Branson, MO - May 30 - Jun. 6, 2006
We decided we wanted to tour the NuWa Hitchhiker RV Factory in Chanute, Kansas, so when we left Memphis we headed for Branson, Missouri, which was along the route. The fastest way to get there was back through Little Rock, AR. Since we didn't want to backtrack through Little Rock we chose to travel in a northwesterly direction on secondary highways, the "red roads" in RVer parlance. Unfortunately, we had to cross the Mississippi River on I-40, which subjected our home to numerous 8.2 Richter scale, bone (and rig) jarring shakes. Be warned, west bound I-40 out of Memphis is currently a series of bumps, potholes and trenches. The ride was so rough it popped Tupperware lids off containers and actually unscrewed the top off the saltshaker, spewing salt everywhere. We survived, but our home suffered a major crack in its fiberglass skin.
The drive through the Ozarks was beautiful. Rolling hills with small country towns - many of them, such as Mountain Home and Harrison, are being "discovered" and development is on the rise. We found the tiny town of Flippin with its "Flippin Police Department" and "Flippin Church of God" amusing. It struck us as being deliciously irreverent. If you go to the chamber of commerce website for Flippin, it suggests that if you want more information you should "Email the Flippin Chamber".
We stayed at the Branson Stagecoach RV Park about 5 miles outside of Branson. The Stagecoach RV Park is very well maintained and has an excellent location across the street from Table Rock Lake State Park and Marina. The state park has a newly completed 2.2 miles walking/biking path that runs along the lake, past the marina and Branson Belle Showboat to the park Visitor Center. Randy and Brad, the RV park proprietors, were very knowledgeable about all the events and shows in Branson and made our show reservations. It was great! There was no effort on our part and the seats we had were perfect.
Branson claims to have 150 different shows offered every day, so making a selection proved challenging. We chose Darren Romeo, the Voice of Magic and the Showboat. Darren Romeo was the protégé of Sigfreid and Roy (of Las Vegas Mirage white tiger fame) and was named the 2004 magician of the year. His show was entertaining and he had a fantastic rapport with his audience - especially the young women (the guy's a fox).
Our second selection was the dinner cruise and Broadway musical revue on the Branson Belle Showboat a huge paddle wheeler with a 720-seat theater. The evening was warm with soft breezes perfect for a little cruise out on the lake, and the Broadway show tune review was excellent. The show included very graceful Russian acrobats and Todd Oliver, a dog ventriloquist act. The ventriloquist and his Boston terrier and Basset Hound were hilarious.
Branson has a population of about 6,000, but, according to their advertisements, accommodates 7 million "middle-class, Christian patriots" annually. As one would expect, it is street-to-street restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions and serious traffic jams. In May, the "Branson Landing on Lake Taneycomo" opened to the public. The development is new, but designed to look old. It has mixed-uses that offer an upscale shopping experience. It includes a tree lined river walk and pedestrian only Main Street lined with shops such as Ann Taylor, Chico's, Coldwater Creek and Polo. When we visited it was still about 40% under construction, but one could see it will be a very classy addition to town.
Full time RVing isn't all fun and games, you know. Mostly, but not all. We spent two of our eight days in Branson washing, polishing, caulking and sealing our home. From all the comments and offers of "My rig next!", we concluded that we could easily sell our services to other RVers. A second career perhaps? Nah!
