The Weekender by Heather Baker: Texarkana

Feature photo above: U.S Post Office and Courthouse in Texarkana

 

Twice the State, One Unforgettable Weekend

Why Texarkana is the Arkansas town you need to rediscover

 

There are towns you drive through, towns you visit, and towns that make you stop and look again. Texarkana belongs in the last category. It is part Arkansas, part Texas and completely its own experience — a place where the state line is not a boundary so much as an invitation.

 

 

My husband, Ryan Parker, and I discovered a getaway built around the things I love most about Arkansas travel: locally owned restaurants, unexpected art, beautiful old buildings and people who are proud of where they live.

 

 

 

Texarkana has an iconic quality that appeals to almost everyone. History lovers can explore landmark homes and museums. Art lovers can move from murals to galleries to hands-on studios. Food lovers can build a trip around barbecue, Italian cuisine, seafood, local bakeries and an unforgettable slice of cheesecake. Couples can turn downtown into a playful date night, while families can ride the trolley and stand in two states at once.

 

 

That mixture is precisely what makes Texarkana worth rediscovering. The city does not ask you to choose between past and present, polished and playful, Arkansas and Texas. It gives you all of it in one unforgettable getaway. Here is how to experience it:

 

Arrive Curious and Hungry

 

The smartest way to begin is to arrive early enough to ease into the weekend. Our first stop was J Brown for the Home, a hidden gem at 121 College Drive on the Texas side. It is much more than a home decor store. Its mix of interior design services, custom textiles, furniture, window treatments, and carefully chosen new and vintage pieces make it feel like walking through the home of your most stylish friend. It is the kind of shop where one lamp, fabric or found object can inspire an entire room and where browsing quickly becomes treasure hunting.

 

 

From there, check in at The Eagle Nest above The Eagle Bourbon & Wine Lounge in historic downtown Texarkana, Arkansas. Staying downtown puts you close to the restaurants, galleries and energy returning to Broad Street, but the building is a destination in its own right. The late-1800s property has been completely renovated with the kind of care that allows you to feel its history without sacrificing comfort. Old brick and architectural character meet polished finishes, a beautiful fireplace and tucked-away spaces that give guests a welcome sense of privacy.

 

 

Outside, the patio is designed to be another gathering place, providing for live music and evenings that stretch a little longer. Everything feels finished, fresh and thoughtfully considered. The Eagle is not trying to imitate an old space or erase one; it has taken a building with a rich past and given it a brand-new life that feels unmistakably Texarkana.

 

 

Dinner is at Naaman’s Championship BBQ, where owner Darby Neaves’ story began with a teenage fascination for cooking steaks that grew into roughly four decades of perfecting his definition of barbecue. It is not barbecue treated as a trend; it is barbecue treated as a craft in which smoke, patience and technique commingle with a genuine pride in feeding people well. Order with the intention of sharing so you can try more than one meat and a lineup of sides.

 

 

Then finish the night at Kilwins. I love caramel, so the minute I found out Kilwins had opened a new location in downtown Texarkana, I knew we had to stop. We left with amazing ice cream, beautiful chocolates and, of course, those incredible caramels. The aroma alone makes the shop irresistible, but watching a downtown storefront fill with handmade sweets and happy customers makes the stop feel even more special. Go in for one treat, and give yourself permission to choose several. A road-trip weekend should always begin with dessert.

 

 

Strength, Stillness, Coffee and Local Finds

 

One of the most meaningful parts of our visit happened at Prodigy Life. I knew it would be a faith-based wellness experience, but what unfolded went far beyond anything I expected. Members of the local chamber of commerce staff showed up and shared the experience with me, and together, we were guided by an incredible instructor who seemed to understand exactly what we needed in that moment.

 

 

The class blended functional strength training, light weights, resistance bands and balance, but the physical movement was only one piece of it. Prodigy Life approaches wellness through mind, body and spirit, and I felt all three being cared for. I spend so much of my life moving quickly, thinking ahead, answering the next question and taking care of what needs to be done. The wellness experience made me slow down. It reminded me that taking a moment for myself is not selfish; sometimes it is exactly what allows me to keep showing up with purpose for everyone else.

