Branson, Missouri; An Entertainment Center in the Ozarks

[ATeam]

Diane and I delivered a load this morning in Branson, Missouri, and found ourselves in the middle of a delightful entertainment center set in the Ozark Mountains.

Branson is not directly accessible by freeway or located near a major city. While we have crisscrossed America many times in many directions, this is a stop that we only discovered today. It is a worthy stop where you can enjoy the features for a day or two or more. It is about 115 miles from the Joplin, MO, Petro. It is about 40 miles straight south of Springfield MO, on U.S. 65.

The ExploreBranson.com web site says:

"Known as the 'Live Music Show Capital of the World,' Branson, MO, is truly a one-of-a-kind family vacation destination — and an incredible value — with more than 50 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, an international award-winning theme park, dozens of attractions and museums, an Historic Downtown district, shopping galore, a full range of dining options, and a host of hotels, motels, resorts, RV parks, campgrounds and meeting and conference facilities."

We were surprised to find so many theaters in a location like this, but they are here. The emphasis is on family entertainment. One person who knows the town characterized it as "Jesus' Las Vegas." I pity the fool who would try to open a strip joint here. Click here to see a list of the theaters, shows and prices. You will find that for the price of one Las Vegas or Broadway show, you can go to three shows here. Some of the shows happen mid-day so you can do two, maybe even three shows in the same day.

Diane and I thought about taking in a show today but we are pre-dispatched to pick up a load tomorrow so our time is limited. We spent too much time in the first-class and very pleasant Branson Landing shopping area and lakefront park to squeeze in a show too. We will instead enjoy a sit-down meal in one of the nice restaurants and then head toward our next pick up.

Truck parking is easy. There is a bus parking area at the landing as people here call it. You can park there. There is a free shuttle trolley that loops through town every 15 minutes.

If you are traveling east or west on I-44, and have some time, or even if you are laying over in Joplin for a weekend, Branson is worth checking out.

 

[Rocketman]

Diane and I delivered a load this morning in Branson, Missouri, and found ourselves in the middle of a delightful entertainment center set in the Ozark Mountains.

Branson is not directly accessible by freeway or located near a major city. While we have crisscrossed America many times in many directions, this is a stop that we only discovered today. It is a worthy stop where you can enjoy the features for a day or two or more. It is about 115 miles from the Joplin, MO, Petro. It is about 40 miles straight south of Springfield MO, on U.S. 65.

The ExploreBranson.com web site says:

"Known as the 'Live Music Show Capital of the World,' Branson, MO, is truly a one-of-a-kind family vacation destination — and an incredible value — with more than 50 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, an international award-winning theme park, dozens of attractions and museums, an Historic Downtown district, shopping galore, a full range of dining options, and a host of hotels, motels, resorts, RV parks, campgrounds and meeting and conference facilities."

We were surprised to find so many theaters in a location like this, but they are here. The emphasis is on family entertainment. One person who knows the town characterized it as "Jesus' Las Vegas." I pity the fool who would try to open a strip joint here. Click here to see a list of the theaters, shows and prices. You will find that for the price of one Las Vegas or Broadway show, you can go to three shows here. Some of the shows happen mid-day so you can do two, maybe even three shows in the same day.

Diane and I thought about taking in a show today but we are pre-dispatched to pick up a load tomorrow so our time is limited. We spent too much time in the first-class and very pleasant Branson Landing shopping area and lakefront park to squeeze in a show too. We will instead enjoy a sit-down meal in one of the nice restaurants and then head toward our next pick up.

Truck parking is easy. There is a bus parking area at the landing as people here call it. You can park there. There is a free shuttle trolley that loops through town every 15 minutes.

If you are traveling east or west on I-44, and have some time, or even if you are laying over in Joplin for a weekend, Branson is worth checking out.

Branson is a very popular destination for people in my hometown.

A few years ago, it was being billed as the "new" Nashville. I don't hear much of that anymore, but many, many people spend their vacations there. One friend of mine sold a nice river lot/cabin and purchased a condo in Branson with the proceeds. He says it was the best move he ever made for entertainment purposes.

