Branson, MO...Shopping and Shows!

Branson, MO
September 28 - October 4, 2013

If shopping and shows are something you enjoy, Branson is the place for you! Shopping...its everywhere! Take your pick...we did! Tanger Outlets was out first stop. We spent several hours perusing the 70 shops and enjoyed a lunch break at one of the 4 restaurants. We also enjoyed the uptown, upscale feeling at Branson Landing. The Bass Pro Shop, one of the anchor stores, was great for luring the guys to join us! Its pretty neat with high rise condos above the stores, beautiful flowers, brick paved walks and its right on the lake.



As far as shows, it was hard to filter through the list of theaters...its a long list! Thanks to Judy and Gary, who recommended Shoji, that was our choice.

The lobby

What a treat! Shoji is a country music fiddler and singer who performs in his own theater. This is the 25th year in his theater which is why he is sometimes called the King of Branson. Aside from country music, the show includes gospel, polka, Cajun, rock, and beautiful patriotic tunes.

The show is entertaining...the restrooms are "award-winning masterpieces". Yep, the theater won America's Best Restroom Award in 2009 and has been featured on several television shows.


Features include a marble fireplace from Paris and chandeliers imported from Italy in the Ladies.

Each restroom is a approximately 1,800 square feet of "deliberate and one of a kind elegance".  Joe says there is a billiard table in the Gentlemen's restroom!

Yeah Betty! You guessed it. Our other big outing was lunch with priority seats on the Showboat Branson Belle featuring a three course meal, variety show, and an opportunity to sightsee along Table Rock Lake.


The grounds are immaculate with a couple of gift shops to visit while waiting.  
 
 

 









                                   










 Belle, "the largest ship on a landlocked lake" was launched in 1994. Construction took place right on the lake at the port of White River Landing and 2 tons of bananas were used to lubricate the launching rails to send the ship into the water.

 The show, Made in the USA, included Julie McClary. I have never heard anyone play the piano quite like her...

...and Dean Church had some very unique fiddling skills...

 ...the Castaways stayed busy...

...and the ShowBelles and Mike Bliss, Master of Variety, who kept us in stitches with his comedy and magic.

 





 We ate most of our meals at home just visiting! Jim and MaryEllen did the grilling/main dish and Joe and I did salads and veggies. Thanks Jim and MaryEllen!








We did enjoy burgers and Vidalia onion rings at the Uptown Café our last night.

And you guessed it...chocolate shakes for us, and ME had a malt!

 We also took a stroll in Historic Downtown Branson. There isn't a lot there...several stores were closed and some buildings were empty.

Fall and crafts were plentiful!













The best part of Branson for Joe and I was spending time with Jim and MaryEllen. It is a fun place to visit and never lacking in something to do!

We left early this morning headed towards Georgia with a one-night stop in Tupelo, MS...a whopping 410 miles today! Tomorrow will be much better...about 285 miles to Pine Mt, GA where we will spend the month of October.

 

Until next time, take care and...

enjoy the view!

Branson, Missouri

Branson, MO
September 26 - 27, 2013

 We were up and on the road before the sun when we left Amarillo last week...


What a beautiful ride we had...not much traffic, cool weather, and a gorgeous sunrise to enjoy.



Instead of getting on I 40 east by the KOA, we chose to travel the back way to the Interstate...

...and enjoy the countryside.

 We rode thru Wheeler, TX, population 1592. These turkeys were practicing the turkey trot...or,






...maybe just late for breakfast!





We drove a whopping 375 miles to Checotah, OK where we spent the night. That was our first time to spend the night in Oklahoma. We didn't see a thing, but I will still add it to our travel map. Our rule is an overnight counts. What's your rule?

 Friday morning our route took us thru the north western corner of Arkansas. Its really pretty...we have never been to Arkansas either.

 We enjoyed the scenery...

It wasn't all flat land. There were plenty of times Belle was charging up hills.





Neither one of us paid attention in geography class or we would have known we were in the Ozark Mountains!

So here we are in Branson, MO...our dear friends, Mary Ellen and Jim, from Kitchener, Ontario met us. We met them at Cape Hatteras, NC in the spring of 2011 and this is our third time to visit. What a fun time we are having.  
 

Meet Francie and Nelli. What smart pups they are and so funny too!

So what have we been up to besides long visits, picnics, and side-splitting laughter? More on that later!



But here is a clue!

Take care...until next time, enjoy the view!