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66 • DiscoverNorthwestArkansas.com • 3.31.2019 By Brittany Smith DiscoverNorthwestArkansas.com Northwest Arkansas is a great place to live, but sometimes it's nice to escape to new surroundings, whether it's for a major getaway or just a quick weekend. Luckily, Northwest Arkansas is surrounded by amazing cities with plenty to offer visitors, and the majority of them are just a short drive or plane ride away. Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, also known as XNA, now offers a number of non-stop flights that can help get you where you're going even quicker. ere are now direct flights to Destin, Nashville, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles, Denver, Las Vegas, and more. If you prefer a family road trip in the car rather than a plane, there are also several nearby cities that have plenty to offer and are well within driving distance. Branson, Missouri is one of the closest cities to Northwest Arkansas and has enough attractions to be fun for people of all ages. Branson offers numerous outdoor activities to enjoy such as hiking, horseback riding, hunting, biking, camping, spelunking, rock climbing, and more. One of the feature attractions in Branson is the popular amusement park, Silver Dollar City. Silver Dollar City has 40 rides and attractions, as well as live performances and shows that are fun for the whole family. Tulsa, Oklahoma offers visitors great museums, concerts, performing arts, golf courses, parks, shopping, festivals, and sports. Tulsa also has an amazing zoo, the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum, that was once voted America's Favorite Zoo. e zoo contains more than 1,500 animals and represents more than 400 species. Casinos are also a popular attraction in Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas's proximity to Eastern Oklahoma means that people are just a short distance away from fun Las Vegas-style gaming. Big Cedar Lodge is located just south of Branson, Missouri and combines rustic charm with contemporary luxury. Known as America's Premier Wilderness Resort, the lodge features log cabins, a full service marina, golf, horseback riding, Top of the Rock, and Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. If you're looking for a relaxing getaway that is matched with luxury, Big Cedar would be the ideal location for a weekend trip. Springfield, Missouri was one of the original locations of Route 66 and still maintains the spirit of the road in restaurants, hotels, museums, and attractions that allows visitors to experience a journey to the past. Springfield's most recent attraction is the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium that showcases more than 35,000 fish, mammals, reptiles, and birds. e aquarium allows visitors an up-close experience with an amazing collection of wildlife. Springfield has several other amenities and attractions guaranteed to have something for all visitors. Hot Springs, Arkansas is located in the Ouachita Mountains and is known for the naturally heated springs that people still frequent today at Bathhouse Row. Hot Springs also has the Gangster Museum of America, Garvan Woodland Gardens, Lake Hamilton, Magic Springs Water and eme Park and is home to Oaklawn Racing and Gaming. Oaklawn features thoroughbred racing, as well as electronic games like blackjack, craps, and poker. Amazing getaways not far away Luckily, Northwest Arkansas is surrounded by amazing cities with plenty to offer visitors. Get there!