KVBT Bentonville, Ar

crabandy · #1 10-03-2014, 08:01 PM

Based on another suggestion on VAF I loaded up the wife and PennyPie for a trip down to Bentonville. It started raining 20 minutes before we left and had a beautiful but bumpy (airmet for moderate turbulence was 110% correct) flight. Between layers most of the flight (I really need to call Stein to finish my panel) but the pre and in-flight briefings showed clear skies at KVBT.

With the overcast I wasn't able to find a hole until right over the airport, Razorback Approach was great with a short notice call and negative transponder. The overcast transitioned to a scattered layer right over the airport and we landed with no issues.

crabandy · #2 10-03-2014, 08:39 PM

Walmart museum wasn't bad for 30 minutes, and appearantly the first corporate Wal-Mart aircraft was a Eurocoupe!

Crystal Bridges art Musuem was very nice and eye opening. I'm not exactly a artistic guy growing up on a Kansas farm but here's some of my favorites...

We stayed at the Victorian bed and breakfast, it was our first B&B but we liked it better than a hotel. Much more
Personal.

Vlad · #3 10-04-2014, 07:21 AM

Walmart Museum? I couldn't even thought one existed you've beaten me Andy to digging those gems

Lemmingman · #4 10-04-2014, 07:31 AM

Andy,
Congratulations! Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a world class art museum and everyone finds something there that they like. I probably visited there a dozen times when I was living there. Each time I found something new. It looks like you guys took the trail from downtown to the Museum rather than driving there. If you did you probably passed by my two favorite eateries in the whole area. Creppes Paulette and Big Rub BBQ.

If you're planning a trip to Petit Jean this year, folks, a stop by Crystal Bridges is a great side trip to make. The James Audubon exhibit is running through January and looks fantastic!

dmaib · #5 10-04-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lemmingman

Andy,
Congratulations! Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a world class art museum and everyone finds something there that they like. I probably visited there a dozen times when I was living there. Each time I found something new. It looks like you guys took the trail from downtown to the Museum rather than driving there. If you did you probably passed by my two favorite eateries in the whole area. Creppes Paulette and Big Rub BBQ.

If you're planning a trip to Petit Jean this year, folks, a stop by Crystal Bridges is a great side trip to make. The James Audubon exhibit is running through January and looks fantastic!

+1 on visiting Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art if you are anywhere near Bentonville. It is, as Lemmingman says, truly world class. There is no admission charge to see the amazing permanent exhibits. The FBO at KVBT is very friendly and the airport is in great shape with pretty good fuel prices the last time I was there.

crabandy · #6 10-04-2014, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad

Walmart Museum? I couldn't even thought one existed you've beaten me Andy to digging those gems

Funny, as much money as my wife spends at Wal-Mart I ended up seeing the museum by myself while she took a nap!

crabandy · #7 10-04-2014, 02:04 PM

Gil,
We did take the trail! We stayed at the Victorian B&B and everything was within walking distance. We liked the assortment of unique restaurants etc on the square. The city puts on "First Fridays" and we got to experience Oktoberfest. There was also a cool farmers market on the square this morning. Speaking of Crepes....

crabandy · #8 10-04-2014, 02:09 PM

Like Dave said, the KVBT airport was great, Summit aviation dropped us off and picked us up downtown. Great atmosphere and people, 100LL was $5.44 and I even ran into a guy in a VAF jacket! If you fly there make sure to talk to Chip with the Stearman...

crabandy · #9 10-04-2014, 02:14 PM

I was pretty tickled with the 35 knt tailwind on the trip down. We initially set out for lunch at Gastons this morning but the wife wasn't fond of the moderate-severe turbulence. Good news is when I pointed he RV home it smoothed out above 6500, bad news was the 69 knt wind on the nose!

AutopilotAR · #10 10-04-2014, 08:48 PM

Consider yourself lucky you didn't have wait in long line for crepes. They are usually packed especially during First Friday and the Farmers Market. The 21c hotel across the street is another interesting place to walk through. They ask have a nice collection to complement Crystal Bridges.