All right, you traveling fiends, I have a little trivia quiz for you. Tell me if you can Name that Location.

• Where is the location of the “Live Music Show Capital of the World,” sporting more theatre seats than New York’s Broadway?
• Where can you watch an enjoy a hot air balloon show underground?
• Where can you enjoy a lavish, luxurious stay at a world class hotel and resort, shop numerous boutiques and bazaars, enjoy urban night life and entertainment, and be only minutes away from the breathtaking wilderness of the Ozark Mountains?
• Where can you enjoy Gospel music concerts, water fountain light shows, and conventions all in the same place?

Have you guessed yet? It’s Branson, Missouri! The more I look into Branson, the more I am totally impressed. Branson is THE place to be in the MidWest (and maybe in the entire United States) for tourism. Tourism is the biggest industry there and this small town generates over $1.5 billion PER YEAR through its tourism industry alone! I think many, many other locations in the United States could learn from Branson’s incredible success. You can do anything in Branson- anything– and it’s all just a matter of a few minutes drive or shuttle. Wow! We hope to visit this part of Missouri in a year or two. You bet I’m going to check out Branson’s shining jewel, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. It’s like a city within a city. Plus, the prices are exceptional, especially for traveling families and couples. Here is just a tiny smidgen of the various things you can do in Branson:

The Titanic Museum
We studied the history of the Titanic, it’s sinking, and it’s discovery in 1999. I would absolutely love to see this museum. The museum offers visitors a personal experience, too- upon entering the life-sized replica of RMS Titanic, each visitor is given a name badge with one of Titanic’s passengers on that fateful voyage. Walking through the museum, you discover what happened to that person. There are gallery rooms with rare historical artifacts, a real iceberg to handle, the boat to explore, and much more. This museum is for the serious Titanic fan– a lifetime, memorable experience.

Silver Dollar City
Another spectacular place to take the kids– it’s a 55-acre theme park with loads to do: a water park, Marvel Cave to explore, an 1880s MidWestern town to experience with activities and museums, and loads more. We love this kind of stuff. The closest I have ever been to this kind of theme park is Erie Canal Village in Rome, NY. That was fun! Silver Dollar City is HUGE, though– the tourist department recommends you plan for spending an entire, exhausting day (or two) there. Make cozy accommodations at Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, because the kids will be wiped out after a day spent here! Silver Dollar City’s Family Spring Break Day is coming up, too.

Payne Stewart Golf Course
This is a golfer’s dream. Payne Stewart was a fellow Scot. So I like him. There’s a golf course in his honor, and it’s beautiful. The golf course is exquisitely picturesque, like something out of a fairy tale. The courses are styled beautifully– I don’t play golf but I’d visit just to walk the amazing course (and maybe hear the strains of a bagpipe or two). The Payne Stewart Golf Course was rated by Golf Week Magazine as one of the Top 40 new course layouts in 2009. Even the pictures will take your breath away.

Marvel Cave
Marvel Cave is part of the Silver Dollar City theme park, but it a deserves mention all its own. I’ve been to Howes Cave in Cobleskill, NY; I think Marvel Cave is ?? According to tradition, the caves were discovered by the Osage Indians around 1500 AD. It remained virtually unexplored until 1869; explorers thought the ceiling was marble, and so they started a business called Marble Cave Mining Company. Well, there’s no marble! So I guess that’s why it’s called “Marvel Cave.” lol. Rumors have it that Missouri outlaws of long ago, the Bald Knobbers, threw victims into the cave’s sinkhole. I wonder if this is where Mark Twain came up with the idea about Indian Jim and the cave in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer? After all, Mark Twain was from Missouri. The history is very appealing!

Well, I’m very tempted to go on and on about Branson, Missouri. Like I said, I’m very impressed with everything! You can roam the parks of the Ozarks one day, and enjoy a Christian concert or show at the Hilton Branson Convention Center the next! And I’ve checked the rates of the hotels (you readers know what a cheapskate I am)– the rates are outstanding! As a matter of fact, I think we could afford a vacation in Branson before we could afford a vacation in New York! No wonder Branson is called the entertainment capital of the MidWest. I think it’s earned it’s status.

