The '''Ozarks''' [http://www.ozarkvacation.com] is in the USA and includes areas in southern Missouri, northern Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma.
Regions
Southwest Missouri
Arkansas Ozarks region
Green Country Oklahoma
Cities
Major tourist cities
Branson, Missouri
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Osage Beach, Missouri
Major cities
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Joplin, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Other destinations
'''Buffalo National River'''[http://www.nps.gov/buff/] In northern Arkansas is an unpolluted and free-flowing river in the heart of the Ozarks. It has both swift water and calm streaches.
Understand
The Ozarks is a plateau that covers 50,000 sq. miles. There is also an Ozark culture which embodies the people that live in this region. The area has rolling hills, mountains that have eroded over time along with many man-made lakes. All of this makes the area attractive for outdoor activities including fishing, hunting and hiking.
The area became a popular tourist attraction overnight with Harold Bell Wright's 1907 novel, "The Shepherd of the Hills". His novel told a story about the mountain country and hill people nearby Branson, Missouri.
Talk
The people of the Ozarks have their own way of talking and a set of terms that you might not hear outside the region. For example some of the common terms are; ''"Frog Strangler"'' or ''"Gully Warsher"'' both of which mean a heavy rain. You might hear some way say ''"You look mighty peakid, are you a-fixen to be sick?"'' Others are ''"Rosanears"'' is corn on the cob, ''"yourn"'' is yours ''"Is that yourn?"'', a ''"krick"'' is a creek, ''"pritnear"'' is almost like ''""I'm pritnear done with this"''. The hill people of the Ozarks are affectionately called Hillbillies.
Get in
Interstate 44 runs across the Missouri Ozarks from St. Louis to Tulsa.
Interstate 40 runs East-West along the southern edge of the Ozarks
Interstate 70 runs East-West along the northern edge on the Ozarks.
Also historic Route 66 runs from St. Louis to Tulsa in the Ozarks.
Get around
The best way to get around is to drive. You will also get a good fill of the scenery driving the hills of the Ozarks.
See
'''Roaring River State Park''', [http://www.mostateparks.com/roaringriver.htm] in southwest Missouri has a fresh water steam with trout fishing, camping and hiking.
'''Branson, Missouri''' with world class entertainment and access to Table Rock Lake for Bass fishing and Lake Taneycomo for lake trout fishing.
'''Silver Dollar City''' theme park near Branson, Missouri
'''Eureka Springs, Arkansas''' sometimes called the little Switzerland of the Ozarks and on other occasions the San Francisco of the Ozarks. Local craft shops and art galleries, good food and shopping. Close to Beaver Lake with fishing, water skiing, swimming and other water sports. Don't forget to see the Passion Play.
Major lakes
'''Lake of the Ozarks''' in central Missouri
'''Harry S. Truman Lake''' in central Missouri
'''Table Rock Lake''' in southwest Missouri
'''Stockton Lake''' in southwest Missouri
'''Pomme de Terre Lake''' in southwest Missouri
'''Lake Tanneycomo''' in southwest Missouri
'''Grand Lake O' the Cherokees''' in northeast Oklahoma
'''Beaver Lake''' in northwest Arkansas
'''Bull Shoals''' in northern Arkansas & Southwestern Missouri
'''Lake Norfork''' in northern Arkansas
Mountain ranges
'''Ozark Mountains''' in southern Missouri
'''St. Francois Mountains''' in Southeastern Missouri
'''Boston Mountains''' in northern Arkansas
'''Cookson Hills''' in eastern Oklahoma
Itineraries
Do
Visit the Lake of the Ozarks area
Canoe one of the clear, clean rivers of the Ozarks, to include: the National Scenic Jack's Fork or the Current rivers, Elk River, Meramec, Big Piney, Gasconade, or the Huzzah. For the fishers, all contain good populations of smallmouth bass.
Eat
Drink
Stay safe
Get out