Monday, September 24, 2012

Arkansas Missouri Railroad

The Arkansas Missouri Railroad offers a train ride from Springdale to Van Buren, Arkansas. 
 
 
The tracks run right through our beautiful Ozark Mountains. 
 
 
 We were excited to purchase tickets and take the most energetic six year old we know on a little adventure. 


The conductor told us this particular car was originally built in the 1920's and later restored.  It was beautiful.

 
Our tickets were for the Vista Dome car.  It's a double decker car and our seats were in the top.

 
We were surrounded by windows, windows, windows.

 
Arkansas is so beautiful and our second story view was spectacular.
 
 
The train wound slowly through our gorgeous hills,


 beside streams,

 
under highway overpasses
 
 
through tunnels, (dark tunnels)

 
and brought us to the lovely town of Van Buren.

 
The ride took just over two hours.

 
Then we had three hours to visit downtown Van Buren.

 
This part of town has old, charming buildings.


Our favorite spot was a book store that had a wonderful children's section.  Now that Mr. Big Stuff can read, we sat down and read books to each other.

 
Our train then chugged and puffed back over the hills, 
 
 
near the bluffs,
 
 
and between the beautiful trees.
 
 
We left Springdale at 8:00 am and returned at 4:00 pm.  It was one of those clear, sunny days where the morning low was 42 and the afternoon high was 79.  We wore lots of layers which were added and removed depending on the sunshine and the air conditioning!
 
As my dear friend, Joyous, likes to say... 
 
We were deliciously exhausted.  It was a sweet adventure we won't soon forget!
 
;-)  -Marci

14 comments:

  1. I have a friend who did this this summer for her anniversary and stayed at a B&B. It does look like fun! Do you know if it runs through the fall season?

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  2. BTW...I wanted to reply to your nice comment on my blog, but you are showing up as a "no-reply" blogger. You can fix that in your settings if you want. You'll get a lot more interaction and comments from other bloggers if you do! Happy to be following you via GFC and looking forward to what comes next! Glad to know you are nearby. I don't really know of any other bloggers around me!

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    1. Thanks for the tip! I'll try to get that figured out! -Marci

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  3. Thanks for sharing these happy pics with Visible
    Monday, Marci. It reminds me that I've got a lot to see in my native country! Your family looks so happy.

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  4. Marci, thanks so much for visiting my blog! I enjoyed reading about your train trip...what a wonderful experience!

    Cindy at Notes in the Key of Life
    I'm giving away a beautiful Soft Surroundings top!

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  5. looks like a great time,lovely pictures :)

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  6. What a wonderful trip! Great pictures!

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  7. Marci,
    This looks like so much fun. Thank you so much for sharing with Wednesdays Adorned From Above Link Party last week. This weeks Link Party is opened at
    http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/10/jasmine-body-butter-and-wednesdays.html
    from Wednesday until Sunday.
    Hope to see you there.
    Debi Bolocofsky
    Adorned From Above
    www.adornedfromabove.com

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    Replies
    1. We love the Great State of Arkansas, especially our mountains. It was a beautiful new perspective. -Marci

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