Girls’ Trip in Fort Smith: A Weekend with Your Besties

Fort Smith, Arkansas, is the perfect destination for a girlfriend's getaway. With its charming downtown, vibrant entertainment district, expansion at Chaffee Crossing, and abundance of shopping and dining options, there's something for everyone to enjoy.

Fort Smith is a perfect weekend for girlfriends who are looking for:

• A low-key bachelorette weekend that is driveable from any corner of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma
• A mother-daughter weekend
• A weekend in a historic location
• A low-key chill spot with great food, easy access to shopping and no agenda
• Live music outlets
• A low-budget vacation destination

Homebase: The Porches

The Porches is a beautiful Airbnb community in the Chaffee District, just a short drive from downtown Fort Smith. The collection includes multiple options, like townhomes and luxury cottages. Some homes include multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, making them the perfect place for a group of friends to stay.

While they are the perfect kind of chill destination with a Seaside feeling, Fort Smith offers a variety of accommodations. Check out the digs around town if you want vacation rentals with multiple spaces under one roof or a hotel to host your festivities. There's even a brand-new RV park along the riverfront with a dog park and ninja playground. Search for a space that accommodates your group!

Girls’ Trip Fort Smith Itinerary

Below is a suggested outline for a fun weekend with your besties. As you review the itinerary, consider each segment like a row in your schedule you can take out, move around, and find a different meal plan or destination that better fits your lifestyle and preferences. As you scroll through the list, imagine yourself in town, enjoying a chill time or a fun night out with your friends. Envision yourself getting away from your regular day and relaxing. Stay up late watching a movie, find a cozy corner to read a book, or get all dressed up and explore our Entertainment District for all it has to offer!

Here are a handful of tips for a successful weekend:

• Grocery pickup: Take advantage of pre-ordering groceries from local grocery stores. Plan ahead and save your time!and save extra time walking the aisles grabbing things you need for a snack, breakfast or dinner.

• Let someone else cook: Another meal option is to pick up catering at Creative Kitchen. They specialize in casseroles, meals to-go, and party platters that can feed your group all weekend. Stu's Clean Cookin' also offers meals to go, whether serving as a group or individually.

• Coffee beans/pods - a big part of a girl's weekend usually involves lots of coffee and maybe some wine. If you aren't bringing coffee with you, there are multiple options like Sweet Bay Coffee Co., Fort Smith Coffee Co., Crossy Coffee, Arabica Coffee House, The Artistic Bean, or Olive Coffee Co., where you can stop in and grab pods or a bag of fresh ground coffee to take with you.

• Don't plan every minute. Part of your weekend away is time to chill. Plan not to plan! Stay flexible and simply enjoy your weekend. 

• Follow Discover Fort Smith to find all the ways you can explore around town.

Friday

• Arrive and explore: Depending on when you plan to arrive, explore the different regions of Fort Smith. If there is something that your friends don't want to do, or if you have extra time before your accommodation allows you to check in, visit a museum or the Historic Site, or grab a cup of coffee and sit and read. 

• Wine Tasting: Before dinner, head to Uncork'd, a wine bar loved by locals fromin the heart of downtown Fort Smith. Uncork'd offers a wide variety of wines by the glass and flights, tapas and charcuterie boards. Another option is arranging a private wine tasting at JKCellars. or unWINEd.

• Dinner and Chill: Start your weekend with a relaxing dinner at one of Fort Smith's many restaurants. StoneHouse in the Chaffee district offers a unique dining experience with stunning sunset views. For a more casual option, try Vinnie's Pies, a local favorite known for its delicious New York-style pizza and craft beer. Or, pick up Las Americas to-go and enjoy tacos or a fajitas bar with your girlfriends as you catch up and settle in.

• Catch Up and Snuggle In: It's always essential to add a little time to catch up on the first night together. Plan time to sit and talk, whether you pull out card games, start a movie, binge a favorite show together, or just sit on a patio or porch and chat.     

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Saturday

A Saturday itinerary offers two paths - sleep in, relax (maybe with spa time), shop and dinner. Or start your day with coffee, shopping and a great lunch, and then use the afternoon for a nap, beauty treatments, and a night on the town. Fort Smith can easily accommodate either option; you can choose your path and take off!

