From Jonesboro Municipal Airport in Jonesboro, the surrounding region opens up quickly, with cities, towns, and attractions within easy reach. Jonesboro is the hub of northeast Arkansas, a growing college town set on Crowley's Ridge, a long wooded rise that stands above the flat Delta farmland. Arkansas State University gives it energy, the downtown has come back to life with restaurants and music, and the surrounding countryside is all rice fields, cotton, and big skies.

What to see and do around Jonesboro: - Hike, bike, or fish at Craighead Forest Park on the edge of town - Walk Main Street downtown for local restaurants, bars, and live music - Catch an Arkansas State Red Wolves football or basketball game - Explore the exhibits at the Arkansas State University Museum - Drive the Crowley's Ridge Parkway through orchards and hardwood forest - Tour Lake Frierson State Park when the dogwoods bloom in spring - Sample Delta-style barbecue and tamales at a local joint

Memphis is only about 70 minutes southeast, putting Beale Street, Graceland, and a world of barbecue within easy day-trip range. Paragould and its small-town square are 20 minutes north, and the Mississippi River towns of the Delta are a short drive east. Jonesboro's own quirk is the Delta hot tamale, a spicy cornmeal roll sold from gas stations and roadside stands. Come in fall for football and mild weather, or in spring when the ridge turns green and the catfish are biting.