Branson Zipline Blog Link

Today I am just providing you with a link to the Branson Zipline Blog so that you can see all of their tour offerings and their prices. They have a large variety of tours, even some in the dark! They have been open for over a month now, and I understand that they are already so popular you have to make reservations if you want to be sure to get on the tour of your choice. It sounds like a great experience--one that I would like to have some day. I'd really like to take the 2 1/2 hour canopy tour, but it is a little pricey so I am going to start saving my nickels and dimes now. Hopefully, I'll have enough money saved for the family to go together when they come to visit next summer.

Take the time to watch the video and explore the different options. If you are coming to the Branson area and want to do something a little more adventurous in addition to going to one of the shows, you might want to consider ziplining.

Click here to go to the Branson Zipline Blog.

I'm Back

Wow,it took me longer than I thought it would to get back to my blog! After going to Texas to visit my family over Easter, we made 3 more trips to and from Oklahoma to finally finish moving to Missouri. I wasn't sure we were ever going to get it all done, but for better or worse, it's all here. The only thing that didn't make it to Missouri was our precious little dog, a sheltie named Ceilidh (pronounced Kaylee). After six years of doing "Ranch Security" on our 14 acres, she decided to venture out into the road and got run over. I suspect she was looking for her long time nemesis, the dreadful trashcan, which had disappeared since our last visit. My daughter always said that Ceilidh had OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and I know that it was really, really bothering her that she couldn't bark at the trashcan because it wasn't where it belonged. Part of her job as head of ranch security was to give it a piece of her mind every single day, but since the waste management company had picked it up, there was nothing for her to do but go find it. If we had just kept her out of the road for two more hours, Ceilidh would be with us today. She was a great dog and is missed very much.

Since this is supposed to be a blog about Branson, I guess I should say something about Branson. We have been to a couple of shows in the last two weeks, but I'm not going to take the time tonight to write about them. I'll save that for my next post. All I'm going to talk about now is the glorious, glorious weather we are having right now. Yesterday and today could not have been more perfect. The temperature was in the mid-70s, there was no wind, the river was flowing, the sky was blue instead of the perpetual gray we've had the last two weeks, and the birds were singing in celebration. It was a wonderful day to be alive and a wonderful day to be outside. There seemed to be as many people walking along The Strip today as there were cars. The Ducks were out in full force and the miniature golf courses (there are at least five outdoor courses)had plenty of customers. There is a chance of rain the next two days, but then it is back to near perfect weather. I am going to spend as much time outside as possible, because it won't be long until it will be too hot to spend the afternoons outside doing much more than sitting under a tree with a big glass of iced tea. The evenings and the mornings are very comfortable all summer, but it can get a little oppressive in the afternoons.

Be sure to check back in a day or two, because my next blog will be about two very different shows that I saw last week.

St. Pat's at Waxy O'Shea's on Branson Landing

For the last several years, the place to spend St. Pat's Day for us has been at Waxy O'Shea's Irish Pub on Branson Landing. This year wasn't much different except that we spent the night before at Waxy's counting down the minutes until the day was officially here.



I'm not too sure how St. Patrick would feel about the way his name is being "honored" each year, but we were there to "raise a glass" to the day anyway.



Waxy's is a great late night destination in Branson since they have live music most nights. This night featured STOLEN WINDOWS (the last names of the original band members were Stoll and Wendell--say that fast and it sounds like STOLEN WINDOW). There wasn't too much Irish music since Daniel's Celtic Rock band, Dirty Old Towne, disbanded, but Stolen Window is a very good band--especially since they added Daniel as their drummer!



Daniel Dossey and Stolen Windows

The next morning we met Daniel and friends back at Waxy's for their big ol' Irish breakfast.



Daniel and friend, Matt, showing ofF
their freebie hats


When I say big, I do mean big! Byron and I shared one and were more than satisfied. I know that some of you are shaking your heads in disbelief, but it is true--Byron SHARED a breakfast with me and was full. This breakfast is HUGE and DELICIOUS.



