"Road trip"!
We were hoping for a vacation filled with nature's beauty, old fashioned layed back towns where life is unhurried, and entertainment leaves you clapping for more with standing ovation talent! We indeed found it!
We left Monday the 24th at 5:30 a.m. and headed west on I-70. We crossed the Mississippi River about 11:00 a.m. and stopped in historic St. Charles for lunch.
Dennis drove and drove and drove and...
Crossing the bridge over the mighty Mississippi River.
It was Monday and the town was closed. It was an adorable town though. We did find a cafe open and had a quick lunch and it was back on I-70 west toward Springfield, MO and south on State Route 65 to our destination, Branson. We took the pick up (with no air) because I wanted to bring back statuary for the garden. So after calling ahead for a room at the Big Cedar Lodge, we arrived hot and tired.
After a 12 hour drive in 87 degree weather, still smiling.
The view from our room was amazing!
As was our room! I love lodge style building and decoration. Big Cedar definitely had top notch decor and attention to detail was amazing. Upon entering the resort, we drove over two waterfalls. We showered and dressed and headed down to one of many restaurants on the property. It was very relaxing looking out over the lake with live piano solo played for calm entertainment.
The Truman House. Once an original residence to the property.
Beautiful colorful floral gardens everywhere! Quite stunning!
We woke early and took a scenic train ride of the ozarks.
We spent our time taking in the historic town, browsed some shops, went to the Chinese Acrobats of Shanghai show. It was fabulous. Returned back to Big Cedar and checked into our one room cabin.
One great destination full of nature's beauty. Lovely. From then on our days were filled with exploring the area. Taking a ride to see the surroundings. Very beautiful in all directions. I saw so many vibrant wild flowers along the roadside, I could have had a nice little book as remembrance and reference. I didn't take photos because it was too dangerous with curving hilly roads. We stopped in the Army Corps of Engineers building and read about the making of the dam, the butterfly palace, shows and other attractions such as The Acrobats of China, the Osmonds, the Moscow Circus hosted by Yakov Smirnoff. He's a wonderful artist. He made a mural and it was displayed at ground zero in New York city in honor of those who perished in disaster and their families. This of course, caught my eye and his story in becoming an American citizen is inspiring and very interesting. He's also a very personable approachable human being. I watched on as he engaged in conversation with an enlisted female soldier and I was in awe being so close to that interaction.
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God Bless our troops and the sacrifices they have made with their lives so that I am able to enjoy such a trip.
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Branson is so respectful and mindful of our troops. It was so moving to hear first hand their talented dedications in their honor. It was even more moving to see all those that stood and were military veterans.
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God Bless every one of them.
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However you spend your Memorial Day weekend, also remember in appreciation and thankfulness our troops and fallen military. Be safe.
Love,
Kris
1 comment:
Hi Kris
I can hear the excitement in your voice. I am so happy you enjoyed your visit to our fair state!
I just called for reservations for our fall trip. This year it will be Chateau on the Lake. We usually go to Big Cedar, in the fall, but last year and three years ago we stayed on the Landing. We were looking at Big Cedar again when we remembered our daughter and her husband stayed at Chateau last year, at the same time we were at the Landing. We had breakfast with them, at Chateau, their last morning there. Fell in love with the place. I always make our reservations in June and did so this afternoon. We are looking forward to our Branson trip Fall 2010.
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