 

 

Then came a moment of complete relaxation. As we simply laid there, still and quiet, the world seemed to stop. I remembered why I was doing what I was doing. I thought about purpose, gratitude and the importance of being present instead of always racing toward whatever comes next. Sharing that stillness with those incredible women and such a gifted instructor made the moment feel even more powerful.

 

Prodigy Life did not simply give me a workout. It gave me space to breathe, reconnect with my faith and return to myself. It was an experience like no other and one I will carry with me long after leaving Texarkana.

 

After class, make the short coffee run to GoodLuxe. The space itself tells a Texarkana story through design details such as a wall-sized Union Station blueprint and a vintage bird’s-eye map. The establishment is not a generic coffee counter dropped into downtown; it feels rooted in place.

 

 

Take your time, and then browse J Brown if you did not make it on arrival, followed by Hart’s on Broad. Hart’s is a charming gift shop full of nooks, thoughtful sentiments and unexpected finds, including a hair salon tucked inside. That surprise-within-a-surprise quality is exactly what makes independent shopping fun.

 

When you are ready for lunch, head to Hopkins Icehouse. The original downtown location occupies the building formerly home to Roy D. Hopkins Feed & Seed, a business that operated there beginning in 1936. George Dodson and David Jones purchased the property in 2007 and spent nights and weekends reinventing it before opening in 2009. Even the name carries history: An “icehouse” recalls the warehouses near railroad tracks where blocks of ice were once stored. Today, that past gives the restaurant the kind of character no chain can manufacture. Come for a relaxed lunch, and absorb the building as much as the meal.

 

 

An Artful Downtown

 

Our afternoon in Texarkana belonged to makers, collectors and creatives. Southern Grace Boutique brings in a fashion stop, while The Gallery at 1894 places local art inside one of downtown’s defining historic spaces. Colorful canvases fill the corners, but the real draw is the chance to see Texarkana through the eyes of the artists who live there.

 

 

As I strolled through Texarkana’s Main Street district, Logan Electric stopped me in my tracks. My first thought was Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride — that wonderfully creative feeling of seeing ordinary materials transformed into lighting with personality.

 

Logan Electric has been a fixture of Texarkana since 1909, and today, the locally owned, full-service showroom at 208 E. Broad St. carries more than a century of history into rooms filled with fixtures that are funky, elegant, modern, traditional, rustic and everything in between.

 

 

I popped in more than once simply because it was so much fun to look around. The store is not the kind of place you rush through with a shopping list; it invites you to wander, look up and imagine how one unexpected fixture could change an entire room. Later, as I stepped into restaurants, shops and other downtown businesses, I found myself recognizing the lighting and thinking, “I know exactly where that came from.”

 

Logan Electric does more than sell fixtures. Through custom lighting design, consultations, lamp repair and rewiring, it has quietly helped shape the glow and character of Texarkana for generations. Even if you are not remodeling or building, stop in. It is an iconic piece of the city and a design experience all its own.

 

 

Next, step into Olive Street Vintiques, where every piece feels intentionally found and arranged. The warmth of the antiques makes the shop immersive, and resident shop cats Lucy and Ethel supply the personality. Somehow, the vintage treasures that surround you have remained safe despite their curious adventures.

 

Finish the gallery run at Joseph Raymond Fine Art another reminder that Texarkana’s creative identity is not confined to a single mural or museum. It lives in working artists, collectors, small-business owners and the people willing to restore old spaces for new ideas.

 

A Downtown Date

 

Begin date night with mocktails at The Eagle. Settle near the fireplace, find one of the more private corners, or take your drink to the outdoor patio when the weather cooperates. The room is beautiful without feeling formal, and the seating is arranged for actual conversation. The bar is known for curated bourbon and wine, but for those who do not imbibe, a thoughtful zero-proof drink lets you enjoy the ritual and setting without missing a beat. When live music fills the patio, the newly restored downtown landmark is the kind of place where one drink easily becomes an entire evening.

 

 

From there, walk over to Tee It Up! Golf Lounge, one of the most unique new experiences added to downtown Texarkana. The lounge has two permanent, state-of-the-art simulation bays and a portable third simulator that can bring the game to parties, corporate gatherings and fundraisers. The simulators are not glorified video games. Their technology captures details such as ball speed, spin, club path and impact location, giving serious players useful information while still making the experience approachable for someone who simply wants to have fun.

