Little Rock, Arkansas, named after its rocky bluffs, offers a variety of outdoor activities including diamond mining at Crater of Diamonds State Park, hiking at Pinnacle Mountain, and amusement parks at Burns Park. City parks like Riverfront and Murray also offer outdoor fun.
Not surprisingly, for a city named for its rocky bluffs, there are many different outdoor activities in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1722, after exiting the Mississippi River, French explorer Jean Baptiste Benard de La Harpe named the first rocky bluffs he saw “La Petite Roche” or “little rock.” The name stuck for this capital, which is also the largest city in Arkansas. Parks like Riverfront, Murray, Burns, Kanis, Pinnacle Mountain and Crater of Diamonds offer plenty of outdoor activities in the area.
Crater of Diamonds State Park, in Murfreesboro, offers one of the most popular and unique activities in this region. The park has the world’s only public diamond mine where casual miners can keep what they find. Many different colors of diamonds have been found here, with white, yellow and brown being the most common. Crystals of garnet, amethyst, hematite, peridot, jasper and quartz have also been found in the research area of the park. Other outdoor activities at Crater of Diamonds State Park include camping, playing at a mining-themed water park, and fishing for bass, bream, and catfish.
There are a large number of city parks in or near Little Rock, and all are within a 30-minute drive of the city. Pinnacle Mountain, in Roland, is a state park known for activities such as camping, hiking, and bird and wildlife viewing. Kanis Park is popular for skateboarding, jogging, biking, basketball, softball and tennis.
People who have an idea of outdoor entertainment includes amusement parks and playgrounds might want to consider going to Burns Park. This is a popular and large municipal park that has an amusement park, playgrounds and a waterslide, as well as racquetball and tennis courts. Burns Park also has a softball field, miniature golf course, and disc golf course.
Outdoor activities in Little Rock near the Arkansas River include both Murray Park and Riverfront Park. Riverfront Park, right downtown, features many paths and boardwalks, while Murray Park has two playgrounds. Murray Park is also known for outdoor activities like fishing and soccer.
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