and walked up to the topof the ledger building and just
being able to really soak in allof the amazing art and nature
and access to really neat thingswas really important to me.
(12:29):
And then an added layer to thatis I have celiac disease and
quite a few food allergies.
Bentonville is one of the fewplaces where I can go, where
almost every restaurant canaccommodate for my food
allergies.
So that is a whole part of themom retreat was being able to
have some long, leisurelylunches by myself at places
where I could eat so many thingson the menu Now the food here
(12:51):
is unmatched.
Natalie Stika (12:53):
It is incredible how many options there are, and
the servers and staff know whatyou're talking about and they
make you feel so confident andcomfortable with what you're
eating, so you don't have toworry about it and think that
the rest of your trip is goingto be ruined.
That's so big.
I also have celiac, so Itotally understand and that's
why I love living here.
Through all of this that you'vebeen able to explore in
(13:17):
Bentonville, do you have anyrecommendations for like getting
out of the summer heat orexperiencing really, really hot
weather?
I always tell people that wehave really great shaded like
tree canopy coverings on all ofour trails, so, honestly, the
heat of summer day, if you'rewalking around on the Compton
(13:38):
Gardens Trail to Crystal Bridgesor if you're at Kohler, there
will definitely be some likesunny spots, but pretty much the
whole time it's covered and soI don't get that hot.
But I'm also from Texas, so how?
Nichole (13:50):
do you feel Right?
So, truth be told, being fromthe southwest corner of Arkansas
, there's a significanttemperature shift from the
southwest corner to thenorthwest corner, so for us it
felt wonderfully cool while wewere there.
But I will say that's one of myfavorite things is we have been
there at some of the hottesttimes in the summer and the
trails are well shaded.
Or if they're not well shadedthe entire way, there's places
(14:14):
where you can sit in the shadeand rest the entire way.
There's places where you cansit in the shade and rest
there's.
You know, as at Lawrence Park,the splash pad right by downtown
runs all day long.
And you know, quite honestly, acouple of the days when we were
walking back with my daughter,we were like let's just go walk
through the splash pad.
Natalie Stika (14:31):
We'll change our clothes later, it'll be fine.
Yeah, there's also a splash padat Crystal Bridges Campus, up
on the front side by the newparking garage, by Amazium.
Yeah, so we have two splashpads now, and then we have so
many like creeks, that you a lotof people dip their toes in, or
you'll see dogs playing in thewater.
It's so fun.
Nichole (14:47):
We have Park Springs.
Park is one of our favorites.
You know you go to the park butthen you kind of go down into
the ravine and there's thatreally beautiful fresh, spring
fed creek.
That's down there and you know,as you're going down in the
ravine the temperature goes downbecause it's shaded, but also
the creek water is so nice andrefreshingly cool.
That's one of our favoriteplaces to go to.
Natalie Stika (15:07):
Yeah, I love that .
What is your favorite?
Like mid afternoon, get out ofthe sun, kind of thing.
How do you kill your time?
I heard a lot of coffee.
Nichole (15:15):
I have a problem, mostly just because it's having
access to so many phenomenalcoffee shops.
You know, with just I feel likeso many of the restaurants and
this is across the board, allthe coffee shops in Northwest
Arkansas and so many of therestaurants put so much
intention behind what they'redoing with their food and what
(15:37):
they're serving and theatmosphere.
So, everywhere you go, it'sthis immersive experience with
the food you're consuming, thearea you're surrounded with.
So, I would say, in theafternoon, you know, crystal
Bridges Museum, the generaladmission is always free, which
is such an incredible thing inof itself.
I have no.
(15:58):
I mean, I think when we werethere, I probably walked through
the permanent galleries threetimes, just because I love them.
You know, granted, it's alittle different with the
construction that's happeningand it's going to be great when
it's done.
But just the fact that CrystalBridges is free, you can, you
can pop in and there's thebeautiful restaurant that's
there, there's the coffee shopthat's open there, you know, you
can pop through and just browsethe galleries and cool down.
Natalie Stika (16:20):
For a minute, and then now the Heartland Whole
Health Institute.
I'm like freaking out over here.