 

[zorry]

Post deleted,by Zorry,as it is not relevant to this thread.

 

[ATeam]

Phil,do you feel awkward down there with all your teeth ?

For those that may have missed it Phil posted recently that the reason he got into WG/TVal quickly with little or no experience was because he and Diane dressed well,acted professionally, and HAD ALL THEIR TEETH !!

He changed it quickly, but not before it was read by some.
I was appalled. Someone else said it was just Phil being Phil.

You would think he would know to edit,then post.

At the time of our FedEx interview and for some time after that, there was going around the FedEx Custom Critical contractors the joke calling such interviews -- especially interviews for the art team that existed at the time -- the "tooth check." It was with that joke in mind that I posted what I did. Upon further consideration, and realizing that such a reference may be inconsiderate to readers who do have all their own teeth, I edited the post to take that potentially hurtful reference out.

Zorry's reason for reviving that potentially hurtful reference in this thread, a reference he admites I quickly edited out, is his to explain. This thread has nothing to do with anything beyond Branson Missouri.

What's going on with you, Zorry, that you feel the need to inject a deleted reference to teeth in a thread about Branson, Missouri?

Seriously, what were you thinking when you posted what you did? Who does it help to post something like that?

 

[BigCat]

I am about 80 miles from Branson. It is nice to get away for a weekend with my wife and son.

 

[Rocketman]

Here is another popular attraction about an hour south of Branson. A lot of church groups make annual trips to the http://www.greatpassionplay.com/

Note** When searching for their website, I ran across some less than stellar reviews. It seems some believe the quality may have declined recently. You might want to do some research before making a trip?

 

[zorry]

I 've deleted post #3. This allows Phil to delete post #4 if he so wishes.
The tooth remark was such that I thpught it should be shared.
It's unfortunate that some in our country do not have the luxury of floride in their water and proper dental care.

The fact that someone thinks they're better than somepone else because they have all their teeth is such a character flaw that I thought it should not go un-noticed.
By pointing it out, I thought I'd give Phil a few minutes to think about it.
He knew it was wrong. That's why he deleted it.
Now I wonder if he's man enough to apologize to those he offended.
And yes,Branson is nice,especially this time of year.

 

[ATeam]

Those of you who know the Branson area well are invited to talk about routes to take into town. U.S. 65 south from I-44 is hilly but easy. The route we took in under load was from the south. We picked up U.S. 65 from I-40 in Arkansas and that was a different kind of drive altogether.

It is nothing an expediter of ordinary ability cannot handle, but it is not an easy road either. It winds up, down and around the steep Ozark hills for a long time. We were glad to be done with it. It did not help that we had on board the one of the heaviest loads we have ever hauled in this truck and one of the tallest ones too, nearly filling the entire truck body and reaching almost to the top of the door opening. Feeling both heavy and top heavy compared to the more common loads, we would have prefered a route that was flatter and straighter.

We researched routes to Branson from Memphis by looking at what people said about them on RV forums. Alternatives included U.S. 63 to U.S. 160, or U.S. 62 to U.S. 65. We rejected those based on what the RV'ers said about them. On the map they were shorter but people said they were slower than the longer U.S. 65 route.

 

[zorry]

Deleted by Zorry. Makes no sense once Ragman deleted his.

 

[Rocketman]

Phil, 63 to 160 to Springfield, MO (Memphis to Springfield normal route) and then down to Branson would be the easiest by far, but also the longest.

You can also go 63 to 62/412 through AR and join up to US 65 in Harrison, AR. That is the way I would go, but I'm familiar with that area as I live within just a couple miles of that route. 62/412 is a little shorter I think and probably about equal in difficulty to the route you took. Edit: The route you took I-40 to US65 is probably a little better. Under a difficult load, I would take your route or go to Springfield. If empty, I would take 62/412. All of those roads have some hills and curves, but nothing a driver hasnt seen before.

In the end, it's in the hills and your going to have to work through a few to get there. Some pretty country though.

 

[Bruno]

I am about 80 miles from Branson. It is nice to get away for a weekend with my wife and son.

What happened with your job at Coke Jake?

