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DiscoverNorthwestArkansas.com | 31 each cave tour, there's plenty of fun for the whole family, including panning for gems, perusing the gift shops, and checking out the natural cave wildlife. For those seeking exciting nightlife, Eureka Springs has a great array. Eureka's downtown entertainment district has plenty of unique and eclectic bars filled to the brim with live music, good drinks, and exuberant dancing. Chelsea's, a Eureka institution of over 25 years, is proud to host live music five nights a week as "a guaranteed party and a place to dance your cares away," according to their website. From the classic local haunt The Rowdy Beaver to the swanky The Upstairs, there is a tasty libation and a lively crowd to suit every guest's needs in this tiny resort town. For an activity the whole family can enjoy, visit Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. This sanctuary for survivors of the exotic pet trade provides lifetime care for big cats and exotic animals, and is in high demand. Not only can guests visit the majestic big cats who call the refuge home, but they can also stay in one of the refuge's many cottages, including the tree house bungalow, and fall asleep to the sounds of Africa nestled right in the Ozarks. This unique vacation destination is great for all ages because it is filled with fun adventures, but also educates guests in a lesson in compassion for animals. Want to plan a visit to Eureka but aren't sure when to go? Why not pick one of the many community festivals or events happening throughout the year and visit during the one that strikes your fancy! Eureka Springs is host to music festivals, art festivals, car shows, and holiday events that blow anywhere else in the area out of the water. During the Bikes Blues & BBQ rally, Eureka is just a scenic ride away and has its own Bikes & Bluegrass festival for guests to enjoy away from all the hoopla in the main NWA event area. During Mardi Gras, Eureka is the place to be, being home to the largest Mardi Gras celebration in Northwest Arkansas. During the Christmas season, guests are warmly welcomed into the beautifully restored Victorian homes of locals during the annual Tour of Homes. One event, the May Festival of the Arts, really sets Eureka Springs apart as a nationally recognized art destination. The month long festival celebrates and showcases the town's historic arts village, powered by over 350 artists. Art in all mediums is presented through one-of-a-kind exhibits and performances, from live music to culinary arts, from sculpture to oil painting, all throughout the town. The festival culminates and peaks during the White Street Walk—a wild party throughout the town thrown by artists, for artists. Guests can walk about through the homes of artists living in the village for a unique and personal art viewing experience. Eureka Springs is easily one of the best kept secrets of Northwest Arkansas, but once this hidden gem is found, it is the most lucrative to explore. Filled with art, culture, music, dancing, and great food, all set against the gorgeous natural backdrop of the Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs makes for the perfect vacation destination packed with fun for everyone. Zeus at Turpentine Creek May Festival of the Arts