Nichole (16:25):
I spent probably way too much time at the Heartland
Whole Health Institute andwhat's so funny is I walked in
to go on the brochure that talksabout the art and just the
intention behind the heartlandhealth institute was so exciting
.
And as I walked in I wasbrowsing the art and I heard a
group come by and then I heardthe teacher say okay, art and
architecture class, let's allgather up.
(16:45):
And I did see my daughter, butI was like I don't, should I
wave, should I like stay here inthe corner and hide?
And so I just continued.
But that just walking into thatspace, again free, open to the
public, you can walk through.
I saw they just posted they'regoing to start doing
architectural tours, which is soexciting.
A beautiful space to cool off,it's free, you can walk in, you
(17:08):
can sit down, you can enjoy someart.
Just gasp at the architecture,because it's amazing.
Natalie Stika (17:14):
Magnificent.
Yeah, it's the Marlon Blackwellarchitecture work.
It's just so beautiful andamazing.
I love that you hit on thatCrystal Bridges is free.
I feel like every time we tellpeople that they are so shocked
and amazed and so excited, and Ijust wanted to hit on the fact
that almost every single one ofour museums is free.
The only one that has a smallfee is the Amazium, and that's
(17:34):
the Children's Science Museum.
Only one that has a small feeis the amazium, and that's the
children's science museum, whichis for all ages, even adults.
Nichole (17:42):
You can have fun there , but seriously, yeah, yeah, in
fact I was here for governor'sconference.
I was up in bentonville and Iclimbed, you know, the like leaf
climber structure for adults,but it was so much fun the
amazium is.
It is definitely on your list,but I will say that I agree
that's one of my favorite thingsum the native american museum,
or the museum of native americanhistory amazing, amazing place.
(18:03):
Free the momentary, reallyreally cool structure with
contemporary exhibits, freecraft cheese factory I did.
You know what's so funny?
My kids and I were actuallythere for the grand opening
because I was so excited aboutit.
And I saw that Bandaloop wasgoing to be there and we're big
fans and so we went to go watchthe grand opening so we could
(18:24):
see Bandaloop.
Natalie Stika (18:25):
I love that.
Nichole (18:26):
That's so cool, yeah, and then were you going to say
Peel Museum and BotanicalGardens, yes, yes, like there's
all of these incredible placeswhere, if it's, you can pop in
as many times as you want tobecause they're free, so there's
no pressure.
You know, and I know, withtraveling with kids, sometimes,
like after two hours in themuseum, they are done, done,
done, and so there's no pressureto feel like, oh, we have to
(18:46):
get our money's worth and staythis whole day.
You can do an hour and then goback outside and go play and
then do another hour the nextday and I mean families, add up
like one way or another.
Natalie Stika (18:56):
whether you have one kid or you have five or more
, it definitely adds up, and soI feel like that's why Benville
is such an ideal place forfamilies, old or young, no
matter the age.
Nichole (19:06):
It's so cool.
Natalie Stika (19:08):
Well, before we wrap up, I wanted to ask you if
you have like one thing.
Maybe not Crystal Bridgeseveryone says Crystal Bridges,
but what's on your like Benvillebucket list that everyone has
to go to that maybe wanted toask you if you have like one
thing.
Maybe not crystal bridgeseveryone says crystal bridges,
but what's on your like banvillebucket list that everyone has
to go to that maybe isn't asknown oh, boy, that's so hard
because I feel like there's somuch that I love.
Nichole (19:27):
I honestly park spring parks is really at the top of
my list because it's easy tomiss if you go to the park and
you're staying like up near thepavilion and the playground up
there, but if you go down, Ithink it's the Black Apple Creek
.
Is that what's down there?
If you take the trails and godown in that ravine, it's just,
it's the most beautiful littleslice of nature in the middle of
the city.
Uh, we love it so much and Iand I will say Kohler is on my
(19:51):
like, that's for sure at the topof my list and it is really
well known.
But I'm telling you, the risewas really fun, it's like 11
flights of stairs.
Natalie Stika (20:00):
Well, it's fun because you can connect to the
trails above and you can see themountain biking trails and you
can actually walk those.
