I Have GOT To Go Here Someday

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Branson Convention Center. All opinions are 100% mine.

After slaking my appetite on a very fashionable and expensive hotel in the Soho district of Manhattan, I’ve really got the traveling bug again. Once my kitchen is renovated (and I’ve paid it off), we plan to do a little out-of-state travel. One place that has become a must see is the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Missouri. Maybe BlogHer would consider Branson for 2011? I am going to submit that idea. Branson is SOOO gorgeous, and there is so much to do. As a matter of fact. Branson, Missouri is called The Entertainment Capital of the MidWest. It’s pretty easy to make a Request For Proposal for any kind of convention. Just follow the link to the website, and it’s as simple as filling out a form. They’ve made it very nice and easy. The place is perfect for any kind of trade show, convention, meeting, or any gathering large or small. There’s 220,000 square feet available, and the newly-opened Branson Airport makes access easier than ever.

I’ve done a little research on the area and on the Hilton center at Branson Landing. It is a terrific place to bring the kids. It just has everything there: parades, pools, light shows, attractions for families, and more. Of course, there’s fishing and sports for the dad, and shopping and theatre for the mom. It just looks like a great place to get away from it all and HAVE FUN. And it’s also a relaxing, efficient place to do business. Branson Landing has a lovely convention center, with full accommodations for any need. That’s why I think it would be great if BlogHer 2011 was held there– the whole family could go!

Check it out. Pass the word! We should have BlogHer at Branson next year!!

A Spring Getaway Quiz and Attractions

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

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. And the rates for rooms at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing are family-friendly, too! Thumbs up to the folks at Branson for making such little town a big success!

An Ozark Mountain Christmas at Branson

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

Great deals and some very nice holiday getaway packages at the illustrious Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing going on! If you’ve been looking for a great getaway special, this one’s for you.

Branson, Missouri, is also known as the entertainment capital of the MidWest. It’s a hub for the finest entertainment in the nation, I think: great concerts, conventions, luxury accommodations, and an entire city geared toward family-friendly events and attractions. And of course, the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel attracts some of the best events held in the country. The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is having a very, very nice special holiday package; it great for family trips and romantic getaways alike.

There’s the “It’s a Wonderful Life” package, starting at $329 per night. This is the “ultimate” shoppers’ getaway, which includes a Branson Landing passport filled with discounts and treats from area merchants, restaurants, and entertainment venues, and also includes a special luxury pampering at Aspire Medical Spa. Very nice! This package runs now until December 23rd.

For the family, there’s the special “Santa’s Coming to Town” package– very affordable at $189 per night. It includes a special story time with Mrs. Claus for the children, in the lobby of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel; and Santa will deliver presents, cookies, and milk to guests rooms! Very sweet.

Branson Landing has earned a reputation for being top-notch in accommodations, special events, and attractions. Nestled near the mighty Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri has spectacular scenery and a friendly, hospitable regional style that appeals to travelers and families. Be sure to check the website for special deals and promotions; Branson Landing always has something going on, and they offer excellent discounts and deals on a frequent basis. Celebrate a beautiful holiday season with Branson!

GOTTA See Branson, Missouri!

I have GOT to get to Branson, Missouri someday. Why, you ask?

——->

The Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is here!! LOL! The kids and I recently saw a photograph of this museum, and that was IT for us! We just love quirky things like this. And I love the museum’s tagline: “After visiting us, your relatives won’t seem quite so strange!”

Of course, Ripley’s Museums are everywhere around the world, but Branson, Missouri, is a spectacular place to visit, and there is the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, which is one of the most luxurious and affordable places to stay. The area is perfectly suited for family activities, especially of the kind that we Mecombers love (quirky attractions, historical places, and wholesome family activities like parades and festivals). We’ve had our eye on the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, too, because many of our favorite Christian music artists and speakers go to Branson to hold their concerts and conventions.

The Branson area also has shops, a variety of diverse restaurants, a lovely river walk and more. We’ve been making plans to see the MidWest on a big vacation, and a trip to Branson, Missouri, is a definite destination. The rates at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing are very affordable, too– if you are interested, you can check out their rates online, search for availability dates, and even place your reservation online! The Branson Hilton often has spectacular summer deals, too. For example, save up to 20% off the “Best Available Rate” when you book in advance this summer; use a Visa Signature or Infinite Card and get 25% off the “Best Available Rate”; get discounts on rates when you combine air and/or car reservations with the hotel reservations. See the website and look for “Specials & Packages” at the top.

Branson is terrific AND affordable– “believe it or not”!!

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