This enormous breakfast consists of: 2 bangers (sausages),2 rashers (slices of very lean bacon), fried mushrooms, fried tomatoes, eggs (fixed any way you want, white pudding and black pudding (very good, but don't ask what they are), beans, fried potatoes, and bread.

Matt after finishing the whole breakfast

Matt's LITTLE sister, Catherine came in 2nd. Where did she put it all???

While we were eating breakfast, the crew at Waxy's put the finishing touches on the decorations.


The big party started that afternoon and lasted until 1 a.m. Unfortunately, we didn't make it back, but if it was anything like the last couple of years, then I'm sure that everyone had a really great time. The afternoon show is open to all ages, but starting at 9pm you have to be at least 21.

If you aren't ready to shut it down after the shows let out at 10 p.m., then Waxy O'Shea's may be just what you're looking for. It is one of the favorites of tourists as well as the locals. The kitchen shuts down about 9 or 10, but there is a nice variety of beers and mixed drinks plus the music. Waxy's is the place to go if you enjoy the atmosphere of a pub.

NOTE: CLICK ON A PICTURE TO MAKE IT LARGER

Limited Engagement Performances in Branson for 2010

As if there aren't enough live shows in Branson already, there are also a number of limited engagement performances that I thought you might be interested in knowing about.

For instance, The Mansion, will not only offer its regular 2010 shows ofTom Mullica's tribute to Red Skelton  (mornings Mar.- Dec.), Louise Harrison's  Liverpool Legend's Beatle Experience (Evenings Mar.13- Oct. 24), and Penny Gilley (afternoons Apr.- Oct.), you can also see several short run shows:

Apr. 24                             Kenny G
May 7-8                           Vicki Lawrence and Mama, a Two Woman Show
May 11-12, 19-23           The Gatlin Brothers
July 6- Aug. 15                Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan
Sept. 3-5                         The Gatlin Brothers
Oct. 8-9                          Vicki Lawrence and Mama
Oct. 23                            Michael Bolton
Nov.2- Dec.4                  The Gatlin Brothers and Debby Boone Together
Nov. 12-13                     Johnny Mathis

At the Oak Ridge Boys Theatre, you can see The Country Tonight Show with Guest Stars so you are actually seeing 2 great country music shows for the price of one. Here is a list of the guest stars and the dates of their performances.

Mar. 16-28                       Restless Heart

Apr. -July 4                      Marty Haggard -A Tribute to Merle

July 6- Aug. 15                 The 3 Redneck Tenors

Aug. 17- Dec. 11              Marty Haggard

You can also see the Oak Ridge Boys themselves on the following dates:

Apr. 20-22

May 28-30

Sept. 21-23

Oct. 5-7, 12-14, 19-21

Nov. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18

A show that made a limited appearance in the RFD Theater last year is now headlining. Brule'-A Native American Experience, performs March-Dec. " Brulé is a full theatrical production combining the mesmerizing dance moves of AIRO with sensational songs of Brulé. AIRO is an acclaimed dance troupe recognized as one of the most dynamic group of Native American dancers in the country and Brulé is a four time winner of the Native American Music Awards band of the year." I saw the show last fall and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is very unique, especially in Branson.


If you are a country/bluegrass fan, you may know Ronnie Reno. Ronnie toured as an opening act and band member for Merle Haggard. He also toured with Mel Tillis, did studio work for Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty and Willie Nelson, plus he wrote hits for both Haggard and Twitty. On the bluegrass side, he spent several years as part of the group the Osborne Brothers. He will perform May 14-16 and May 30-31.


