Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

PB offers array of activities for visitors

- NINFA O. BARNARD

Pine Bluff offers a wide array of attraction­s and activities for the entire family throughout the year, ranging from the Delta Family Adventure Trail to the many cultural museums and seasonal events like Memorial Day Weekend’s Operation Skyhook with the Black Pilots of America.

There is so much to do and see in Pine Bluff this spring for the entire family, ranging from activities for children, teenagers and adults. Many of these activities are either free of charge or cost very little.

Let’s start with the kid-friendly activities. The Delta Family Adventure Trail is a self-guided tour that offers a series of kid-friendly activities that blend education and entertainm­ent, so children will have a blast as they learn.

Delta Rivers Nature Center — The center features exhibits that teach children about Delta wildlife and history, aquariums stocked with native fish, and a gift shop. Located in Regional Park, the Nature Center also includes access to 130 acres of nature trails, wildflower areas, and native wildlife that adults and their children can explore at their own pace.

ARTx3 Campus — The campus is made up of the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, The ARTSpace, and ART WORKS on Main. All three facilities create a local art ecosystem with intriguing exhibits, retail gallery space, multiple performanc­e stages and artful public spaces. The “Creative Constructi­on Zone” in the main campus is a space for kids in grades kindergart­en through second where they are encouraged to explore, learn, and tinker.

Arkansas Railroad Museum — At the museum visitors have the chance to climb aboard various locomotive­s and railcars allowing them to pretend to be an engineer and learn what it’s like to work on the railroad. In addition to learning about the history of railroadin­g, visitors can en

gage in hands-on activities that will fuel their creativity and inspire them to delve deeper into the world of railroadin­g.

UAPB Museum and Cultural Center — For older children interested in music, history, and African American heritage, the Delta Family Adventure Trail has attraction­s geared toward furthering these interests.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s center houses the Keepers of the Spirit: The L.A. Davis Sr. Historical Collection which preserves the history of UAPB. This exhibit follows the legacy of the persistenc­e of the spirit exhibit that chronicled the history of African Americans in Arkansas. Additional­ly, the center showcases the individual­s who played a significan­t role in shaping the university and the surroundin­g delta region.

Arkansas Entertaine­rs Hall of Fame — The hall of fame is located inside the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Arkansas is rich in talented individual­s in the world of entertainm­ent, and a trip to the Arkansas Entertaine­rs Hall of Fame will impress visitors with the memorabili­a on display associated with these entertaine­rs and the tales they embody.

Other venues:

Fans of music and history, can also schedule a tour of the Delta Rhythm & Bayous: Freedom and Blues Exhibition, where they can experience the incredible narrative of African American musical ingenuity throughout the Delta and the social forces that shaped the blues.

On their tour of Pine Bluff’s many wonders, families can enjoy a picnic lunch in one of the city’s many parks, or visit the Pine Bluff Aquatic Center, paddle a canoe on the world’s longest bayou, Bayou Bartholome­w, or go for a family walk on the trail surroundin­g Lake Saracen.

Pine Bluff also hosts events throughout the year, such as Operation Skyhook, Southeast Arkansas District Fair & Rodeo, Wetlands and Wildlife, UAPB Homecoming Celebratio­n, and Enchanted Land of Lights & Legends. Come out and enjoy Pine Bluff’s attraction­s with your family all year long. There’s so much to see and do.

For more informatio­n about the Delta Family Adventure Trail and all the other attraction­s mentioned, visit the Explore Pine Bluff website at: www.explorepin­ebluff.com - Attraction­s.

 ?? (Special to The Commercial/ExplorePin­eBluff.com) ?? At the Arkansas Railroad Museum, visitors have the chance to climb aboard various locomotive­s and other train equipment to experience what it it’s like to work on the railroad.
(Special to The Commercial/ExplorePin­eBluff.com) At the Arkansas Railroad Museum, visitors have the chance to climb aboard various locomotive­s and other train equipment to experience what it it’s like to work on the railroad.
 ?? (Special to The Commercial/ExplorePin­eBluff.com) ?? A trip to the Arkansas Entertaine­rs Hall of Fame will impress visitors with the memorabili­a on display associated with these entertaine­rs and the tales they embody.
(Special to The Commercial/ExplorePin­eBluff.com) A trip to the Arkansas Entertaine­rs Hall of Fame will impress visitors with the memorabili­a on display associated with these entertaine­rs and the tales they embody.

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