Downtown!!
We packed our lunch……
Picnic for Champions!! Pizza and Kool-aide!
And headed to DOWNTOWN!!
Little Rock
Little Rock has always seemed like a little city with a “Wanna-be” big city attitude. A couple of years ago, I took the kids and their friends for the downtown experience. They have been talking about it ever since. So, this year, I planned yet another day trip to our fine capital city. Our goal: Be Cheap and Have Fun!!
We found a free parking space at the Clinton Library. From there we trekked to the Little Rock visitor center in the River Market to purchase the $2 day passes (per person) for the Trolley. Now we were set armed with our cameras.
We had to get to the Peabody Hotel by 11 to watch the ducks. As we were walking along we found this….
ATA Garden
It is a garden dedicated to Eternal Grand Master H U Lee, the founder of the ATA (American Taekwondo Association).
Next stop…. The Peabody Hotel!!
The Peabody of Little Rock
We had a blast watching the ducks walk the red carpet….
enjoying the lobby
Just across the street there is a piece of my family’s history. The Capital Hotel was built in 1870. It was renovated by my great-grandfather, Loyd E. Neely in the late 1940′s. The lobby looks like something from a movie. The grand ceiling is decorated by a beautiful stained glass image of the State Capital. My grandfather, Elbert Cornett, was working for Grandpa Neely. They had just removed the glass from the lead casings when my grandfather slipped and fell through it onto scaffolding. The scaffolding saved his life. Needless to say, my clumsiness comes natural.
After the Capital Hotel we were starving….. If you think the first part of our day was cool…. wait until you read about the afternoon! Click Here
God bless…..
Leave a comment
Related posts:
March 26th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Oh Fun! We live out in the country west of Fort Worth, and there is nothing my brood likes better than just driving into town and walking around!
Downtown Fort Worth has undergone some amazing transformations during the past few decades, becoming “regentryfied” with storefront restorations, new residential areas, an urban oasis park and lots of amazing public art. It’s such a joy to visit and just look around!
March 29th, 2010 at 10:41 am
I loved hearing about your family’s connection to the hotel! And sounds like y’all really made the most of your downtown visit. People don’t often realize all that Little Rock has to offer. Thanks for highlighting our neighborhood.
March 29th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Thank you for your comment, Amy. I grew up hearing the restoration stories concerning the Capital Hotel. It was a treat to show my kids and their friends my great grandfather’s handy work.
You are correct….many people do not realize what Little Rock has to offer. So sad, but yet, so true!
March 31st, 2010 at 6:39 am
Regina, I could hear and feel the excitement in your heart in this post! Good writing! And I love picturing you rocking out! I tell my 15 and 10 y.o. it is my job to embarrass them- and I do a very good job!
March 31st, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Love those taekwando moves! Sounds like a great trip! I love downtown Little ROck and WOOHOO for free parking! Who knew?