Little Rock Offers Sophisticated,
Urban Fun in a Small Town Setting with Glorious Weather & Warm Hospitality
River Market District/Riverfront
Formerly a nearly abandoned warehouse district, this area of downtown Little Rock is now alive with restaurants, Wine Bars retail shops, art galleries, museums, the Clinton Presidental Center, the main library, seasonal farmers’ market, and holiday events of every description for your Little Rock vacation enjoyment. The streets are fun and safe to walk.
The Little Rock River Market District is bordered by Riverfront Park and the Arkansas River. The park stretches 11 blocks and provides an enchanting natural ambiance.
River Rail - Ridin' the Rocks
For the first time in 57 years in Little Rock and 65 years in North Little Rock, electric streetcars are again running and delighting passengers. The very best 50 cents you will ever spend! The long route takes you over the Arkansas River into the beautifully restored Argenta area.
The streetcar route connects to North Little Rock and includes stops on both sides of the river including Verizon Arena, the Statehouse Convention Center, the River Market, both city halls, the Argenta neighborhood, restaurants, Historic Arkansas Museum, Discovery Museum, the main Library, two Chambers of Commerce, courthouses, Robinson Auditorium Concert Hall, Riverfront Amphitheater, and dozens of other landmark buildings.
Clinton Presidential Library
The Clinton Presidential Center and Park -- America's 12th Presidential library - is now officially open. Located on the banks of the Arkansas River in the River Market District of Downtown Little Rock, the $160-million-dollar structure contains 20,000 square feet of library and museum space, including an authentic replica of the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room. The Clinton Library contains the largest collection of presidential papers and artifacts in U.S. history.
The center is situated in a 30-acre city park, which replaces an industrial site of old warehouses and vacant space. Also part of the Clinton Presidential Center and Park, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service is located within the park in the renovated 1899 Choctaw Station. Additionally, future plans include the renovation of the abandoned Rock Island Railroad Bridge near the library as a pedestrian crossing over the Arkansas River. The facility has exceeded 400,000 visitors in its first year of operation, well above the projected goal of 300,000.
SHOPPING, SHOPPING, SHOPPING!
The River Market District, Downtown SoMa, The Heights, and Hillcrest Neighborhoods, All Abound in Boutiques & Shops Catering to Every Desire Invented by Acquisitive Women
Everything is available from clothes, jewelry, gifts, housewares, art, & collectibles to bath, beauty & green-inspired prodcusts. All four areas are suitable for strolling from shop to shop and stopping for lunch or liquid refreshment.
ANTIQUING ... THE ORIGIN OF RECYCLING!
Known for its vast array of antiques and vintage items, Little Rock is a virtual haven. The city offers everything from the traditional owner-operated shop of Kahler Payne on Van Buren in Hillcrest that encourages browsing to the seemingly endless "barns" of goodies at Morris Antiques, over 60,000 sq. ft. of European and American pieces.
EXTRAORDINARY, ECLECTIC DINING - ROSEMONT INN & COTTAGE FAVORITES - WHERE WE SEND OUR GUESTS
DOWNTOWN RESTAURANTS
Some of our favorites are Ciao's, a wonderful Northern Italian restaurant conducive to romance, Gypsy's Bistro with its authentic New Orleans overtones, outside veranda, extraordinary sevrice plus it is a one block stroll from Zin Urban Wine Bar ... an absolute must for lovers of the grape! Community Bakery is the locals' favorite hangout for great sandwiches, soup, pastries, breads, and coffee. Ditto the newly opened Boulevard Bread - both are on Main Street and both are pure local joy. Also in the neighborhood is the down-home catfish delights of the Flying Fish, the sophisticated style of the Copper Grill, the very up, upscale Sonny Williams with its steaks that will make you weep, and the outstanding "bangers & mash" at Dugan's Irish Pub ... we have it all and all areva short distance from Rosemont Inn & Cottages.
OTHER NEARBY DINING
The Heights, Hillcrest, and Old Cantrell areas have excellent restaurants providing every kind of dining experience you could want. Most are small, charming, and one-of-a-kind, and many have European chefs and owners who see food as a sacred experience. Some of our hands-down favorites are Bosa Nova in Hillcrest, a true Brazilian restaurant run by a run Brazilian family; Scallions in the Heights - the best lunchtime experience in the city on a day when you can enjoy their breathtaking courtyard; and, of course, Cafe Prego with its campy decor and fabulous Mediterranean menu, and Terry's The Restaurnt - French and worth every cent!
Nightlife
After dark, the music's hot, and the drinks are cold, so take your pleasure. Choose from a piano bar to a comedy club or dance clubs to live music or concerts. In the River Market, stroll casually down the central boulevard; eat, drink, shop or window shop, browse, and enjoy the river view. Many River Market restaurants have tables overlooking the river, many on open-air decks.
Concerts, Theaters, & the Arts
The Rep, a nationally acclaimed repertory theater, and Robinson Auditorium, presenting performances by Broadway and International touring companies ranging from Phantom of the Opera to the Bolshoi Ballet, are both five minutes from the Inn. The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra performs more than 30 concerts annually in Robinson Center Music Hall, hosting nationally known guest artists.
Beauty & Day Spas
For the ultimate in relaxation, visit one of the excellent Beauty & Day Spas in Little Rock. All cater to women who want "the works" while they have time to relax and indulge. If you want, make it a day trip to enjoy a luxurious breakfast at Rosemont, a one-hour drive to Hot Springs for the thermal bath & massage experience, and return to Rosemont in time to dress for dinner and an evening out.
Museums, Museums, Museums
The Arts Center is a first-class fine arts museum with an internationally recognized collection, plus it has an excellent restaurant and gift shop. Historic Arkansas Museum depicts the state's frontier days and includes five pre-Civil War houses. The spectacular Old State House Museum, the oldest surviving capitol west of the Mississippi, was the scene of President Clinton's 1992 and 1996 election night celebrations. Not to be missed are the Museum of Discovery and the Central High Civil Rights Museum. The latter was the site for the 1957 desegregation order issued by President Eisenhower. The Cox Creative Center, with its constantly revolving exhibits, had many of the forerunners to the Clinton Library.
Golf, Hiking, Biking, & Walking
The cities of Little Rock-North Little Rock host major sporting events and concerts at the 18,000-seat Verizon Arena. If you are looking for something more physical, we have several walking, biking, and hiking trails in and around the city, or we will be happy to arrange a convenient tee time at one of Little Rock's outstanding golf courses.
INTERACTIVE MAP
Please use the zoom controls in the upper left-hand corner of the map to adjust your view. This will allow you to zoom in to see more detail, or zoom out to see points of interest outside of the current display (especially for outdoor activities). You also have the ability to drag the map to see areas outside of the current view.