Arkansas!

It's family reunion time again. This year our destination was Branson, Missouri. We arrived yesterday, landed at Branson's cute little airport and stepped off the plane into a blast furnace. According to the thermometer on the rental car, it was 109 degrees. Ugh.

I padded our trip with extra days for some sightseeing. Today we headed south into Arkansas. We went into Rogers for lunch at Braum's Fresh Market. It's chain of tiny grocery stores/hamburger joint that also serves their own ice cream. We had cheeseburgers and fries. One of our goals during our trips is to eat in unfamiliar places; the ones we don't have in Oregon.

Our ultimate destination today was Pea Ridge National Military Park, site of a Civil War battle in 1862. Dad and I watched the movie while Mom sunned herself in 113 degree heat. We then drove around the battlefield, stopping at the Elkhorn Tavern site where we had a great conversation with a costumed park volunteer. I only wish it had been cooler so we could've done some hiking.




We then headed east before going north, meandering the back roads for awhile. It was a bit cooler at Beaver Lake, so we drove through the campgrounds. Later, we stopped for ice cream in Eureka Springs before crossing back into Missouri.



Tonight's dinner was in the little town of Hollister, Missouri. I have to say that Pizza by the Chef makes really good pizza.