Those are not just for mountainbikers.
You just have to, like, keep aneye out and make sure you're
being aware.
Probably don't put headphonesin so you can hear them, but
yeah, yeah, I've gotten lost onthose trails up there and it's
so fun to explore.
Nichole (20:19):
It's really beautiful.
And I think one other thing toois just and I have the luxury
of being able to do this witholder kids but the thing I would
say don't miss is don't missBentonville when the sun goes
down, like there's some lightsat.
There was one night inparticular that my daughter and
I literally were playing in the.
We were the only ones at thesplash pad.
I think it's Lawrence Pavilionor Park Lawrence Plaza.
(20:43):
We were there until it shutdown.
We were playing in the splashpad, we got to see the sunset,
we got to see the lights come onon the Peel Compton sign and
just being able to be outsideeven as the sun went down is a
big one.
Also, I think stopping by theWay of Color on the Crystal
Bridges Trail for sunrise orsunset those are easy to miss,
(21:04):
but just being out after dark.
We love being at the momentaryonce the sun goes down because
we like to just run and play.
And now the Bentonville Boomboxis over there and we love
stopping by the Buckyball towatch the colors once the sun
goes down is over there and welove stopping by the buckyball
to watch the colors once the sungoes down.
So I think just being willingto linger a little bit longer
past when the sun goes down isworth it yeah, man, that's a
whole itinerary right there.
Natalie Stika (21:24):
Hope everyone got that.
That was fabulous, well, nicole.
Um, last thing how can peopleget connected with you, how can
they follow you and just stay upto date on all of your travels?
Nichole (21:35):
oh, thank, thank you.
So the best place would be myInstagram page, which it's Koli
Ray C-O-L-E-Y-R-A-E-H.
That's where I share everything, and I'll have some more
Bentonville itinerary postscoming out shortly just to kind
of wrap up all of the amazingthings that we got to do in a
whole new perspective, becauseone bucket list thing that I
(21:56):
also got to do I've never beenable to do in all these years is
I got to go up to the Tower Bar.
Never done that because I'vealways had my kids with me.
So that was really fun to justgo up there and see the view.
Natalie Stika (22:06):
Yeah, I love that .
Yay, well, thanks everyone forlistening.
Don't forget, visit Bentonvilleis here to help you navigate
things to do, where to stay,what to eat and what's going on
in our new American town.
Check out the show notes tocatch us on social.
Sign up for our newsletterno-transcript.
Welcome to A New American Town.
I'm Natalie with VisitBentonville.
Today's episode is a specialfeature where we wanted to share
our local insights with you onhow to maximize your summer
visit to Bentonville, arkansas.
Insights with you on how tomaximize your summer visit to
Bentonville, arkansas.
Nicole Holtz has been visitingBentonville since she was a kid
and she's seen this placecontinue to grow from a small
(00:32):
town to a bustling hub forcreativity, cycling, experiences
and more.
I've lived here in Bentonvillefor two years and I have
completely dived into the insand outs of this city through my
role at Visit Bentonville.
Nicole is a travel creatorrooted in outdoor adventure,
homeschool and familyexploration, so let's get into
it.
Thanks for joining us, nicole.
Nichole (00:51):
Thank you so much for having me.
I'm so excited to sit down andtalk with you, yeah me too.
Natalie Stika (00:57):
Can you share how you got into travel blogging
first and what kind of inspiredyour journey as a creator?
Nichole (01:04):
Yeah, absolutely so, in all honesty and in full
disclosure.
It was kind of by accident.
I never intended to take thispath.
I just we happened to move 19hours away from all of our
family right after my son wasborn, and then my daughter was
born after we moved and Irealized that I didn't really
wanna have to ask my husband totake vacation time just so I
(01:26):
could drive home and see my mom.
And so we live in SouthwestArkansas.
My family was in Iowa and so,truthfully, bentonville has been
on my direct path.
It's usually where, when mykids were tiny, we would get out
to let them stretch.
And once I realized I could doit, once I realized that I was
capable of traveling alone withmy kids just so that I could get
home and see my mom, I starteddoing what my mom calls
(01:49):
squirreling, which was we juststarted to take little detours
and adventures and I just kindof casually started sharing
about them on social media andit started getting some traction
and attention.