 

 

You can work on your drive, analyze your swing, practice your putting or play a complete virtual round with friends. The course library includes more than 300 world-class and fantasy courses, including legendary names such as Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. A dedicated putting green adds another layer, using technology to examine face angle, launch direction, forward roll and impact location.

 

Ryan brings the competitive spirit; I bring the commentary. Either way, the visit becomes a memorable date, group outing or family activity, and because everything is indoors, the weather never cancels your round.

 

What makes Tee It Up! especially exciting is how rare the experience still feels in a city the size of Texarkana. It gives committed golfers a place to improve year-round, but it also invites beginners to pick up a club without the pressure of stepping onto a course.

 

Add to that the comfortable lounge seating, club evaluation and repair, and an easygoing atmosphere that keeps the focus on connection and fun, and Tee It Up! is absolutely something you will want to book before your trip.

 

Make Verona Italian Restaurant on East Broad Street your dinner destination. I simply asked our waiter what we should order, and his customer service was incredible. His advice was just as good: Always order the specials. Ryan and I took him at his word and ordered two of them, and both dishes were exquisite.

 

 

That is the joy of dining somewhere with a confident kitchen and a staff that knows the menu: Sometimes the best decision is to let them guide you. Finish with the creme brulee. You simply cannot go wrong. Reservations are wise, but once you are seated, slow down, and let Verona make the evening feel special.

 

 

Meet Texarkana at Its Roots

 

Make time for Gateway Farmers Market. For more than 25 years, the market has connected the community with growers from within a 75-mile radius. Its rule is wonderfully direct: If the farmers did not grow it, they will not sell it. Depending on the season, that can mean peaches, berries, melons, muscadines and tables of fresh vegetables.

 

 

The people are what made the stop unforgettable for me. We came across a group of locals, sat down and started talking, and before long, they were sharing advice about how I could grow my banana trees bigger and better. That is Texarkana hospitality — generous, unhurried and second to none. The market is not simply somewhere to buy produce. It is somewhere to meet the people who know the land and are happy to share what they have learned.

 

Next on your itinerary is Julie’s Deli. Do not miss this stop — I mean it. Julie’s was one of my favorites of the entire visit. The French toast was divine, the cake was phenomenal, and we left with cupcakes to go. There is a coffee bar for the perfect pairing, along with sandwiches, salads, burgers and a bakery case that makes choosing only one thing nearly impossible.

 

 

You can settle in and enjoy a meal there or pick up one of the creative prepared offerings to take home, heat and enjoy later. That combination of restaurant, bakery, coffee stop and take-home inspiration makes Julie’s useful, as well as delicious. Eat there, take something with you, and save room for cake. Julie’s is a must.

 

Then let the Downtown Texarkana Trolley do the driving. The trolley itself is part of the story — a vehicle imagined and refurbished through the Arts & Historic District effort and given another life on downtown streets. It turns transportation into an attraction and keeps the day moving without making the itinerary feel like a checklist.

 

Stand on the Line, and Then Make Something

 

No Texarkana weekend is complete without The Photograph. At Photographer’s Island, stand in front of the United States Post Office and Courthouse with one foot in Arkansas and one in Texas. Built in the early 1930s directly over the state line, the federal building interrupts the normal street grid and has become the city’s defining image. The outdoor photo spot is accessible around the clock, and there is even a selfie stand. It is playful, historic and genuinely unlike anywhere else in Arkansas.

 

 

One block away, add a lock to the Texarkana Love Locks structure in front of the Magness Building at 300 N. State Line Ave. Ryan and I love experiences that become memories you can physically revisit, and the public art installation transforms the global love-lock tradition into a local symbol of unity. Couples, friends, families and neighbors from both sides of the line can leave a sign of commitment in the heart of the twin cities.

 

Continue to the Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council, known locally as TRAHC. Ryan and I had the opportunity to turn the visit into our own custom creative date. We sat down with blocks, paper, glue, buttons and nearly everything else you can imagine and then built our own playhouses. I made a house from those simple materials, but what I really made was time to be present. Adults do not slow down often enough to sit, play and create without worrying whether the result is perfect. TRAHC gives you permission to do exactly that.

