This was a road trip we took with Maria, Sonny, Jake and Maria’s parents; Peg and Bill. Our destination was Branson, Missouri (Broadway of the mid-west). But, as always, we make the traveling to and from as much of an experience to enjoy as the destination. Our plans were on the way out to visit Indianapolis & St. Louis. On the way back we were going to stop in Cleveland and see Mary’s sister and visit the Rock & Roll Hall of fame.
Indianapolis, Indiana
We left early in the morning, as it was 11.5 hours to Indianapolis, without stops. We always make stops. So, we arrived around dust and drove straight to the Indy Raceway, to ensure we knew how to get there and that it would be open the next morning. From here we went to dinner and then crashed at a hotel.
The next morning we headed to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, where we took a combination of tours. We all felt this may be the only time we were here, so let’s go for the gusto.
First, the “Behind the Scenes Tour”, which gives you backstage access to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, its legendary landmarks, and one of the world’s best collections of racing artifacts and automobiles; We got to walk along gasoline alley and by the car garages, and watch several pit crews preparing cars. The museum had over 50K artifacts, artworks, and automobiles. That includes more than 200 art pieces; thousands of photographs; two million feet of film; numerous helmets; and 500 awards and trophies from races across the globe. Way to much to appreciate in 1 short tour.
Second, the “Kiss the Brick Tour”, a 30-minute bus tour narrated by legendary racing broadcaster Bob Jenkins. We took a lap around the famous 2.5-mile oval with a stop at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway finish line, where you can kiss the historic bricks! And…. yes, we each bent down and kissed the bricks. Maria, was telling us during this tour, that when she visited here during her National Collegiate Bowling event, all of the student participants got to actually ride in an Indy race car for the lap around the track. Way to may me envious.
Third, the “View From the Top”, what the winner sees. This experience included a 30-minute guided tour of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with stops at Victory Podium and the iconic Pagoda. After visiting Victory Lane, we traveled to the top of the 153-foot-tall Pagoda for a breathtaking view of the Speedway and the surrounding downtown skyline.
It was a full day of racing adventures. We didn’t see much more of Indianapolis. We had dinner and headed towards St. Louis, where we stayed for 1 night.
St. Louis, Missouri
Gateway Arch
We started early and went straight to the Gateway Arch, the tallest monument in the United States. This place gets very busy and we were hoping to beat the crowds. While we waited for our scheduled time to arrive, we looked around the area. We walked down the steps to the river and walked along the shore. Maria told us a story of when she was here right after the Mississippi flooded in 1982. She showed us a stop sign under the bridge, on river road, that was almost completely under water. The steps of the Arch on the River side were covered by water almost to the top step. That would be interesting and somewhat frightening to see.
Once our time arrived to go up in the Arch, we all loaded into the tram, which was actually 2 very small and tight capsules (Mary, Maria, Sonny and me in 1 and Peg, Bill, and Jake in another). The four of us barely fit around the seats and there was not much head room while seated. Mary and Maria were not very happy. They both have anxiety in tight spaces. There was a very small window, but you couldn’t see out until after the tram elevator started to climb up the arch (it lifts you 630 feet up to the top. Maria said once she could see the steps outside of the capsule, she could breathe a little bit, since she could tell herself there was an escape route. Mary, however, was clinching my hand and wasn’t calm until we reached the top and could get out. In spite of this, we all enjoyed the views from the top. It was a very clear day and many opportunities for some nice photos. While at the top we saw people we knew (what a small world). However, now none of us remember who they were. So if you are reading this and are them (sorry), please let us know.
Coming back down we separated into 3 capsules. Mary and Maria survived, but Mary told me this was the last time she would do this climb.
Grant’s Farm
Maria loves Clydesdales, so, a visit to see and touch them was a must for her. Grant’s Farm is one of the places around the country you can have this opportunity. Even though the farm is more than just the Clydesdales, they are a huge draw for this farm. We took the Clydesdale Close-Up tour, where we got a close-up experience of how the handlers take care of the horses and the opportunity to pet and take photos of the Clydesdales. We all actually enjoyed this visit and Jake was extremely happy when the handlers sat him up on top of one of these magnificant horses.
We then headed to Branson, which is around a 3 1/2 hour drive.
Branson, Missouri
I had heard about this place for awhile and wanted to go here. We used a time share and stayed here for a week. Even though Branson is known for its entertainment, there is much more to do; museums, art galleries, a train ride, amusement parks, fishing, and many more outdoor activities. Our main goal was the entertainment.
