They are not only historically distinctive vacation spots - they are also fun places for families and visitors of all ages. We can all learn from their past and contribute to their future. This is the second year the trust has compiled a list of A Dozen Distinct Destinations. With more than a quarter million members nationwide, the trust provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America's diverse historic places and revitalize communities. The influence of the community's artists is obvious with a drive or walk through the town.
Stores offer funky, casual or elegant clothes for all ages and genders.
Area festivals and events span such musical genres as classical, opera, blues and jazz, as well as UFO's, antiques and the arts. Visitors can rent vacation dwellings on nearby Beaver Lake, in the woods of the Ozark Mountains, or in the middle of the downtown district. There are numerous bed and breakfast inns, retreat homes and hotels. The Crescent Hotel, long a registered National Trust Landmark, has been inducted into the National Trust Historic Hotels of America. The hotel is surrounded by its own 12 acres of formal gardens, fountains, a babbling brook and walking trails.