 

 

At the heart of our afternoon was Kay Thomas, a lifelong artist and educator whose mission reaches far beyond making art for art’s sake. Thomas holds Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees in ceramics and has spent more than 35 years working in arts integration. As a national teaching artist at Focus 5 and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, she designs experiences that help students turn ideas from across the curriculum into visual works of art.

 

 

Just as importantly, she teaches other teachers how to use creativity to build connections among subjects, strengthen understanding and give students new ways to express what they know. It was our pleasure to spend the afternoon with Thomas, learn more about her many missions and see firsthand what she has to offer. Her gift is not simply teaching someone how to make an object; it is helping people discover that art can become a pathway to learning, connection and confidence.

 

That experience is only one doorway into ArtSpace. The facility includes the Mayo Arts MakerSpace, a ceramics studio and visual-arts studio with a changing calendar of hands-on classes and workshops for different ages and skill levels. Depending on the calendar, visitors may find pottery and wheel throwing, mosaics, painting, sculpture, fiber arts, metalsmithing, or another reason to work with their hands.

 

ArtSpace is also available for private rentals, creative gatherings and group workshops, making it worth considering for a corporate team, retreat or celebration that needs more imagination than the usual meeting room. Check the current offerings, ask about a custom group experience, and make something together. Looking at art is wonderful; creating side by side can change the way you see one another.

 

Chrome, Clubs and Community Memory

 

The trolley’s next chapter is a drive down memory lane at the Four States Auto Museum. Founded by the Tex-Ark Antique Auto Club and housed in a historic service station setting, the museum features more than 20 vintage vehicles, along with signage and memorabilia that tell the story of American mobility. The displays rotate, which means a return visit may look entirely different. Even if you are not a devoted car person, the craftsmanship and memories attached to these vehicles are irresistible.

 

Break for lunch at Fat Jack’s, a Texarkana institution. Known for a laid-back atmosphere, oysters and hearty Southern favorites, it is the kind of long-running gathering place where the room matters as much as the menu. It is where locals meet, stories get longer, and a visitor starts to feel like part of the city.

 

 

Tour the Ace of Clubs House — but make the reservation before your trip. Built in 1885, the Italianate Victorian home takes its name from its remarkable club-shaped floor plan. Legend ties its construction to winnings from an ace-of-clubs poker hand. Whether you come for the architecture, the furnishings or the folklore, it is one of the most distinctive historic houses in the country. The Texarkana Museums System has preserved it as more than a beautiful home; it is a doorway into how the city lived, celebrated and changed.

 

 

Continue with the Texarkana Museums System at the Museum of Regional History, housed in the city’s oldest brick commercial building. Exhibits stretch from the Caddo people and early explorers to railroads, agriculture, war and civil rights. This is another stop to arrange in advance for a hosted visit and one where the town’s identity begins to come into sharper focus. Texarkana grew because lines crossed here — state lines, rail lines, trade routes and cultures.

 

Steak, Cheesecake and a Little Nightlife

 

Plan dinner at Pops Place, an iconic Texarkana restaurant where the food is incredible, the people make you feel welcome and the atmosphere is every bit as memorable as the menu. Seafood and steak share the spotlight, from fresh oysters, crawfish grits and mesquite-smoked boudin to 30-day-aged Certified Black Angus steaks grilled over mesquite wood. This is not simply local enthusiasm talking: Pop’s Place has been named best seafood in Texarkana for five consecutive years, and Four States Living recognized it for Best Patio Dining in Texarkana.

 

That patio deserves its own chapter. It is enormous, energetic and full of character — a patio with a purpose, built for gathering, lingering and having a good time. There is a small, air-conditioned spot for when you need to cool off, but the soul of Pop’s lives outside. The music, conversation and movement give it a happening scene that reminded me of being on the beach at Margaritaville. It may be as close as you can get without actually being there. Come hungry, bring people you enjoy, and do not rush. Pop’s Place is fun, flavorful and completely its own experience, definitely a place you want to check out.