The television show, The Country Family Reunion, is going on tour and Branson is one of its stops, not once, not twice, but four times. The dates that it will appear here in Branson are:


April 18-19
June 20-21
Sept. 19-20
Nov. 7-8


Marty Stuart is someone I have actually heard of and he will be here for 2 performances only on Oct. 22 and 23. There are several other performers that I don't know, but who may very well be well known to the people who watch RFD tv. One of these is Jimmy Sturr who will be filming 20 episodes of his polka program all day on July 20-July 24. Another is Hank Williams tribute artist, David Church on Aug. 6-7 and Midwest Country Stars on March 26-27 and Oct. 20-21.


The Welk Resort will be welcoming back two familiar Branson shows. Ray Stevens will be performing from Sept. 15- Oct.23 and Tony Orlando will share the stage with the Lennon Sisters for their 3rd annual Tony Orlando and the Lennon Sisters Christmas Celebration  from Nov. - Dec.11.


New shows are being added all of the time so I will try to keep you informed of the additions. In the meantime maybe you've already spotted something that you would love to see.

The Ozarks are Going Medieval in May

May is going to be an exciting month around Branson. Not only can you fly through the canopy of a forest on a zip-line, I've discovered that you can also go back in time and watch a medieval castle being built using 13th century methods, techniques, and tools,

The Ozark Medieval Fortress is being built approximately 30 minutes south of Branson near Lead Hill, Ark., and is expected to take 20 years to complete which is the amount of time it took to build a fortress in the Middle Ages. In the meantime, visitors will watch as "thirty masons, carpenters and stone carvers authentically dressed" build a "genuine, full-sized, fortified castle, with 45 foot high towers, a drawbridge, and 6 foot wide stone walls surrounding an expansive inner courtyard, using the materials, techniques, and rules of the 13th century."  I envision the Ozark Medieval Fortress to be a Middle Ages version of Williamsburg, a working replica of colonial America. 


You can learn more about the history and the future plans for this exciting and educational experience HERE.  This is just one more reason for my friends and family to come visit me this summer!

                                                                

    

(these pictures were lifted from the Ozark Medieval Fortress' s publicity materials)

I am constantly amazed at the variety of activities to be found ALL ABOUT BRANSON. Every time I surf the web, I seem to find something new.I don't think I could experience everything that the Branson area has to offer even if I tried something different every day for a year. Since I can't do that, I would love for any of you who have been to Branson to tell us about some of your favorite activities or shows. You can make suggestions by clicking on  the word "comment" below and then writing in the comment box that will appear. We'd love to hear about your experiences.

                                                                                                                                                          

We've Spotted the New Branson Zip-line

The Branson Zip-line, a new adventure tour in the area, has added roofs to their towers, and now you can see them dotting the hillside as you are driving Hwy. 65 between Branson and Springfield. As you are going north from Branson, start looking for the towers right after you pass the large sign indicating the turn-off to Bonniebrook, (the home of Rosie O'Neill who was the creator of the Kewpie doll). The Branson Zip-line is on the property of the Wolf Creek Preserve which also has a large sign visible from Hwy. 65. Once the trees leaf out, though, it will probably be difficult to spot them from the road anymore.

The grand opening of the Branson Zip-line is scheduled for May 1 at which time they will offer two tour options: the 2.5 hour long Ozark Xplorer or the 1.5 hour Flying Prospector. You can learn more about the Branson Zipline and view their picture gallery by going to http://www.bransonziplineblog.com/.

     Here are two of their pictures of the towers so you'll know what you are looking for.

Now you know that there is a lot more to Branson that just shows and shopping.  Who's going first???

They're B-a-a-ck!

The tourists are back, and, of course, they've brought their cars. Last weekend we went to the Legends show at the
Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater and noticed a difference in the amount of traffic. Tonight we went to our favorite Branson Mexican restaurant, Casa Fuentes,  on the strip and watched the steady stream of traffic parading by the window. After two months of driving up and down the strip without even thinking about it, I will have to remember to leave my house a little earlier and to make use of the alternate routes again.

