Missouri - The Bright Lights of Branson

From the past to the here-and-now: Branson is the entertainment capital of the Mid West. It offers an astonishing 120 shows from morning to afternoon to evening and from magic to music. All are good, wholesome family entertainment. No showgirls here – you can take your kids and your grandma to any of them. I saw a couple – Jim Stafford, a comedian and awesome guitarist and the legendary Andy Williams in concert with Ann-Margaret (1^st photo). There is so much to see and do in Branson that all I could do is sample a few highlights……. I stayed at the Hilton at Branson Landing, a recommended hotel in the new and beautifully executed Branson Landing complex of shops and restaurants lined up along the lakeshore (2^nd photo). Silver Dollar City is an entertainment complex in itself – a mix of shows, crafts and thrill rides (3^rd photo). The Branson Belle transports visitors back to slower times as it paddles across Table Rock Lake (4^th photo).

The surprising star attraction for me was “Titanic” – billed as the world’s largest museum attraction. This is a brilliantly interpreted self guided tour through the tragic voyage of 1912, in which the visitors assume the identity of one of the passengers or crew. It personalizes the experience, generating a new level of respect and understanding for this fascinating disaster. My top recommendation in Branson! (5^th photo).

So…. get “your kicks on Route 66” and enjoy all the other travel delights of Missouri – truly the “Show Me State”.