Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, these restaurants had the most coveted spots for outdoor dining in Little Rock. Friendly locals, creative cocktails, delicious fare — and don’t forget the metro’s mild year-round weather — make these the best spots to savor the city.

The largest city in Lonoke County, Cabot offers a high-ranking school system with easy access to Little Rock. With more than 50 subdivisions, newcomers have a wide range of options for quiet neighborhoods and community living.

The town is dripping with jobs. The Conway Regional Medical Center, Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway and Conway Human Development Center employ thousands of health professionals. Conway’s biggest employer is Acxiom LLC, a software company specializing in database marketing. Nabholz, Vireo and Snap-on all have a large presence here, while the three local colleges and Conway Public School District employ thousands more in education.

Located in the geographic center of the state on Interstate 30, just minutes from Little Rock, this city boasts a small-town atmosphere with a big-town population.

Proximity to Little Rock makes commuting painless, but Bryant boasts plenty of education, retail and health care industry jobs of its own.

This part of town is also in close proximity to nature; hiking up Pinnacle Mountain or sailing on Lake Maumelle is just minutes away. Hit up Two Rivers Park for cycling, fishing, sunset watching from the bridge or a run on the wide, paved paths.

About 12 miles north of the capital city, Sherwood is a charming suburb with a small-town atmosphere. Funky shops like the Hidden Treasures Flea Market and Vortex Arcade foster the small-town vibe, while direct access to U.S. Highway 67 keeps the metro close by.

Home to the only C-130 training base for the U.S. Department of Defense, Jacksonville is an important part of the nation’s military force, but the city of 29,477 possesses a family-friendly atmosphere that attracts people from everywhere.

Even though it is already beautiful, Maumelle is constantly undergoing updates that continue to elevate the town. And it's a community made up of people who love to give back. In fact, the community of Maumelle as a whole won the Volunteer Community of the Year in 2020 for the 13th time since 2002.

Called the “city within a city,” Cammack Village is a sought-after neighborhood pursued by young families and singles alike.

Get a taste of what the city’s all about, down to the letter.

Taste your way around the globe with these seven delectable dishes from Little Rock’s most worldly restaurants.

Metro Little Rock looks forward each year to these can't-miss events.

We can’t get enough of these Little Rock institutions, and neither will you.

When it comes to education, families in central Arkansas have incredible options.