Shows
Branson’s shows started with country music and remained mostly that until the early 2000’s. There are now so many shows in Branson, from gospel to rock, magic to comedy, oldies to pop, and basically whatever variety type of show you might be interested in seeing, of course, including country. We saw quite a variety of all genres. On some days we saw 3 shows, and at one point we all said, we had enough. The entertainment is high quality and the cost of most are very little compared to other cities. This is why it is a popular destination.
- Baldknobbers – Oldest show in Branson, started by the Mabe family in 1959. In its 3rd generation of performers. It is a great country music and comedy variety show. It combines country tunes with Ozark mountain music. Jim Mabe created the character, Droopy Drawers, which provides much comedic entertainment throughout the show. There is much singing & dancing and the audience is encouraged to join in.
- The Presleys – First music theatre (built in 1967) in Branson. Another multi-generation family of performers. However, they would have special guest from all over perform in their show. It is a spectacular country and gospel music show with clever comedy antics spread throughout! Gary Presley created the comic character Herkimer who, keeps the audiences in stitches.
- Jimmy Sturr – An American polka musician, trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist and leader of “Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra”. Peg and Bill were big fans of polka music. Peg would get up and dance the Polka at any event she could, taking Maria along as her partner. Bill would listen to it on records and he would watch a TV show that played Polka music. So, this one was specifically for them, although we all enjoyed it. Jake, always enjoyed the beat of Polka music, so he was dancing in his seat.
- The Haygoods – A group of six siblings, (5 brothers and 1 sister). They played a large variety of instruments, performing a wide variety of music (Country, Rock, Pop artists, and music of past decades). They had very nice harmonies, innovative, energetic choreography and a performance with stunning visual effects. When we were there, they were still fairly young and impressed us with their talents. Fiddles were their expertise and when the sister played the harp, everyone was in awe. They have become the most popular show in Branson. They celebrated the 30th year in 2022.
- Jim Stafford Show – He is a singer, musician, and comedian provides an enjoyable an unforgettable evening of entertainment. His guitar playing is amazing and we laughed until we cried at his heart-warming stories. Everyone sang along to hits like ‘Spiders & Snakes’, ‘Cow Patti’, and ‘My Girl Bill’, even if you didn’t know them.
- Dolly Parton’s Stampede – A wild west extravaganza. Magnificent riders, live buffalo, and a meal of bbq pork, corn and veggie soup. BBQ is not my favorite but overall it was a nice experience.
- Tom Mullica’s Red Skelton Tribute Show – Tom is an American comedy magician, impressionist and actor. Tom met Red Skelton in 1980, when Red visited Tom’s nightclub called The Tom-Foolery Magic Bar Theater. They became instant friends and in 1996, Tom wrote and started performing RED (A Performance Tribute). His impersonation was spot on and you truly felt like you were watching Red. HIs mix of comedy and magic made for a wonderful show. Jake seemed to really enjoy it and laughed at almost everything, including the adult humor. Whether he really understood it or just laughed because we were laughing, we will never know.
- Club ’57 – Bob Anderson is a singer, impressionist, comedian and entertainer. He performed songs and impersonated the ‘rat pack’ (Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis, Jr.), Tom Jones, Neil Diamond, Tony Bennett, and more. Dean Martin once said, “Bob Anderson does me better then I do me!”. We got to enjoy his multiple talents while we had a three course dinner, and maybe a drink.
- Dublin’s Irish Tenors and the Celtic Ladies – An Irish fusion of song and dance, including a heart-pounding ensemble of Irish dance stars from Spirit of the Dance! There was wonderful harmonies and lilting melodies as these talented singers took us on a musical journey through Ireland.
- Red, Hot…& Blue! – Takes you singing and dancing thru the decades. From the Big Band Era to the music of today! They had a full-scale production show with video background footage & full lighting effects. Their costumes, high-energy choreography and incredible live vocal talent keeps you taping and moving in your seats. They ended their show with the song “Glad to be An American”, with the flag waving largely in the background and the audience standing and patriotically singing along. It was a very emotional ending.
- Showboat Branson Belle – Themed after the majestic showboats of the 1800s, Showboat Branson Belle offers a freshly prepared three-course meal, exciting musical variety show with a live band and toe-tapping Showboat Dancers. It was raining when we arrived at the boat and there was talk of cancelling the show. There was also discussion of keeping the boat at the dock but still having the show without dinner. As the time drew closer to departure, we were waiting for Maria’s magic weather to occur. It did not disappoint us, as the rain stopped and everything went as scheduled. We were seated at a table with a very nice couple who had a daughter about Jake’s age. They hit it off very well and even got up to dance once. One of the performances was Todd Oliver and his talking Dog, Irving. Todd is a ventriloquist and yes, Irving is a real dog. It was extremely funny and very entertaining. We all enjoyed the entire show and Sonny and I especially enjoyed the Dancers, as they came around to every table as they performed.
