13 Failproof Ways To Convince All Your Friends To Move To Arkansas

I’ve spent a good amount of time worrying about my far-flung friends this week, wishing they would pack up and move near me so no one loses their home to flooding and hurricane-force winds. I’ve put together a list for all of us, so that we’ll have a handy dandy guide to all the reasons the people we love should join us here in the Natural State. Simply tell them these twelve things, and they'll surely pack their bags.

1. We don’t have hurricanes or unstoppable fires.

We do have tornadoes, sometimes, but hurricanes can’t survive the land long enough to get all the way to us.

2. Winters are usually mild.

Once in a while we’ll have a crazy ice storm, but mostly Arkansas winters are wet and mild.

3. Water, water, everywhere...

Arkansas is so full of creeks, springs, rivers, lakes, and stunning waterfalls that you could spend a lifetime exploring them.

4. Trees are everywhere, too.

We have 18.4 million acres of trees. There are entire countries with fewer acres than that. Arkansas's forests are almost twice the size of Switzerland.

5. Our cost of living is low, so there's more bang for your buck.

One of the reasons Arkansas is consistently listed as one of the best places in the U.S. to retire is our incredibly low cost of living.

6. Some regions are experiencing exponential growth.

If you want to find a place with medium-sized city amenities and close proximity to the gorgeous Ozarks, Northwest Arkansas is definitely the place for you.

7. We’re never very far away from intense natural beauty.

It ain’t called the Natural State for nothing, y’all.

8. You can take up some totally amazing hobbies.

If fishing and hunting aren’t your thing, don’t worry. Hiking, canoeing, and kayaking are also good ways to impress your friends with your hobbies.

9. The land is insanely fertile.

There’s a reason we’re one of the most productive agricultural areas in the U.S. You can grow anything here but citrus fruits, which means you can count on an impressive summer garden, too.

10. Folks are generally pretty nice.

Southern hospitality is real, and it lives in Arkansas.

11. Our small towns are completely adorable.

You don’t have to succumb to the hustle and bustle of big city life. Arkansas’s rural towns will win your heart with their charm.

12. Our food is the best food.

Fried chicken, fried catfish, chicken fried steak, chocolate gravy, homemade biscuits world class barbecue...pies! Arkansans sure know how to make a good meal.

13. You can find wonder and whimsy everywhere.

One of Arkansas’s most underrated charms is its quirkiness. From the wonderful oddities of Eureka Springs to the delightful Beatles-obsession of Walnut Ridge, wonder and whimsy are spread all over the Natural State.

For ways to convince people not to visit the Natural State, click here. You might also be interested in these things you'd miss if you decided to move away.