Rolling hills coated with trees that look soft as green velvet. Leaves rustling in the breezes that catch hold of your hair, releasing the tendrils a moment later. Skies full of only birds that swoop down to inspect the land, cawing as they soar. Roads lined with bright yellow flowers that are radiant as the sun. Wind-carved rock sculptures that stack like pancakes on top of each other. There is no other place as unique as this. Where could such an odd compilation of all nature has to offer be found? It’s not a mystical land, or a world far away, but a place within our own United States of America – Missouri.

This summer, I had the opportunity to take a road trip to Branson, Missouri. The city is full of popular tourist spots, but is surrounded by natural beauty. All in one day, a visitor could play mini golf, visit a wax museum, ride roller coasters at Silver Dollar City, eat a formal dinner at Top of the Rock, and drive a golf cart through some of the caves unique to the area.

The city has many unique quirks, for example, the Western “act” that actually seems more like a lifestyle in Branson. There are many places to take pictures dressed in Ol’ West attire. Silver Dollar City, an amusement park right outside the city, has adopted the theme as well. At the park, a visitor can tour log cabins, watch a magic show, ride themed attractions, or purchase a souvenir that seems as if it was plucked straight out of the past.

A crucial part of Branson culture is the book The Shepherd of the Hills. The book was written in 1907 about the forests of the Ozarks, and has a very religious tone. References to the influential story can be found almost everywhere you look. There is even a local play that shows multiple times a week that is based on the story!

If you are looking to get away to a place that can offer unique culture, impressive natural structures, and the relaxation found in forests, Missouri is the place to go.