There is a new energy starting to build in Branson.The tourists are back. The weather is getting warmer. The shows, some of which are brand new and others which have changed venues, are gradually opening.  A giant King Kong is being attached to the side of a building in the New York skyline atop the
Wax Museum. It's Irish month at the Titanic. Trout season is in full swing and the fishing camps and Lake Taneycomo are overrun with fishermen. This weekend the Ducks will once again make their continuous treks around town, out to Tablerock Lake and back, all the while entertaining their curious passengers with stories and trivia about the history of Branson and the surrounding area. I have also started noticing the distinct sound of the helicopter flying overhead. Silver Dollar City will be opening on March 20, just in time for spring break, plus the hotels and restaurants that closed for the months of January and February are accepting customers again.

Most exciting of all, though, is that people are going back to work. Anytime a show, a restaurant, or a hotel closed during the off -season, its employees were laid off and were forced to live off of savings and/or unemployment. Last Friday, while answering the phone at my church, I answered a call from a lady asking for gas money. She said  she was finally getting to go back to work, but she wouldn't get paid until then next Friday and she didn't have enough money left to buy gas for the week.

Yes, the energy and the excitement are building, and I pray that it will be a good year for Branson. Last year, I was afraid that the economy would really hurt the tourist industry in Branson. While it wasn't as good as in previous years, it wasn't that bad, but we'll have to see how this year goes. Instead of going overseas, maybe more people will decided to stay closer to home and Branson is smack dab in the middle of the country. It will be interesting to see how this year will go.





Just for fun--A Branson Sunset. Unfortunately, the picture isn't nearly as beautiful as the actual sunset was. The sun was a bright, bright orange that just didn't translate in my picture, but I still think it is an interesting picture. Let me know what you think.

A Great Branson Resort Rate From Travelzoo!

I was looking through the great deals sent to me from Travelzoo and ran across this unbelievable rate for a Branson lakeside resort room. If you are looking to get away for a few days in the next two months this would be a terrific deal--a $100 room for just $35. You can't stay at a Motel 6 for that price! Click here if you are interested, but hurry because these deals usually sell out fast. Don't forget that Branson has its own airport now, so if you live too far to drive here then be sure and explore the possibility of flying instead. You can access the Branson airport site by clicking on flybranson.com.

So who's coming to see us??

Loaves and Fishes, Hope on the Road, and the Haygoods

Three times a week, I run into the Hollister Spirits Shop convenience store to grab a free Branson Daily Independent newspaper. This particular newspaper has a little national news and a little state news along with some classified ads, but it primarily focuses on what is going on in the Branson area—in the entertainment industry, but also in the community. What caught my eye one day was an article about how the Haygood family treated the clients of Loaves and Fishes to a free show.

Loaves and Fishes is a local program that provides a free evening meal to needy area residents at seven different Branson churches. The meals themselves are donated by a variety of groups—the churches, boy scouts, area restaurants, social clubs, etc. In 2009, Loaves and Fishes spanned 10 weeks and served over 8,000 meals. This year’s program is 12 weeks long lasting from January 4 through March 13. Feeding the hungry is certainly a worthy endeavor, but it occurred to Bransonite, Abby Lewis, that there were many people needing meals that had no transportation and, therefore, could not take advantage of these free meals. As a result of this revelation, Hope on the Road was born.  The Hollister YMCA has donated the use of its bus to run a set route every night picking up people at designated spots, delivering them to the appropriate location and then returning them to their pick up point. My husband and I saw this full size school bus go by one evening, and it was totally packed with men, women, and children. In fact, so many people are needing transportation that there has been talk of possibly putting a second YMCA bus into operation.              

