St. Louis to Indianapolis drive: 10 ranked stops worth the detour

The half-mile Beech Tree Trail enters a rare beech-maple preserve, while a longer oak-hickory loop and wooded lake shoreline support a fuller reset. The back half closes to vehicles in winter and the concession remains closed indefinitely.

Warm Bevo Mill mainstay in Little Bosnia serving perfectly seasoned cevapi, burek, and hearty Bosnian comfort food. Order: Cevapi.

Artisan stone-hearth pizzeria from James Beard semifinalist Martha Hoover. (Meridian-Kessler)

St. Louis's pioneering Vietnamese-Chinese restaurant with a sprawling menu, from pho and banh mi to the local St. Paul sandwich. Order: Banh mi thit.

A rare chance to play genuine Dye design at public, state-park prices in the wooded hills of Fort Harrison. Proof Dye could build something fair and fun without the championship teeth.

Liddy built this Irish links-style original just south of Indianapolis, all rumpled fairways and breezy openness. An honest, characterful round that won't ask for a country-club budget.

St. Louis’s craft pioneer, with the historic Tap Room brewpub

Liddy and Pete Dye built this approachable Carmel layout with five tee sets and minimal forced carries. Tournament pedigree without the intimidation, and priced for the everyday golfer.

A dramatic course in the hills of northwest Illinois.