The Great Hunter and I just got back from a week-long vacation to Table Rock Lake and Branson in southwest Missouri. I’ve always kind of snubbed the idea of going to Branson, because I felt like only old people went there to see Las Vegas type shows. It never had the draw that Lake of the Ozarks did; a hipper, younger vibe. And of course, I’ve thought of myself as hipper and younger and not all that old. But then the realization hits that I and the Great Hunter are, “that old.”  A couple years ago, I went to Branson with some girl pals and found there was a whole lot to do other than see variety shows (which I’ve always avoided.)

There is just so much to do in Branson there is no way to do it all or see it all in one week. It would take several weeks and then you probably couldn’t do it all. You’d run out of money before that happened.

We left on Saturday, Aug. 6–On our way to Branson, we stopped in Springfield to see Johnnie Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield at the Bass Pro Shop. “Spanning 350,000 square feet with over 1.5 miles of trails, Wonders of Wildlife takes you on a journey through immersive habitats that entertain and educate while sharing the story of America’s most significant conservationists throughout history and today.”

Sunday, Aug. 7–Branson Landing and Parakeet Pete’s Waterfront Zipline across Lake Taneycomo. I’ve never done a zipline before and this ride isn’t a typical zipline. It’s sort of a cross between a zip line and a ski lift. They strap you in by a seat belt and you ride backward, across the Lake to the top of the bluff on the other side. Then they let you go and you descend rapidly to the other side. And when I say rapidly, I mean rapidly. When you reach the platform, it’s like a jet landing on an aircraft carrier and its tailhook being caught. If the seat belt had failed we both would have face-planted into the building.  I guess it didn’t bother us enough that we didn’t do it again. They weren’t busy and offered us another ride for free, so we did.

The Landing has a beautiful fountain on the waterfront of Lake Taneycomo. (Nerd fact, “Taneycomo” is short for Taney County, Mo. where the lake is situated.) The lake was formed when the White River was dammed by the Power Site Dam in 1913  on the north and in 1958 by the Table Rock Dam on the south. At night the fountain is lit and creates a beautiful light show.

Branson vacation to be continued.