Things to Do in Bella Vista, Arkansas: Where to Stay, Eat & Explore
Updated: Aug 25
Bella Vista ended up being one of my favorite stops on a mother-daughter trip through Northwest Arkansas! Just a little over three hours from Kansas City, it makes for such an easy weekend getaway with a mix of outdoor adventures, good food and places where you can actually slow down and enjoy the scenery.
My mom and I spent our time exploring trails, checking out local spots, eating by the lake and staying at a beautiful home tucked away in Bella Vista. Whether you're planning a weekend with friends, a family trip or adding Bella Vista onto a larger Northwest Arkansas getaway, here are some of the places worth adding to your itinerary.
Bella Vista is also a great destination if you love spending time outside. The area has several golf courses along with miles of hiking and mountain biking trails that wind through the Ozarks. Whether you want to spend the morning golfing, take an easy scenic hike or hit the trails on a mountain bike, there are plenty of ways to get outside while you’re here.
Hike Tanyard Creek Nature Trail
If you only have time for one hike while visiting Bella Vista, Tanyard Creek Nature Trail is one I'd put high on the list. My mom and I loved this trail!
It's a relatively easy hike, but you still get plenty of beautiful scenery along the way, including wooded paths, streams, bridges and a small waterfall. There are also shallow areas of the creek where you'll often see kids splashing and playing, making this a great outdoor stop for families.
You don't have to be an experienced hiker to enjoy this one, and it gives you a great taste of the natural beauty Northwest Arkansas is known for. Tanyard Creek was easily one of our favorite outdoor stops in Bella Vista and a must-visit when you're in the area!
Lakepoint Restaurant
If you're looking for a dinner spot with a view in Bella Vista, Lakepoint Restaurant is one I'd recommend adding to your trip. The restaurant overlooks the water, and the setting was easily one of my favorite parts of our dinner.
There’s a large patio that would be perfect on a nice evening, plus a bar area and live music that made the whole place feel lively without taking away from the relaxing lakefront atmosphere. It would be a great choice for date night, a celebration or simply a nicer dinner while visiting Northwest Arkansas.
My mom and I started with the shrimp cocktail, complimentary house bread and Greek salad. For dinner, I ordered the KC strip while she went with the kebabs, and we both really enjoyed our meals.
Between the water views, live music and atmosphere, Lakepoint was such a fun stop during our time in Bella Vista. If the weather cooperates, I'd definitely try to grab a spot outside and enjoy the view!
OZ Trails & Bike Park
Bella Vista is a huge destination for mountain biking, so even though my mom and I aren't bikers, we had to stop by and see what the hype was about!
We didn't actually ride the trails or take the lift during our visit, but it was still really cool to see the setup in person. Watching the bikers and seeing the trails immediately made me understand why people travel to Northwest Arkansas specifically to ride here.
If mountain biking is your thing, the OZ Trails should absolutely be on your Bella Vista itinerary. And apparently, if you hang around long enough, they might even convince a non-biker like me to give it a try someday!
Grab Coffee at Grindstone Coffee
For a unique coffee stop in Bella Vista, check out Grindstone Coffee, a small coffee shop operating out of a camper/RV located right at a park!
There is a little seating inside the camper along with a few picnic tables outside, and they offer WiFi if you want to stay awhile. Since the space itself is pretty small, I think it's especially perfect for grabbing a coffee to-go and enjoying it while walking around the park.
It's an easy, laid-back stop to add to a morning of exploring Bella Vista — and definitely one of the more unique coffee shop setups I've visited!
Where To Stay: The Bluewood Retreat
Located: Bella Vista, Arkansas
Code for 10% off your stay: "THROUGHBECSSPECS"
If you're planning a group or family trip to Northwest Arkansas, The Bluewood Retreat is a great home base in Bella Vista. My mom and I stayed here during our mother-daughter trip, and by the end of our stay, we were already talking about coming back with the rest of the family.
The home has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and sleeps up to 9 people, with plenty of room to spread out. One of our favorite parts was all of the entertainment built into the house. There's a game room with pool, ping pong and shuffleboard, making it a fun place to spend time even when you're not out exploring.
The backyard is just as nice, with a hot tub, fire pit and spacious deck with plenty of room for a group to hang out. The house itself is beautiful, comfortable and feels especially well-suited for families, friend trips or a Northwest Arkansas weekend with a larger group.
Location is another big perk. It's about 5 minutes from the OZ Trails and 15–20 minutes from Bentonville, so you can easily explore the area while still having a spacious place to come back to at the end of the day!
My mom and I had a blast staying here, and this is one we'd genuinely book again — hopefully next time with the whole family!
Bella Vista is one of those places that makes it easy to fill a weekend without feeling like you have to rush from one thing to the next. You can spend the morning on the trails, grab coffee, relax by the lake and end the day with dinner and live music — all while staying close enough to explore Bentonville and the rest of Northwest Arkansas.
My mom and I had such a fun time here, and we're already talking about coming back with the whole family. If you're planning a Northwest Arkansas road trip, don't overlook Bella Vista!
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