It's wildly underrated, but that might not be the case for much longer. I believe I can prove with science that one of America's best nature parks is hidden deep in Missouri.
We live in an area of virtually endless discovery. I've lived in Missouri and Illinois a majority of my life and never knew about this old mill and waterfalls in the Missouri Ozarks that appear worthy of a road trip someday.
No offense intended, Chicago, but I didn't think you were capable of having something so pretty like this so close to you. It's Matthiessen State Park in Illinois and it really does seem like it's a hidden gem.
There are plenty of places throughout the United States to visit, but sometimes just a day trip will satisfy one’s eagerness to just “get-away” even for just a few hours and not be that far from home.