Branson

We had a little escape this weekend to Branson, Missouri.  Yup, that place all the old people love.  So call me an old lady, because I love it too!

The last time we were in Springfield, we made the very necessary trip to Bass Pro Shop.  Does everybody love that place as much as my family does??  We got suckered into a deal to go view their resort and time shares in Branson, in exchange for cheap hotels and $100 in Bass Pro gift cards.  Free money to spend at Bass Pro?  Sign us up!  Or at least that's what convinced my husband he could stand spending a few days in "Braannson" (eyes rolled as he says it).  For some reason, he had not been as big a fan of the town as I was.
I have to say most of my experience with Branson in the past was trips to Silver Dollar City with my family, and a trip with my best friends in the fifth grade.  All Zach could remember was the terrible traffic on the main road through the town.

He wanted catfish.  He can keep that all to himself!

So we headed out on Saturday, grateful to not have a deadline to get there by, with plenty of time to stop for our son to pee several times on the side of the highway.  We checked into our hotel, found Shorty Smalls within walking distance for supper, and spent the rest of the night being bums in our room.

Riding the train

Oh no! The train robbers! Ha

In the stocks

He would have played with that sand all afternoon if I let him

The next morning we headed to Silver Dollar City.  Our first stop once making it inside the gates was breakfast.  That was my request.  Sorry honey, your wife needs food!  After breakfast we had fun exploring the shops, riding the train (Lyle gave pennies to the train robbers!), playing the shootout game, and enjoying bluegrass music.  The weather was gorgeous.  After lunch Zach went through the cavern tour while Lyle and I went to play in the kids section.  We rode the carousel and a few small kiddie rides.  I was feeling so nostalgic while we were there, remembering past trips where my brother and I would ride the same thing ten times in a row.

Riding the frogs.  This must have been before it started.  They "hopped" a lot more than I was expecting and he was scared!

We finally had our fill of walking a stroller up all the hills, we left grabbed some cotton candy and headed back to the hotel.  We made a pit stop at the Ripley's Believe it or Not! museum.  There was a giant Hulk inside, which made Lyle's day!  It was a fun place to explore.  Once we were checked into our hotel we relaxed for a bit until I couldn't wait any longer to go eat.

Hulk SMASH!

After a day of greasy amusement park food, we filled our stomachs with steak and potatoes for supper.  We drove around for a bit, and picked up donuts for the morning, but were mostly ready to head back to the hotel and go to bed!

Our time share tour was Monday morning, so my parents arrived at our hotel to take Lyle for the morning.  Surprise, surprise we didn't buy a time share, but they sure make you say no a million times before they will let you go!  We met my parents and Lyle at the outlet malls for a little shopping and lunch, before heading back to the hotel for a nap.  After naptime everyone was feeling so much better, so we headed down to a newer area called "The Landing."  It is an outdoor shopping area by the water.  We wandered around for a bit, ate at a great mexican restaurant, and enjoyed the fountain show.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous.  A perfect night for a walk down by the water.

Sitting with Gigi and Gdad

Surprisingly he wasn't trying to take these home...he was trying to put them back by all the others...apparently they were in the wrong spot.

Watching the fountain show

The next morning, Lyle and I joined my parents for breakfast at Cracker Barrel before we had to head home.

Lyle found Donald and Daisy down by the water!

It was a perfect couple days away, filled with a good balance of fun and resting.  It was so wonderful to only have a three day work week when we came home, only to follow it up with a three day weekend!  That's the way to plan a vacation!