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Jeep dune buggy going down slope on sand dunes, unidentifiable people, Silver Lake State Park, Michigan, MI, USA.
Drive on the Sand / Silver Lake, Michigan
Play: More than 2,000 acres of golden sand dunes lining the shore of Lake Michigan fairly beg to be explored by Jeep, motorcycle, or dune buggy. Or take to the water aboard a Hydrobike, sailboat, paddleboard, kayak, or WaveRunner.
Stay: If camping isn’t your thing, try the cozy Hart House Bed and Breakfast, or splurge on a lakeside room with a balcony and private whirlpool at the Dunes Waterfront Resort.
Dine: Go Big or go home at Big Hart Brewing Co., which offers an impressive selection of house-made brews, wines, and pub fare.
Don’t Forget: Little Sable Point Lighthouse, a historic redbrick tower with a 130-step climb to the top.
Evan Schiller
the par 3 5th hole at Payne’s Valley at Big Cedar Lodge. A new Tiger Woods design
Play Payne’s Valley / Branson, Missouri
Play: The first public course designed by Tiger Woods is slated to open next year: Payne’s Valley, named for the late golfer and Ozark native Payne Stewart, showcases the dramatic Ozark landscape.
Stay: Big Cedar Lodge, of course. Choose from log cabins, homey cottages, rustic campsites, and the main lodge.
Dine: Osage Restaurant offers dining with a view, or consider Arnie’s Barn, where Mexican dishes are served in an enormous barn once owned by Arnold Palmer.
Don’t Forget: Sail along Table Rock Lake on a 62-foot yacht during the Lady Liberty Brunch and Dinner Cruise.
Navigate the River Bluffs Scenic Byway / Iowa
Play: The entire 109-mile route offers breathtaking scenery and natural reserves such as Dutton’s Cave Park and the Bixby State Park ice cave. You’ll understand why the area is called Iowa’s Little Switzerland.
Stay: More than 30 campgrounds with a range of amenities are nestled along the route, and there are a few chain hotels in the bigger towns.
Dine: Try a burger at Dotzy’s and Algerian cuisine at Schera’s, then enjoy a nightcap at Eagle’s Landing.
Don’t Forget: The 13 historic towns along the byway boast must-see sights of their own, including Motor Mill, a six-story limestone mill constructed in 1869, and the century-old Volga City Opera House.
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Closeup shot of Turner Falls
Swim at Turner Falls / Davis, Oklahoma
Play: The park’s 77-foot namesake is arguably at its most scenic in the fall, when the changing leaves create a colorful backdrop and there are fewer crowds. Hiking trails wind past impressive rock formations, a heartbeat away from the 1.4 billion-year-old granite Arbuckle Mountains.
Stay: The park offers cabins and eight campsites. Nearby Davis, Oklahoma, has cottages, bed-and-breakfasts, motels, chain hotels, and casino hotels.
Dine: Smokin’ Joe’s Rib Ranch is the go-to barbecue joint; grab dessert at Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies.
Don’t Forget: Historic Collings Castle, built during the Great Depression.
Appreciate the Finer Things / Berea, Kentucky
Play: The Kentucky Artisan Center, a sprawling gallery and creative hub featuring work by more than 800 area artists, where you can spend an entire day.
Stay: Boone Tavern Hotel, a historic lodging that’s welcomed the Dalai Lama, Maya Angelou, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Henry Ford.
Dine: Boone Tavern Dining Room, featuring award-winning cuisine made with locally grown ingredients, many from the nearby farm at Berea College, a no-tuition university and the first multi-racial and coeducational college in the South.
Don’t Forget: Artisan Village, where more than 20 independent galleries and art shops dot the downtown district.
