Branson, Mo

At this point in the trip we have decided to leave the camera behind as the remaining activities of the trip do not lend themselves to being photographed. Our Fantasy/Creative World RV tour of Branson, MO, which we won at Lazy Days in Tampa last winter, was a very interesting experience. The area is hilly and marked by large stacks of rocks which give Table Rock State Park in Branson its name. It reminded us of a combination Pigeon Forge, TN, and Myrtle Beach, SC – long strips of restaurants, shops, theaters, and LOTS of congestion, even though there was considerably less traffic now than during the summer. Our first day included dinner at the Dixie Stampede which began with bison running around the arena. The most outstanding feature of this show was the marvelous horsemanship. There was singing and comedy as well the “fingers only” dinner. A bit messy! Silver Dollar City was our destination on Sunday. George and Irene focused on the blue grass musical performances. Irene also enjoyed seeing the craftsmen’s demonstrations, especially the basket weaver and glassblower. Monday morning we attended the Buck Trent morning show, an energetic, fast-paced production. Buck, a banjo virtuoso, is an ex-Hee Haw cast member. In the evening we boarded the showboat Branson Belle for dinner and a show which rivaled any cruise ship’s evening entertainment. Two couples sang and danced, highlighting show tunes. A ventriloquist held a conversation with his Boston terrier which was hilarious. A Russian couple’s amazing dance/acrobatic performance was a highlight of the show. The Branson Belle was our favorite event in Branson.