Get ready to be excited after learning about the fun things to do in Conway, Ar.
Conway is a city in Arkansas in the United States of America.
Conway is known as the country’s art capital and has an estimated population of more than 58,000.
Conway, Ar, is an excellent place for the whole family, where everyone can spend a vacation along the beach and have fun.
If you’re looking for a beautiful beach town, make sure your vacation flight goes to Conway, Arkansas.
Located in Faulkner County in central Arkansas, Conway has the state’s highest concentration of jobs per capita, meaning most residents within the city limits do not have to commute to other cities for work.
The city is considered a central spot for education, arts, and technology companies.
Conway is also commonly referred to as a “college town” owing to its multiple universities.
As is common in a city full of colleges and large tech employers, Conway is home to diverse cultural, historical, and entertainment options not often found in cities of its modest size.
Here are the best and fun things to do in Conway when you take a trip to Conway.
Fun Things to Do in Conway (AR)
1. Baum Gallery in Uca
The University of Central Arkansas, or UCA, houses the Baum Gallery, which is the most popular art gallery in the area.
Consisting of many rooms and lots of floor space, the gallery displays student art and professional artists’ artwork in various media.
At various times, the gallery hosts exhibitions from visiting artists; most of them are free to visit, so you not only get to enjoy the university campus but also check out some neat creations without spending a lot of money.
The best way to stay informed about their presentation is to check their website regularly.
2. Visit Jenifer’s Antiques
Magnificently located on Oak Street in downtown Conway, Jenifer’s Antiques is a one-stop shop for those looking for antiques, pieces of Americana, and other arts and crafts treasures that are unlikely to be found anywhere else.
Jenifer’s is one of the many antique shops in the area, and you’ll find that each one has its own unique charm.
If you’re visiting and want to pick up a few souvenirs or gifts for those back home, you’ll find lots of simple and inexpensive pieces of Arkansas memorabilia that would be perfect.
Spend an hour or more checking out their items.
3. Visit Thunder Road Grand Prix
As much fun as antique shops and art galleries can be, sometimes they are a bit mundane.
A stop at the Thunder Road Grand Prix would be wise if you love adrenaline shots more than an antique cabinet.
With so many tracks and car styles to suit everyone, it won’t be hard to get started when they tell you to start your engines.
It’s especially fun when enjoyed with your family or close friends, as it brings a spirit of friendly competition that gets everyone’s pulse racing.
Located on Dave Ward Drive in Conway, Thunder Road Grand Prix is a great place for a birthday party.
Things to Do in Conway (AR) For Couples
1. Touch Down at the Cadron Settlement Park
Located on Arkansas Highway 319 outside of town, Cadron Settlement Park is popular with residents who find it convenient and scenic to stretch their legs and enjoy views of the river surrounding the park.
The park includes well-marked walking and cycling trails that lead through wooded areas.
There is a map posted near the parking lot and trailhead, so you’ll have a good idea of where each path leads.
With the abundance of birds and views, it’s a great place to take a few photos, so make sure your phone is charged.
2. Visit Beaverfork Lake Park
Beavefork Lake Park is located on 25 acres on the west-central shore of Beaverfork Lake, just off Highway 25, just outside of downtown Conway.
Boating, swimming, and fishing are some of the park’s most popular activities, and it is filled with all the necessary amenities for a city park of its size.
There are plenty of covered picnic areas with grills, playgrounds, baseball and volleyball fields, as well as plenty of restrooms.
Parking is in three different lots and can get pretty full on nice summer days.
3. Visit Hogwild Family Fun Center
If the kids you’re traveling with have endured boring cultural and historical sights for days on end, it might be time to reward them with a day of activities designed just for them.
The Hogwild Family Fun Center entertains families and includes go-karts, bumper cars, laser tag, and even a miniature golf course.
It’s the kind of place you can easily while away a few hours, and it’s great to visit when the weather isn’t nice outside.
They are located on Old Morrilton Highway and are open daily.
Things to Do in Conway (AR) at Night
1. Enjoy Barbeque at Whole Hog Café
The southeastern states of America are known for their great barbecue.
One of Central Arkansas’ favorite wet and sour purveyors is Whole Hog Café on East Oak Street in Conway.
The restaurant has a comfortable, lively, and family atmosphere and offers a variety of different barbecue options to suit every taste.
Don’t expect waiters to take your order at your table; instead, order at the counter before you sit down.
Pulled pork and ribs are some tourist favorites, as are sides like coleslaw, baked beans, hush puppies, and some of the best fries around.
