There’s something about walking through a cave, hiking a mountain trail, or floating down a crystal-clear stream that connects to the nature-lover in all of us. And there’s no better place than Missouri to set the explorer inside you free. Pack your gear and join us for a look at Missouri’s soft adventure activities, including hiking and biking the country's longest rails-to-trails project, canoeing down a spring-fed Ozark river, and fishing a cool Ozark stream. ITINERARY Day One Tour Bonne Terre Mine in Bonne Terre. Take a short walking tour and boat ride through National Geographic’s Top Ten Scuba Diving Destination – the largest inland diving area in the world (at one time was Missouri’s largest lead mine.) Eat lunch in Bonne Terre. Visit Elephant Rocks, “Nature’s Circus Elephants,” at the “Oldest Mountain Chain in the United States.” Enjoy a swimming hole visit at Johnson Shut-ins and short hike on part of the Ozark Trail, the “Appalachian Trail of the Midwest.” Drive to Eminence. Lodging in Eminence at Rivers Edge Resort, considered the "Best Place to Stay in Eminence" - St. Louis Post Dispatch, May 21, 2000. Deck and Rooms overlooking Jack's Fork River. River's Edge is located right on the Jacks Fork in "Missouri's Top Outdoor Outpost" Eminence, MO. Enjoy dinner in Eminence – BBQ. Outdoor dining. Cowboy Dean’s BBQ. Day Two Eat breakfast in Eminence. Winfield’s old time restaurant. Famous for omelets. It’s the antique soda fountain downtown. Float the Jack’s Fork River in Missouri's largest National Park -- the Ozark National Scenic Riverway. The Jacks Fork River is a true Missouri "jewel" of a stream, and has been deemed one of the worlds "ten most scenic floating and fishing streams" by Life Magazine. Eat lunch in Eminence. Visit the picturesque Alley Spring just 6 miles away. Depart Eminence. Head west toward Branson via scenic Hwy. 160. Arrive in Branson. Eat dinner at Celebration City, Branson’s new $40 million dollar theme park, which celebrates the 20th century. Enjoy a multimedia outdoor show at Celebration City. Overnight in Branson. Day Three Eat breakfast in Branson Enjoy a boat ride on Table Rock Lake or visit Dogwood Canyons. Drive to Springfield, the “Gateway to the Ozarks.” Lunch buffet at Hemingway’s Blue Water Café at Bass Pro Shops. Tour Bass Pro Shops, the largest outdoor sports retailer in the state, and the Wonders of Wildlife Museum. Dinner at Incredible Pizza Company in Springfield. This is a pizza buffet that includes a unique atmosphere and a game room with indoor mini golf, go carts, bumper cars and more. Overnight in Springfield. Day Four Tour the Springfield Conservation Nature Center. Tour Fantastic Caverns. Eat lunch in Springfield at Lambert’s Restaurant, “Home of Throwed Rolls.” Depart Springfield. Tour of Lake of the Ozarks. Quick stop to see Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton. Depart Lake of the Ozarks area. Drive to Columbia for dinner and overnight accommodations. Day Five Visit Rockbridge State Park in Columbia. Enjoy a short hike to Devil’s Icebox. Brief walking tour of downtown Columbia with emphasis on 8th/9th – Broadway/Walnut area. Brief overview of Flat Branch/MKT area in Columbia. Lunch at restaurant in Flat Branch area in Columbia. Quick stop at MKT Trailhead & Martin Luther King Garden on Stadium in Columbia. Depart Columbia. Arrive in Rocheport. Explore Rocheport, rated the “#1 Daytrip Destination from Kansas City” by the Kansas City Star. Explore part of “America’s Longest Rails to Trails Project” on the Katy Trail. Optional wine tasting and tour of wine-making facilities at Les Bourgeois Winery. ITINERARY Bonne Terre Mine Take a short walking tour and boat ride through National Geographic’s Top Ten Scuba Diving Destination – the largest inland diving area in the world (at one time was Missouri’s largest lead mine.) Take a one hour guided walking & boat tour through the first and second levels of the mine along the "Old Mule Trail", showing where miners dug with a pick and shovel in the 1800's. The earliest shaft was dug in 1864. Along this tour, you will see huge pillar rooms, grand canyon, billion gallon lake, trout pond, underground flower gardens, calcite falls, and abandoned mining tools and rail systems. Then enjoy a guided tour by boat of the billion gallon lake, with its crystal clear water, and spectacular view of the largest parts of the mine. See the No.1 elevator, submerged ore carts, pillars, and overhead catwalks suspended above the lake. Elephant Rocks State Park Visit Elephant Rocks, “Nature’s Circus Elephants,” at the “Oldest Mountain Chain in the United States.” One of the most curious geologic formations in Missouri is found at Elephant Rocks State Park. Giant boulders of 1.5 billion-year-old granite stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. Many of the elephant rocks lie within the seven-acre Elephant Rocks Natural Area. This natural area is recognized for its outstanding geologic value. Elephant Rocks Natural Area can be easily viewed from the one-mile paved Braille Trail. Designed especially for people with visual and physical disabilities, the Braille Trail is the first of its kind in Missouri state parks. Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park The beauty and natural wonders of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park give it a unique character, appealing to a variety of tastes. Water cascading between large, smooth rocks, creating natural water slides, has made the park a popular recreation destination, and its landscape has piqued the curiosity of all who visit. Enjoy a Swimming hole visit or a short hike on part of the Ozark Trail, the “Appalachian Trail of the Midwest.”