1. Arkansans Are Obsessed With The Hogs
When it comes to college sports in
Arkansas, one team is the clear cut top dog. If you see tons of cardinal red and white flooding the streets at any given point, it’s probably game day for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.
2. Float Trips Down The River Are Better Than Any Pool Day
Float trips are a beloved pastime in Arkansas. All you need is an inner tube, a few friends, and a couple six packs and you’ll experience one of the most relaxing days of your life. It’s simple, you casually sip your drinks while you slowly drift down the river in a big group.
3. Rotary Tillers Move A Bit Faster Here
You haven’t seen it all until you’ve seen the Rotary Tiller World Championships at the PurpleHull Pea Festival in Emerson. Basically people race huge rotary tillers down a track and it’s as strangely entertaining as it sounds.
4. The Boggy Creek Monster Is Always Watching
Everywhere has their local legend and in Arkansas, the locals fear the “Fouke Monster.” He’s also known as the “boggy creek monster” and he’s been sighted all around the state for over 60 years.
5. You Might Have To Buy A Gun To Fit In
Arkansas is a state that’s full of gun owners thanks to the many hunters that call this place home. Don’t be too surprised when you’re in a rural area and you hear a gunshot in the distance. Around here, it’s just a tool that’s used to bring food home for the family.
6. The Nature Here Is Super Underrated
Home to the Ozarks, the natural beauty of Arkansas just doesn’t stop. With tons of beautiful rolling hills, lookouts, and plenty of hikeable trails, people around here are always more likely to be outside on a nice day.
7. There’s This Thing Called Chocolate Gravy
It tastes exactly how it sounds like and it’s delicious. Try it on some biscuits and crumbled bacon on top for the ultimate treat.
8. “Crappie” Is Something You Eat Here
The name might be a little off-putting to some, but a “crappie” is actually a type of fish that’s commonly caught in the Arkansas area. Next time someone is talking about how big their “crappie” was last weekend, you shouldn’t be too disturbed.
9. The Humidity Can Be Pretty Crushing
There’s no way around it, summers in Arkansas get pretty darn humid. Just know that everyone else is going through the same thing and that eventually you’ll get used to being covered in a thin layer of sweat every time you leave the house. That being said, all the lakes, rivers and streams here make it super easy to cool down.
10. Never Forget Your Bug Spray
Thanks to its hot, humid climate with plenty of water floating around, Arkansas is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. It’s never smart to leave the house without bug spray in hand if you’re planning on spending much time outside.
11. Arkansas Tea Always Comes Ice Cold And Super Sweet
Arkansans have had enough of your tiny, bitter, scalding hot cups of tea. The people around this state want something they can chug. If you order tea while you’re out here, expect it to automatically get served in a tall glass filled with sugar and ice.
12. Coke Doesn’t Always Mean Coke Here
Arkansas is one of those places where the word “coke” tends to be used as the generic word for “soda.” If you order a “Coke” while you’re out wanting a Coca-Cola, don’t be surprised when the waitress asks “what type of coke would you like?”
13. Don’t Try To Buy Booze On Sunday
Arkansas is one of those states with some strange liquor laws, including no sales of booze on Sunday. You can still go to bars, but if you need to pick up some house beer for Sunday football, you need to get that taken care of the day before.
14. Dinner Is Actually Lunch
Arkansans have a tendency to call lunch, dinner and dinner, supper, especially older generations. It’s just one more thing that makes this state unique.
15. You’ll Never Leave A Restaurant With An Empty Stomach
One of the huge perks for living in Arkansas is how awesome the food is. Most places aren’t the healthiest, but with huge portions of deep-fried cuisine and comfort food, meals around these state are downright delicious.
16. You Might Be Dodging Tractors On The Roadways
While Arkansas has several larger cities, a lot of the population here lives in small farming communities as well. If you’re in one of the more rural spots and it’s during a busy time of the farming season, budget an extra few minutes for your trip in case a tractor takes the road in front of you and you can’t make the pass.
17. Make Sure You Watch Out For Deer, Too
It’s no secret that deer are super cute when you spot them in their natural habitat, but the second they start getting on the roads, things can get scary. In Arkansas it’s always important to be watching off to the sides of your car, especially at night. Deer don’t have much common sense when it comes to crossing the street.
18. Don’t Get Lost In All That Corn
With so much farmland in Arkansas, row of corn stretch for miles in every direction at times. Think twice before wandering out into these crops. It’s trespassing and it’s super easy to get disoriented without much notice.
19. It’s Not “Kansas”
For the last time, it’s not “Are-Can-ZIS”, It’s “ARK-AN-SAW.” There’s no better way to stick out as a tourist than to mix these two pronunciations up.
20. However, It’s Arkansan, Arkies, Or Arkansawyer… Take Your Pick
The residents of this state can’t really decide what to call themselves and you’ll hear plenty of demonyms incorporating the word “Arkansas” get thrown around. None of the variations are really incorrect, but Arkansan is probably the most official term.
21. Little Rock Will Rock Your World
With roughly 750,000 people in the
Little Rock metro area, this Arkansas city always has something fun going on, with tons of diverse neighborhoods and plenty of unique amenities that you won’t find anywhere else.
22. Always Be Ready To Call Those Hog
One way that Arkansans show their love for the Razorbacks it by “calling those hogs.” It’s the name of a group cheer, and it can break out any time…even if you’re not at the big game. Someone starts by shouting “Woooooo” getting louder and louder and when they’re done, the rest of the room shouts “Pig Sooie!” and gives a fist pump. You’ll have to hear it a few times before you really understand enough to join in.
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