2. Escape Mystery Room
Escape rooms are springing up in cities and towns across the country, and their popularity has exploded in recent years.
They’re cheap, fun, and offer hints of tension and suspense that you won’t find in most tourist sites.
Located on Parkway Street, this Mystery Rooms of Conway works hard to create a unique atmosphere for tourists by filling them out with puzzles, riddles, and clues.
If they answer correctly, they will be out of their difficult situation.
If you’ve never tried it, try it.
It’s an excellent activity for a date night, birthday group, or team-building exercise.
3. Visit the Arkansas Shakespeare Theater
Conway is home to the only professional Shakespeare Company in Arkansas.
Every summer, Arkansas Shakespeare Theater presents a company of professional Shakespearean actors in a festival that celebrates and engages visitors with performances.
The company also aims to create an accessible means of enjoying a professional Shakespearean experience in a state that does not have as many opportunities to experience these educational opportunities.
Matt Chiarini, who holds an MFA in theater from Harvard University, was the founding Producing Artistic Director, serving through the 2011 season.
Mary Ruth Marotte, professor of English at UCA, was the first Executive Director.
Rebekah Scallet, an Arkansas native with an extensive theater background, became Producing Artistic Director in 2011. Both later became ex-officio members of the AST Board of Directors.
Several UCA faculty members have also been involved in AST management.
Paige Reynolds, a professor in the English Department at UCA, has been involved with AST since its playwriting program began in 2008 and has performed in several productions.
She became an AST dramaturge.
Since its inception, AST has put on about four productions a season, including Shakespearean plays as well as several non-Shakespearean musicals.
Some of these shows include Big River and Joseph, the Amazing Technicolor Coat, and productions aimed at children, such as Children’s Shakespeare’s The Tempest from 2012.
Indoor Activities in Conway (AR) For Adults
1. Bowl at Conway Family Bowl
There’s something wonderfully simple about bowling in a world where every fun center has a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy.
Conway Family Bowl features 24 lanes, an arcade, leagues, and tournaments. There are weekly deals and special offers that you can check online.
Your family is sure to enjoy a night of bowling fun.
2. Play Games at Thunder Alley Grand Prix
Thunder Alley Grand Prix is your classic go-kart track and arcade.
Again, this is another nostalgic place where you can enjoy the simple thrill of driving extremely fast go-karts around the sharp turns of the racing track.
Whether you’re racing your cousins, parents, or best friends, or just riding a sidecar, you’ll feel the excitement and energy of the experience.
After you finish racing, you can enjoy classic arcade games and win prizes. It’s a fun way to enjoy an afternoon with the whole family.
3. Feast at Mike’s Place
Located in the heart of Front Street, Mike’s place is a community favorite for its family atmosphere, reasonable prices, and relaxed atmosphere.
Many of Mike’s customers are regulars; if you go more than once, you’ll start to recognize some of the daily customers.
Expect friendly service, delicious food, and generous fillings.
Seafood, ribs, pasta, and crawfish are some of the favorites, and they are also known for their temptingly fresh pies and tarts.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and a late dinner, it’s a great place to fill up before heading out to explore the sights of Conway.
Romantic Things to Do in Conway (AR)
1. Visit the City Parks
Downtown Conway has many city parks only a few blocks from each other and other city attractions.
Laurel Park and 5th Avenue Park are all in a straight line that runs east to west, a few blocks north of the Central Arkansas University and Central Baptist College campuses.
It’s a great place to visit in the afternoon, and since it’s small and without a lot of amenities, you’ll likely have them to yourself.
Due to their proximity to local schools, they are easily accessible on foot without much effort.
2. Faulkner County Museum
The Faulkner County Museum, located inside one of the old county jails, is one of the city’s most complete repositories of all things Conway-related.
The Musuem building is located in the heart of the city on Courthouse Square.
It has been renovated to resemble its original style and is primarily made of brick and local stone.
Its golden-hued tower-like roof is one of the skyline’s most memorable icons. In addition to being a prison, it was also a library in the 1930s and a museum since the 1990s.
The museum specializes in the pre-settlement history of the area, but also includes more contemporary items and exhibits.
3. Conway Dinner Theatre
The Conway Dinner Theater is your place to go to enjoy fine dining while watching award-winning plays, Broadway musicals, and operas.
The cast consists of Faulkner Academy of the Arts students, residents, and professional actors.
Guests will enjoy fine dining while being immersed in the show.
It’s a great way to enjoy an evening with friends and loved ones while seeing an excellent show.
