Hi, I’m Nichole! Let me share with you how my family enjoys spending a Saturday in downtown Texarkana – the Arkansas side! We moved to Texarkana, Arkansas in 2014 and we love where we live. There are many great places to explore across our region, and that includes downtown Texarkana, Arkansas. Here are a few ideas to help you plan your day.
Start at the Gateway Farmer's Market.
One of the things we love about Texarkana is the Gateway Farmer’s Market. This delightful market is held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings almost all year round. We like to start early and be there close to when it opens at 7 AM. One of our favorite vendors is Cow Pen Bottoms Farms—they always have the most beautiful flowers. There is also a wonderful selection of produce, organic and grass-fed meats, baked goods, handmade items, and more. Another really neat thing about this market is that it has a permanent structure and is home to the Red Dirt Master Gardeners demonstration gardens! In the summer months the garden is in full bloom and you’ll see all kinds of butterflies!
Gateway Farmer's Market Pro Tips
- Be sure to bring a market bag to put your goods in.
- Bring a cooler (with ice) to keep your produce and other items cool while you explore the rest of downtown.
Get some breakfast and, most importantly, coffee.
Once we’ve worked up an appetite browsing at the farmer’s market, we like to head over to some downtown restaurants to grab some breakfast. Luckily, there are several options nearby. For a full breakfast or brunch experience, stop by Emmie P’s and try to sit upstairs in their super cute dining area. Their pancakes are extra fluffy and extra delicious. If you’d like to get a traditional (and also delicious) diner breakfast stop by Johnny B’s of Texarkana. One of my favorite stops also happens to be one of the most unique dining places in Texarkana: Alley Cats Coffee. This coffee shop and café is located in a vintage railroad dining car and it’s super fun! If you’re looking for gluten free (Hi, I have Celiac Disease) add Alley Cats to your stop because they’ll have gluten free baked good items, but they sell out fast!
Pro Tips
- Emmie P’s andAlley Cats are right within walking distance, so if you want to hit up both, you can!
- Check out the beautiful Colors of Life mural as you walk between the two spots.
- Alley Cats has a great, shaded patio as well and there’s a ring toss (ringing the bull) game on the patio too.
Explore some art galleries and public art.
After breakfast we like to wander around and enjoy some of the public art and art galleries downtown. There is an extraordinary art gallery just across the street from Alley Cats Coffee called the 1894 Gallery It’s a huge gallery in a restored historic building that was once a grocery and general store at the end of the 1800s. The building is now home to an art gallery, an antique store, a 1970’s inspired event venue, apartments on the upper floor, and a “secret” speakeasy in the basement called the 1923 Banana Club! We love meandering through the art gallery stalls and seeing all of the incredible works.
Pro Tips
- The 1894 Gallery is open on Saturdays from 11 AM to 4 PM.
- They also offer art classes for adults and summer art camps for children.
- Be sure to also wander towards the back into Olive Street Vintiques for an elevated antique shopping experience.
- You have to stop and snap a selfie at the red phonebooth on the outside of the building.
- In addition to the 1894 Gallery, you can also visit Joseph Raymond Art Gallery for contemporary, fine art. It’s also fun to walk around and check out the various murals around downtown and snap some selfies with them!
A few favorite shops downtown.
In recent years, downtown Texarkana, Arkansas has seen lots of growth and the addition of many great shops. When we are enjoying a Saturday downtown, there are a few that we like to stop in a browse for a bit.
- Crystal Moon – this crystal and metaphysical shop has an amazing selection of natural stone bracelets, crystals, and more. It’s fun to stop in a browse while you’re downtown. They also have a tattoo parlor right next door.
- Harts on Broad – this unique shop is part salon and part gift shop. Don’t sleep on it though because the gift selection is fantastic and I can always find something there for our guests when we have visitors staying with us.
- Southern Grace Boutique & Venue – If you’re looking for cute baby gifts, this is the spot for you. They also have gifts for everyone, a cute hat bar, and an event rental space that is absolutely charming.
- Prodigy Wellness Boutique (link to FB) – This yoga and wellness studio is beautiful and has a great variety of classes. They also have a great boutique with clothing, holistic body care, and more.
- Diecast Syndicate – A bit of a hidden gem but this spot has a huge selection of Hot Wheels and other collectibles, plus vintage clothes too.
Hit a hole in one.
Brand new to downtown Texarkana, the Arkansas side, Tee It Up Golf Lounge brings a full golf simulator experience! You can reserve a stall and practice your swings with this virtual golf course. Reserve your stall, choose your course, your club, and you’re off. The weather is always perfect for this golf outing. They also have an indoor putting green too!
Lunch in Downtown Texarkana, Arkansas
If we stay downtown long enough to get hungry again, there are some great options for lunch as well. If you didn’t visit Emmie P’s for breakfast they’re also a good spot for lunch. TLC is a great spot to get one of the best burgers in town and you have to get the fries with the red river sand too. If you’re in the mood for a salad, Hopkins Icehouse has amazing salads plus a huge menu with a little something for everyone. Bonus – Hopkins has a great patio. You can also visit Joe’s Italian Bistro or Zapatas.
Plenty to do in Downtown Texarkana—The Arkansas Side
My family loves spending a Saturday in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas. It’s always such a fun experience and there’s a nice range of activities to do, things to see, and restaurants to try. Don’t forget to grab a selfie at the iconic state line post office and courthouse! Use the selfie stand and post it to social media using @experiencetexarkana so they can feature it!
Nichole Holze
Nichole is a content creator based in Texarkana, USA. Visit her blog Ark-La-Tex Adventures for more fun trip ideas in the area.
