2009 Vacation Ideas: Ozark Mountains
Every odd-numbered year, my two brothers' families and ours get together for a big family summer vacation. The selection process rotates, and this time it's my job to find the spot. So, I'm looking for input. I've narrowed it down to about 10 different places around the country, and by the end of this summer I need to have the place figured out. Have any suggestions?
One of the places I'm looking at is the Ozark Mountains region. 11 or 12 people total, 5 kids ranging from 8 to 15. Anyone have any experiences vacationing there they want to share?
Posted by PSoTD on
Saturday May 24, 2008 at 7:32am |
That's all I remember.
The Ozarks are gorgeous. I'll see what we have in the files from 2004, when we drove there and stayed a couple weeks in Alma, Arkansas, home of the Alma Airedales and the World's Largest Spinach Can. Also a life-size Popeye statue. Well, if he were alive, I mean. You know.
We drove north to Springfield, Missouri so Joe could interview a guy there. The drive was gorgeous, all those hardwood forests. We took another drive to see a remnant prairie and its bison herd, up close and personal. (When they say Don't get out of your car—DON'T.) We drove over the Oklahoma line to see an alleged Viking runestone, and some Moundbuilders' town, I forget the name. We walked through autumn woods after rain, scented with sassafras and cedar, and saw lots of those Eastern birds I still miss, and a hilarious stick insect on a sapling trunk.
I've got a set of not-very-good photos on Flickr; I'll bring them up and make them public FWIW. I'll also see what Joe remembers. One thing to watch out for: some counties are dry. Still. We had to drive from Alma to the fleshpots of Fort Smith to get a sixpack of beer to have with dinners.
Eureka Springs is touristy but engaging. There might be good stuff for your purposes around there; don't miss seeing Thorncrown Chapel, which might be the polar opposite of the Christ of the Ozarks.