4. Conway Symphony Orchestra
Debuting in 1984, the Symphony Orchestra in Conway was first a joint project of the UCA music departments and Hendrix.
Two-thirds of the musicians are pre-professional, and the other third are professional musicians from the area.
The Conway Symphony Orchestra works to provide professional musical experiences and educational opportunities to members of the central Arkansas community.
The orchestra works with groups in the area to provide outreach and education to youth, but business support provides an opportunity to keep tickets affordable to the public for performances.
Things to Do in Conway (AR) For kids
1. Jack’s Ultra Sports Paintball & Lasertag
Paintball and laser tag are activities that have gained a large following in recent years; if you’d like to partake in them on your trip to Conway, consider visiting Jack’s Ultra Sports Paintball and Laser tag.
They’ve got all the equipment you’ll need to take part, and if you’re looking for something a little more unique, they also offer another fun activity – but with bows and arrows instead of lasers or guns.
It’s a new twist, and there’s also an escape room on site. They are located on Equity Avenue in Conway.
2. Share the Love Kids Club
With over 2,500 square feet of indoor space designed to keep kids active, engaged, and fascinated, Share the Love Kidsclub is one of those rare places that encourage kids to learn and have fun at the same time.
The club is filled with interactive exhibits and encourages exploration and hands-on activities.
If you are staying in the area for more than a few days, you may get the opportunity to enroll your children in some of the teaching and learning courses they offer throughout the year.
Some of the classes include music, science, and physical fitness, so check out their website for details.
3. Imagination Station
Imagination Station is a facility that encourages children of all abilities and backgrounds to come together and interact and play.
Children learn to take turns and accept everyone’s uniqueness.
Imagination Station is a multi-sensory experience created by embracing nature and the outdoors in a safe, controlled environment.
Imagination Station has no televisions or video games. Children are encouraged to imagine things as they run and play with each other.
Arkansas’ unique developmental, sensory-rich play space where all children can come together to stretch, play, learn, feel and grow.
Unique to all other indoor playgrounds, our space has been designed by pediatric occupational therapists – experts in development and sensory integration – and has been created with a child’s sensory needs and milestones in mind.
Imagination Station provides an innovative space where children can challenge skills through our outdoor environment! concept.
An amazing space for true discovery, imagination, and release of energy!
Their focus isn’t just good old-fashioned play for kids who can. They also offer children’s therapy sessions using an extraordinary setup to target the skills that need support.
They have perfected a revolution in therapy delivery – including community and integrating children of ALL abilities together.
They help parents experience the joy of developing playful skills.
Free development screens are available whenever you stop playing.
Their goal is to empower parents to expand their knowledge of childhood’s essential developmental tool: PLAY.
Free Things to Do in Conway (AR)
1. Lake Conway
Lake Conway is the country’s largest Game and Fish Commission man-made lake.
The lake is 6,700 acres in size and is a popular fishing spot for catfish, bass and bream.
Lake Conway is a popular spot for sport fishing, with many visitors taking to the waters.
The lake also has a pond next to it that helps breed new fish and maintain the lake’s population.
2. Pickles Gap Village
Pickles Gap Village, commonly known as Ozark Foothills Village, got its unique name from an urban legend about a German immigrant who tipped his load of pickles into the water while trying to cross a creek.
It is now a popular little shopping area where visitors can visit a pickle barrel factory, flea markets, a knife shop, and a print shop.
It’s a unique little mall where you can find tiny treasures to bring home from your adventures.
3. kings
Kings is known for being one great place in Conway for live music and good drinks.
Although they have several different dishes on the menu, most visitors do not come for a five-course dinner. Live performances draw people to Kings.
Kings is the go-to bar for locals for a night of fun and entertainment.
Cheap Things to Do in Conway
1. Ozark Escape Conway
Ozark Escape Rooms prides itself on being an immersive escape room.
It takes you out of your everyday life and fully immerses you in the strange world of the story.
There are five different room choices ranging from easy to hard difficulty, with complete stories of what you are about to experience.
Stories range from being trapped in a deadly serial killer game to training as a field agent to being apprenticed to a powerful sorcerer.
The stories create a unique experience for all players.
2. Urban Air Adventure Zone
Urban Air is a trampoline park and more.
Featuring virtual reality gaming, bumper cars that flip you over in your seat, rope courses, rock walls, Ninja Warrior obstacle courses, a traditional tube course, a toss-only trampoline, a bounce house, and many more trampoline areas to bounce off of.
You will definitely need a second visit to experience it all.
3. Estes Stadium
Plan a visit to Estes Stadium and experience some remarkable moments in sports history. This place is full of compelling stories of wins and losses.
