Branson Vacation

We took the boys on a weekend get-a-way to Branson this spring. It was our first "family vacation". It was the first time it was just Greg and me and the boys getting out of town for some fun and relaxation. The boys did great on the drive to and from Branson. Hooray! 

 We stopped at a rest area near Lebanon for lunch. It is super nice and clean. It has these cute little buildings all on the theme of route 66. The boys picked to eat at "Rand's Garage". Then play on the playground. Not your typical Missouri rest area!

On Friday evening, we arrived in Branson and went to play indoor min-golf at Grand Country. This is one of Logan's favorite things to do when we go to Branson in the fall with Grandma and Grandpa. Since it was so close to his fourth birthday, we knew we had to celebrate at Grand Country.

Then we went to eat at the buffet right next to the Mini-golf place. It was yummy!

 We went back to motel, swam for a while, and then the boys crashed in front of the TV.

On Saturday we went out to explore the Table Rock Lake area. We packed up a picnic lunch from Branson Walmart. (kind of a scary place). Our first stop was the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery. They had a small indoor museum that was very kid-friendly. There were hands on activities as well as a giant fish tank with these beauties.

Outside you could buy fish food and feed the fish. Just don't feed them your fingers like Greg did!

Then we headed over to Table Rock State Park and got up for fishing.

The boys fished for a few minutes

 until the fishing turned to wading...

 which turned to swimming

 Even though it was early May, the temps were in the 90s and so splashing in the cool water seemed to feel goood!

After fishing we had a picnic lunch of Subway.

 Applied more sunscreen...

 and hit the playground. The playgrounds at the park were a little disappointing

 but having daddy play with the boys, helped keep it fun!

Then the boys took a boat out on table rock lake. no, this is a free museum exhibit. I have to look up the name of the museum, though. 

 It was a super nice museum. It looked brand new. It was mostly made from glass. You could ride a glass elevator up to the third floor where there was this great overlook of the dam. Logan was completely freaked out by this deck and wouldn't step outside.

 Then we stopped off on the side of the road and made some new friends.

 Actually this was a quirky little ceramics road side stand but we bought a beautiful new bird bath here!

On Saturday afternoon we went back to the hotel for lots of swimming!

We decided to go to Branson landing for dinner on Saturday night. The boys had just had a very long day and Tyson feel asleep in the car. Greg packed him all through Branson landing to our dinner location while he slept soundly!

 He did wake up once we got our table at Famous Daves. He even tried some spicy barbecue sauce.

 The boys being silly at the restaurant. Tyson loved all the stuffed animals.

 Then we took two tired boys on a walk around Branson landing. Greg was the only one who would let me take his picture.

 There was a nice playground by Joe's Crab shack. It was a pirate theme. It was hot, though, and the playground was CROWED so we didn't stay long.

 The boys did like the light show at Branson landing and pretending to drive some boats near the Bass Pro shop at Branson landing.

 On Sunday we packed up and left our "lovely" hotel...just as the police were busting in the door of a room above us! Yikes! We drove to Springfield to the BIG Bass Pro Shop.

 We saw "bears" and turtles. They even had a live alligator and lots of fish.

 I wish this wasn't so blurry because the boys loved getting their picture taken on this motorcycle.

 They also loved playing in the pontoon boats.

We had a great family vacation to Branson, MO. The boys were wonderful in the car on the way there and the way home. Many happy memories were made!