NEW YORK TO CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP
PART 3
Next stop....Little Rock, Arkansas
224 miles- 4 hours
This stop was one of my favorite parts of the trip. We stayed at The Burgundy Hotel by Hilton. It was really easy to get to, right off the highway, but felt secluded too. It is a great location for exploring Little Rock. It is just 20 minutes from The Old Mill at T.R. Pugh Memorial Park which has been in North Little Rock for almost 90 years.
As soon as you arrive to The Old Mill, you will be in awe of this beautiful, tranquil place that looks like something from an old movie, because it IS from an old movie. It was featured in the opening credits of 1939 movie "Gone With the Wind." The park is open to the public and it is free! Street parking is available right outside the park and is also free. We visited in late May. It was a very warm day and the park was in beautiful bloom! There was some minor construction taking place (as can be seen in the image below) but we barely noticed it when we were there.
The Old Mill provides a glimpse back in time. Don't forget you camera, it's a great location to get some beautiful photos! It is a great stop for people of all ages. I was comfortable with my 4 year old son there, just keep extra close attention near the water and climbing up to the second floor of the mill. My son especially enjoyed the countless turtles in the water. I have never seen so many! As well as the ducks wandering around. We could have quite easily spent the whole day there, taking in every little detail, enjoying the sound of the waterfall and watching nature at play in this little oasis.
The Old Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is believed to be the only remaining structure from the filming of Gone With the Wind. Worth noting if you are on a road trip is that there are public restrooms located at the park. So it's a great place to stop on a road trip, even if you don't stay overnight.
