The sound of Ozark folk music rings through Mountain View, Arkansas, where music-pickin’ sessions in neighbors’ yards have long been a Saturday night tradition, and now are regular occurrences in the town square from mid-April through the end of November. So it makes sense that the Arkansas Folk Festival was founded here in the 1960s and that one of the Ozark Folk Center’s main goals is to preserve the local mountain music history. The downtown area is filled with music stores, but also has art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants.

As with much of the Ozarks region, summers in Mountain View can get hot and humid, with highs in the 80s and 90s Fahrenheit and lows in the 60s and 70s. The muggiest time of year is from mid-May through September, with the most humid days in the middle of July. The springs and summers offer some relief, with highs in the 50s to 80s and lows in the 30s to 60s, but they’re also the rainier times of year, with peak rainfall in April and November. Humidity is a forgotten thought by the time winter rolls around, and temperatures are typically in the 30s to low 50s.

Ozark Folk Center State Park

The Ozark lifestyle comes to life in this living history museum. The main attraction here is experiencing performances of trademark Ozark Mountain music, played on banjos, guitars, fiddles, mandolins, and autoharp. You can also explore the Heritage Herb Garden, where the blooms include native, edible, and medicinal plants. Or head to Craft Village, where, on select days, about 20 artisans sell products including stained glass, copper jewelry, soap, and candles, all made right here in the park.

Blanchard Springs Recreation Area

Located in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, the highlight of the area is the walk along the paved trail to the Blanchard Springs waterfalls. Other outdoor activities include fishing for rainbow trout in Mirror Lake, swimming in North Sylamore Creek, and mountain biking on the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail. Also nearby is the Blanchard Springs Caverns, which offers tours through its underground wonders, including a cathedral room that’s bigger than three football fields.

City Park Stone Amphitheater

Inside the City Park across from the walking track on West Webb Street is an impressive amphitheater built in the late 1960s. Trails spiral out from the landmark, including a creekside walk to the Ozark Folk Center.