This Is the Most Underrated City in the South-and It Has Presidential History, Southern Charm, and the Best Cheese Dip in the U.S.

"Officially founded in 1821 as the capital of the then-Arkansas Territory, Little Rock gets its name from an actual little rock, which still sits on the riverfront. In 1722, a French exploration party saw the rock on the Arkansas River and dubbed the site and the nearby bluff, " le petite roche " or "the little rock." Originally, the area was Quapaw land, but it slowly became a well-known trading hub in the region for those traveling west."

"Needless to say, Little Rock has had more than a few famous residents, including former president Bill Clinton and general Douglas MacArthur. Most people might associate Little Rock as the place where key events of the Civil Rights Movement unfolded in the 1960s, such as when the "Little Rock Nine" entered Central High School after the landmark 1954 decision of Brown v. Board of Education. The city pays homage to its history, but has bloomed into a modern metropolis, and there's much to see and do in this Southern city."

Little Rock is roughly an eight-hour drive from Atlanta and continues to change with new attractions and events. The city hosted the World Cheese Dip Championship 2025 and features shopping in South Main (SoMa) and dining in the Heights. Little Rock serves as a base for day trips to Hope, Arkansas, and Hot Springs National Park. Founded in 1821, the city takes its name from a small riverfront rock first noted by French explorers in 1722. The area was originally Quapaw land and later became a regional trading hub. The city is associated with figures such as Bill Clinton and Douglas MacArthur and with pivotal Civil Rights events like the integration of Central High School by the "Little Rock Nine." Little Rock also houses unique cultural attractions such as the Esse Purse Museum and historic hotels in the River Market District.

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