OT: Branson, Missouri

[Gregg]

We'll be taking our first ever trip to Branson during my wife's East...er, Spring Break. I'm sure some of the regulars here are regulars there as well. Her parents have been, so we have heard a few stories. What's your favorite spot, show, etc. ?

[RHPConsult]

You'll have a great time, Gregg. It's an absolutely amazing "development".

I'm revealing my age, I expect, by these choices. Here are the BIG winners in my book:

• Andy Williams
• Shoji Tabuchi
• Spirit of the Dance
• Yakov
• Dolly Parton's Stampede (where they also serve a quite pleasant chicken supper to 1500 people during the show!)

With TV so frequently how so many of us watch "live" entertainment these days, you'll be delighted to see so many REAL people displaying so much REAL talent with such joy and enthusuasm.

We've been there several times and have been disappointed only when a favorite show was unexpectedly dark for the time of our visit.

Oh yes. Also visit Dick's Hardware in Old Branson town. It's a hoot!

[gunug]

I'm not a "big" fan of Andy Williams but the rest mentioned are what I'd go to see!  I don't have any idea how busy it is there right now!  Have a great time!

[dolphin]

Yakov is really funny. Not sure if he is still performing or not, but Mel Tillis has a great show. His daughter Pam is out there now too.


In my opinion you've got to ride the Ducks also. They are World War II amphibious craft that take you on a tour of Branson and takes you for a boat ride on Table Rock Lake.  

Enjoy!!!

Also...if you get a chance go to The College of the Ozarks.  They have a GREAT museum of weaponry from the middle ages to now!

[Bbob]

I haven't seen a bad show in Branson, and I've seen quite a few. I love live music, and even the smaller theaters with lesser known performers are good. I'd recommend the Hard Luck (Not Hard ROCK) Cafe for at least one meal, with its singing waiters and waitresses. Have fun!

 

[jwboyd]

Be sure to visit Lambert's Cafe, "Home of the Throwed Rolls." Food is good-to-excellent. We had a great time there one evening when our kids took us to Branson for a week to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary.

http://www.throwedrolls.com/ozark.html

If "The Duttons" show is still running, and you might enjoy them. Mom, Dad, seven grown children, and some of the grandchildren do a musical variety show featuring everything from country to classical.

[gunug]

QUOTE

Be sure to visit Lambert's Cafe, "Home of the Throwed Rolls."

I think we need some of those "investigative" journalists to go out and find exactly where rolls were first thrown!  We need to get to the bottom of this!  

[Bbob]

Gunug said, "I think we need some of those "investigative" journalists to go out and find exactly where rolls were first thrown!  We need to get to the bottom of this!"


I think the "throwed rolls" fad was stolen from the Hush Puppy tradition. In the old South, folks cooked Hush Puppies with windows open so that the smell was wafted outside. The Houn' dogs lolling in the breezeway (commonly called a "dog trot") were attracted by the smell and howled their desire to consume the delicacy. The cook would therefore cast a few of the delectable cornmeal bits through the window with the admonition to, "Hush, Puppy." Therefore the name.

So, you see, "throwed rolls" was not an original idea. The Hush Puppy concept was simply co-opted by an enterprising entrepreneur.

Actually, I find the "throwed roll" practice to be offensive. I was raised poor and taught to never waste food, so can't get rid of that ingrained idea.

I am not an investigative journalist. but did have a journalism major (among others) and I have stayed in a Holiday Inn.

 

[Gregg]

Thanks for all the tips! We're looking forward to it - two more work weeks from today....

They have those Ducks in Wisconsin Dells also. There is a dam there, I think, but anyway there are "Upper Dells" and "Lower Dells" so you can take separate boat tours, or a single tour in a "Duck". If you ever go there and only have time for a partial tour, the Lower Dells tour is shorter, although less interesting.

We'll try to catch all the rolls "throwed" in our direction, but no promises; we are not staying at a Holiday Inn Express.

