Thanksgiving in Branson

Marketplace Grill, Springdale, AR

Early Thanksgiving morning we decided to hit the open road. We traveling North through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and our destination Branson, Missouri.

Our traveling experience on Thanksgiving Day was very pleasant, despite the lack of food. . .

We finally found a fast food restaurant open on Thanksgiving Day and we have never been so THANKFUL for a burger and fries at Braums!

Keith and Sam

After checking into our hotel in Branson, we enjoyed a Thanksgiving Buffet at the Peppercorn Restaurant.

After a good nights rest, we drove to Silver Dollar City the next morning. Here is Keith, enjoying the morning paper at the SDC entrance.

We arrived before the park opened and S & S each ate a fresh soft pretzel from the bakery.

K, S & S.

Keith and Syd enjoying the rustic atmosphere at SDC.

Syd in front of the ice cream shop.

Pink and purple is the "new" red and green...

The beauty of Silver Dollar City is where it lies . . .within the natural surroundings of the Ozark Mountains.

SDC was wonderfully decorated for Christmas.

Their Christmas lighting ceremony retells the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The salvation message of forgiveness is central to the light show choreographed

with Christmas carols.

We also went to see the musical/drama "The Christmas Carol" within SDC.

It was really good.

Next, we headed underground into the Marvel Cave below Silver Dollar City.

Syd and Sam had mixed feelings about heading underground, but once they entered the cave they loved it!

Keith & Syd

Syd & I

The cave experience was definitely the highlight of the trip for us.

The next day we explored another nearby cave called "Talking Rock".
After we explored the cave, we found this box maze that S & S wiggled through!

You can see Syd's head and hands at the top.

Syd at the exit.

Sam wriggling for freedom.

Later on Saturday, we explored Table Rock Lake.

S&S never miss an opportunity to climb trees or get wet!

Before dinner, we played mini-golf at the Pirates Cove golf course.

Keith beat me by one point. . .ugh . . .

We retrieved many balls out of the water...

After eating dinner at McDonalds, we walked across the street to the track.

Syd and Sam were so excited to drive. It was Syd's first time driving and she was thrilled! It was so much fun to watch them chase each other around the track. Sam had the gas pedal to the floor from start to finish and eventually caught up to Syd and that's when it got exciting. Money well spent.

Sunday morning we drove home through Springdale, AR. We stopped at our favorite restaurant "The Marketplace Grill". I enjoyed my "sweet tator fries" and Keith and the girls shared "Chocolate Mess" for dessert. My parents introduced us to this place while we were living in Arkansas nearly ten years ago. We stopped by our old rental home and also stopped by Nana and Poppops place in Siloam Springs. A real blast from the past!

While waiting to be seated, Syd and Sam played checkers.

After we ate lunch, we swung by JBU where Poppop used to work. Then we made our way back through Oklahoma and home to Texas.