You drive through flat Missouri cotton fields. Then, a massive ridge of windblown soil suddenly looms out of the flat horizon. This is Crowley's Ridge. Morris State Park preserves this bizarre geological anomaly, a tiny 117-acre island of Appalachian forest dropped right into the Bootheel. Actually, the soil here is different. Because of the acidic sand, you will find cucumber trees, tulip poplars, and American beech trees thriving miles away from their usual eastern homes. It feels misplaced.

You should hike the Beech Tree Trail. It is a 2.2-mile loop that gets surprisingly rugged as it climbs through the deep ravines. Look for the ancient beech trees. Some of these giants have grown here since before the Civil War, their smooth, gray bark standing out against the green ferns. You won't find crowds. Mostly, you just hear the wind rustling through the high canopy and the sharp knock of a pileated woodpecker. Just peace. It is a quick detour off Highway 51, but the prehistoric vibe stays with you.