Now back to the headline from the Branson Daily Independent that first caught my eye: Haygoods provide free show to ‘Loaves & Fishes’ recipients.   In addition to the free performance, the 7 brothers and 1 sister handed out Haygood teddy bears to each of the 150 people who attended.  While it is essential that people’s basic needs be met, it is also important that the human spirit be occasionally lifted. When we attend to a person’s  morale, we better enable them to face the challenges of everyday life, so kudos to the Haygoods for giving this group of people an evening of fun!
This is just one example of the generosity of Branson’s entertainment industry. My husband and I have split our time between Branson and OKC for one year now, but I’ve already noticed many instances of performers donating their time, their talent, their theater space, or their money to better the community that has been so good to them. I am glad these entertainers realize that, while their paychecks may be provided by the tourists, Branson could not have become The Live Entertainment Capital of the World without the support and hard work of its local citizenry, and that, like it or not, some of these citizens sometimes need a helping hand.

Helping those who are less fortunate is the right thing for each and every one of us to do. Loaves and Fishes and Hope on the Road are two local programs run by and funded by volunteers. The 2010 season is almost over, but if you would like to assist them by helping at one of the churches, by driving a bus (if you have the proper certification), by being a greeter on the bus, or by donating money to help pay for the bus’s gas, you can contact  Abby Lewis at healingnaturally@suddenlink.net.

Not for the Faint of Heart!

Last night, I woke up about 3 a.m. and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided to research Branson and discovered that something was coming here early in 2010 that I had heard nothing about. This will not appeal to the stereotypical Branson visitor, but it does help prove that Branson is really trying to expand its appeal.

If you aren't into shows and want something a little more daring, there are already a number of activities you might enjoy: trout fishing, kayaking, para-sailing,water skiing, boating,  hiking, helicopter rides, hot air balloons (out of Springfield or Ark.) and even mud caving (I should get my brother and nephews to write a column about their experiences with this one--hint, hint). If that isn't exciting enough for you, then how about Zip-lining?

If you have ever watched The Amazing Race, you may have seen contestants zipping through the jungles of Costa Rica. Well, now, you will be able to  spend 2 1/2 hours playing Tarzan right here in the forests surrounding Branson.

This is how it works:

•  There are platforms spaced high above the canopy. 
• You are hooked to a zip-line that is strung from one platform to another.
•  You step off of the platform and "fly" to the next platform.
•  You get hooked up to the next zip-line and off you go to the next platform.       

 Want  to learn more about the Branson Zip-line? Here is a link that will fill you in on its progress. bransonziplineblog.com/

What fun!!

...But How Do You Stand the Traffic?

Whenever someone finds out that we’ve moved to Branson they nearly always say, “Oh, I love that area! It is so beautiful, and we always have a lot of fun, but how do you stand the traffic?”

Every Sunday, as we are headed to breakfast after attending church, I am reminded of this question. I want to hang a big sign out of the car window that says in giant letters “THERE ARE OTHER ROADS IN THIS TOWN BESIDES THE STRIP!” If you are driving west on The Strip (Hwy. 76) on a Sunday morning, you are fine; but if you are headed east, it will take you 30 minutes to go 4 or 5 miles, because it is bumper to bumper and the line is at a virtual standstill. I have yet to figure out why there is so much traffic at 10:20 on a Sunday morning. There are a few shows that start at 10, but anyone attending those should be off of the road by then. Most church services are in session, are over, or they start at 11-- plus, they aren’t located on The Strip or they can usually be approached without getting on The Strip at all. The only other thing I can figure is that there A LOT of tourists checking out of the motels and heading out of town. It would be great if some of them would just head out making a westerly loop instead of heading east.

There are other times when The Strip is overly crowded in either/or both directions, so let me give you a hint: be brave and venture off of The Strip. Even if you get lost, it won’t be for long, you’ll see something besides the back end of the car in front of you, and you’ll probably still get where you are going faster than if you sit in a 3 mile line of cars! You can find maps just about anywhere that will show you alternate routes (red, yellow, or blue—look for the signs) so take a few minutes to formulate a plan before you ever venture out. There are a lot of theaters, restaurants, and shops on The Strip, but there are plenty in other locations, too. Try some of them. I know they would appreciate your business.