And I've been incrediblyhonored to hold the position
that I do to help encourageother families to get out and
explore with their kids.
Natalie Stika (02:07):
Yeah, it's so special what you do.
You have two children correct?
Nichole (02:12):
Yes, I do my son.
They're not little anymore.
In fact, my son is two inchestaller than me, he's 14 and my
daughter is 11.
Natalie Stika (02:19):
But you've been traveling with them since they
were babies.
Yes, quite literally.
Nichole (02:23):
My daughter was about three months old when we started
these adventures, and it wasn'talways pretty and in fact it
usually ended with one or allthree of us crying.
But it was worth the hard work,because the memories that we've
cultivated along the way I'llcarry with me the rest of my
life.
Natalie Stika (02:40):
That's really sweet, cool.
Well, you'reline on yourwebsite, so you have so many
talents.
A woman of so many wonders.
Your online blog is calledLucky Wonders and your tagline
is may you find the wonder asyou wander.
I love that line.
What does this phrase mean toyou in the context of family
travel and kind of what inspiredthat?
Nichole (03:02):
Oh, thank you.
It actually has multiple layersof meaning to it.
A big part of that is when wefirst moved to where we
currently, and kind of whatinspired that learn.
Things like bless your heartdoesn't mean what I thought it
(03:22):
meant and I just really wantedto dive into loving where I live
but then also, along with that,really learning to bloom where
you're planted.
And as I started continuing totravel with my kids and diving
more into the travel, I justreally really embraced the fact
that every town, no matter howbig, no matter how small, no
(03:42):
matter how scenic, no matter howbig the mountains are, every
town has something special andevery place has something you
can learn from it.
Every place, every person has astory to tell and I really felt
like you know, if we just have,if I, as the mom, have an
attitude and embrace wonderwherever we're going, it's going
to make it magic wherever we'retraveling.
(04:03):
And you know things will behard.
There might not be.
It's not always big, flashy,exciting places that we're going
, but if we have a mindset ofwonder and curiosity, every
place can be amazing, that'sawesome.
Natalie Stika (04:15):
Yeah, that's such a fabulous philosophy and you
can definitely see that that'srooted in your blog and your
content, and your kids arereally going to take that with
them forever.
Nichole (04:26):
So super special?
I sure hope so.
It's just that for us it's akind of a core family value for
us is just really living withthe glass half full.
Natalie Stika (04:34):
Yeah, oh sweet.
Well, I would love to get intoour summer recommendations for
everyone.
Listening, I feel like you knowall the things that I don't
know, and back and forth.
We recently just posted Nicoleon a creator visit.
Her kids were at camps here inNorthwest Arkansas which I'd
love for you to talk about.
And yeah, we can just open upwith that.
(04:58):
Do you want to talk about someof your favorite highlights from
your recent trip here?
Nichole (05:04):
I would love to and I will try to be succinct, but
that's difficult to do becauseif you talk to my kids, all
three of us have favorites.
We could list on and on all day.
But yeah, like you said, I wasthrilled to come up and work
with you guys last week.
And what made this trip extraspecial?
It was a new travel endeavorfor us, which was I called it
destination summer camps.
(05:26):
So we're picking a city, andBentonville is always at the top
of our list and my daughter didsome incredible camps at
Crystal Bridges Museum of Artand it was such a treat to pick
her up every day and I got towalk to pick her up.
But we'll get into that.
It was just so exciting to hearher excitement at the end of
each day where she's getting togo to this summer camp at, I
think, a world-renowned artmuseum.
Natalie Stika (05:48):
um and just it is a world-renowned.
It is world renowned and andbeing able.
Nichole (05:52):
you know she uh, we can dive into that more, but she
was one of the camps was anarchitecture camp and she
aspires to be an architect, andso being able to take this camp
at some place iconic likeCrystal Bridges um, there's Fay
Jones School of Designinstructors involved was amazing
.
But the added layer of amazingto that is I actually got to
explore Bentonville in a new tome way, because my entire life
(06:15):
I've always been coming throughBentonville with my kids and so
to have some time to explore bymyself during the day was a
really.
