Branson was awesome and we’ll definitely go back! Lady Friend and I had the best time. We really didn’t know what to expect, but we’re semi-adventurous gals, so we knew we more than likely have a good time no matter what. There was only a little bit of bad, so I’ll get that out of the way first.
The Bad:
- O’Hare and all the people in it. What a shithole of an airport. Apparently it is some type of portal for the most miserable people I’ve encountered since taking a women’s studies class in undergrad school. Wow. In the future, I will pay extra $$$ to NOT have to connect through that God-forsaken place again. Thanks to the O’Hare experience, I now have a pretty good idea of what Elvis’ colon must have been like circa 1977.
The Good:
- Springfield, MO airport: Clean and calm. The car rental girl actually walked us outside and showed us to our car. The TSA agents said things like “good morning” and “please” and “thank you.”
- The Drive to Branson: Beautiful. Not a whole lot between Springfield and Branson. Just a lot of hilly highway heading in to the Ozarks. The drivers were polite too. People actually let you merge onto the interstate.
- The Resort: Exceeded expectations in every way. It didn’t hurt that we practically had the place to ourselves, since kids are still in school. We stayed on Table Rock Lake, which is absolutely pristine! The water is clean and clear and the lake itself is surrounded by huge trees. It took me a while to get used to hearing birds and wind in the trees. The resort also had free kayaks available, so we went kayaking one morning and I’m happy to report that no dead, bloated rats, chicken box containers, or plastic soda bottles were found anywhere in the water! Believe me…I looked for them…it’s this sick compulsion that I have.
- The Branson Strip: Very slow moving traffic, but it allowed us to look around at all the sites. There were no strip clubs or pawn shops, but there was a John Deere boutique (not kidding), lots of motorcycle shops, and countless miniature golf & waterslide parks. The esplanade at the end of the strip was surprisingly nice. It’s really new too and there were a number of restaurants overlooking the river and upscale shops. LF and I had about a hundred beers at one of the restaurants before we got on the Branson Scenic Railway. The railway trip was awesome because we rode on an old train and all the cars were different vintage cars from the 1930’s to the 1950’s.
- The People: All the way around, the people were great. It’s easy to forget there are still some places in the U.S. where people make eye contact and are polite and helpful. No one gave us the “I’m on my break” attitude.
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Here are some uninteresting pictures from the trip…
The local convenience store chain. Enough said:
View from the train of our retirement home location:
A Branson parking lot angel:
Gourmet dining:
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 12: 18 pm
Oh, the next time you go back PLEASE TAKE ME WITH YOU. Those pictures are priceless! Yes, it is really easy to forget sometimes how NICE people can be when you’re not in a big city. The midwest and the south are the greatest places EVER for that.
Oh, I’m so JEALOUS.
AH: Don’t be jealous! Branson is on the up and up! We’ll be headin’ back sometime. You’re welcome and thank you.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 12: 36 pm
waffle house rocks!
midwesterners are genuine people. maybe not as progressive as coasties. my parents and older brothers were born and raised in saint louis - i guess that’s why i still culturally feel a tad out of my element on the east coast.
‘please’ and ‘thank you’ are nice…
AH: I knew sensed a geniune politeness about you. You’re a class act, J$. If it weren’t for the Johnny Rottin’ thing, I’d almost say you were an honest-to-goodness gentleman.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 1: 47 pm
Weren’t you two the youngest people there? By far? I thought Branson’s age limit started with Medicare and went up from there.
My parent’s (who are the LAST people you would ever expect to visit Branson) went along with my aunt and uncle a few years ago since my aunt and uncle wanted to go. I remember calling my Dad on his cell phone to tell him something, and I asked him where he was: “I’m sitting in the auditorium waiting for the Oak Ridge Boys to take the stage”.
If EVER there was a complete sentence that I NEVER thought I would hear my father utter - that would be the one.
AH: Yes, we were definitely on the young side! It seemed like there were no restaurants open after 6 p.m. Still though…the change was nice. It’s ain’t easy living in my part of Pigtown, so hanging out with the mostly quiet Medicare crowd was a welcome change of pace.
Sunday, May 27, 2007 at 2: 44 pm
Dude, last time I was driving in the Ozarks it was night and I had Dean Koontz on the tape player. The Ozarks are the BEST place EVER for ghost stories (besides maybe Maine).
Also, Branson, I can’t keep an open mind so I’m not gonna say ennything.
But Waffle House! Hoo yeah! You know we actually have one… it’s almost to Bel Air, if you’re out and about.