So click on the links to learn more about Branson and getting accommodations. There are a ton of spring events going on there right now. For example (and this is just a small example):

• 14th annual Branson Tri-Lakes Building and Home Show
• NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament
• Branson’s Best Boat and Recreation Show
• Young Christian’s Weekend, which sounds great!
• The Nashvegas All Stars
• David Letterman’s Stupid Human & Pet Trick Auditions

You can see that Branson offers wholesome, exciting, memorable things to do.

Looking for a little getaway in time for Valentine’s Day? Tired of the chocolates and flowers thing, and need to RELAX a little? I’ve got wind of a deal for you! It’s the Romantic Getaway Package at Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing in Branson, Missouri, and it’s done up very nice. You can reserve the Romance Package and get in-room sparkling wine or cider; enjoy the pool, whirlpool spa, and health club room; and receive a full breakfast for two; and more. There’s also the Hilton Bed and Breakfast Package: enjoy the Hilton with a personalized breakfast for two all weekend. See the website for more information and how to make reservations.

Branson caters to the family, as well. Actually, Branson specializes in family accommodations and entertainment. All year long, the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing has something special going on for families: parades, festivals, concerts, etc. There’s a spectacular Fountain Light Show held regularly on the promenade boardwalk, too, which is very popular with the families. Branson has great hotel rates for families– I think Branson realizes that raising families is hard work and costs money, but families need vacations, too! So Branson tries to help families make the most out of their travel experiences and their tighter budgets. The Hilton Branson Convention Center and Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing are so beautiful. The Promenade is built on a plateau, at the foothills of the Missouri Ozarks, and the area is surrounded by shops and restaurants (this is nice because you don’t need to drive around town in search of a place to dine).

I’ve been extensively researching all the amazing things to do in the Branson, Missouri, area. We are planning on making a trip out that way sometime, and I’m still in the process of planning our itinerary. There is ONE PLACE that we have got to see– Silver Dollar City in Branson. My kids will flip over this place. We just love this kind of stuff. Silver Dollar City is a 55-acre theme park, set back in time to the Ozarks of the 1880s. It’s like Enchanted Forest or Disneyworld, but 200 times better; and they’re celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. You can explore Marvel Cave, wander around the 1880s Silver Dollar City village, experience basket-making, mining, baking, and everything they used to do in the West in 1880! We are definitely going here! And then there’s the Titanic Museum, which we have GOT to see; the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum, my kids’ favorites!; and there’s the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum; the list in endless. I think I may have to plan on staying a few weeks in the area! We could spend forever here.

Plus, the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is one of the largest (and certainly one of the most luxurious) convention centers in the country, making Branson the “entertainment capital of the MidWest.” My teenagers have “discovered” music and are not music fans; Branson always has a terrific lineup of Christian musicians and entertainers (and Mark Lowry was recently at Branson!).

Besides proximity to some of the best attractions in the nation and the terrific entertainment, there’s the beautiful new Payne Stewart Golf Club. It was ranked by Golf Week Magazine as one of the top 40 new course layouts in the country. There is a lot to do here!

So do you have a hankering to see the Show Me State now? I’ll bet you Branson will show you a thing or two about a spectacular getaway or vacation! See the links for more details.

There’s a new golf course– a blossoming one– or all you golf fans. Perhaps you’ve heard of it: the Payne Stewart Golf Course. It’s located in the Midwest entertainment capital of the country, in Branson, Missouri. Payne Stewart was from Missouri. He was a rising star in the world of golf, but died tragically almost ten years ago when his jet plane crashed. Stewart was also well known for his stylish golf clothing when he played– he looks like a real Scotsman! The PGA Tour established the Payne Stewart Award in 2000, given to a player who shows respect for the game (as Stewart did) and who gives honor to the sport through professional conduct and dress. What a legacy!

The Payne Stewart Golf Course officially opened this month. It’s a beautiful 7,319 yard, 18-hole course, designed by Bobby Clampett and Chuck Smith. Each hole has a special name, named for some important event or aspect of Stewart’s life. I’ve seen photos and the course looks SUPERB. Of course, it’s so fitting to be located in Branson (Branson Hills, precisely, situated in the gorgeous Ozark Mountains), where you can find the best of the best in entertainment and vacation attractions. The famous Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is there, offering spectacular family-friendly prices and events. Ad there’s the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Did you know that Branson is the nation’s Live Entertainment Capital of the World?

So if you’ve got a hankering for some fine golf in a gorgeous location, and a desire to play in a part of history and legacy, check out the Payne Stewart Golf Course and the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. You won’t be disappointed!