This famous sports venue is one of the most popular landmarks in Conway. But it is not the only place worth visiting in this area.
After paying your admission and spending some time at Estes Stadium, also visit nearby Cadron Settlement Park, Conway Dinner Theater, and Pickles Gap Village.
The home side of the stadium was torn down and rebuilt from the ground up before the 1998 games season.
The $5 million facility holds the entire football program, including a locker room, weight room, meeting and film rooms, an equipment room, coaches offices, and a training room for athletes.
On April 1, 2011, UCA announced its intention to install a purple and gray striped football field for the 2011 season.
Installation of the field started in late April after spring training ended and finished in June.
Cool Places to Visit in Conway (Ar)
1. Petit Jean State Park
Head to this historical park to experience the breathtaking natural beauty of Arkansas, embrace the great outdoors, and try a variety of outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy.
Discover the natural beauty of Petit Jean State Park, the oldest state park in Arkansas.
Consisting of more than 2,660 acres (1,080 hectares) of parkland around Mount Petit Jean, the park offers both natural scenery and modern amenities to guarantee a smooth visit.
Choose from over 30 kilometers of hiking trails that are well-marked and conveniently divided into easy, advanced, and strenuous difficulty levels to help you plan your energy level.
Discover forests, canyons, streams, and bold geological formations.
Walk beneath gigantic sandstone boulders, marvel at the spectacular 29-meter Cedar Falls, and enjoy breathtaking views of the rugged surroundings from spectacular lookouts dotted around the park.
Delve into the nation’s past in the atmospheric Rock House Cave, which features 500-year-old Native American rock art.
Discover stunning views and Petit Jean’s grave at the park’s most famous viewpoint at Stout’s Point.
Here you will learn about the romantic legend of the 18th-century French woman after whom the park was named.
Rent a canoe, kayak, or fishing boat from the boatyard and glide along the waters of Lake Bailey, which covers 100 acres (40 hectares) and is very popular for fishing in the summer.
If you’re traveling with kids, take your time
2. William J. Clinton Presidential Library
Learn about the life of Little Rock’s most famous former president and enjoy a fine dining experience at this state-of-the-art library and museum.
Expand your knowledge of US political history and the office of the President at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, located in downtown Little Rock on the south bank of the Arkansas River.
Discover a treasure trove of historical artifacts from Clinton’s two terms in office and information about his life before and after serving as president.
Before entering the center, admire the building’s magnificent ultra-modern facade consisting of large glass panels that complement the scenic riverside setting.
Note that the structure resembles a bridge, a design deliberately chosen by the architects to symbolize the connection between the country’s heritage and Clinton’s vision for the nation’s future.
Explore the library’s permanent exhibits spread over three floors of the library. Learn about the accomplishments of the Clinton administration, the life of the president and the first family, and the day-to-day operations of the White House.
Highlights include a presidential limousine and full-scale replicas of the Clinton-era Oval Office and Cabinet.
Put Clinton’s presidency into perspective by viewing the 110-foot (34-meter) timeline on the second floor of the main gallery, which documents key events from each of Clinton’s years as president.
On your way out, stop by the Clinton Museum Store, which features interesting memorabilia and collectibles to remember your visit.
If you’re hungry after your visit, grab a table at Forty-Two, the hotel’s award-winning lunchtime restaurant.
Choose from a range of tasty and affordable dining options sourced from locally grown ingredients.
Enjoy your meal along with a spectacular view of the Clinton Presidential Center Park Bridge. Alternatively, dine in Little Rock’s atmospheric River Market nearby.
Visit the William J. Clinton Presidential Library every day. There is an entrance fee, except for selected national holidays when entry is free.
The center can be found at the heart of Little Rock, a 10-minute drive from Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. The library has free parking for museum visitors.
3. University of Central Arkansas
University campuses are great places to check out when visiting a new area.
They usually have extensive, well-kept grounds. In addition to sporting events and a range of other activities, there are frequent art exhibitions, lectures, and instructional and educational programs – many of which are free.
The University of Central Arkansas campus is situated in downtown, close to many of the city’s attractions, making it a convenient place to visit.
The bookstore is your best bet to pick up a hat or t-shirt to commemorate your visit to Conway.
Visit their website to see what will be happening on campus while you’re there.
Conclusion
Visitors never have enough fun things to do in Conway, AR, and it’s because Conway is filled with so much fascination.
On your next visit to Conway, either for a job, education, or just passing through, ensure you take part in one of these best and most fun things to do in Conway, Ar.
See you soon.
