FlorenceMom.com Blogs

Why Little Rock Should be Your Next Vacation Spot

You shouldn't overlook Little Rock, Arkansas, when you are making your vacation plans.  

This is a city rich in history with plenty of cool sight-seeing tours to keep you busy and enthralled during your trip. This is a great place to take a family vacation, and the kids will love the different activities they can try and the treats they can eat. There are even old school style ice cream and soda parlors to take a step back in time and enjoy a delicious treat.  

Here are a few things you should check out when visiting. And if you love it so much you want to stay, check out some Little Rock homes for sale that you might fall in love with.

Visit the Governor’s Mansion

No trip to Little Rock is complete without visiting the Governor's Mansion. The mansion has been home to Arkansas governors since the 1950s. If you are lucky enough to score a ticket, you can take a tour of the inside of the mansion.  

It has a fantastic antique and art collection. Another area that you can check out are the gardens. They offer specific garden tours that will delight the most seasoned arborist. 

Culinary Delights

Little Rock is known for its barbecue. It has some of the best sweet and tangy sauce in the country, and you must try it. When you do, make sure to dine at Sims Bar B Que. Sims has been around almost forever and is a favorite haunt of most locals.  

But aside from that, it is a celebrity hot spot. Celebs and food critics flock to Sims to indulge in their barbecue with the special sauce. Try it once you are hooked.

Museum

Try something different and visit the only purse museum in the country. The museum was started by a private collector to showcase her collection and grew into what it is today.  

The museum takes you through the history of purses and shows how styles and fashion have evolved over the years. If you can't get enough, visit their gift shop which has an excellent collection of vintage purses for sale.

Visit Downtown

Visit the Capital Hotel, which was built in the 1870s in downtown. The hotel has hosted many presidents over the years. And, it is known as the front porch of Little Rock by locals. If you can't stay there, you can at least drink there. Check out the bar and treat yourself to specialty mixes or try some of their signature cocktails. 

Conclusion

There is so much that Little Rock has to offer; it is impossible to squeeze it all into one trip. Aside from all the tourist destinations and tours, there is a whole lot of hidden gems that locals know about. Don't be afraid to ask for suggestions on places to eat and places to visit. I'm sure they would be happy to help!

No one likes to think about their child getting into a car accident. The thought can be terrifying, as we all know that car crashes can lead to injuries and even fatalities. However, it is important that parents of teens make sure that their children are doing everything they can to remain safe while learning to drive alone. The scary truth is that teenagers are three times more likely to get into a car accident than older drivers.

There are many reasons that teens are more likely to get into crashes, including distracted driving and driving under the influence. The good news is that most of these reasons are preventable, and parents can encourage their teens to take the actions to lower the risk of a crash. Here are a few steps that you can encourage your child to take as they learn to drive and after they get their license.

1) Encourage them to banish distractions.

Distracted driving is one of the top causes of car crashes among teens, mainly due to the rising use of smartphones and other portable technology. Make sure your teen is putting their phone away while driving. Sending that text just isn’t worth a potentially fatal accident. Additionally, talk to your teen about other common distractions. Many people are so concerned about smartphone use while driving that they fail to realize there are many other things that can cause distractions for a driver. Eating and drinking, applying makeup, talking to passengers, and even looking out the window at something can distract a driver enough to cause a crash.

2) Talk to your teen about driving under-the-influence.

Many crashes among teenage drivers are caused by the driver being under-the-influence of drugs or alcohol. Driving under the influence can cause deadly crashes, and should be avoided under all circumstances. Even if a crash doesn’t occur, getting a DUI can mean costly fines, loss of a license, and other consequences. Make sure your teen understands that driving while slightly “buzzed” is still drunk driving. Additionally, if your teen is taking any prescription drugs that cause drowsiness, make sure they understand that even though they are legal, these prescriptions could still cause a crash. Lastly, make sure that your teen knows to never get into a car if the driver is drunk, high, or otherwise incapacitated. Making the choice to find a different ride home could safe your child’s life.

3) Make sure your teen knows not to drive drowsy.

Drowsy driving doesn’t receive the amount of attention and press time that drunk driving does, but the scary truth is that it can be just as destructive. Exhausted drivers can have slowed reaction times and cognitive functions, similar to drunk drivers. In addition, if a driver is tired enough, he or she may fall asleep at the wheel, possibly causing a deadly crash. Make sure your teenager understands how important it is to be properly rested before getting behind the wheel.

4) Make sure your teen is following the rules of the road.

Things like speeding and failing to yield to red lights can not only cause your teen to end up with a costly ticket or points on their license, they can also cause deadly accidents. Make sure your teen knows the rules of the road well before allowing them to drive on their own. And make sure they understand how important it is to actually follow these rules. It’s better to be a little late somewhere than to get into a crash while speeding.

5) Make sure your teen understands basic car maintenance.

Getting your first car is an exciting part of anyone’s life. When your teen reaches this milestone, celebrate with them, but also make sure they know how to properly care for their new vehicle. Not performing the proper maintenance on a vehicle can lead to costly repairs down the road. And if a vehicle malfunctions due to improper maintenance, it can cause accidents. Make sure your teen is performing regular maintenance on his or her new car. Go with them to the appointments at first, and make sure they understand basic car maintenance tasks, such as how to change a tire.

These are just a few things you can remind your teenager about in order to keep them as safe as possible on the road. Heading off on that first drive alone is a huge milestone in anyone’s life, so celebrate with your teen, while also encouraging safe and careful driving practices.

Author Biography:

This article was provided by the partners at The Joye Law Firm, who believe in giving back to their community through charity work, scholarships for promising local students, and free educational resources, such as this article.