Photo Credit: @mirandayelvington

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Located on the Arkansas River and named after an actual small rock formation by French explorer Bernard de la Harpe, Little Rock is a city where it’s quite easy to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. 

Many visitors to Little Rock are somewhat surprised by all the natural outdoor beauty the city (and state) offers. And sure, there are plenty of places to grab a typical heavy, fried southern meal, but thankfully there are more heath-conscious restaurants and menu items popping up on the scene. 

We recommend visiting Little Rock when the weather is nice, if possible, and getting outdoors to check out all that The Natural State has to offer. 

MOVE WELL

Barefoot Studio | The class schedule at Barefoot Studio offers different styles and levels of yoga with a variety of teachers, some classes heated and others not. It’s a warm, welcoming place, centrally located from most any part of town. MORE INFO

CliqueCycle | We love hitting up this brand new cycling studio for our dose of high-energy, cardio dance party on a bike. The room is dark at CliqueCycle and you ride to the beat of the music. The instructors are positive and upbeat and will encourage you the whole way. MORE INFO  

Unleashed Health & Fitness Studio | No matter what fitness level you are, workouts with personal trainer Stephanie Newcomb of Unleashed Health & Fitness are always fun, creative and high energy. She offers one-on-one personal training as well as small group training sessions and booty camps. MORE INFO

SUP 501 Paddleboard Yoga | Experience yoga in a completely different way…on a standup paddleboard. If you love being on the water and you love yoga, you’ll love a SUP yoga class with SUP 501. Plus, it’s another way to check out that gorgeous Arkansas natural scenery. MORE INFO

Allsopp Park | Allsopp Trail is a 3.7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located in the center of Little Rock, with beautiful wild flowers. The trail offers a number of activity options and is suitable for all skill levels. MORE INFO

Pinnacle Mountain State Park | Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a day-use park located just west of Little Rock. Pinnacle Mountain rises more than a thousand feet above the Arkansas River Valley; two of the park’s hiking trails lead hikers to the mountain’s beautiful summit which is one of our favorite ways to move on a gorgeous weekend day. The park offers a wide variety of hiking trails in varying degrees of difficulty and is suitable for both hiking and bike riding. MORE INFO

Two Rivers Park | A 1000-acre tract located on the Arkansas and Little Maumelle Rivers, Two Rivers offers paved and dirt trails for walking, bicycling and other family activities. You might even see deer and other wildlife. MORE INFO

EAT WELL

The Root Cafe | A cute little restaurant located in a hip part of town, the Root Cafe sources local food from small farms around Arkansas. Head in for breakfast, lunch or dinner. No matter what your food preferences (dairy-free, vegan, paleo), you’ll find something you love at the Root. MORE INFO

Raduno Brick Oven & Barroom | Raduno serves Neapolitan style pizza with the relaxed ambiance of an Italian inspired pizzeria in the South Main District (SoMa) of Little Rock. The pomodoro sauce at Raduno is delicious. We love to start with the Mista salad (sub vinaigrette), followed by the Funghi with pomodoro sauce, no cheese. MORE INFO

Loblolly Creamery | This local creamery makes small batch ice cream, fizzy sodas and other sweet treats using fresh, seasonal ingredients and without the use of any premixes, preservatives, colorings or artificial stabilizers. Literally everything is made from scratch at Loblolly, including the house-made gluten-free cones, seasonal handcrafted sodas, buttercream macarons, milkshakes and ice cream sandwiches. MORE INFO

The Fold | The Fold serves up fresh tacos and hand squeezed cocktails in the heart of Little Rock. We love The Fold’s revamped space that was once an old filling station, as well as the indoor/outdoor feel of the space on a breezy Arkansas day or evening. We also love the fact that The Fold serves fresh local food, and we always go for the tacos when we visit. Our picks: the Cholula Pescado, Sweet Potato Kale, Hearts of Palm and The Gringo. MORE INFO

Ciao Baci | Ciao Baci is one of our favorite romantic date night spots located in the heart of the historic Hillcrest District. Ciao Baci offers an eclectic range of Mediterranean inspired tapas, entrees and drinks. We love their patio and the fact that the menu changes seasonally. MORE INFO

Heights Taco & Tamale Co | This happening neighborhood spot offers an entire menu of Ark-Mex original dishes, which is a blend of Tex-Mex and Arkansas Delta flavors. Their dishes are created with local, seasonal and Arkansas culinary influences, and the vibe is welcoming, fun and family friendly. We love to start with the House Guacamole or Salsa Trio, followed by the Veggie Fajitas (hey, watermelon radishes), no cheese for a vegan option. MORE INFO

