(Photo) Ottenheimer Market Hall.

Piece 1: Ottenheimer Market Hall/Riverfront Park. Located in the heart of downtown Little Rock AR, just west of Interstate 30 and adjacent to the south shore of the Arkansas River, is the ten-block River Market District.

The District is part of the historic Quapaw Quarter, the oldest section of the city, named in honor of the Quapaw Indian Tribe that inhabited the area centuries ago.

One of our favorite parts of this area is the Ottenheimer Market Hall, which extends along President Clinton Avenue between Ottenheimer Plaza and St. Vincent Plaza.

The 10,000-square foot hall offers visitors a variety of food vendors representing international cuisines and some typical American fare. We enjoy getting lunch at Indian Feast, which serves tasty East Indian staples and really good Naan bread.

Exiting the Market Hall on the river side, there are two large (15,000-square foot) covered pavilions where farmers sell locally grown produce on selected days in season and an amphitheater concert venue.

Accessible walking trails lead to several nice viewing points (with benches) along the river’s south shoreline and an open structure that features pre-settlement history about the area. Look for a majestic Indian Head sculpture in this space that is a tribute to Native Americans.

Looping back up toward the Market Hall, the trail runs through a shady plant-covered tunnel, a nice break from the sun on a mid-Summer day.

Our little stroll just touched a part of what’s available to discover and experience in Riverfront Park; beautiful place to visit.

Bookstore at Library Square

Piece 2: The Galleries and Bookstore at Library Square. Across President Clinton Avenue from the Ottenheimer Market Hall is a wonderful extension of the Central Arkansas Library System’s Main Branch.

The Galleries at Library Square offer a compelling array of visual creations by local artists. The retail gallery entrance is near the midpoint of the building (side facing Clinton Avenue) and the temperature controlled space is a refreshing escape from the outside conditions.

The day we visited there were a number of mixed-media artworks that cleverly incorporated a variety of materials into the finished product. Some of the pictures had a two-dimensional quality similar to a collage, and there were several examples of mixed-media assemblage art that had a three-dimensional appearance.

While many of the items on display are available for purchase, some of the library system’s permanent collection is also presented at different locations in the facility.

At the rear of the retail gallery is a hallway leading to the Bookstore at Library Square, a comfortable and welcoming space filled with “gently read books”, a variety of unique gift items, and souvenirs.

Ice Cream Cone from Kilwins

Piece 3: Kilwins Chocolatier and Ice Cream Shop (415 President Clinton Avenue). A fun and delicious way to conclude a visit to the River Market District is with some of Kilwins Original Recipe Ice Cream.

This Michigan-based business is maybe best known for its selection of fine chocolates, but their ice cream is really good too!

The premium frozen treat comes in a wide variety of flavors (I went for basic chocolate but there are more adventurous options like All-American Two Berry Pie) and is only sold in Kilwins stores.

Whatever flavor you pick, it’s best enjoyed in a Kilwins freshly-made waffle cone.

NOW…READY TO START PLANNING YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE?

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