Arkansas

Traditionally, our wives and girlfriends sit and wait for us to pick a hotel that they want for Valentine's Day - but why can't we turn the tables and do things differently? We scoured the internet looking for epic hotel ideas that will inspire romance this Valentine's Day in a completely different manner than the typical 4-star resort with breakfast in bed!

Each of these motels caters to fantasies or have themed rooms that will make your Valentine's Day that much more fun compared to a leeway gooey, boring romantic night at a typical hotel with red roses and chocolates.

Arkansas is one of those states that sometimes can be forgotten about unless you live right next to it, but the deeper I looked it actually offers quite a few different opportunities across it's relatively diverse landscape - from the Delta to the Mountains! From canoeing down the Buffalo National River or taking a ride on "The Screamer" to taking a bike tour through back roads and touring Civil War Battlefields, Road Houses, and BBQ joints, there's something for everyone in, "The Natural State"!

When I first shared with friends that I was heading to Arkansas, the first thing most people asked was, "Why? What's there?" Honestly I didn't really know what to expect aside from some music history and hopefully some good BBQ. After spending four days in the Delta region I can't wait to go back.

One of my favorite parts of traveling to a new area is trying new foods and traditions around dining. What I found while visiting the state, sponsored by Arkansas Tourism, frankly was confusing and exciting at the same time. While I expected BBQ and soul food, what I found alongside those staples was completely unexpected such as cheese dip, fried tamales, and chocolate gravy!

I love to visit the boyhood homes of famous people, it says a lot about the person to see where they came from. In the case of Johnny Cash, a visit to his home was more than just a walk through a house but a history lesson where I learned about a very interesting period of American history where strong and determined men managed to turn swampy wasteland into incredibly fertile farmland and start a new life supporting their family and community.