Branson Travelogue

I'm going to go with the tried and true "Better late than never" adage for this blog post. We've been back a couple of weeks from our trip to Branson, Mo. But it is Christmas time, and I've been otherwise occupied.

The photo above sums up the trip. This trip was another of Fritz's Adventures. There was even a sign for it.

In reality, Randy just bought a t-shirt at Fritz's Adventure, and he posed for some photos. But if we bring the girls back to Branson with us sometime, this business might be one of the stops on the travel agenda. He's already worn his t-shirt to breakfast with his buddies.

My favorite show was The Duttons. This family made it into the finals of America's Got Talent several years ago. Everyone from the grandparents down to the great-grandchildren spent time on stage. Playing multiple instruments and singing seem to be part of their DNA. Of course, maybe the people who weren't blessed with musical ability get the behind-the-scenes roles at the theater on the main drag in Branson.

This was one of their signature moves on America's Got Talent. They stand in a line and use their bow to play their neighbor's fiddle. We were on the second row and got an up-close look.

 

We both enjoyed the dinner show on the Branson Belle Showboat.  

It was a rainy evening, so we didn't spend a lot of time strolling on the deck as the Branson Belle floated away from the dock and journeyed on Table Rock Lake.

But the Christmas show included lots of wonderful singing and dancing. (No photos were allowed during the show.)

Another of my favorite stops was The Butterfly Palace. It wasn't on Randy's initial travel itinerary, but we are glad we added it. (Thanks, Trista, for suggesting it.)

 

There's a back story to why it was a much-needed spot for me. When we picked up our show tickets, the salesman offered a reduced price for Silver Dollar City tickets if we went to a time-share presentation. Early in our marriage, we had done something similar in Las Vegas, and it was tolerable. So, we did it. What a mistake! There were the predictable stereotypes in play by two different salesmen: "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy" was just one of them. However, in our family, it's Randy who is the traveler. I am more a homebody. The salesman wouldn't know that (even though he was told) because he was way more interested in telling his life story, rather than finding out anything about us. (I literally could take a quiz about him: where he grew up, how long he's been married, how many kids his wife wants, how he dreads his wife getting his credit card at this time of year - more stereotypes anyone? - and who his best friend married ... It was one of the Haygood's - another premiere Branson musical family, by the way.)

 

When he figured out that we weren't buying what he was selling, the salesman called us rude. (We weren't ... until he called us rude.) Never, ever again!

I needed a lowering of my blood pressure after the debacle. And The Butterfly Palace provided that.

In a simulated rainforest, there were more than 1,000 live exotic butterflies imported from their native countries. 

 

We could feed the butterflies with a complimentary nectar flower.

 

 

It was beautiful and peaceful - just what I needed. 

 

I didn't hold a nectar flower for long. I was too busy taking photos.

My favorite butterfly was this blue one, but they rarely landed for long. I was lucky to get this shot.

We were also told to watch where we were walking, since butterflies also light on the floor to soak up the moisture and condensation from the rainforest. That's where this vibrantly-colored butterfly ended up.

It said there were tropical birds in the enclosure, but we only saw this one. Of course, I loved the beautiful blue.

 

Randy's favorite show was Dolly Parton's Stampede. They were doing several sittings of their Christmas show each day.

As with their shows year-round, there are 32 horses and their talented riders featured.

The Christmas show also included a beautiful nativity scene, complete with camels and hovering angels.

It even "snowed" during the finale.

The Dolly Parton show is a dinner show. I didn't know it before we arrived, but it's served without silverware. All the food is designed to be eaten by hand, including a creamy vegetable soup. (This is a photo from their website, since the food is served in stages.)

If you know Randy, you know that a magic show was also on his travel itinerary. He chose Reza.

It was staged at the same location as the Baldknobbers, who we didn't see. 

No photos were allowed during the show. 

That evening, we went to Silver Dollar City. When we arrived at the far reaches of the parking lot, we couldn't even see the entrance. Thankfully, we saw a tram depart from a nearby parking lot, so we were able to catch a tram to the entrance.

It was a Saturday night, and there were tons of people.

There were also tons of beautiful lights. I can't imagine how long it takes to install all the holiday decor.

The website says there are 6.5 million lights, and I believe it.

I really liked the Christmas tree, which they called Joy on Town Square.

By chance, we arrived at Heritage Hall just in time for the final "Home for the Holidays" show of the night. 

The vocal harmonies and dancing were outstanding. 

But the true "show" was all the lights.

We would have liked to see Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" but we didn't arrive in time for the final performance of that.

Though it had rained earlier in the evening, it turned out to be a nice night, especially since we were dressed for it.

If you get a chance to go to Branson during the Christmas season, we would recommend it. Just don't fall for the time share spiel.

The Wanderer's Billfold

 

Adventures await!

And we're ready for them. Our good friends, Jim and Betty Sellers, gave us a unique, hand-crafted gift for our retirement. They didn't take heed of the "No gifts please" for our reception. And while their presence - and that of our other friends and family - would have definitely sufficed, the one-of-a-kind gift will soon get its inaugural use.

We plan a trip to several U.S. National Parks this fall. Going along for the ride will be our Wanderer's Billfold, handcrafted by Jim. 

The note inside reads (just in case you have trouble seeing it in the photo):

WANDERER'S BILLFOLD

Inspired by Betty's grandfather's 1900 billfold. He sold his business in Illinois to WANDER to the Nebraska Sandhills and the Pelican Lake Ranch. 

He and another Sandhill's rancher established a WANDERING service to take educational materials to isolated-room schools located on ranches throughout the Sandhills - and the beginning of the Nebraska Rural Bookmobiles.

The 1800s style floral carving is from Jim's 1895 R.T. Frazier saddle. Originally belonging to a WANDERING Scotsman who ran a ferry and livery on the Green River between the modern Flaming Gorge Dam and Dinosaur National Monument.

Mr. Jarvie's client and customers included other area ranchers and WANDERERS of the West - itinerant cowboys - even the Wild Bunch. Who knows where this saddle WANDERED!

BEST WISHES on your retirement!

Have Fun!

Be Inspired!

Wander Wide!

Wander Well!

 

The note about the Nebraska Sandhills made me think about a trip we took through that area in 2010.

Nebraska Sandhills - 2010 trip

I could just imagine Betty's grandfather traversing the miles between those isolated ranches, carting books and other educational materials. (That book toting makes him sound like my kind of guy!)

This one was taken at the Prairie Club Golf Course near Valentine, Nebraska, but it still shows the terrain.

 

Also The Prairie Club Golf Course - 2010

 

Taken near Valentine, Nebraska, September 2020

 

Jim and Betty also included brochures in the pockets of the billfold. We may not get to those destinations this time, but we'll be ready if the time comes!

Stay tuned! I'll be taking a vacation from blog posts for awhile. I may post some photos to my Facebook page. If you're not currently my FB friend, please ask to be. I can be found at Kim Moore Fritzemeier on Facebook.