It put a unique spin onexploring Bentonville that I
haven't been able to do before.
So it was.
I think probably all of my topfavorites involve coffee and
walking and being outdoors, butyou know, off the hop, crystal
(06:38):
Bridges will always be at thetop of my list for both the
permanent collection and thecontemporary exhibits that are
brought in.
They're always world-class.
They're always so well done.
I learn so much, which is alsoa core value of mine is I want
to be a lifelong learner and Iwant my kids to be lifelong
learners, so Crystal Bridges isalways at the top.
Kohler is always at the top.
(06:58):
Again, I've never had thechance to go by myself.
So being able to go by myselfand do some hikes and then just
sit in nature with really goodcoffee and being able to sit
there I actually had my Seek appout, I had my Merlin Birds app
out and I got to just sit thereand check off some really
(07:19):
exciting things.
I could go on and on, but theexcellent coffee, access to
nature and art are always at thetop of my list.
That is so so special.
Natalie Stika (07:29):
Yeah, I love how um trendy I don't even know if
that's the right word likeresting and relaxing vacation,
is becoming R and R vacation.
Um, and that Bentonville isthat place for that you can do
really exciting.
Fun things too.
You know, we have super awesomeconcerts and so much to see, so
much great architecture and artand cycling.
(07:50):
Of course, that's like majoradrenaline right there.
Nichole (07:54):
Otherwise, you know this was actually the first trip
through Bentonville where wedidn't bring our bikes.
Usually we have our bikes withus and we're biking to all the
places, but you know, so it wasa different experience, but it
was just as fantastic.
Where I live is not a walkablecommunity, so being able to stay
somewhere that was it is abeautiful walkable community,
and it's not just walkable.
(08:14):
There, somewhere that was it isa beautiful walkable community,
and it's not just walkable.
There are flowers andwildflowers and art and so many
things yeah, I can just um, it'sreally soul soothing, no matter
if you're, you know, chasing,which I did the rise a couple of
times, so there was like theactive part of it as well, but,
um, whatever you're looking for,you can find it.
Natalie Stika (08:31):
Yeah, oh my gosh, I'm so glad you talked about
the wildflowers.
That is like my number onereason that you should come to
Bentonville in the summer is thewildflowers.
It is so amazing.
And the spring here isabsolutely incredible.
We get so much visitors in thespring, but I don't know where
I'm from.
Before here, I had never hadflowers in the summer.
(08:51):
It was always too dry and toohot.
But here, because we get somuch rain in the spring, we
still have beautiful blooms inthe summer and it is just so
magical and so special and youlike kind of what you were
saying.
Please let's talk more about ithow you can walk from the square
to crystal bridges and then getto your Airbnb if you're
staying downtown or at one ofthe hotels yeah, that actually
(09:14):
was such a treat.
Nichole (09:15):
Also, it's the first time that I've stayed, you know,
in Bentonville that's walkablewhere I could.
This was phenomenal.
The place that we stayed wasright next to the Greenway Trail
and then the Crystal BridgesTrail, so I was able to walk to
drop my daughter off and pickher up, which was just.
There was something reallybeautiful about being able to
leisurely stroll away fromCrystal Bridges to hear about
our day.
(09:35):
We got to connect and stop andlook at the creek and some of
the art, and then we could walkback to where we were staying,
at our Airbnb, so we could chillfor a minute, change clothes,
you know, relax, and then wecould walk right back out and
we're right on the main square.
And it's just, it's so specialto be able to be somewhere
that's walkable.
I think that's something thatit sometimes gets overlooked.
(09:56):
And Bentonville not only is ita bikeable community where you
can bike these incredible trailsin every part of the city.
You can walk to almost everypart of the city, which is
exactly what I was seeking, Iwanted to have, I wanted my kids
to have this incredibleexperience, and I was after a
little bit of a mom retreat, Iguess, and so for me, just being
able to move my body in abeautiful place with beautiful
(10:19):
scenery, bentonville checks allthose boxes.
Natalie Stika (10:22):
Yeah, oh my gosh.
