Little Rock: Rich with History and Hospitality

Written by Capi Peck, owner Trio's Restaurant 

There’s no place quite like Little Rock, Arkansas. Yes, it is my home and has been for most of my life, but I would not choose any other place in the country to live, work and play.  Read on to find out why Little Rock is so special.

I am Capi Peck, and I am one of the most enthusiastic ambassadors for Little Rock you will ever know. I am the 4th generation Peck to be in the hospitality industry here.  My partner and I own Trio’s, and we are getting ready to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our award-winning and popular restaurant.  I also serve on the City of Little Rock Board of Directors.  Most municipalities refer to this governing body as the city council. 

Little Rock is truly the heart of Arkansas ~ the cultural, economic, government and transportation hub for our state.  We are a welcoming, thriving and diverse community.  Our population is approaching 212,000, but we have a small town vibe. The population swells  during the work week as people come to work at the bustling Little Rock Port and other businesses.  Covering almost 130 square miles with over 240 neighborhoods, Little Rock oozes southern hospitality.  No, this is not the deep South, but friendliness is in our blood.  A survey by the Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau a few years ago sent to both business and leisure travelers reported that the two main takeaways from a visit to Little Rock were the unexpected and pleasant surprise of so much to do and the genuine welcoming Southern hospitality of its residents.

The diversity of our neighborhoods is amazing.  There is truly something for everyone whether you choose to live in the vibrant historic district downtown or one of our revitalized neighborhoods including SOMA, East Village and Pettaway.  There are neighborhoods with spectacular views of the Arkansas River, the Big Dam Bridge and Pinnacle Mountain.  West Little Rock is growing rapidly, and there are new neighborhoods popping up on our western boundary.  Rolling hills and four seasons add beauty to the urban landscape.  And traffic?  People relocating from larger cities love the fact that you can get anywhere in the city in 15 to 25 minutes without big city traffic.

Little Rock is smack dab in the middle of the country, and the capital city is virtually a city in a park.  Situated on the Arkansas River, there are 63 parks within our city limits and whether you seek walking and running paths, or waterways to canoe or kayak, or road bike and mountain bike trails to traverse, places to fish, climb rocks, watch birds and other wildlife, play golf or basketball on our outdoor courts, tennis, swimming or just basking in the beauty of the The Natural State, you have chosen the right place.

Little Rock is rich in history, and you can learn about us in several places including the William J. Clinton Library and Museum, Central High Museum, Historic Arkansas Museum and Old State House Museum.

Speaking of museums, a must visit for anyone coming to Little Rock is the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts with its award-winning architecture, outstanding exhibits, museum school and restaurant.  The Museum of Discovery is another award-winner which focuses on STEM education.  And even better, the above-mentioned amenities are right downtown or just a very short drive away.

While downtown don’t miss the Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden, a large outdoor gallery in Little Rock’s Riverfront Park, featuring over 90 contemporary sculptures along the Arkansas River.

There are a number of projects on the horizon that will transform downtown Little Rock.  These include an addition to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum which will be designed by Jeanne Gang, the founder of the award-winning Studio Gang responsible for the design of our Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.  With a new downtown master plan, we are anxious to begin implementing some of the projects, one of which includes a deck park and other amenities.

The River Market downtown will close soon as we invest $25 million to create a new river-facing and enlarged food court with talented up and coming chefs.  Local is the word here.

Looking for a little culture in your life?  Little Rock has you covered with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Arkansas, and local theater productions.  Check out the historic Robinson Auditorium for Broadway touring shows, comedy and concerts.  This is one of the city’s most important cultural and entertainment hubs, and the beautifully restored Performance Hall has world class acoustics,

Another very popular destination for visitors and residents alike is the Little Rock Zoo which is located in Midtown right in the heart of the city.  There are over 400 animals representing 200 different species.  Our zoo’s mission is to inspire people to value and conserve our natural world.  

There are dozens of very popular annual festivals here in Little Rock including The World Cheese Dip Championship, Downtown Food Truck Festival, Harvestfest Little Rock,  International Greek Food Festival, the SOMA Mardi Gras Parade, Pops on the River, the Big Dam Bridge 100, Little Rock Marathon, Jazz in the Park, Arkansas State Fair, Little Rock Pride, Juneteenth, Six Bridges Book Festival, Arkansas Film Society’s Filmland, Second Friday Art Night and so much more.

Little Rock was named one of the “Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025.”  People choose to move here for many reasons including affordability, outdoor lifestyle, cultural richness and community spirit.  

Little Rock has a hybrid form of government.  There are 7 ward directors and three at-large directors.  To find out who represents your neighborhood, go to www.littlerock.gov., then to City Government and then to Board of Directors.  We have a new website which is very easy to navigate.  You can find which ward you live in and  contact information for your representative.

Our city has 14 city departments and approximately 2500 employees who maintain the quality of life for our citizens.  We have 4 main areas of focus:  Public Safety, Infrastructure, Economic Development and Quality of Life. Our nationally accredited and award-winning departments include the City of Little Rock Fire Department, Police Department, LR Zoo, Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs, Department of Finance and our Department of Fleet Services.

Little Rock is the primary healthcare hub for Arkansas.  We are home to UAMS Medical Center, the only academic medical center and Level 1 trauma/reference hospital. In addition, you will find Baptist Health Medical Center, the largest hospital in Arkansas, along with CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Arkansas Heart Hospital and Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.

We are very proud of the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport.  We are investing millions of dollars here adding a runway, a new baggage claim and exterior canopy as well as new amenities in the concourse.  

We are home to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, commonly known as UA Little Rock.  The urban campus serves more than 8,000 students.  

Finally, I have saved my favorite thing about Little Rock for last.  We have a stellar independent and very diverse restaurant scene.  Yes, we have many of the popular national chains, but it is the locally owned restaurants that set us apart from many other destinations.  Visitors often comment on the robust independent restaurant scene, and these numbers continue to grow.  We like food here in Little Rock!  The best way to learn about the local dining scene is by following the popular The Mighty Rib on Facebook and Instagram.  Mr. Rib is a Houston transplant who has lived here for over 12 years and he loves Little Rock.  Follow him if you love food.

Well, that is it in a nutshell.  I could go on and on about my home town.  Welcome to Little Rock!  I think you are going to love it here.