 

 

Move to Twisted Fork for drinks and dessert. The restaurant puts its own twist on familiar favorites with handcrafted cocktails, wood-fired pizza from a brick oven and over-the-top sweets. The must-plan moment is the limited-edition cheesecake made in-house each week. It is known to sell out, so reserve a slice if the restaurant allows it or arrive early and ask. A rotating dessert gives regulars a reason to return and travelers a delicious bit of anticipation.

 

 

End the evening at 1923 Banana Club — it is not simply another place to order a drink. Hidden underground and entered with a private passcode, the speakeasy feels like stepping through a secret door into the shadowy world of Prohibition. The name, the mystery and the setting awaken your imagination with echoes of Al Capone, high-stakes gamblers, whispered deals, and the glamour and danger associated with America’s gangster era.

 

 

Once you are inside, every corner rewards a closer look. The impeccable details create a fully realized experience rather than a room decorated around a theme. The bar and restaurant give you a place to settle in, while the incredible music setup brings the space to life and keeps the night moving. It is intimate, theatrical and just secretive enough to make you feel as though you have discovered something most people do not know exists.

 

 

After a day of markets, museums, art, history and great food, 1923 Banana Club is a rewarding final surprise. Texarkana knows how to preserve its stories, but it also knows how to create a little mystery — and have a great time doing it.

 

Comfort, Faith and One Last Look

 

Settle in for breakfast at Johnny B’s in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas. It is cozy, friendly and grounded in classic American comfort food, the kind of place where a hearty breakfast feels like it came from a familiar kitchen. After a full getaway of exploring, simple hospitality is exactly right.

 

 

Before heading home, take a historical church driving tour, which includes such notable landmarks as St. James Episcopal Church and Central Christian Church. Each house of worship is remarkable not just for the beautiful architecture but for the enduring stories of the congregations there. Historic churches reveal what a community valued enough to build, sustain and pass forward. They also create a quiet ending to a weekend filled with movement.

 

As Ryan and I left, I suspect the memory that will stay with us will not be one meal, one mural or even the famous state-line photograph. It will be the way all those pieces work together. Texarkana is not half of one thing and half of another. It is a whole city shaped by two states, creative people and the confidence to honor its past while giving old buildings, old vehicles and old traditions new life.

 

 

Heather’s Take: The City That Refuses to Fit in One Box

 

I went to Texarkana expecting to discover places. I left thinking about people. Yes, you need the photograph with one foot in Arkansas and the other in Texas. You need the murals, the museums, the restored buildings, the music, the food and the unexpected moments that make a trip fun. Those are only the beginning, however, as the heart of Texarkana is the way people welcome you into their city and make you feel, almost immediately, like you belong there.

 

 

The chamber team did not simply hand us an itinerary and send us on our way. They showed up. They shared their city, their relationships and their time. They joined me for an experience at Prodigy Life that made me slow down and remember why I do what I do. At the farmers market, a conversation about banana trees became a lesson in generosity. At TRAHC, creating with Thomas reminded Ryan and me that adults still need permission to play. At the restaurants, galleries, shops and historic spaces, we met people who were not performing hospitality for visitors; they were living it. That sincerity is rare, and it stayed with me.

 

When I tell you to take this trip, I mean it. Do not treat Texarkana as the town at the edge of Arkansas or somewhere you pass on the way to another destination. Make it the destination. Book the stay. Reserve the experiences. Sit on the patios, ask the waiter what to order, talk to the farmers, meet the artists, and listen when locals tell you the story behind a building. Leave enough room in your plans for the conversations you cannot schedule because those may become the moments you remember most.

 

 

Arkansas has extraordinary destinations in every direction, but Texarkana offers something entirely its own: two states, one shared identity and a community determined to honor where it came from while creating what comes next. It is colorful, flavorful, artistic, historic, romantic and just quirky enough to be unforgettable. More importantly, it has heart.

 

Ryan and I did not simply visit Texarkana; we felt cared for there. I believe you will too. Take it from me: Rediscover Texarkana now, and when you fall in love with it, tell them Heather Baker sent you.

 

SEE THE FEATURE BELOW AND IN OUR OCTOBER 2026 ISSUE OF AY MAGAZINE