Can we get more into the momretreat aspect?
I know you did some specificthings that were able to help
you kind of relax more.
What?
What were some of thosehighlights?
Nichole (10:34):
Yeah.
So this again, this was a new,a new perspective for us.
I'm in a season now where allof a sudden, I'm the mom with
the older kids and I feel okaydropping them off at a summer
camp in a city where they andthey're confident enough.
They were like it's fine, wedon't know anybody, let's go
have a good time, and they wereokay with it.
So it was.
(11:02):
It was new to me and I wasn'tsure how it would go.
We're a homeschool family.
We've homeschooled from thebeginning, just so that we have
the flexibility in our scheduleto travel.
So time alone to explore is aforeign concept.
It's a little bit new for me,but I'm always solo.
Travel is really important tome and being a mom who gets some
time alone, it was.
It was really beautiful.
So just being able to enjoy youknow there's quite a line at
Onyx Coffee sometimes in themorning, but just being able to
(11:23):
stand in line and appreciate thescene around me was wonderful.
Being able to walk places waswonderful.
I got to do a hot yoga class atYoga Story, which was such a
fun studio.
The instructor was justphenomenal.
I also got, you know, I got togo to Kohler and I spent half a
day at Kohler and I went and didthe rise back to back a couple
(11:45):
of times, which my legs paid forthe next day.
It's rather flat where I live,but you know, just being able to
take on some things that mykids would have happily done it
with me, but being able to do itby myself and just have those
moments of like I'm justlistening to my own breath, even
if I sound like I'm dying justbeing able to move and
experience stillness and quietor sit or listen to the birds at
(12:08):
Kohler, being able to strollthrough the square with some
coffee and just check out someof the shops or I got another
coffee and walked up to the topof the ledger building and just
being able to really soak in allof the amazing art and nature
and access to really neat thingswas really important to me.
(12:29):
And then an added layer to thatis I have celiac disease and
quite a few food allergies.
Bentonville is one of the fewplaces where I can go, where
almost every restaurant canaccommodate for my food
allergies.
So that is a whole part of themom retreat was being able to
have some long, leisurelylunches by myself at places
where I could eat so many thingson the menu Now the food here
(12:51):
is unmatched.
Natalie Stika (12:53):
It is incredible how many options there are, and
the servers and staff know whatyou're talking about and they
make you feel so confident andcomfortable with what you're
eating, so you don't have toworry about it and think that
the rest of your trip is goingto be ruined.
That's so big.
I also have celiac, so Itotally understand and that's
why I love living here.
Through all of this that you'vebeen able to explore in
(13:17):
Bentonville, do you have anyrecommendations for like getting
out of the summer heat orexperiencing really, really hot
weather?
I always tell people that wehave really great shaded like
tree canopy coverings on all ofour trails, so, honestly, the
heat of summer day, if you'rewalking around on the Compton
(13:38):
Gardens Trail to Crystal Bridgesor if you're at Kohler, there
will definitely be some likesunny spots, but pretty much the
whole time it's covered and soI don't get that hot.
But I'm also from Texas, so how?
Nichole (13:50):
do you feel Right?
So, truth be told, being fromthe southwest corner of Arkansas
, there's a significanttemperature shift from the
southwest corner to thenorthwest corner, so for us it
felt wonderfully cool while wewere there.
But I will say that's one of myfavorite things is we have been
there at some of the hottesttimes in the summer and the
trails are well shaded.
Or if they're not well shadedthe entire way, there's places
(14:14):
where you can sit in the shadeand rest the entire way.
There's places where you cansit in the shade and rest
there's.
You know, as at Lawrence Park,the splash pad right by downtown
runs all day long.
And you know, quite honestly, acouple of the days when we were
walking back with my daughter,we were like let's just go walk
through the splash pad.
Natalie Stika (14:31):
We'll change our clothes later, it'll be fine.
Yeah, there's also a splash padat Crystal Bridges Campus, up
on the front side by the newparking garage, by Amazium.
Yeah, so we have two splashpads now, and then we have so
many like creeks, that you a lotof people dip their toes in, or
you'll see dogs playing in thewater.
It's so fun.
