I was very fortunate and was able to spend the Thanksgiving holidays in Branson Missouri this year. Still here as I write this. It is always beautiful here, but more so in the thanksgiving/christmas season. It's still Americana 100% here. Nativity scenes, and no buddha's (ala California). Good music, grea shows, and patriotism. Wow. What a concept. Dick Clark is opening a 50's themed theatre and huge car museum, actually he's creating a 50's town atmosphere. Opening spring 2006. Should be really cool. Tons of car cruises in the summer. As Yakov Smirnoff would say "What a Country"!

We have a time share in Daytona Beach with Spinnaker resorts they also have a Resort in Branson MO and my wife wants to go I figured it would be nothing to do there so we havent gone.When you get some time tell me more you can PM me thanks alot.

... my wife wants to go I figured it would be nothing to do there so we havent gone...

Come on up to the ozarks, you'll be glad you did. I'm not a country music fan by any means, but after a week in Branson, I still had a great time.
I'll also recommend the Dixie Stampede show.

go see the dancing waters display or show, whatever it's called. a computer controls a couple hundred water jets and fountains and is choreographed to music and lights. there are only 3-4 in the whole world and branson has one. a must see. i guarantee you'll love it. shows start every hour i believe.

nothing to do in Branson, hah you'll have a hard time getting to see 1/100th of what that town has to offer in one weekend. beautiful ozarks country, lakes, food, shows, shops, silver dollar city, water parks, caves, etc.

if you get a chance drop down to eureka springs in arkansas (about another 45 mins-hour south) . playground of the rich and famous back during the turn of the century. hot springs, bath houses, shops, and tons of beautifully restored and maintained victorian houses with tour buses. well worth the trip from branson.

and if that still isn't enough fun there's always beaver lake near eureka springs.

all of the above is nestled into the heart of missouri and arkansas ozark country. some of the most beautiful land you'll be glad you ever treated yourself to. believe me you won't want to leave.

We are going next weekend. We try to do Branson and Silver Dollar City a few weeks before Christmas. Silver Dollar City is great in the winter. They have it all fixed up with decorations and a kazillion lights. Oh, and don't forget to try out the hot chocolate, you'll love it.

We will spend 2 days in Branson then travel on down to eureka springs for a day there. There's nothing like the Ozarks to get you in the Christmas mood
:beers:

Guys
Just got back from two days in Branson and two days in Fayetteville. It was great, some great cars too.
Thanks,David

i've never been there- and don't plan to go there.
from what i've ever heard from people that have been there, it's a bigger tourist trap than the Black Hills area of South Dakota- where i have been on a few occasions- only more white trashy.

We go there every few years.

...and don't forget to ride the ducks (http://www.bransonducks.com/). :D

I hate to be a downer but living in the St. Louis area I've been to Branson many times. Everytime I go there I come home feeling 20 years older than I am. I'm now 56 but I'm in the best shape of my life and my 68 RS keeps me feeling younger all the time. In Branson I see so many people that look like they belong on a Lawrence Welk show. I can't stand it.

Of course the wife loves the place so I guess I'm doomed.

Hey Georgia 69, send me your address and I'll mail you a "Best Read Guide" Branson. Has all the shows, theatres, restaurants, etc.
The "grey hair" Lawrence Welk Geritol thing is changing, very quickly. Yes, there still is the Lawrence Welk Champagne Theatre, and yes, the Lennon Sisters and family moved to Branson from California many years ago, and still live there and perform, but now there are several other music things besides that and country. There are some great 50's shows: Lost in the 50's, and 50's at the Hop, are the 2 best. There are some 60's shows, and now a couple 70's music shows have opened. As I stated earlier, Dick Clark is opening a brand new theatre this spring, and it's going to be 50's rock and roll, and cars through-out. He is re-creating an authentic 50's era town square inside the theatre where the cars are going to be on display. Should be really cool. There are some really great cruise nights in the summer, where the entire "strip" is hot rods and muscle cars. (Burn-outs do happen!) They had a big burn-out contest last year in front of one of the theatres. The entire "old town" down-town branson is changin right now, as Hilton and the state of missouri teamed up and are developing a HUGE 1 mile long stretch along the lake into a condo/condo-tell/upcale shopping experience. The state as well as Branson have put up 400 Million bucks, and Hilton is going all out. Cheapest condo (when they were for sale, all were sold out by the end of summer) was 385K. That's very expensive for Missouri. The majority were between 450-600K. Like I say, Branson is going to go big time this next year. This new area (called Branson Landing) has a scheduled opening date of Aug 06. It will change the face of branson forever. Big time, here it comes.

I live four hours from Table Rock, have a condo and land in Shell Knob, an hour south and a world away from Branson. Less crowds, traffic, alot more laid back, peaceful. Do alot of water skiing, boating, jet skiing and just plain relaxing in that beautiful water. My favorite restaurant is there along with great memories. I shouldn't write this, because as the Eagles Don Henley sang " call some place paradise, you can kiss it goodby". Ahhhh.. summertime!

i've never been there- and don't plan to go there.
from what i've ever heard from people that have been there, it's a bigger tourist trap than the Black Hills area of South Dakota- where i have been on a few occasions- only more white trashy.

Speak to what you know not what you think you know. Since you ain't been there you ain't qualified to rate it.

There's plenty to do there and it doesn't all cost a fortune. ;)