Originally had wanted to do something epic like Paris but given flight prices and locally the riots/strikes we have nixed that.

Looking at doing a road trip with my wife, we enjoy them but haven't done one in years since we have little kids. Originally had thought Big Bend but since it's summer that will be too hot.

Thinking of doing the Ozarks. About the same drive, 10hrs, as Big Bend but cooler! Give me some stuff to chew on, must-dos.

We like:
Nature / outdoors
History
Good food

Don't care as much about:
Live music
Shopping

not sure where you're leaving from, amount of time or budget but the Ozarks for a 10 yr anniversary seem pretty blah.


If you want to do a road trip for it I can think of much better areas to drive through imo. Big Sur, Oregon/PNW Coast, Ashville/Smokey Mountains, Yosemite I'd rank all above the Ozarks.

Big Sur, Ashville area, PNW all have great restaurants, beer, etc. Smokey mountains have the history, hikes, etc.

I understand and agree it's a compromise, really just looking for guidance on the Ozarks. Anything else you listed is a flight and a rental car given the short timeline we have.

Alright dang TexAgs has convinced me. Need some guidance on deciding between the three below:

• Yosemite
• Tetons/Yellowstone
• Ashville/Smoky mountains

You need to make reservations a year in advance for the first two.

Go to the Smoky Mountains! If you want quiet and seclusion, stay on the NC side around Bryson City and rent a cabin. Go whitewater rafting on the Nantahala. Spend some time in the park and hike. Leave early one morning and spend a day in Cades Cove.

Check out Petit Jean State Park

For your original request. We've stayed in the Ozarks a few places.

Greers Ferry Lake: went during summer, super quiet during the week, like hardly a boat on the water. We hiked Sugarload Mountain Island (only can get there by boat) and literally saw no one for hours. We drove about an hour north to Blanchard Springs Caverns, Mirror Lake Waterfall, and went swimming in Blanchard Springs. Lots of nature, and history. Food was fine but limited.

Branson - just stay away from the strip and that checks all your boxes. We went into Walmart once and never went back to the "city" the rest of the week. Lots of places to eat with good food and nature and outdoors.

As for your revised request:

Stayed in Bear Tooth Mountain region and went into Yellowstone before it opened and stayed until after it closed. Bear tooth pretty secluded so food options limited.

If you are willing to entertain another option, Acadia National Park and the area around it meets your "likes" really well. You can fly into Portland and have a short drive through really scenic terrain to Bar Harbor or you can fly into Boston, visit the Freedom Trail sites, then drive to Maine.