After undergoing a dramatic transformation over the past 10 years, downtown Little Rock continues to change in exciting ways. The past decade saw the emergence of a nonprofit corridor on the area’s eastern edge and a boom in residential construction. Several upcoming projects are slated, and there’s talk of developing a “creative corridor” along Main Street.

Live
Downtown’s popularity as a residential area is rising, and the height of homes are climbing right along with it. High-rise condominiums have been sprouting up since 2003, and they run the gamut from modern luxury to eco-friendly. Outside of downtown’s core lie historic neighborhoods filled with grand Southern mansions. One of these neighborhoods, SoMa, is being redeveloped with modernity in mind. As more residences are established here, conveniences are rising. For instance, eStem Public Charter School on Third and Louisiana streets opened in 2008 and expanded in 2010.

Work
Each day, an estimated 42,000 employees stream into area high-rises to conduct a wide range of business with the rest of the world. From offices overlooking the Arkansas River, portfolio managers handle financial matters for Stephens Inc., the largest investment bank off Manhattan’s Wall Street. Execs at Acxiom Corp. develop interactive marketing services for large, global clients. And creative teams at Dillard’s headquarters discuss the upcoming spring line.

Play
In the evenings, downtown transforms into an elegant center of philanthropy and culture. Theaters, galleries and museums attract the area’s elite and up-and-comers. Several nightspots beckon the younger set, and when the weekend rolls around, all kinds of crowds mix for farmers’ markets, festivals and fun in general. With attractions like the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Heifer International, downtown gets the lion’s share of the metro area’s tourists. They join natives year-round for lunch and dinner at the more than 70 restaurants in the city’s epicenter.

Experience
Expect the hustle and bustle typical of any city during the weekdays, but expect to be surprised outside of the 8-to-5, Monday-Friday timeframe. One weekend might be relatively subdued compared to a weekday, while the next there might be tens of thousands of people in the streets for a marathon. Diversity is all you can count on here – in activities and people. Arkansas is a land of vast extremes, and everything seems to meet at the state’s center in Little Rock.

Quick & Convenient With 124 daily flight arrivals and departures and non-stop jet service to 16 destinations, Little Rock National Airport is large enough to link you to any destination, but small enough that you can get away with arriving at the airport an hour before your flight. It’s just a five-minute drive from downtown.