[Xairbusdriver]

Well, Lambert's is a quaint place to visit ( usually crowded, but friendly ), but it's hardly close to Branson. Although it could be on your path Eastward. But if you're really interested in some authentic and very talented local musicians, I highly recommend going South from Branson ( the sooner the better, IMHO ) to Mountain View, AR. By now they probably even have nice motels, but we enjoyed our stay at a B&B just off the town square ( one cookie cutter hotel/motel is pretty much like every other one! And I spent a lot of time in a lot of hotel rooms while flying nights! ). Anyway, it may only be Thursday nights, but there is a small theater North of town that features local pickers and sangers! Very inexpensive in relation to the talent. And, after the show is over, go back to the town square and wander around, most of the show performers and a lot of other locals form impromptu groups and jam till the next morning! None of the commercialization you'll be surrounded by at Branson, just real people enjoying themselves and hoping you enjoy the music half as much as they do. There is also a very nice Ozark Folk Center! Peaceful, uncrowded, slow-paced, relaxing, non-commercial! What more could you want on a vacation?!

[jepinto]

We enjoyed

QUOTE

76 Country USA
76 Music Hall
76 Country USA is a good, fast-paced variety show.  A big draw with the thirty-somethings. The fun and intimacy with the cast is a plus for the small room. The show is a combination of country classics, gospel, and comedy.  Not much of a draw for the younger set, but enjoyed by adults of all ages.

 Young performers, lots of energy.  Friends of ours living in Branson recommended it and we were not disappointed.

Well, it looks like I'm out of date..... surprise!  But found this http://www.bransontourismcenter.com/ and they even give gas discounts.

[Gregg]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 26 2007, 04:11 PM) [snapback]123111[/snapback]

Well, Lambert's is a quaint place to visit ( usually crowded, but friendly ), but it's hardly close to Branson. Although it could be on your path Eastward.

Ok then, where is it? We'll be starting from Eastern Illinois, going west on I-64 and I'm debating whether or not to take that into St. Louis, veering slightly north, then I-44 back south and west, or bail off at I-57 then work my way west on U.S. highways. If Lambert's is off of I-44, we should go that way, 'cause heading home that way, it will be early in the morning.

[Thomas S. England]

Found myself at Lambert's this summer

[gunug]

QUOTE

. . .hey have those Ducks in Wisconsin Dells also.

One summer in the 1970's I worked on a Paleoindian archeology site in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley (now the Thunderbird National Historic Landmark) and took a "duck" across the river to work every morning and back every evening; very nice commute because we got a fair amount of cooling splash when the "right" guy was driving.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Ok then, where is it?

I stand/sit/eat corrected! Apparently, there are three "Lambert's", all with "throwed rolls", of course. The one I was thinking about is in Sikeston, MO, just North of where I-57 ends at I-55. And they close around 9 PM, also. It's the <original> but the menu is not that 'unique' ( just simple, 'home-style' vegetables and meats ), so the others should have exactly the same fare. The one that was recommended, somewhere above, is probably <this one>, opened in '94. Sites have links to MapQuest, whether the maps display or not is debatable...There is also a third restaurant in Foley, AL, but I hope you don't get near that on this trip!

If you do take I-57 outbound, you'll have many choices to make since you'll then be on US and State highways. If you have the time, I'd also recommend Elephant Rocks State Park in Missouri. I-55 North to Cape Girardeau ( actually, you can take the IL-146 exit off I-57 to IL-3 ( beautiful "river road" ), turn South till you see the Cape signs. New bridge across the Mighty Mississippi, historic downtown Cape is worth some time. Take MO-72 through Jackson ( steam train runs on the weekends, BTW ) on to Ironton ( named after the Iron mines and the reason for the railroads ). Take MO-32 North about 12 miles and keep an eye out for the Elephant Rocks signs. It's in the vast Mark Twain National Forrest, but don't take just any signs for those! There must be 50,000 acres of M.T.N. Forrest's in SE Missouri! After your tour of Elephant Rocks ( get out and climb on a few, bet you've never seen anything like them! ) continue West on 32 to US-63. Take 63 South to US-60 and head West to Springfield or take a short drive South at Mansfield, MO to connect to MO-14 West, a scenic highway. That will take you into Ozark and US-65. You can eat at the Lambert's or continue down 65 to Branson.

Or, take whatever route you want! If time is limited, the St, Louis Interstate route will be quicker than all the above. I-57 stops at I-55 and you'll be back on mostly MO State roads to Branson. Most are well maintained and often scenic, but travel times will be longer, of course.

Main thing: Enjoy the trip and Branson!