Branson has spent a lot of time and money the last few years adding infrastructure to help alleviate the traffic problems, but it seems to be mainly the locals who are making use of them. That’s great for the people who live in Branson, but the visitor who never leaves The Strip may get a bad impression and decide the traffic isn’t worth the hassle. That is especially sad, because it is a fixable problem by just thinking outside of the box, or in this case, outside of The Strip. So go forth, my friends, and explore those alternate routes!



Check out the following link if you would like to view maps of the Branson area: http://www.branson.com/learn/branson-area-information/maps. (FYI--Our house is located on the south side of Taneycomo at about the half-way point).

Fall is Definitely My Favorite Time of the Year

We've been here for all four seasons now, and while each season has its own attractions, I can unequivocally say that I like fall the best. Now maybe that is because I spent more than half of my life in Odessa, Texas. There, I knew it was fall because I was surrounded by the sights and sounds of football (a la Friday Night Lights). Here, I know it is fall because I'm surrounded by the brilliant reds and oranges and yellows of the turning leaves. Here, I can see and smell the piles of burning leaves, while in West Texas there really aren't enough leaves to make a good pile.

I LOVE driving Hwy. 165 from Hollister to Branson just so I can look at the trees, stop at the Scenic Outlook, and drive across the dam. I just can't get enough of those views! It's possible that after I've been here a few years, I'll get so used to the scenery that I won't feel the need to take the longer scenic route just to go to Wal-Mart, but I don't think so. You see, I used to drive 4 hours to get to a nice lake with trees so a 20 minute drive across Table Rock is nothing. Byron and I have spent time in other areas that had nice fall color--Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas and even Oklahoma--but this is the first time that we've actually lived right in the middle of it. I know, I know, you think I'm getting a little carried away, but I can't help it. You'd feel the same way if you'd grown up surrounded by flat and dry and brown. If you happened to have seen Friday Night Lights then you know what I'm talking about. The opening scene of the flat highway between Odessa and Midland was filmed a quarter mile from our house. This is not to say that West Texas doesn't have its own unique beauty. You can see the most spectacular sunrises and sunsets there nearly every day, and they seem to stretch on forever, but right now, I am VERY happy to be surrounded by trees and mountains and water.

The question is how to take the best advantage of all this fall beauty. There are a number of ways to experience a great fall in the Ozarks. The easiest, of course, is to just take a drive through the surrounding countryside. You might even consider driving to Eureka Springs, Ark. It is only about an hour's drive and the unique town is well worth the drive.

I understand there are also a number of good hiking trails. One is at a 130acre national park on the edge of town which overlooks Lake Taneycomo. If you don’t mind 315 historic stone steps, you can hike down to the lake. Unfortunately, you would also have to hike back up which could be a challenge for some of us.

We have not taken a trip on the Branson Scenic Railroad yet, but it is definitely on my list for next fall. I can only imagine how beautiful the 40 mile round trip through the trees must be. The Showboat Branson Belle is also on my list. The trip across Table Rock looking back at the tree-covered shoreline is probably spectacular.

Or, how about a helicopter or hot air balloon ride? Both are available in the area.

I think my number one choice, though, would be a day at Silver Dollar City. I have done this, and I must say that you would have a hard time coming up with a better way to experience the Ozarks. The park is absolutely beautiful anytime of the year, and the shows, the food, and the craftsmen are great. Plus, if you are into roller coasters, they have some real heart stoppers. If you are able keep your eyes open you can even get a great view just before you and your heart go over the edge. (By the way, SDC recently was voted the friendliest amusement park in the United States).

By the time I decided to start this blog, the fall color was pretty much over, but it is never too early to start planning for next fall. I hope some of you will come see us.

We’re headed to Oklahoma and Texas for Thanksgiving so I won’t be writing again until after Dec. 5th. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!


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