There were a few other shows, but cannot remember them all. You can see why, we felt that we had enough….
Other Activities:
- Lost Treasure Mini-golf – A different type of mini-golf course. It starts with fun train ride from the clubhouse to the start of the courses and then you play your way through an adventurous miniature golf course with waterfalls, streams, ancient ruins, and an airplane. Mini-golf is a favorite of the Goldsmiths and one that Mary enjoys as well.
- World’s Largest Toy Museum – Mary and I did not go to see this museum. as Mary and I went to see “Bodies: The Exhibition”. While we were doing that, Maria and her family went to the Toy museum. They said the place was just jammed packed with antique toys. As you approach the entrance, two giant toy soldiers flanked the doors of the building, which was covered in graphics that will take you back to days gone by. There is something for everyone to view. Many are locked behind glass cabinets that go from floor to ceiling. It is no wonder, since, many of them are considered Branson antiques. They have antique toys from every era that are sure to delight and bring back your childhood days.
- “Bodies: The Exhibition” – Mary had seen this in Philadelphia and wanted to see it again. It showcases human bodies that have been preserved through a process called plastination and dissected to display bodily systems. It starts with the skeletal system and layers (muscular, nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive, systems; as well as fetal development and the treated body) are added in successive rooms. It was not in Branson very long, so our timing was good.
Branson Scenic Railway
Branson Scenic Railway – The Branson Scenic Railway is located at an historic 1905 depot in downtown Branson. It runs excursions through the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. This one hour 45-minute round-trip takes passengers through tunnels, over trestles, and through the southwest Missouri or northwest Arkansas wilderness. It explores territories inaccessible by automobile and offers views that are unattainable by any other means of transportation. A narrator points out the landmarks (ruins of long-ago communities now named only on railroad maps), some dating to the early 20th century, and a description of the wildlife, landscape, and an outline of the railroad’s role in shaping the Ozarks.
Bill worked for a steel mill that built locomotives (Baldwin-Hamilton). So, Maria always tries to find an old train they can ride, whenever they go on vacation. It was raining hard when we got there, so the trains were not running. There were a lot of people waiting to take a ride, but as the rain continued, many people left. This moved us up in the queue, such that we would be on the first train if it started to operate. We remained patient and after some delay, our luck on weather held out. The rain stopped, the sun appeared, and we were able to get tickets for the excursion. Although there is plenty to see through the broad windows and the three dome cars with their panoramic views, visiting each car can occupy much of the excursion. They are restored to the first-class style of years ago, which we do not see much today. It was a very nice ride, and we were glad we stuck it out.
“Corn field“, Arkansas
Because we took the train ride, we found out that we were very close to the Arkansas border. Maria has a wish to visit all 50 states, so, this was an opportunity to check off another one. We set the GPS to Arkansas and followed it to the border. The road was fine for awhile, but then started to narrow. When got to the end of the road, there was nothing but a corn field as far as we could see in all 3 directions and a sign that said Arkansas. We all said in unison, “Welcome to Arkansas”. But now what?
Well we turned off the GPS and decided to turn left and follow the corn field. The road turned right and we continued. It was starting to get dark and we wondered if we should turn around. But, this would not count as a real visit to Arkansas. We had come this far, so we continued and eventually ended up in a small town. We never found out the name of the town, but it was a western farm town in nature (so, Maria named it “Corn Field”). There was a 1-2 block small shopping strip with wooden walks and very quaint stores. We perused for a bit, but we were all getting hungry. We ended up finding a place to eat dinner that was diner like, my favorite. The food was good and the atmosphere was definitely small town.
We were dreading going back through the corn fields, so we asked the waitress for the best way to get back to Branson. She said go about 2 blocks down the road (opposite from where we came) and there is a highway, Route 65, that goes right through Branson. We were very happy and a little embarrassed that we didn’t find this on the way here. But, then we wouldn’t have this drinking story. So much for the GPS! We were back to our time-share in about 45 minutes.
We spent the next day just visiting sights in and around the town and then left for our trip back home.
We had planned on stopping in Cleveland, but we were all very tired and decided to just push through. It is about 19 hours of driving, so you can imagine we just spent the next couple of days relaxing. It was a very enjoyable trip and we said we should visit Branson again. Note: Branson has grew up since we did this trip. It has many more things for families with kids of all ages (many more amusements parks with large and fancy roller-coasters, zip-lining, outdoor adventures, etc.). The shows are also bigger in scale, although, many of the ones we saw are still going strong with the next generation.