A&P executive director Marilyn Heifner (right) speaks after presenting Terra Studios owners Jamie Ulick and Val Gonzalez with a framed page from their feature in the 2012 Fayetteville guidebook during a Wednesday morning news conference held inside the Arkansas Air Museum.
Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff
Those who know, know. And those who don’t, quickly find out. Fayetteville is Northwest Arkansas.
While the Visitors Bureau no longer uses that phrase as its official slogan, this year’s local guidebook serves as proof that although there are several great day trip destinations within earshot of our city, Fayetteville is, well, where it’s at.
The 144-page book, “Fayetteville, The Insider’s Guide to Northwest Arkansas” (formerly known as the “Fayetteville Guide”) was unveiled Wednesday morning during a news conference held inside the Arkansas Air Museum in south Fayetteville.
The book includes 44 more pages than last year’s edition and for the first time ever, features a double-sided, fold-out map with the city of Fayetteville on one side and the University of Arkansas campus on the other.
Also new this year is the addition of Fort Smith and Eureka Springs as feature travel destinations.
“Our hope is that by including more communities and attractions in the region, we will entice more people to travel to this area of the state,” said Marilyn Heifner, executive director of the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission.
3 Penny Acre is featured in the music and nightlife section of the new Fayetteville guidebook. The book also includes a double-sided, fold-out map.
Staff photo
The guide contains a peek into many of the things that make this city so great including the beautiful University of Arkansas campus, the nationally recognized Fayetteville Public Library, a vibrant host of locally owned businesses, and one of the best farmer’s markets in the country.
It’s also full of those bragging rights-style trivia tidbits that no doubt keep our neighboring cities green with envy.
Did you know Fayetteville has 3,000 acres of park land offering 70 parks, nearly 40 miles of paved and natural trails, three lakes, 43 athletic fields/courts, and a skate park – all of which cost exactly zero dollars to enjoy?
“Fayetteville isn’t only about nature, though,” said Heifner. “It’s also about art.”
This year’s guide includes features on a half dozen local artists, information about local studios, and, of course, a full page dedicated to Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville.
As always, local citizen profiles help showcase a few residents who help make Fayetteville special. This year’s roster includes Jerrmy Gawthrop from Greenhouse Grille, Val Gonzales and Jamie Ulick from Terra Studios, Brad Friess from Arkansas Athletes Outreach, Liz Fulton from Town and Country Shop, and musicians Bernice Hembree, Bryan Hembree and Bayard Blain from local band 3 Penny Acre.
There’s plenty more, too, including historic profiles, event schedules, dining guides and a new section highlighting Fayetteville’s over 500 hidden geocaches.
This year, 70,000 guides were printed and are set to be distributed at various locations around town and on campus. Pick up a book of your own at the Visitors Center on the downtown square or download a digital copy at experiencefayetteville.com.
