One of the top destinations in the Midwest is Branson, Missouri. Like many, we have made multiple trips to this Ozark location, but this was our first visit during the Christmas season. A winning bid at a fundraiser silent auction had secured us tickets to Silver Dollar City, and Crystal had been wanting to see the holiday magic for many years. It looked obvious that 2017 would be the year she got her wish.
The Branson Hotel
Once we determined our destination, it was time to work on the rest of the trip details. Branson has no lack of lodging options, but we were looking for something special. After a little research, the perfect choice came to light. The Branson Hotel is an adults only historic hotel that has only nine rooms. Each of the theme decorated rooms offer a special experience for guests. We quickly learned that our choice was perfect for our short getaway. The wonderful staff and delightful treatment that we received made our stay extra special. (Read more details about the Branson Hotel here>)
Branson Landing
Our hotel choice put us a few short blocks from the Branson Landing, which is located on the edge of Lake Taneycomo. Our arrival had been early enough for us to enjoy some time exploring this outdoor venue. We watched one of the Water & Fire shows that play each hour by the shore. There is a posted schedule that lists which songs will accompany the shows. Afterwards, we visited a few shops, and even made a stop in Smith Creek Moonshine for a taste test. (You can read more about Smith Creek here>)
White River Fish House
Our lunch appointment was at the White River Fish House. This Bass Pro Shop owned property offers some down home quality dishes served up with fashion. This all takes place inside a building that is reminiscent of an old fishing lodge. It ranked as one of the most memorable meals of our trip. (Read more about the Fish House here>) To help work off some of our delicious, yet filling lunch, we returned to shopping. After seeing the shops of the Branson Landing, we worked our way back up Main Street to our hotel.
Dixie Stampede
We found ourselves with some free time, before our evening appointment. It had been a while since our last visit to Branson, so we decided to cruise the strip, and see what had changed. While a few places change hands, for the most part everything was quite familiar. One place that seems to be a constant landmark is the Dixie Stampede. We have driven past this stately complex many times, but had never visited. This year we decided we would remedy this oversight. Their seasonal Christmas show was just the ticket to help get us in the mood for our main event the next day. An evening filled with food, music, and action was in store for us, and made us wonder why we hadn’t done this sooner. (Read more about Dixie Stampede here>)
A good night’s sleep, and a delicious breakfast prepared us for a long day of exploring. Our second day was completely dedicated to our Silver Dollar City visit. Of course, we had some time to kill before it opened, so we spent some more time exploring the strip. We try to find a small momento, from each city we visit, for a board we keep in our office. After a few stops, we found just what we were looking for, and decided it was time to head to the park.
Silver Dollar City
We have seen many of our friends post pictures from their visits to Silver Dollar City during the Old Time Christmas Festival. With no kids in our group, we could build an itinerary that revolved around just the things we wanted to do. For us, this visit would be about the Christmas decorations. Sure, we would do some shopping, catch a show or two, and maybe even ride a couple of rides. Still we knew that once the sun set, it would all be about seeing what 6.5 million lights looked like in person. Let’s just say that there are no pictures that do the experience justice. We still tried to express it, as well as we could. (Read more about Silver Dollar City here>)
Top of the Rock
There was one stop that we made earlier in the year, but decided to add to this group. Top of the Rock is located just south of Branson, and is a common side trip for those vacationing in the area. Others stay at this luxury resort, and travel into Branson for the shows, restaurants, and attractions. This scenic destination sits high on a ridge over Table Rock Lake, and offers unbelievable views of the valleys below. The complex has restaurants, a nature trail, history museum, and even a golf course designed by famous PGA golfers. It was certainly more than we expected to find, even after seeing the many posts by our readers. (You can read more about Top of the Rock here>)
Thanks For The Suggestions
Through our first year of research trips for the blog, we have learned many new things. Most valuable of all is the knowledge that our readers are an important resource for information. While we don’t have time to visit every place that you suggest, we try to at least research each one we see mentioned. When possible, we add these to our itineraries. This has worked out well, and led us to some unique stops that we would surely have overlooked. Thanks again to each and every one of you, and keep the suggestions coming. We love all of the feedback.
wow! the whole trip looks amazing.
It was a ton of fun.
Ahh Branson looks so fun! I would love to visit!
We hope you make it some day.
It looks amazing!
It truly is.