The Pizzeria | The Pizzeria serves wood fired pizza and beverages made with high quality ingredients in a bustling spot located in the Heights neighborhood of Little Rock. Their ingredients are fresh and their pizzas are incredible. Our picks: start with the Arugula Salad, then the Margherita Pizza, no cheese and loaded up with all the veggie extras. MORE INFO 

Boulevard Bread Company | A favorite lunch or dinner spot, Boulevard Bread Company serves handcrafted foods and baked items made with the highest quality ingredients available, including products from local farmers and artisans. We love to drop in at breakfast for a coffee, tea or one of their delicious breakfast sandwiches. Their lunch soup and salad options are perfect for a healthy weekday lunch, and the dinner menu is full of variety for every dietary need. MORE INFO

Le Pops Gourmet Iced Lollie’s | Le Pops is a cute neighborhood spot in the Heights, and is a favorite of families from all over Little Rock. They serve handmade iced pops made with locally grown produce and herbs, and their flavor selection is ever changing. A perfect afternoon treat. MORE INFO

Zaza Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co. | Whether you go with a fresh, tossed to order salad loaded up with all your favorite veggies, or a pizza made just how you like it (or both), you can’t go wrong at Zaza. If you like a gluten free crust, Zaza’s gluten free option is one of our favorites around. Be sure to check out their salad of the month, and you might also want to take a peek at the daily offerings in the gelato cooler while you’re there. MORE INFO

Big Orange | With two locations around the city, Big Orange is by far one of the most beloved burger spots in town. Any burger on the menu can be ordered with either a beef patty, turkey or veggie burger; we particularly love the Smashed Avocado Burger made with a veggie burger and the gluten free bun (sweet potato fries on the side, please). MORE INFO

Istanbul Mediterranean Restaurant | Istanbul is one of our favorite hidden lunch spots in Little Rock. It’s low key and unassuming, and the food is delicious. We’ve tried most of the dolmas around town, and our vote goes to the ones at Istanbul.  MORE INFO

SIP WELL

The Meteor Cafe | If you’re into bicycles and coffee (or even just coffee), you’ll love The Meteor. They have a wide variety of coffee and teas, and freshly baked goodies and sandwiches daily, too. MORE INFO

Mylo Coffee Co. | Mylo’s vibe is laid-back, and their drinks are delicious. The coffee is house-roasted, the tea menu is extensive and the pastries are handcrafted daily. MORE INFO

EXPLORE WELL

Clinton Presidential Library & Museum | The Clinton Presidential Library and Museum features exhibits, special events and educational programs, including replicas of the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room. If the weather is nice, be sure to explore the beautiful grounds of the library and museum which is located just next to the Arkansas River in Little Rock. MORE INFO

Arkansas Repertory Theatre | The Rep is the state’s largest non-profit resident theatre company, and its 377-seat theatre is located in a historic building in downtown Little Rock. The Rep brings Tony Award-winners and nationally recognized artists to its stages and is locally recognized as the Best Live Theatre and the Best Performing Arts Organization by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Arkansas Times. MORE INFO

Electric Ghost | This local shop truly is a gem. It houses both a screen printing shop, and a retail shop that specializes in home decor, indoor plants, jewelry and other unique items. They carry an ever-changing selection of beautiful houseplants and succulents. Swing by to pick your pot and your plant, and they’ll pot it for you right there so you can take your beautiful new plant family member home with you. MORE INFO

Shopping In The Heights | The shopping in the Heights Neighborhood is laid-back, but the variety of stores is fantastic. Stop in to check out the products and brow/lash services at our favorite clean beauty spot W.inc Beauty, check out the jewelry and beautiful gift items at Bella Boutique, pick up a few kitchen items from Eggshells, stop by to see the gals at Steamroller Blues for denim and fashion-forward women’s clothing and grab something for your kiddos at The Toggery. 

The Promenade at Chenal | A beautiful outdoor shopping experience, many of our favorites call The Promenade home. Gearhead Outfitters is our go-to stop for all our outdoor gear to enjoy the beautiful Arkansas outdoors, and we love to stop in and see what’s new at Lululemon for yoga gear, and Anthropologie for cute dishes and home accessories. MORE INFO