Sugar Camp Scenic Byway is the gateway to Branson

Leave the lake and head for the hills for to relax and enjoy the offerings at Mount Pleasant Winery. Its history dates to 1859, when two brothers from Germany, George and Frederick Muench, established the winery. They built the cellars in 1881, using local wood and limestone. During Prohibition, much of the vineyards and wine-making equipment were burned, but the cellars survived and are still used today to age estate-bottled wines and ports. Today, the winery has been revived, and the proprietors now grow 12 grape varieties on 78 acres. The winery has a spacious tasting room (that includes a terrace with a view) where you can sample award-winning Mt. Pleasant wines and even take a cellar tour.

If you're looking for a truly unique experience that will take your Branson trip over the edge, book a night at Branson Treehouse Adventures. They have cabins and campsites for RVs and tents, but the treehouses are obviously the way to go here. They're gorgeously designed cabins on stilts that put you among the trees. Some come with swanky bonus features like outdoor showers, jetted tubs, gas fireplaces and private porches. Even to get a cottage with real beds, cable TV, and private bathrooms is a lot comfier than your average night of cabin camping! Stop by the hospitality center in the morning to grab coffee and a pastry before heading out for another day of fun in Branson.

Believe it or not, beaches and lakes and forests with treehouse cabins are just the beginning of the natural wonders in Branson! There's even excitement to be found underground, like at Talking Rocks Cavern. The first man to explore it called it "Fairy Cave," because the crystals and unique geological formations made it look like “a subterranean fairyland.” Today, you can take an hour-long guided tour of Talking Rocks Cavern, which provides a great overview of the history and geology of the cave. Back above ground, you can take part in the other activities offered at the site, like mini-golf, hiking, and gemstone mining.

The Mark Twain National Forest is a sprawling, wild woodland covering about 3,068,800 acres all across southern Missouri. In a lot of ways, this part of the National Forest is where the forests that mark the Eastern United States start to fade into the more desert-y land to the West. Stands of oak-hickory and shortleaf pine give way to open glades of tall prairie grasses. It's a region of shady hollows, rugged hills surrounded by ridgetops and stony slopes, lush pastures and crystal-clear streams. This district is home to the Forest's only three scenic drives: Blue Buck Knob, Glade Top Trail, and (of course) Sugar Camp.

The Sugar Camp Scenic Byway is 28 miles of pure Ozark beauty. It climbs rolling hills for sweeping views, then winds down into forested valleys and through farms and pastures. Pack a picnic and hop out of the car to bask in the views for a moment at one of the two spots that serve as rest areas: Onyx Cave and Sugar Camp Tower. It's a quick drive that can be done in an hour or two, depending on where and how long you stop, but it's a worthy destination that makes the hustle and bustle of Branson feel a world away.