Expert: Jennifer - 8/18/2004

Question
I will be finishing my degree and relocating (from New England)
this year.  I have taken online quizzes to determine where the
best area for me to move to would be.  Eureka Springs,
Cherokee Village and Mountain Home, Arkansas were all listed
as good places for me.  I'm not necessarily wondering about
those specific places - I just mention them as a guideline.  My
most important criteria are sunshine, woods, rivers, lakes, a
university within 50 minutes driving distance, and a strong arts
community.  Do you have any suggestions as to regions within
Arkansas that would meet these criteria?  Thanks!

Answer
I must say I am extremely partial to the Eureka Springs area which is 45 minutes from Fayetteville where the University of Arkansas is located. The economy is doing pretty well in this area because of the Wal Mart headquarters located nearby. This is a plus considering the changing times. Eureka is simply beautiful---like a tiny slice of SanFran some say. Pretty strong artists community, tourism being the main ingredient for the economy...lots of neat shopping, neat people, galleries, and such a sense of peace. Now, to be honest, the stores there struggle a little...but the lodging always seems to be booked up year around. Eureka is not about making money; it is more a beautiful, serene, hidden little community where people go to be healed. Fayetteville, which is nearby, is also a breath of fresh air with it's quiant college town feel, lovely university shined up with Walmart and Tyson money, but still full of lots of liberal bohemian types to give balance to the city. There is an arts center, restaurants, bars, farmers markets, great coffee houses ( not starbucks but our own homespun type!)....just a really cool town if you decide Eureka is too slow....it is an area on the move.
I think Northwest Arkansas is the place for you.

Cherokee Village and Mountain home are nice areas,too. There is a real desolation to them though, that I don't like.I need to be near places I can have a glass of wine with my friends, grab coffee and read the paper alone, have a great meal, see a play...hear live jazz.These areas are actually dry...meaning you cannot buy alcohol in most places. It is just a different culture....very much the bible belt. Not that there is anything wrong with this. The people are kind and old fashioned and wonderful. Very slow, beautiful, small town places to live....great for retirement. They are near Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, which in my opinion doesn't really hold a candle to the U of A. The area is is similiar to Northwest Arkansas in geography...mountains, lakes, lots of nature....Northwest Arkansas being much more of a growing area, with the exception of Eureka. There isn't anywhere else I would guide you toward in Arkansas, although I really like many aspects of Little Rock for city living.Consider a trip to the area you may live first. I think it would be well worth your time and money.

Feel free to write again if you have more questions. There is always more to tell!

Jen