Things to do in Pine Bluff

There are tons of things to do in Pine Bluff for the entire family! Regardless of age, everyone will love the Arkansas Railroad Museum. The museum is home to the 819, the last steam engine built in the Cotton Belt Shops (the same building that now houses the Arkansas Railroad Museum). Visitors will see locomotives, passenger cars, a former hospital kitchen car and much more. Before your trip, check out the museum’s kids’ section on the website, featuring coloring pages, train whistle signals, a dictionary of train terms and train hand signals. arkansasrailroadmuseum.org/kids-area.html.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Delta Rivers Nature Center is a great place to learn about the history and ecology of the Arkansas Delta. Explore the region from the “skies” in a crop duster at the Delta Rivers Airways, gaze upon the residents found in oxbows and the Arkansas River at the center’s two aquariums, and then head outside and discover the wildlife that lives outside the nature center along the two miles of trails surrounding the facility.

Lake Saracen, named for the chief of the Quapaw tribe in Arkansas, is a 500-acre lake complex that offers fun for the entire family. Take a trek down the walking/cycling trail along the lake, cool off at the splash pad or do some fishing from the handicapped-accessible pier. There’s also the Saracen Landing All-Inclusive Playground, designed to provide equipment that allows children of all abilities to play safely together. The play equipment provides mostly sensory experiences, including visual, auditory and tactile sensations, as well as awareness of balance and relationships of parts of the body.

The Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas serves as a cultural crossroad: engaging, educating, and entertaining through the arts and sciences. The center presents programming in the visual arts, performing arts, and the sciences through exhibits, performances and classes. Gallery admission and hands-on programming are free.

Adults will want to check out one of Pine Bluff’s newest attractions, Saracen Casino Resort. The casino opened in late 2020 and features 2,300 slot machines and 50 table games. Saracen offers great dining options. The Red Oak Steakhouse features prime grade wet and dry-aged beef and works with local farmers to ensure the freshest ingredients. Legends Sports Bar is the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and watch a game. The menu features everything from sandwiches, burgers, barbecue and steaks. You’ll want to check out the DCBC beer, brewed on-site exclusively at the Saracen Casino Resort in four silver and copper brewing tanks gleam behind a wall of glass in Legends Sports Bar. Quapaw Kitchens features cuisines from around the world, ranging from Southern classics, Asian specialties, seafood, Italian delights and sweet treats galore.