The thought of Mountain View may evoke scenes of people gathered around the town’s court square — fiddles, guitars and banjos in hand — playing the tunes that give reason to why the Stone County city is named the “Folk Music Capital of the World.” Music isn’t the only attraction that brings people to Mountain View and Stone County.

At the Ozark Folk Center State Park, you can experience Ozark Mountain culture through old-time folk music, pioneer crafts and herb gardens. See an evening show at the Ozark Highlands Theater or experience an afternoon in the Craft Village where master artisans in 22 unique shops create and sell one-of-a-kind handmade crafts. Open seasonally, check the schedule of events at OzarkFolkCenter.com. The Arkansas Craft Gallery on Main Street showcases the work of Arkansas Craft Guild members. The Guild was formed in 1962 as a local cooperative and has since expanded to statewide membership. For more information visit www.arkansascraftguild.org.

Special events offered in this unique place in the mountains include: the Arkansas Folk Festival each April, Mountains Music & Motorcycles in August, the Off the Beaten Path Studio Tour in September, and the Arkansas Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races in October. The many creeks and streams – including famous White River – along with the trails and campsites of the Ozark National Forest provide countless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Plus, the forest is home to beautiful Blanchard Springs Caverns. For more info on Mountain View and Stone County, visit ozarkgateway.com.