Written by Kyran Pittman of Planting Dandelions, Arkansas Women Bloggers Miss August 2013

I know people who aren’t parents love Arkansas as much as I do, but I didn’t really appreciate what a gem my adopted state is until I saw it with the eyes of a mom. Continuing in the August ARWB theme of “Grow Where You’re Planted,” here are my six reasons Arkansas is a great place to raise a family. I hope you’ll add yours, whether you’re a parent, a friend to children, or a person who was lucky enough to grow up here.

1. The Outdoors: We’re never far from nature in the Natural State. Even in our suburban neighborhood, my kids have woods to roam, a creek to splash in, and an amazing array of backyard wildlife to observe (and sometimes catch). We are a short drive from spacious parks, scenic hikes, and extensive bike trails. Our state is dotted with more campgrounds, lakes, and recreational areas than we can probably hope to visit in a lifetime. And with a mostly temperate climate, it’s possible to make the most of our natural assets nearly year-round.
2. Community: Hilary Rodham Clinton made an enduring catch phrase of the folk wisdom that “it takes a village to raise a family.” Small wonder that she raised her own family in Arkansas, a state that feels pretty much like one big, small town. Pioneer roots, entwined with Southern hospitality, make a warm and sturdy nest. My biological extended family lives thousands of miles away, but I have been able to recreate one here in friends and neighbors who have sheltered us like kin through many of life’s figurative and occasionally literal storms.
3. Tradition: When I first came to Arkansas, it was strange to hear children address their own parents as Sir or Ma’am, and intimate adult friends as Miss or Mister. But I’ve since come to appreciate our “old-fashioned” customs as more than merely quaint. My sons know when to Yes Ma’am or No Sir. They are reminded to open doors for others, and to beg pardon when they don’t hear. Better to be accused of too many manners than none at all. 
4. History: Arkansas is a living history classroom, from the mysterious mounds of the Plum Bayou tribes, to the legendary grave of French stowaway Petit Jean, to famous battle sites of the civil war and civil rights.  Anywhere we go in our state, there’s occasion to learn or wonder about the people who stood there before us. Arkansas history is American history.
5. Culture:  Growing up in Arkansas, my boys get to swim in the cross currents of many cultures: rural, urban, Ozark, Delta, midwest, southwest, contemporary and traditional.  We can see masterworks of historic and modern art at the Arkansas Art Center or Crystal Bridges Museum. We can learn folk arts at the Ozark Folk Center. We can watch hip hop performers or hear bluegrass music at River Fest. And the happiest of all these cultural convergences takes place in our stomachs. Pit barbecue and fried catfish, artisan breads and heritage vegetables, curry and taco truck specials, funnel cakes at the State Fair and crepes on the Bentonville town square. We embrace it all.
6. Opportunity: Arkansas has been good to me. I established my writing voice and became nationally published from here. Small ponds are not bad places for little fish to grow big. It used to be that “making it” meant moving away to a major center, and hustling your way past the hordes of other people there to accomplish the very same thing. The digital age has changed all that. It’s possible to succeed in big city markets without sacrificing the quality of life and low cost of living we enjoy here. My boys may well grow up and move away to achieve their dreams, but they don’t necessarily have to. There are success stories of every scale, in every field, right here at home, to inspire them.

What do you think makes Arkansas a great place to raise a family?