 

[BigCat]

It didn't work out so I started driving with a neighbor.

 

[ATeam]

The fact that someone thinks they're better than somepone else because they have all their teeth is such a character flaw that I thought it should not go un-noticed.

Once again, Zorry, you are making false assumptions that lead to false conclusions. While it is true that I have all my own teeth (except wisdom teeth), it is not true that I think myself better than people who do not.

In the retirement community in which Diane and I have a vacation home, many people do not have all their own teeth. I do not think myself better than them. My grandfather did not have all his own teeth when he was alive. I did not think myself better than him. I have had several mentors in the truck driving industry who do not have all their own teeth. I do not think myself better than them. In fact, as I think about it, I cannot name a single person that I know or have known anytime in my life who lacks some or all of his or her own teeth, and for that reason, I think myself better than him or her.

Now, I also happen to know of a person who makes it his business to inventory and publish in a public forum the character flaws of others. That does not make me better than him. But it does makes him less of a gentleman than I believe he could otherwise be.

 

[Turtle]

You can also go 63 to 62/412 through AR and join up to US 65 in Harrison, AR. That is the way I would go, but I'm familiar with that area as I live within just a couple miles of that route.

It's not bad at all over to Harrison, and this is coming from someone who hates driving those squirly little roads in the mountains. The scenery is indeed wonderful.

Now, 62 between Alpena and Eureka Springs, that's a whole 'nuther thing. What a drive, especially in the summer when the road is sardined with campers and RVs and cars and trucks pulling boats.

But Eureka Springs is one very, very kewl place. It's known as The Little Switzerland of America for good reason. It's also known as The Stairstep Town because of its mountainous terrain and the winding, up-and-down paths of its streets and walkways. The streets wind around the town, and no two intersect, and there are no traffic lights. There are about 2000 people there, and about 3000 hotel and motel rooms (I'm probably exaggerating, but I'm not so sure that I am.)

It's a popular destination for artists, musicians, poets, church groups, and sculptors from around the world. Many of the restaurants there have world class chefs who simply spend their summers there and are cooking at the world's great restaurants the rest of the year. Nearly every week there is something going on there. Blues, jazz, folk, and classical music are each celebrated, with a weekend dedicated to each type of music, usually with familiar names as performers. Every summer they have Opera in the Ozarks where full-scale operatic products are staged. The annual CICA International Summer Music Festival is held for three weeks each summer there, offering concerts and recitals by world-renowned classical musicians. Prominent chair (first, second, and third chair) musicians from the world's greatest orchestras attend, as well as The Eroica Trio, St. Petersburg String Quartet, violinist Alexander Gilman, violist Lech Antonio Uszynski, and soprano Dominika Zamara are regular guests who perform as well as offer master classes in music. It's a very big deal in the classical music world.

It's the epitome of a little artist community with all kinds of really kewl shops, galleries, and eateries. It's a wonderful place to spend some time. A lot of the bigger names that routinely performed in Eureka Springs moved up the road when Branson became established, but it still has a lot to offer, and in many ways far more than you'll find in Branson, although I also like Branson a lot.

I've got high blood sugar so I can't eat it now, but they've got a fudge shop downtown that will curl your toenails it'll make you so happy. DeVito's restaurant and Ermilio's restaurant are two of the best Italian restaurants on the planet. The Bavarian Inn Restaurant is a Czech-German restaurant that had a hotel built up around it. Everything there, like most restaurants in town, is made from fresh from scratch. A place called Local Flavor Cafe has just awesome food, prepared fresh and worthy of an Iron Chef. Gaskins Cabin Steakhouse is a to-die-for steak house that serves dry aged beef and prime rib like you can't imagine. It's $30-$50 per person depending on what you order, but it rivals some of the great steakhouses in the country like Ruth's Chris, Peter Lugar's and Morton's. Everything from escargot to start things off, to made from scratch culinary masterpiece deserts that change daily.

Despite having to drive that wiggly mountain road to get there, Eureka Springs remains one of my all-time favorite places. If I'm in Springfield, Joplin or especially Bentonville over a weekend, I'm very likely to run down to Eureka Springs. Just to eat, if nothing else.