By Dave Woods

dwoods@joplinglobe.com

BRANSON, Mo. — Sharon Crawford looked content as she strolled down a tree-covered drive holding her morning coffee in one hand and her grandson in the other.

The 50-something grandmother from Jefferson City came to The Wilderness log cabins near Branson for a weekend walking in the woods with her family.

“It’s really neat,” she said. “It’s nice to stay somewhere that’s not your typical hotel, and the kids love this. You can’t have a campfire and roast marshmallows in a hotel.”

After a long day boating on Lake Taneycomo, or hiking around the Mark Twain National Forest or descending into a deep, dark Ozarks cavern, you’re going to need a place for your family to rest their heads … and their feet.

For a family wanting to spend quality time together and avoid the hassles of motels on the Highway 76 Strip in Branson, Crawford said she thinks the cabins at The Wilderness fit the bill. “I like the rustic feel,” she said. “We’re more country people than city people, anyway.”

The collection of nearly 40 hand-crafted log cabins off of State Highway 265 near Silver Dollar City offers cabins crafted with timbers hand-hued by Mark Edwards. They offer families unique options when it comes to memorable lodging.

Appealing to families wanting to spend a weekend together in the woods is exactly what officials had in mind at Silver Dollar City when they started building cabins there almost 10 years ago. The cabins at The Wilderness offer several floor plans and various amenities.

Primitive cabins are bare bones. Rustic cabins offer kitchen, bathroom and other modern amenities. Loft cabins can accommodate a small family and some come equipped with Jacuzzi tubs. Amish-made furniture and locally styled décor stick to SDC’s 1880s theme, and most cabins come equipped with gas grills, wood-burning fireplaces and, yes, even televisions and wireless Internet.

Jason Bernard, director of attractions for the park, said the philosophy at The Wilderness is simple. “It’s about families creating memories,” he said. “The family theme carries over. The expectation with the brand at Silver Dollar City carries over. It’s good wholesome fun.”

While many families come to the Branson area for the glitz and glamour of music and comedy shows, some families find it just as fun to sit back and relax, or at least take a little time to enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.

Here are a few suggestions to keep your family outdoors in the Ozarks this fall:

• For fall foliage driving tour route descriptions and maps go to www.explorebranson.com. The site offers three different driving tours and a fall foliage meter.

• To view fall foliage from Table Rock Lake, check out the Showboat Branson Belle dinner cruises. View the splendor of the Ozarks from the deck of The Belle or take a catamaran cruise on The Spirit of America from the State Park Marina. Go to www.stateparkmarina.com for catamaran cruise information. Is a kayak or canoe tour of Table Rock or Taneycomo more your style? Go to www.kayackbranson.com for rental information.