We left last Saturday. It should have taken us five hours to get there, but due to all the rain Kansas had that week, many of the major roads we take were closed due to high water. It ended up taking us seven hours instead.
We spent the night in Springfield where Dan went to college. We had lunch with his childhood friend, Sean, and made our pilgrimage to Bass Pro Shop, a must-do when we are in the area.
Me, Dan and the boys with Sean, his wife Kelly,and daughter Hayden
Brett and Casey make a friend at Bass Pro ShopOn Sunday, we left Springfield for Branson. We stayed at the Grand Crowne resort at Thousand Hills.
The view of our resort from our balconyWe invited our neighbors, the Averys and the Donaldsons, to join us for an "out-of-state tiki party." They joined us Tuesday afternoon.
That night, we took the kids miniature golfing at a neat dinosaur course near our resort. Brett really wanted to play this particular course--probably because of the volcano erupting "blue" water and fire every few minutes.
Don, Mike, Josh, Carson and Tanner inside the volcano
Brett's favorite part
Derrick, Alyssa, Missy and Tanner on Thunderation
The Averys on the water toboggan
Brett in the treehouse
Casey, me and Suzanne on the merry-go-round
Dan, Brett and Tanner on the hot air balloon ride
Later that night, we went back to our resort for a Fourth of July party. They had everything--karaoke, watermelon, inflatables for the kids and fireworks. We had a great time--until the sudden downpour. They managed to cover the fireworks and they set them off after the storm passed.
Here we are crowded on our balcony after the rain storm
watching the fireworks.
Don, Mike, Josh, Carson and Tanner inside the volcano
Brett's favorite partOn Wednesday, we all went to Silver Dollar City. It was darn hot, but we had a good time. Thank God for the water rides.
The Averys on the water toboggan
Brett in the treehouse
Casey, me and Suzanne on the merry-go-round
Dan, Brett and Tanner on the hot air balloon rideLater that night, we went back to our resort for a Fourth of July party. They had everything--karaoke, watermelon, inflatables for the kids and fireworks. We had a great time--until the sudden downpour. They managed to cover the fireworks and they set them off after the storm passed.
Here we are crowded on our balcony after the rain stormwatching the fireworks.
The next day we took the kids to White Water, the water park in Branson. Our kids mostly stuck to the wave pool and kiddie area, but they did ride the tube rides a few times. The bigger kids went on the really crazy water rides.
Casey
Casey
Me and Brett on the tube slide.
Casey and Brett
Dan and Don on the giant body slide
Brett at the playground
Casey and Brett
Dan and Don on the giant body slide
Brett at the playgroundWe also had a chance to go to Branson Landing, which for you Wichitans, is what WaterWalk should be. They have a ton of great shops, restaurants, waterfront condos and a water and fire show overlooking Lake Taneycomo.
We rode the Ducks with the Averys and Tanner and the kids got to drive the Duck while we were on the lake. Not so fond of the quackers they give you to use on the ride though.
Josh and Carson with their quackers
Suzanne and her quacker
Brett
Casey
A view of Branson Landing from Lake Taneycomo
Me and Brett on the Duck. Mike, Beckie and Suzanne are in the back.
A view of the Branson Landing condos and the Hilton Hotel.
The water and fire show at Branson Landing
Brett piloting the Duck
Captain Casey
Suzanne, Casey, Tanner, Brett and Carson
(Josh wasn't into having his photo taken)
Derrick and Alyssa, who was very happy to visit the Pac-Sun shop
The official photo of the out-of-state tiki party
Me, Dan, Don, Missy, Beckie and Mike
We rode the Ducks with the Averys and Tanner and the kids got to drive the Duck while we were on the lake. Not so fond of the quackers they give you to use on the ride though.
Josh and Carson with their quackers
Suzanne and her quacker
Brett
Casey
A view of Branson Landing from Lake Taneycomo
Me and Brett on the Duck. Mike, Beckie and Suzanne are in the back.
A view of the Branson Landing condos and the Hilton Hotel.
The water and fire show at Branson Landing
Brett piloting the Duck
Captain Casey
Suzanne, Casey, Tanner, Brett and Carson(Josh wasn't into having his photo taken)
Derrick and Alyssa, who was very happy to visit the Pac-Sun shop
The official photo of the out-of-state tiki partyMe, Dan, Don, Missy, Beckie and Mike
3 comments:
Looks like fun, and it appears that Branson has gotten an undeserved bad wrap. One question -- it's Monday at noon and I don't see Dan anywhere around the office. Did you forget him in Branson?
Wow, you take a lot of photos! They were fun to look at.
Also, thanks for your comment on my new blog. I'm having a lot of fun so far. Denise is right -- I even went out yesterday and bought a new digital camera. Dale was always hogging ours anyway. I will link to your blog from mine. I haven't figured out that whole thing yet, but I guess It will come to me eventually.
Hi, Maria. Me again. Please tell Dan that I went back and looked at ALL the photos, including him going down the big slide. Looks like my kind of fun. Your photos have made me think that maybe Branson wouldn't be such a bad place to visit.
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