On November 24, 2025, we made a bold expedition—about an hour southwest—to be closer to family for Thanksgiving. Not exactly Lewis and Clark territory, but we did navigate a few winding Ozark roads, which should earn us at least an honorary scouting badge. We settled into Site 53 in Hickory Creek Park on the shore of Beaver Lake, a beautiful spot perched directly across from a marina that was taking a holiday break. Between the cold weather and the looming holidays, the place was nearly silent—like a Hallmark movie setting just waiting for soft music and falling snow.
Despite the quiet, the campground was surprisingly full. We quickly met a pair of friendly brothers from the area who were more than willing to chat. And chat. And chat. I’m not convinced they heard a single word we said, but they clearly enjoyed the company—and the sound of their own voices—so we counted it as a successful social encounter.
During our stay, we joined the family for a visit to the Walmart Museum, which celebrates the life and legendary bargain-hunting prowess of founder Sam Walton. The museum is tucked inside one of his original five-and-dime stores, a nostalgic little time capsule that shows just how innovative he really was. They even have a hologram of Sam himself paired with a simple AI system that answers basic questions in his actual voice. It’s a little eerie, a little charming, and very on-brand for Walmart.
Of course, the true crown jewel of the museum is the ice cream parlor at the exit. The servings are generously sized, the prices seem reasonable—maybe even low—and the flavor is exactly what ice cream ought to be: delicious. It’s the kind of ice cream that briefly makes you forget that sugar exists and calories are real.
Bentonville’s downtown square added to the charm with beautiful Christmas lights draped on every tree and lamppost. We wandered for about an hour, soaking in the festive glow, popped into a hotel/museum just because it looked interesting, and then set out on the eternal quest for good food. This was a great way to begin our holiday celebration.
Thanksgiving Day was the highlight, of course. We enjoyed wonderful time with our son’s family and a feast that would have made Norman Rockwell proud. In honor of tradition, we all ate far too much, declared we would “never eat again,” and then, several hours later, heroically rallied for pie.
After one last visit with family, it was time to pack up again. We pointed the RV south on November 28 and hit the road in search of warmer temperatures and, specifically, waterfalls. We did, in fact, find waterfalls—lots of them—but that’s a story for the next post.
| Nights | Total Nights | Miles | Total Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 309 | 39 | 29234 |