In the southern Ozark Mountains, between the serene waters of Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes, you’ll find Mountain Home, a small town with the big advantage of being in the middle of Arkansas’s untouched natural beauty.

With so much water at its doorstep — including the White and Norfork Rivers — Mountain Home has a plethora of water-based activities to keep you busy, such as swimming, kayaking, boating, and fishing for bass and walleye.

In the nearby town of Bull Shoals, you can explore the 350-million-year-old limestone caves and a recreation of a historic 1890 Mountain Village. Sprinkled throughout town are a handful of historical sites and museums, including the Baxter County Courthouse and the Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society, where you’ll find interesting tidbits about the town and the greater Ozarks region. Downtown, you’ll also find a change of pace in the antique stores, flea markets, and galleries, including the Rivertown Gallery showcasing collections of art influenced by one of Mountain Home’s favorite pastimes: fishing.

Spring and summer boast optimal conditions for outdoor recreation, and while temperatures peak during the summer months, days spent in and on the water provide fun ways to beat the heat. In fall, the rugged terrain of the Ozarks dazzles in brilliant shades of crimson, orange, and yellow. The town hosts its Fall Festival, which includes a maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, and various activities for kids and adults to enjoy. The festival takes place during the weekends and begins on the last weekend of September, spanning the first weekend of November. During the winter season, thick coats of snow and ice can blanket Mountain Home, but the colder months mean pleasant conditions for winter mountain biking and fishing for crappie. In December, the town also hosts a popular Christmas parade and festival.

Bull Shoals-White River State Park

The Bull Shoals-White River State Park stretches along the shores of the Bulls Shoals Lake and White River to where they eventually join at the Bulls Shoals Dam. The combination of these waters creates some amazing fishing and boating conditions. You can also take a dip into the glistening waters, traverse one of the trails that meanders through the verdant landscape, and explore the millennia-old limestone caves.

Donald W. Reynolds Library

Housed in a striking contemporary building, the Donald W. Reynolds Library invites you to peruse its collection of books and displays of local art in its rotating exhibits. The library often hosts used books sales and various events throughout the year, including author readings, workshops, and classes catered to all ages. You can also enjoy a coffee or a bite to eat at the coffee shop right by the library.

Wolf House

Located near the town of Norfork, you’ll find Arkansas’s oldest public structure, the picturesque Wolf House, built in 1825. The two-story log structure sits on a bluff overlooking the White and Norfork Rivers. Nearby historical plaques offer insight into local history and the house’s original residents.