7 Cool Things To Do in Chenal Valley

From dining out to enjoying the great outdoors (or indoors), Chenal is the perfect place for family-friendly fun.

1. Wildwood Park for the Arts

Wildwood Park for the Arts is home to Little Rock’s largest botanical gardens, miles of walking and hiking trails, the 625-seat Cabe Festival Theatre, as well as studios, classrooms and production space for the arts. Located in Chenal Valley, Wildwood’s gardens come to life each spring with the blooms of over 5,000 daffodils, while the park’s arboretum is home to the region’s largest collection of native woodland azaleas. The Park’s annual Lanterns! Festival, held during the first full moon, is a Little Rock favorite. The 105 acres of parkland are lit with luminaries and fire pits, winding around the six areas designed to represent six different cultures. Wildwood’s vision is to provide opportunities for lifelong learning, engage the imagination and celebrate the human spirit through encounters with nature and the arts: visual, performing, literary, horticultural, culinary and more. Info: WildwoodPark.org

2. St. Margaret’s Food Truck Meet-Up

One of the city’s newest food truck meet-ups happens every fourth Monday (March-October) at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. In addition to offering up the tastiest meals on wheels from 5-8 p.m., St. Margaret’s also partners with a local charity to raise awareness and funds. Where: St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 20900 Chenal Parkway Info: StMargaretsChurch.org

3. Kids Eat Free

Dining out in Chenal just got a lot more exciting. Every Monday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., kids ages 12 and under can eat free at one of the many delicious restaurants located at The Promenade at Chenal. Check out the shopping center’s website before hopping in the car to find out who is participating and what rules apply for each restaurant. Info: ChenalShopping.com

4. Happy Trails

Go for a run, or take the pup on a stroll, on one the many trails that wind through Chenal, including the Rock Creek Trail, a 2.9-mile paved trail perfect for running and walking. There is also the CHI St. Vincent West Walking Trail that encompasses The Promenade at Chenal and is great for strolling with the whole family. Info: LittleRock.org/ParksRecreation/Trails

5. Celebration of Holiday Lights

Each year, The Promenade at Chenal offers additional Christmas cheer while you’re shopping, at the annual Celebration of Holiday Lights. The Promenade’s 26-foot tree is choreographed to holiday music and puts on a different show every hour. Open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Info: ChenalShopping.com

6. Hiking at Pinnacle Mountain

Just minutes from Chenal, eight hiking trails, ranging from easy to strenuous, wind their way around Pinnacle Mountain, with two leading to the summit. Those who reach the 1,011-foot peak are rewarded with views of the Arkansas River, downtown Little Rock and Lake Maumelle. The park also features two mountain bike trails – the 0.70-mile Rabbit Ridge Trail and the 7.4-mile Jackfork Trail – and two barrier-free trails, the half-mile paved Kingfisher Trail and the .60-mile paved Arkansas Trail in the Arkansas Arboretum. Children also enjoy planned activities with the park rangers Info: ArkansasStateParks.com/PinnacleMountain

7. Get your Jump On

Too cold to play outdoors? Altitude Trampoline Park to the rescue! Your little ones can jump and tumble to their hearts’ content inside this 35,000-square-foot indoor trampoline park. Offering more than 200 interconnected trampolines, a foam pit, basketball and more, Altitude is a dream-come-true for kids — and parents. Info: 353-1281, AltitudeTrampolineParkLR.com

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