Tag Archives: Nature

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Branson’s Natural Side: Lost Canyon Trail

February 27, 2020 by Linda Price Wilkie | 0 Comments

Branson, Missouri, well-known for its big-name shows and attractions, has another side, a side that you have to experience to truly connect with the community, the history, and the culture of the area. I call it Branson’s Natural Side.  

Many Branson visitors are time-share owners or guests familiar with Big Cedar Lodge, a large timeshare property located in Ridgedale, roughly 10 ½ miles south-southwest of Branson on Top of the Rock Road. But if you’re a newcomer to the area and your trip itinerary doesn’t already include a visit to the Top of the Rock attractions, immediately add it to the top tier of your vacation plans.

Top of the Rock, officially known as Johnny Morris’ Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve, is situated at the highest elevation in all of Taney County and provides an unobstructed view of the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake. There’s golf, dining, and shopping there but it’s also home to two must-see attractions: the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum and the Top of the Rock Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail.

A photo of Johnny Morris' Top of the Rock Ozark Heritage Preserve sign at Big Cedar Lodge.
Johnny Morris’ Top of the Rock Ozark Heritage Preserve sign at Big Cedar Lodge.

These attractions are so important to the appreciation of the area that you have to see them both. Fortunately, you can buy the Top of the Rock’s Adventure Pass for admission to both and save money compared to paying the individual ticket prices.  Each attraction deserves its own separate post in order to adequately delve in-depth enough to do it justice. There are plans for a future Breeze Traveler post about the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum, a vast, spectacular collection of Native American, Civil War, regional, and prehistoric artifacts but this post is dedicated to the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail. Continue reading »

Posted in Big Cedar Lodge, Bluegreen Resorts, Resorts, Reviews Also tagged , , , , , , |
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Winds of Change

January 23, 2019 by Linda Price Wilkie | 0 Comments

“GROWTH IS PAINFUL. CHANGE IS PAINFUL. BUT NOTHING IS AS PAINFUL AS STAYING STUCK SOMEWHERE YOU DON’T BELONG.” yourtango.com

 

“Greetings From Austin Capitol of Texas” mural located in downtown Austin, Texas. 

WHY LEAVE AUSTIN & MOVE TO THE TEXAS COAST?

“WHY?!…”, he asked, she asked, they all asked in disbelief “…are you moving from the number one city in the US, to the Texas coast?”  As it turns out, Numero Uno is also unofficially known as the Allergy Capital of the World.  As a result of living there, I’ve spent more of the last six years being sick than enjoying the amenities of life in the Capital City.  Continue reading »

Posted in Beaches, Galveston Island, Gulf Breezes, Padre Island, South Padre Island, Texas Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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COT – Is There A Staircase Attached To That Rock?

January 26, 2017 by Linda Price Wilkie | 0 Comments

 The following post is about an impromptu trail hike taken while on what started out as a fitness walk on pavement.  It is described as we experienced it the first time we took the trail.  Since we had not planned to go hiking, we were not dressed for a hike, did not wear supportive hiking boots and did not use hiking sticks/poles.  I had no camera that day and was so focused on just trying to climb the trail that I didn’t even think about trying to capture pictures of it with my iPhone.  We had no idea what lay before us and simply followed our quest for a little adventure.  The next day, dressed and geared appropriately for hiking, my buddy and I re-traced the trail to photograph it as we should have experienced it the first time. 

To see the trail from start to finish, check out the 72 photographs in the COT Photo Gallery which is intended to give you an armchair hike experience so that you can either trek the COT vicariously or familiarize yourself with it for your own hike.

 

One winter day, my buddy, Gunnar Andersen, and I were walking through Champion Park on the Brushy Creek Regional Trail (BCRT)  logging miles for my latest MapMyFitness challenge.  The Austin weather was teasingly warm, even though Spring was still several weeks away, so we were dressed in shorts, short sleeves and walking shoes. 

As we walked briskly along, I caught a passing glimpse of what appeared to be a staircase leading to a huge rock across the creek.  “What, a staircase leading to a rock?”, I thought incredulously.  Then, “Why would a staircase be leading up to a rock?” Continue reading »

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Brushy Creek Regional Trail:  Follow nature’s path to a treasure trove of fun, fitness & fellowship

October 27, 2016 by Linda Price Wilkie | 0 Comments

View the Brushy Creek Regional Trail Photo Gallery.  Turn on the captions to get the full story.  Learn how at the Photo Galleries Guide.

Brushy Creek Regional Trail is a nature and sports enthusiast’s treasure trove of fun, fitness & fellowship.  Trail users are diversified by age, race and athleticism but they are united in their love of the trail (and the parks that connect to it) which abounds with nature, wildlife, recreation, sports and social activities.  

Brushy Creek Regional Trail is a designated USA Recreation Trail.

Located in Cedar Park and Round Rock, Texas, just barely north of the Austin city limits, Brushy Creek Regional Trail, or BCRT, is a designated USA National Recreation Trail that runs along Brushy Creek and borders one side of Brushy Creek Lake.   Continue reading »

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