Fort Leonard Wood, MO Outdoor Activities

Dream Valley Golf Course’s 18-hole layout unfurls across 6,255 yards of pristine fairways kissed by seven ponds amid a farmland perimeter teeming with lush foliage. Though mostly characterized by forgiving, tree-lined fairways, the course’s inventive layout requires adept course management with many twisting hole designs and flagsticks that double as jousting sticks during golf-cart battles. A dramatic dogleg right on the par-4 fourth forms the course’s hardest-rated hole, wherein golfers must either attack the 365-yard corridor by crushing a forced carry over a large pond or lay up about 160–180 yards for a safer but less rewarding tee shot. Clubbers can careen across the emerald meadows on their own spiky-soled feet or enlist the help of the club’s stock of rental carts, which help loop the links efficiently while insisting on being called a Mars rover-in-training.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-71 course
• Length of 6,255 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 68.5 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 113 from the farthest tees
• Three tee options
• Click here for scorecard

Celebrated by Golfweek as one of the 40 Best New Courses of 2010, the site where Civil War–bushwhacker Alfred Bolin and his gang once ambushed unsuspecting travelers is now John Daly’s Murder Rock Golf and Country Club. The 18-hole course plots an oscillating, 6,727-yard path over the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The first hole sets the tone for the round with an elevated tee box that looks out 363 yards downhill into the mountainous contours that ripple against the horizon. The par 71 course concludes at the daunting 18th hole—the course’s longest par four and most difficult hole—where an aggressive drive can cut off the corner of a dog-leg right on the way to a severely sloped green and portal into Space Jam.

Legs weary from ascending steep hills or squat-thrusting golf carts can take a load off at Glenn’s at Murder Rock. Amid dark-stained wood paneling and leather-upholstered chairs, the eatery serves an inventive grill menu including steak flatbread sandwiches and pitas stuffed with Cajun-seasoned chicken or shrimp.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course

• Length of 6,727 yards from the farthest tees

• Course rating of 72.0 from the farthest tees

• Slope rating of 129 from the farthest tees

• Four tee options

• Scorecard

For 30 years, the staff at Cliff Hartman Farms Quarter Horses has been breeding, showing and boarding steeds, including the nationally renowned stallion Good Terms. The equestrian family channels their expertise into lessons conducted in an insulated indoor ring, two outdoor arenas, a circular pen, and more than 1,000 acres of trail-laden land in the Ozark Hills. The farm's weekly lessons—molded around English and Western techniques—teach beginners how to groom and saddle horses before an hour of riding and a brief cool down. Day and summer camps afford the same opportunities for youngsters. And for those who own their own horse, the facility maintains a robust line of boarding stalls, all of which accommodate equines better than the antiquated storage zones such as the family garage or the family high-dive.

Inside the more than 8,700 square feet of space, Jump Mania offers dual slides, obstacle courses, and a 31-foot tall basketball bounce house. Elsewhere, a toddler area enthralls little kids with age-appropriate attractions such as a farm-themed inflatable play area. Apart from inflatables, the facility houses a concession stand replete with snacks, beverages, National Geographic back issues, and free WiFi for parents. The staff also hosts birthday parties alongside open-jump sessions. Its soirees even earned Jump Mania a runner-up spot on 417 Magazine's 2011 list of Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party.

Under the helm of the eponymous Captain himself, Captain Mike Fink's Marina’s friendly crew of youthful staff––well-versed in the art of boating––helps guests sprout their sea legs with a well-maintained fleet of rental boats and jet skis. Nestled alongside the fish-filled waters of Lake of the Ozarks, the marina serves as a jumping-off point from which nascent captains can pilot their buoyant steeds out onto the serene lake to partake in sun-bathed revelries or practice their sea-monster-lassoing skills. As longtime locals, Captain Mike and his team happily dole out thoughtful recommendations regarding area attractions and restaurants to inquisitive guests, pointing out all manner of hidden gems from waterside bars to tasty breakfast joints.

Since launching off from the shores of Fort Myers Beach in 1982, Paradise Parasail’s signature smiley-face parachutes have become an iconic image in the sky, now flying high above the waters of both the Gulf of Mexico and the Lake of the Ozarks. USCG-licensed captains navigate each of the company's boats as riders trail behind at heights of up to 500 feet. With feet flopping in the wind, thrill-seekers are free to wave to their friends, family, and nearby migratory birds. Parasailers can also pose for photos and videos captured by the company's onboard photographers.