Best Weekend Getaway

A float down the Jacks Fork River in a canoe or kayak is the very meaning of "weekend getaway." As it wiggles its way through the tiny Ozark hamlet of Eminence, the river's waters are diamond-clear. Even in spots that are nine feet deep, the view of rocks and fish below is perfect. The shore is lined with spectacular limestone cliffs, and deer have been known to poke their noses out of the forest to take a sip from the river. Up north, about twenty miles on scenic State Road 19, is Round Springs Cave, which offers Missouri spelunking as it ought to be: no bat- and salamander-scaring razzle-dazzle Branson lights, just good ol' handheld lanterns. The town has a municipal golf course for the more suburban traveler and plenty of horse trails for the Lewis and Clark wanna-bes. Lodging options abound, including cabins on the outskirts of town or hidden-paradise campgrounds. And best of all, everything is cheap. A couple of days in this little town and you'll be bowing and saying, "Thank you, your Eminence -- the king of weekend getaways!"