A quaint kitchen in this adorable Harrison cottage.
Photo courtesy of Beth Crenshaw

By Amanda Nettles

If you’re looking for an alternative to the traditional hotel experience, Arkansas has many different vacation rentals scattered across the state.

November is the perfect time to travel, especially in Arkansas. The weather has finally cooled down. The air tends to be a little breezy and the leaves have changed into a beautiful rust color. It’s the ideal time to go on a little getaway.

We found three distinctly unique properties in different areas of the state that can fulfill just about any vacation requirement.

Photo by Beth Crenshaw

1. A Quiet Ozark Airbnb Getaway for Two

Patty and Roger Harness own a peaceful, quaint cottage just eight minutes outside of Harrison. Patty Harness says she and her husband found out about Airbnb from a friend in Utah and decided to give it a try.

“Our cottage is decorated with a mix of vintage and new finds curated to recreate the feel of an English cottage,” says Harness. “It is surrounded by lush, manicured gardens, fountains and ponds.”

This whimsical abode accommodates up to four people, contains one bedroom and one bathroom, a kitchen and a common area. It has cable, Wi-Fi, its own pond, a hammock, a grill and a fire pit area.

Guests can enjoy feeling like they’re in the middle of nowhere, when in reality they are close to some of the most popular tourist attractions in Northwest Arkansas.

Harrison is near the funky town of Eureka Springs, reasonably close to Fayetteville and surrounded by some of the most beautiful rivers in Arkansas. Take a lunch break in town to visit Neighbor’s Mill or enjoy an afternoon of pure Arkansas wilderness.

“Our cottage is in a rural setting but not too far away from amenities like movie theaters, shopping and dining. We’re also just 30 minutes away from the Buffalo, which offers hiking and floating,” Harness says.

A favorite local restaurant of past guests is Prairie Market Tallgrass, a natural food restaurant that sources from local farms. “They also like Devito’s, a longtime Harrison establishment,” she says.

The cottage averages at about $150 per night. For more information, check out airbnb.com.

The Storybrook Cottage is located in the perfect spot for fall weather. Enjoy watching the leaves turn colors. Photo courtesy of Jessica Myers Photography

2. Stonehill Cottages: A Farmhouse Cottage Family Retreat

Michael Myers and his wife, Jessica Myers, own several authentic farmhouse cottages in the small town of Mena.

Their Storybrook Cottage is the perfect spot for families. It offers charming, open spaces and boasts an older farmhouse-style kitchen. The cottage can accommodate eight people. It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a washer and dryer, Wi-Fi, cable, a fire pit and a grill. The cottage has a vintage but upscale style. One of the two bathtubs is an old-school clawfoot bathtub, which is perfect to soak in for a relaxing evening.

“The best way to describe the cottages is that they have a Pottery Barn vibe,” says Michael Myers.

The cottages are ideal vacation spots because they are so close to state parks, the Little Missouri Falls and the Ouachita River. Visitors to Mena can shop at local boutiques downtown, go fishing or canoeing or visit walking trails in the Ouachita National Forest.

“Mena is not a huge town, but we are very close to restaurants and civilization, but at the same time we are close to nothing. People don’t want to be too far from civilization, but still want to get away,” says Myers.

Guests typically flock to the restaurants in Mena. The Artisan (American Artisans), Skyline Café, Branding Iron and more are some of the more popular restaurants with Stonehill Cottage guests.

“Mena is overly blessed with good restaurants,” Myers says.

The cottage averages at about $209 per night, depending upon the number of guests. For more information, go to stonehillcottages.com.

Inside Storybrook Cottage is classic and chic décor. Photo courtesy of Jessica Myers Photography

3. A Girlfriends’ Getaway 

If you want a cozy, bohemian vacation spot, then Bespoke Bungalow in uptown Hot Springs is the place for you.

Briana Moore subleases the bohemian bungalow on Airbnb with her father-in-law.

It has a very earth-like and a peaceful but hip edge. Moore chose the elegant-boho furnishings because she wanted guests to be comfortable, but she also wanted the vacation spot to be unique and special.

It can accommodate six guests, has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a common area and a full kitchen.

Part of its undeniable charm is that it is stocked with Larkmartin soaps (handcrafted by Moore) and Red Light Roastery Coffee — coffee that is roasted in Hot Springs National Park. Moore and her husband own both companies.

“The location is really ideal for downtown and the National Park visitors,” she says. “Or this spot is perfect for a girls’ trip, for park tourists or even crystal diggers.”

“Hot Springs is experiencing a revitalization right now, especially in the uptown area,” Moore says. The town is preparing for a new park called Northwoods Trail.

“I feel like in the next couple of years, even already, it’s becoming a really cool spot, with that trail being right there it’s going to be great. It’s a game changer,” says Moore.

Nearby restaurants that draw guests in are the Superior Bathhouse Brewery and The Quarters Café.

The bungalow averages about $89 per night. For more information, visit airbnb.com.