Arkansas and Missouri Railroad
Van Buren, Arkansas
Traveling on the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad through northwest Arkansas and the River Valley harkens back to an earlier era. Passengers travel the regular working rails in refurbished vintage passenger or parlor coaches dating from the 1920s through the 1950s.
The route crosses over high trestles, winds through valleys and travels through the quarter-mile 1882 Winslow tunnel.
The Arkansas and Missouri Railroad was established in 1986 as a Class III railroad. It traverses a 150-mile route from Monett, Missouri, to Fort Smith, Arkansas. It’s one of the nation’s few commercial lines that still operates both freight and passenger service.
Fall excursions take groups round-trip or one-way from Springdale to Van Buren and Van Buren to Winslow. Leaves begin changing in late September to early October. Peak foliage usually occurs two to three weeks later and continues through early November.
“Our popular fall foliage excursions showcase Arkansas’ fall color,” said passenger operations manager Brenda Rouse. “Conductors are dressed in period costumes and give the history of the area, the cars and the railroad line.”
The Backyard Billionaire tour starts with a one-way train ride followed by a motorcoach tour with a step-on guide. Groups see where the area’s billionaires grew up and learn how they’ve made their fortunes and have given back to the communities.
In December, the Holiday Express train features vintage holiday decor. On the dinner train, meals range from simple fare to four-course dinners. There’s also a Polar Express-type ride, complete with entertainment. Another option for a holiday gathering is to rent a stationary car at the Springdale depot.
“Another plus for groups, the J. Reilly McCarren Transportation Museum, located behind the Springdale depot, is being expanded for the 2015 season,” said Rouse.
Strawberry Hill Povitica Company
Merriam, Kansas
Step into Strawberry Hill Povitica Company for a delightful education on “povitica,” a traditional Eastern European swirled bread. The bakery keeps alive the ritual of creating each loaf by hand. For generations, povitica has been a staple at many holiday and family gatherings. Today, customers have bread shipped as gifts to all 50 states. When given as a gift to people outside the family, it is traditionally meant as a sign of respect.
In the late 1800s, a group of Eastern European immigrants came to Merriam looking for work in the meat packaging industry. They settled in the strawberry “Patch.” After the flood of 1903, they moved to higher ground known as Strawberry Hill. Along with the community’s heritage they brought their traditional dessert — povitica.
In 1984, the company’s first location was in the Strawberry Hill area. And the name stuck even after the bakery moved to its current site. When founder Harley O’Leary passed away in 1999, his two sons, Dennis and Marc, took over.
The store carries 12 varieties of povitica as well as two seasonal flavors: pumpkin spice in the fall and blueberry cream cheese in the spring. Variations range from traditional poppy or cranberry walnut to strawberry cream cheese and lemon cream. The best part is that visitors can sample every single flavor.
“By far, our bestseller is English Walnut,” said Dennis O’Leary. “It was the first flavor we sold and what comes to mind when people think of povitica.”
Glass windows span the bakery portion of the building. On any given morning, workers roll out the thin, sweet dough before sprinkling it with filling and rolling it into loaves. Each hearty loaf weighs 2.5 pounds.
“Typically, my brother or a longstanding employee will meet a group and explain the history of our company and the baking process,” said O’Leary. “If my dad was still with us today, he’d tell you that we don’t skimp on ingredients.”