• Breakfast: A slow morning with just coffee at Olive Coffee Co. right by The Porches is an easy option, or you can grab breakfast foods at your grocery pickup. But if you want a spot for brunch, Calico County is a popular breakfast spot for locals, and make sure to get a cinnamon roll! Or head into town and eat and drink at Fort Smith Coffee Co. near downtown, at the Bakery District, or at the location inside the U.S, Marshal’s Museum.

• Morning: Next, spend some time shopping or at the spa. The Village at Heritage near The Porches has a variety of stores and boutiques that are easily walkable from your cottage. If you opted for a breakfast or brunch in town, you can spend time at the flea market antique browsing or hop around to some of our favorite shopping spots for besties (listed below). 

• Lunch: A good lunch option depends on where you are in town and what's on the dinner menu, but you can never go wrong with Panera, Rolando's Nuevo Restaurante, Bricktown Brewery, AJ's Oyster House, Paizi's Gyros, or Tacos 4 Life.

• Afternoon: In the afternoon, explore RAM (Fort Smith Regional Art Museum), the Entertainment District, the National Historic Site, or the US Marshals Museum. Continue looking at antiques, shopping around town, or find a cozy corner to read and catch up with a friend. The Riverfront Park and Bikeway offer great walking paths that make it easy to stroll or bike around town. 

• Soak and Relax: Fort Smith is a perfect place to find some relaxing space. Plan ahead and schedule your spa or beauty treatments. In the Heritage District, visit Luxe Beauty Bar, Nailology, Affinity Day Spa, Fountain Gate Spa, or Raw Beauty Salon for facials. 

• Dinner: This is your night to get out. If you didn't take advantage of last night's tastings, set that up for today. From The Porches, there are many options in The Barracks, Chaffee Crossing and Barling. You can also dine on Rogers Ave. or in the Downtown District. The downtown area is a designated entertainment district, where you can get a wristband at one of the participating establishments and use the provided cup to stroll from venue to venue or through the entertainment area while you sip your beverage. 

• Out on the Town: Fort Smith is known for its Live Entertainment opportunities. Additionally, there are several clubs, bars, and billiards for continued fun. Maybe a casino or table games are more your speed, and this is a fun night to get out and win big!

• Chill and Rest: If being in is more your thing, rinse and repeat last night! 

Shopping opportunities for Besties includes:

• The Shops at Brick City | multiple brands in one store
• Creative Kitchen | kitchen, gourmet foods, and home decor
• Lux Haus Interiors
• Meregold | home decor and gifts
• Bookish | Indie bookstore
• The Village at Heritage
• Through the Years Antique Mall
• Remember When Antique Mall
• Grand Antiques & Collectibles
• Antiques
• Boutiques
• Consignment & Thrift Shopping

Sunday

• Brunch: End your weekend with a delicious brunch at Miss Anna's on Towson, a local favorite known for its Southern-inspired cuisine. Other options might include Benson's Grill, Calico County, The Egg of Fort Smith, or multiple doughnut stops. Fuel up before you hit the road.

• Shop: After brunch, if you have a little time, visit some of the shopping spots you missed yesterday. The Shops at Brick City, Wasted, and Belle Starr Antiques & Vintage Market are three easy options before you leave town. 

• Stroll & Admire: A mural tour is easy to do independently without waiting for a store to open. Most open walls around downtown have a mural from a 2015 outdoor art project called The Unexpected. Over time, other sculptures and public art pieces were added, and they make a great way to enjoy a quiet morning in the city.

• Heading Home: In the afternoon, it's time to head home. But don't forget to take some time to relax and enjoy the drive back. Many of the routes from Fort Smith explore some of Arkansas' scenic byways and beauty.

A girls’ trip to Fort Smith, Arkansas, offers adventure, relaxation and bonding time. With its charming attractions, delicious dining options and welcoming atmosphere, this city will leave you and your friends with unforgettable memories. Pack your bags, grab your besties, and prepare for a fantastic Fort Smith weekend!