While many come to town brimming with school spirit and eager for the next football game, the Razorbacks are far from the only draw to Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

If you’re looking for a quiet, (optionally) active weekend destination, then look no further! Fayetteville is the ideal fall vacation spot to give you a brief reprieve and reset before the holidays come crashing in.

Things to do

The Fayetteville town square is home to just about anything you may want to do — from small boutiques and gift shops to record stores, unique restaurants, and weekly local events (check out Experience Fayetteville’s calendar of things to do!).

The Farmer’s Market is open most Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and for shorter hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays (7:00-1:00). Local vendors from the Fayetteville area fill the square to the brim with handmade items, like woodworked furniture and pottery, homegrown fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and locally sourced pastries and other items. 

If you ask me, the perfect morning is grabbing a tea or coffee from one of the many shops within walking distance and sipping as you make a couple rounds of the square — one round to get your bearings, and another to actually make your purchases.

If you’re looking for something to take up your evening, the Walton Arts Center and TheatreSquared both host many live shows throughout the year. The Walton Arts Center, and the linked Walmart Amphitheater a few miles north in Rogers, are yearly hosts to several major touring groups, from pop stars to Broadway shows. TheatreSquared, Northwest Arkansas’s professional nonprofit theatre, offers a more intimate venue for more than 350 performances yearly. If your trip gets rained on, see if there are any more tickets available; you may just catch a debut performance!

As you’re wandering the downtown area, make sure you check out the Dickson Street ArtCourt! “An unexpected intersection of art and play,” the ArtCourt provides a community space for groups to stop in and play different sports or games and fits seamlessly with the vibrant nightlife and bustling pedestrian activity along Dickson Street. The land where ArtCourt stands now has a long history of being a popular hangout space and was once home to local bars, a theater and playhouse, and, most recently, the Dickson Street Theater. 

Getting around

Fayetteville makes it especially easy to get around with the Razorback Greenway — 40 miles of paved trail through two counties, stretching from Fayetteville to Bella Vista. Considered “the backbone of Northwest Arkansas’s active transportation network,” the Razorback Greenway connects people through world-class arts, culture, and recreation. With easily rentable electric scooters and bikes scattered along the trail (and on many street corners!), Fayetteville is the ideal destination for those wanting to park their car on Thursday and not have to get back in until it’s time to drive back home on Sunday. 

Looking for a nature getaway without having to get out of town? Check out the Ramble, located right on the Razorback Greenway! Once an overgrown area of invasive shrubs, the Ramble is a skatepark that also provides easy access to nature in the Fay Jones Woods and the once-hidden Tanglewood Branch creek. You can bike, skateboard, or roller skate up and down the windy paved pathways or hike along the various stone footpaths. If you time your trip right, you can even join one of their “Weekend Starts” events, which feature live music and hands-on arts activities for all ages (April-October).

As you’re walking (or biking, or roller skating, or whatever mode of non-motorized travel floats your boat!), be sure to keep your eyes out for local art exhibits like these Halloween-themed Rambleberries by Gina Gallina. Art exhibits are often changed with seasons and holidays, and are always created by local artists. So don’t forget to look up and see what’s on display!

What to eat

Fayetteville offers a multitude of unique, local places to stop in for a bite.

You can’t get far in Fayetteville without running into Arsaga’s Coffee Roasters! Founded in 1992 by Cary and Cindy Arsaga, and still a family-owned and run business in 2024, Arsaga’s has five locations around the city — including one on the University of Arkansas campus. You can find another right off the downtown square, and there’s even one in the public library! Each location has a unique interior design with pieces contributed by local artists, so even though the menu won’t differ much, you may want to stop in each Arsaga’s you come across to see what they’ve got going on inside!

Mamaka Bowls got their start in Dallas, Texas, though their first storefront came to be in Fayetteville and they now boast eight locations in Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. Missing the acai bowls from California, founders KK and Carrie built their brand on beachy vibes, free spirits, and fresh fruit smoothies and acai bowls. Every one of their menu items is available as a smoothie or a bowl. I tried a Mamaka smoothie, and I highly recommend you do, too! Fresh and cool and delicious, the smoothie made the perfect companion to wandering the downtown square.

SouthYard is a grouping of restaurants accessible via the Razorback Greenway, making it a popular food destination for locals and out-of-towners. Once a farmer’s co-op, SouthYard was redesigned to house three new-to-Fayetteville restaurants: Central BBQ, Fayetteville Taco & Tamale, and The Meteor Cafe. 

Hugo’s has been one of the most popular restaurants in Fayetteville since its opening in 1977, and it is an unmissable experience being located in a basement right off the downtown square. They are (rightfully) known for their burgers and homemade french fries, but their extensive menu offers something for everyone in your family.

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 Cover photo courtesy Experience Fayetteville.

Emily Williams is a Texas Lifestyle Magazine contributor based in Arkansas. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find Emily exploring new bookstores and tea shops, on nature walks with her dog, or caring for (yet another) new addition to her windowsill garden.