BRANSON, MO - SHOWS & MORE SHOWS

Not a moment to waste with so much to see and do in Branson.  Everyday was a different show and each was unique and entertaining.

Our first show was Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede dinner and theatre.  It's a spectacular show with horses, a buffalo stampede, dogs and pigs.  We watched the show while eating a full course meal which included a full roasted chicken per person.  No utensils provided, we ate everything with our fingers including Dolly's favorite dessert, apple turnovers.

Dixie Stampede Arena is huge

Our next show was The It Show at The Hughes Brothers Theatre with 50 amazing singers, dancers, musicians and performers.  But the most amazing part is they are all family.

Great Show

What a talented family

The next day we went to see Six, again at the Hughes Brothers Theatre.  Six brothers mesmerised us for two hours of entertainment with just their voices, zero instruments.

Talented brothers

Colorful and very talented brothers

The night before we left for Arkansas, we went to our first evening performance to see the illusionist Rick Thomas.  It was an amazing act, however, I found him kind of creepy and egotistical.  Maybe it's well deserved because he has been awarded the illusionist of the world.

Headlining the Sydney Opera House in Australia and performing in both Las Vegas and Broadway he presents
innovative and mind-blowing grand illusions

Drove about 4-hours yesterday through the Ozarks with our passengers, Kurt & Diane, through
the winding, hilly roads of the Ozarks

Our site at Treasure Isle RV Park on Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Arkansas

Nice park

 Thanks for stopping in to say hi.  God Bless

BRANSON, MISSOURI

Here we are at Treasure Lake RV Resort in Branson to explore the "Live Entertainment Capital of the World".  We are especially excited because our traveling buddies, Kurt & Diane, from the west coast are joining us.  The campground has over 500 sites but it took us a while to locate one that could accommodate our coach.  Small sites, packed close together but with full 50-amp hookups we're nestled in and won't be spending a lot of time in the park anyway.  The park reminds me of Orlando in some ways because of it's size and wildlife, wild turkeys and deer. 

We got here on Wednesday and the Stewart's arrived on Thursday night.  By Friday we bought tickets for yesterday's lunch and show on the Branson Belle Showboat, Sunday's, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, Monday's, The It Show (Variety), Tuesday's, Six (six voices no instruments or music) and Wednesday's, Illusionist Rick Thomas. 

Friday we drove to downtown Branson for lunch, window shopping and to view the Branson Landing Fountain light and water show.  Yesterday we enjoyed pulled pork, pulled chicken, mashed potatoes and corn on the Belle while watching the show.  After the show we visited Table Rock Dam and visitor's center and took a short nature walk.  Table Rock Lake is an artificial lake/reservoir in the Ozarks constructed in 1954 on the White River by the Army Corps of Engineers.  Flooding in this area was a huge problem before the dam was built.

I get a sneaky feeling that while we're here, we're going to be eating well, enjoying good conversation and great entertainment.  Oh, did I forget to mention, wine tasting?  Diane and I enjoy a good glass of wine.

Picking up show tickets - Starting to see some Christmas decorations

Had a snack at the Bass Pro restaurant - birds enjoyed the cornbread crumbs

Branson Art

Light show was almost up there with Vegas

Branson Belle Showboat where we had lunch

Kurt & Diane inside the Belle

Country and traditional rock - very entertaining

Thanks for stopping in to say hi.  God Bless!

BEAUTIFUL DAY TO VISIT DOWNTOWN ST LOUIS, MO

We spent last night in a Lowes/Walmart parking lot located about 25 minutes to downtown St. Louis.  We couldn't find any campgrounds around the area and this was the best option.  Actually, it was extremely quiet and we both had a good night's sleep.

This morning we locked up all the storage bays and double bolted the coach door before heading out.  We followed the GPS directions to the Old Courthouse/Gateway Arch and located a metered parking space just a short walk to the Courthouse.

The Old Courthouse and Gateway Arch are part of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and we added another stamp to our National Park book.  The Courthouse is an important structure of both historical and architectural significance.  The building was finished in 1862 when the cast- and wrought-iron dome was completed. The courtroom dates from 1844 and was last used in 1930.  We climbed the winding cast iron staircase to the third floor.  The stairway has no middle vertical support and is embedded in the walls, rather interesting.

The Old Courthouse - View from the top of the Gateway Arch

Where the St. Louis Cardinals play - View from the top

One of the most important cases tried in the Courthouse in 1846 was the Dred Scott Case.  This case reached the US Supreme Court where the Dred Scott Decision of 1857 pushed the nation into the bloody Civil War.

We purchased our Journey to the Top tickets at the Courthouse and walked a short distance to take the tram to the top of the Arch.  We've seen the Arch from a distance but this was our first time getting up close and personal.  It's an awe-inspiring 630 foot tall monument with incredible views of St. Louis and the Mississippi River.  It is the tallest man-made monument in the US.  Our ticket also allowed us to watch the award winning documentary, Monument to the Dream at the Tucker Theater.  I purchased an Arch charm for my places-we've-traveled-to charm bracelet.

The Gateway Arch 

We squeezed in a quick lunch at Angelo's Taverna, burger for me and chicken wrap for Denis, before taking a short drive to the St. Louis Zoo.

We paid the $15 for parking even though we had less than 2-hours before it closed and paid another $16 for the train ride around the park, entrance to the park is free.  Knowing we had limited time and a lot to see, I was glad we got the train tickets which took us from one section of the zoo to another.  The zoo surprised us with how much it had to offer.  They had reptiles, primates, bears (the grizzly bears were awesome), big cats of all kinds, hoofed mammals, not to mention elephants, rhinos and hippopotamus.  It was fun and I'm glad we squeezed it in before heading back for another night at Walmart.

The Grizzly Bears were awesome

These guys are just plain adorable

Huge Hippos

Thanks for stopping in to say hi.  God bless.