Ron W. Marr grew up in the Ozarks and spent his youth exploring its rolling hills and lazy rivers. He is a columnist, editor, and founder of Trout Wrapper magazine and has written for such publications as American Cowboy, Playboy, Missouri Life and First Freedom magazines. Marr resides with a blind malamute in a cabin overlooking the Ozarks' Gasconade River.

The Ozarks has become the destination of choice for music lovers seeking bluegrass jams or classical , foodies of all stripes looking for down-home rib shacks or 5-star cuisine, culture mavens searching out the gems of Branson, and outdoor enthusiasts gliding along lazy rivers snaking among the rolling hills which make this area so beautiful. This in-depth, native's-eye-guide to this varied region sprawling from Missouri to Arkansas will give travelers the best of the Ozarks, flavoring discriminating information with anecdotes and historical facts.