All Posts

We put together 5 day-trip ideas around the 4 major Northwest Arkansas cities (and Bella Vista!) with a mix of free outdoor activities, local restaurants, interesting stops, and an optional extra-special "splurge" activity. Some locations are perfect for families, and others make a pretty great date day that you can say you planned yourself.

We've put together six Arkansas day trips that combine a beautiful fall leaf-peeping route with somewhere worth stopping for lunch, a historic town, or just a really good reason to get out of the car. These drives are also popular motorcycle rides.

The annual motorcycle rally returns to Downtown Rogers September 30 through October 3, 2026, bringing riders, live music, food, and vendors. The rally is also a nonprofit event that supports women, children and underserved members of the Northwest Arkansas community. According to the event organizers, Bikes, Blues & BBQ has donated more than $3 million to local charities since the rally began. Here's what to expect at Bikes, Blues & BBQ this year:

Fall in Northwest Arkansas is a good time to take care of a few things around your home and car before colder weather arrives. A little fall maintenance can go a long way toward preventing the kinds of problems that can turn into expensive insurance claims later. Here are a few things worth putting on your fall checklist.

The important question isn't simply how much your house is worth after the improvements. Your homeowners policy is concerned with the replacement cost, which is the cost to repair or rebuild your home after a covered loss. A major renovation can increase that cost, particularly if you're adding square footage or upgrading materials and finishes. That's why it is a good idea to talk with your agent before the renovation begins, rather than waiting until the project is fini

The short answer is yes, renters insurance is worth having, and in many cases, it's one of the most affordable ways to protect yourself financially. That's especially true here in Northwest Arkansas, where renters are dealing with everything from severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to frozen pipes, apartment fires, theft, and everyday accidents. And there's one important thing many renters don't realize: Your landlord's insurance protects the building. It generally do

Bundling your home and auto policies at the same insurance agency can save you money. If you own a home in Bentonville, AR, chances are you also have at least one vehicle to insure. Managing separate home and auto insurance policies can make it harder to keep track of your coverage, billing, and policy details. Bundling your home and auto insurance can simplify your insurance and may help you save money. At Benchmarq Insurance, we help homeowners across Bentonville and North

Northwest Arkansas is famous for mountain biking, hiking, and crystal-clear rivers, but beneath the Ozark hills lies another world entirely. The limestone geology that makes Northwest Arkansas so beautiful has also created hundreds of caves, caverns, springs, and underground passages. If you're looking for somewhere cool to escape the Arkansas summer heat, there are several outstanding cave tours within driving distance of Bentonville.

Arkansas summers can lead to preventable home and auto insurance claims due to heat, hail, wind, and heavy rain. Regular HVAC maintenance, roof inspections, tree trimming, tire checks, and an annual insurance review can help protect your property and reduce the risk of costly damage.

You probably don’t think much about your dryer beyond the convenience it provides. Load the clothes, press a button, and about an hour later you have warm, fluffy laundry. But behind that cycle is a hidden fire hazard many homeowners don't realize exists: the dryer exhaust vent.

One day you're figuring out how to buckle a newborn into a car seat, and before you know it, you're helping your college student compare apartment options and asking if they remembered to lock their car. Along the way, your insurance needs change, too. Lucky for you, we're giving you an instruction manual for what parents should know about insurance. Here are some of the most common insurance questions parents ask as their children grow and what you should know at each stage.

Whether you're riding after work, training for an event, or spending weekends exploring new trails, your mountain bike is more than just a hobby. For many riders, it's a significant investment. The question is: if your bike is stolen, damaged in a crash, or involved in an accident, would you be able to replace it?

If you've started using your vehicle to earn extra income, you're not alone. Many drivers are supplementing their incomes through the Gig Economy - delivering groceries, food, packages, prescriptions, and other goods through platforms such as Walmart Spark, DoorDash, Instacart, Shipt, Roadie, Amazon Flex, and other delivery services. However, when it comes to insurance, many drivers don't realize that using a personal vehicle for business purposes can affect how insurance co

Whether you’re planning a Saturday afternoon outdoors or a family camping trip, here’s a local guide to Arkansas State Parks arranged from closest to furthest from Northwest Arkansas. And because we're your local insurance guides, we've included coverage considerations for high-value mountain bikes and outdoor gear, ATVs, and recreational vehicles. Let's get going!

Here's the short answer: If it’s been more than a year since someone reviewed your insurance, there’s a good chance it’s time. At Benchmarq Insurance, we talk to people across Northwest Arkansas every week who are surprised to learn their coverage no longer fits their life, or that they may be paying more than they need to. Insurance rates shift constantly, life changes happen, and policies that made sense three years ago may not make sense today.

Here at Benchmarq Insurance, we love a summer lake day as much as you do. So, enjoy our local guide to lakes within driving distance of Northwest Arkansas. Also, learn about boating laws in Arkansas and insurance tips for this summer.

Spring Hazards in Arkansas: How to Prepare (and Avoid Claims) Spring in Arkansas is a gorgeous time. The trees start budding, the trails fill up again, and weekends quickly shift from indoors to outside. Around Northwest Arkansas, that might look like afternoons at the park, bike rides on the Greenway, or finally tackling that growing list of home projects. But alongside all that fresh energy, spring also brings a predictable wave of insurance claims. This isn't because peopl

Whether you’re hitting the trails, taking a road trip, or just enjoying a quieter week at home, Spring Break is a great time to reset. It’s also a time when we tend to see more insurance claims, and most of them are avoidable.

The good news is that understanding the reasons behind rate changes, and knowing your options, can help you feel in control and even uncover potential savings. Let’s walk through the seven most common reasons insurance rates rise and what you can do about each one.

Switching insurance agencies can feel like a big step. Maybe your rates have gone up at your current agency, you’re not getting the service you expected, or maybe you just want someone local who can help you understand your coverage better. Making the right choice when finding new insurance coverage comes down to more than just finding the lowest price. The best relationship between a client and an insurance agency or insurance agent is built on trust, service, and having som