Nichole (14:47):
We have Park Springs.
Park is one of our favorites.
You know you go to the park butthen you kind of go down into
the ravine and there's thatreally beautiful fresh, spring
fed creek.
That's down there and you know,as you're going down in the
ravine the temperature goes downbecause it's shaded, but also
the creek water is so nice andrefreshingly cool.
That's one of our favoriteplaces to go to.
Natalie Stika (15:07):
Yeah, I love that .
What is your favorite?
Like mid afternoon, get out ofthe sun, kind of thing.
How do you kill your time?
I heard a lot of coffee.
Nichole (15:15):
I have a problem, mostly just because it's having
access to so many phenomenalcoffee shops.
You know, with just I feel likeso many of the restaurants and
this is across the board, allthe coffee shops in Northwest
Arkansas and so many of therestaurants put so much
intention behind what they'redoing with their food and what
(15:37):
they're serving and theatmosphere.
So, everywhere you go, it'sthis immersive experience with
the food you're consuming, thearea you're surrounded with.
So, I would say, in theafternoon, you know, crystal
Bridges Museum, the generaladmission is always free, which
is such an incredible thing inof itself.
I have no.
(15:58):
I mean, I think when we werethere, I probably walked through
the permanent galleries threetimes, just because I love them.
You know, granted, it's alittle different with the
construction that's happeningand it's going to be great when
it's done.
But just the fact that CrystalBridges is free, you can, you
can pop in and there's thebeautiful restaurant that's
there, there's the coffee shopthat's open there, you know, you
can pop through and just browsethe galleries and cool down.
Natalie Stika (16:20):
For a minute, and then now the Heartland Whole
Health Institute.
I'm like freaking out over here.
Nichole (16:25):
I spent probably way too much time at the Heartland
Whole Health Institute andwhat's so funny is I walked in
to go on the brochure that talksabout the art and just the
intention behind the heartlandhealth institute was so exciting
.
And as I walked in I wasbrowsing the art and I heard a
group come by and then I heardthe teacher say okay, art and
architecture class, let's allgather up.
(16:45):
And I did see my daughter, butI was like I don't, should I
wave, should I like stay here inthe corner and hide?
And so I just continued.
But that just walking into thatspace, again free, open to the
public, you can walk through.
I saw they just posted they'regoing to start doing
architectural tours, which is soexciting.
A beautiful space to cool off,it's free, you can walk in, you
(17:08):
can sit down, you can enjoy someart.
Just gasp at the architecture,because it's amazing.
Natalie Stika (17:14):
Magnificent.
Yeah, it's the Marlon Blackwellarchitecture work.
It's just so beautiful andamazing.
I love that you hit on thatCrystal Bridges is free.
I feel like every time we tellpeople that they are so shocked
and amazed and so excited, and Ijust wanted to hit on the fact
that almost every single one ofour museums is free.
The only one that has a smallfee is the Amazium, and that's
(17:34):
the Children's Science Museum.
Only one that has a small feeis the amazium, and that's the
children's science museum, whichis for all ages, even adults.
Nichole (17:42):
You can have fun there , but seriously, yeah, yeah, in
fact I was here for governor'sconference.
I was up in bentonville and Iclimbed, you know, the like leaf
climber structure for adults,but it was so much fun the
amazium is.
It is definitely on your list,but I will say that I agree
that's one of my favorite thingsum the native american museum,
or the museum of native americanhistory amazing, amazing place.
(18:03):
Free the momentary, reallyreally cool structure with
contemporary exhibits, freecraft cheese factory I did.
You know what's so funny?
My kids and I were actuallythere for the grand opening
because I was so excited aboutit.
And I saw that Bandaloop wasgoing to be there and we're big
fans and so we went to go watchthe grand opening so we could
(18:24):
see Bandaloop.
Natalie Stika (18:25):
I love that.
Nichole (18:26):
That's so cool, yeah, and then were you going to say
Peel Museum and BotanicalGardens, yes, yes, like there's
all of these incredible placeswhere, if it's, you can pop in
as many times as you want tobecause they're free, so there's
no pressure.
