Branson

Branson: where we, my immediate and extended family, just spent a little over a week. It was the best week of the year! This is due to a number of different reasons, especially because it was where we kept the Feast of Tabernacles. (There are quite a few sites worldwide, so when choosing which of those sites we'd attend, we had to take quite a number of things into consideration...) So what made it so great?

1) Our lodgings were very accomodating. We used VRBO.com to find our place, which was located at the Wyndham Branson at the Meadows. There were two huge containers of coffee in the fridge (which makes me VERY happy!), laundry soap in the laundry room, soap at all the sinks, enough toilet paper and paper towels to last a week. These may seem like minor ammenities, but they cost a lot if the condo doesn't provide them! This is the first time in three years that we haven't had to restock during our week-long stay. May I also mention that our three bedroom, three bath condo was CHEAP considering how well decorated and stocked (not only with soap and such, but also with extra bedding, air mattress, etc.) it was?

2) We loved the food! We have two kids who are both under two, so eating out was rare and difficult when we did venture out. There is a Wal-Mart Supercenter and a more "local" Jubilee Foods, so we had everything we needed to keep the fridge stocked. And we found a couple of fabulous restaurants that we'll try again.  Among them: Ruby Lena's Tea Room, Thai Thai Cuisine, and the Bleu Olive. We also heard of some remarkable places that we'll try to try when we go back next year, including Cheateau on the Lake. (And, yes, we are planning to go back next Fall!)

3) There is TONS to do. Some may think it's super-cheesy to go to Branson shows on the strip, but we heard nothing but great reviews about Noah, the musical, SIX, and Twelve Irish Tenors. There is also the Acrobats of China and a Cirque de Soleil that I'd like to see! Again, we were very homebound with our two boys under two, so we didn't make it to the shows. But we fully intend on making them a part of the docket next year. Let's talk mini-golf. So many places, and with a competition too egg on their perusal, who could resist! We made a date night of it and went to Pirates Cove. There's real golf for those who are so inclined. There are a number of places to get an amazing view of the Ozark horizon, via zip lines. From what I hear, it's really exhillirating! The shopping! Wow, if you need anything, Branson's got a store for it. It's stocked with a Tanger Outlet Mall, Branson Landing (which is an outdoor, traditional mall), gobs and gobs of antique stores, and more than enough boutique-style stores to go around. Branson is nestled between Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo, so any kind of water-related activities can be had. Need I go on?

4) The Feast was coordinated by some pretty talented folks who made keeping it such a delight! That is topic for another post!

So for those who snicker and sneer at Branson (saying, "who can have fun in Branson, I mean really?"), I am here to tell you, it's amazing!