You know, and I know, withtraveling with kids, sometimes,
like after two hours in themuseum, they are done, done,
done, and so there's no pressureto feel like, oh, we have to
(18:46):
get our money's worth and staythis whole day.
You can do an hour and then goback outside and go play and
then do another hour the nextday and I mean families, add up
like one way or another.
Natalie Stika (18:56):
whether you have one kid or you have five or more
, it definitely adds up, and soI feel like that's why Benville
is such an ideal place forfamilies, old or young, no
matter the age.
Nichole (19:06):
It's so cool.
Natalie Stika (19:08):
Well, before we wrap up, I wanted to ask you if
you have like one thing.
Maybe not Crystal Bridgeseveryone says Crystal Bridges,
but what's on your like Benvillebucket list that everyone has
to go to that maybe wanted toask you if you have like one
thing.
Maybe not crystal bridgeseveryone says crystal bridges,
but what's on your like banvillebucket list that everyone has
to go to that maybe isn't asknown oh, boy, that's so hard
because I feel like there's somuch that I love.
Nichole (19:27):
I honestly park spring parks is really at the top of
my list because it's easy tomiss if you go to the park and
you're staying like up near thepavilion and the playground up
there, but if you go down, Ithink it's the Black Apple Creek
.
Is that what's down there?
If you take the trails and godown in that ravine, it's just,
it's the most beautiful littleslice of nature in the middle of
the city.
Uh, we love it so much and Iand I will say Kohler is on my
(19:51):
like, that's for sure at the topof my list and it is really
well known.
But I'm telling you, the risewas really fun, it's like 11
flights of stairs.
Natalie Stika (20:00):
Well, it's fun because you can connect to the
trails above and you can see themountain biking trails and you
can actually walk those.
Those are not just for mountainbikers.
You just have to, like, keep aneye out and make sure you're
being aware.
Probably don't put headphonesin so you can hear them, but
yeah, yeah, I've gotten lost onthose trails up there and it's
so fun to explore.
Nichole (20:19):
It's really beautiful.
And I think one other thing toois just and I have the luxury
of being able to do this witholder kids but the thing I would
say don't miss is don't missBentonville when the sun goes
down, like there's some lightsat.
There was one night inparticular that my daughter and
I literally were playing in the.
We were the only ones at thesplash pad.
I think it's Lawrence Pavilionor Park Lawrence Plaza.
(20:43):
We were there until it shutdown.
We were playing in the splashpad, we got to see the sunset,
we got to see the lights come onon the Peel Compton sign and
just being able to be outsideeven as the sun went down is a
big one.
Also, I think stopping by theWay of Color on the Crystal
Bridges Trail for sunrise orsunset those are easy to miss,
(21:04):
but just being out after dark.
We love being at the momentaryonce the sun goes down because
we like to just run and play.
And now the Bentonville Boomboxis over there and we love
stopping by the Buckyball towatch the colors once the sun
goes down is over there and welove stopping by the buckyball
to watch the colors once the sungoes down.
So I think just being willingto linger a little bit longer
past when the sun goes down isworth it yeah, man, that's a
whole itinerary right there.
Natalie Stika (21:24):
Hope everyone got that.
That was fabulous, well, nicole.
Um, last thing how can peopleget connected with you, how can
they follow you and just stay upto date on all of your travels?
Nichole (21:35):
oh, thank, thank you.
So the best place would be myInstagram page, which it's Koli
Ray C-O-L-E-Y-R-A-E-H.
That's where I share everything, and I'll have some more
Bentonville itinerary postscoming out shortly just to kind
of wrap up all of the amazingthings that we got to do in a
whole new perspective, becauseone bucket list thing that I
(21:56):
also got to do I've never beenable to do in all these years is
I got to go up to the Tower Bar.
Never done that because I'vealways had my kids with me.
So that was really fun to justgo up there and see the view.
Natalie Stika (22:06):
Yeah, I love that .
Yay, well, thanks everyone forlistening.
Don't forget, visit Bentonvilleis here to help you navigate
things to do, where to stay,what to eat and what's going on
in our new American town.
Check out the show notes tocatch us on social.
Sign up for our newsletterno-transcript.
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