We purchased a discounted weekend stay at one of Branson’s resorts while exploring an RV Show in downtown Kansas City. It was only a month after selling our motorhome and moving into a townhome. We were already missing our life on the road and were looking at other travel options.
Loving the fall colors, we scheduled our weekend getaway to Branson for late October, just a few days before Halloween.
Branson, Missouri, is about 215 miles south of our home in North Kansas City. After dropping our little dog, Sadie, off for a weekend visit with our granddaughters, we navigated to the resort.
After checking into our rooms and exploring the grounds, we went for a drive, looking for a place to eat. With no destination in mind, we left the resort and turned right onto Historic Hwy 165. At the intersection of Historic Hwy 165 and State Hwy 265, we turned left, towards the lake and the Table Rock Dam.
Dinner on the Side of the Road
After crossing the dam, we continued on Hwy 155, enjoying the scenery and looking for a place to eat. About two miles down the road, I saw a bright red food trailer at the back of a lot. In front of the trailer were picnic tables. There were people at the tables and in line at the trailer.
“Stop! It’s BBQ!” I said, as we drove past.
“Let’s try it,” Andy said, pulling into an adjacent parking lot. After turning around, we pulled into the parking spaces for Uptown Hog.
It was delicious! We shared a combination of mac and cheese, pulled pork, and baked beans, a slight variation of the dish we discovered on our visit to Tucson, Arizona. The skeletons also added some fun to the outdoor dining experience.
Historic Downtown Branson
After completing our meal, we navigated to one of the most popular destinations in Historic Downtown Branson, Dicks 5 & 10.
Since 1961, Dicks has been the ‘go-to-place’ for visitors and locals looking to find unique and one-of-a-kind souvenirs and gifts. We had a great time, walking up and down the aisles, finding toys from our childhoods, and the newest things on the market. I found brands of candy I hadn’t seen in years!
If you are planning a visit to Branson, we recommend stopping by Dick’s 5 & 10.
Branson Landing
It rained off and on until late in the afternoon on Saturday. We stayed at the resort, exploring the clubhouse amenities and chatting with representatives. Around 5:00 p.m., we drove to Branson Landing.
Branson Landing is adjacent to Historic Downtown Branson, along the shore of Lake Taneycomo. In addition to the large anchor stores, the Landing features lake cruises, a variety of restaurants, and the very popular Branson Landing Fountain.
After parking in the large lot near Lake Cruises, we walked along the sidewalk towards the Landing. The sidewalk follows the water’s edge, past a restaurant and the Bass Pro Shop.
We walked through the area, checking out the variety of shops and places to eat until it was time for the evening show at the Branson Landing Fountain. The fountain is a main attraction at the Landing, with 120-foot geysers, blasting fire cannons, and a choreographed music and light show. Schedules are posted near the shops and online.
Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area
Late Sunday morning, we left the resort and navigated to the Ruth and Paul Henning Conversation Area.
It was overcast and we hoped the rain would hold off long enough for us to get some much-needed ‘Outdoor Therapy.”
On the way to the conservation area, we saw a sign for a Scenic View along Historic Hwy 165 in Hollister. We’re glad we stopped.
There is plenty of parking and the ridge is fenced, allowing visitors to get close to the edge without the danger of falling.
As we drove out of the area, we discovered a coffee shop and more areas for viewing at the other end.
Back in the car, we drove about 9 more miles to the conservation area.
The Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area is located in the White River Hills on the west side of Branson. The parking lot is on the east side of Hwy 376, about three-quarters of a mile northwest of the Hwy 376 and 76 Country Blvd intersection.
After parking the car, we grabbed our umbrellas and headed towards the Dewey Bald trailhead. Our destination was the Lookout Tower at the loop of the half-mile nature trail. As we walked into the woods, it started sprinkling again. On reaching the tower, we closed the umbrellas and carefully climbed the aluminum stairs to the top platform.
Even with the light sprinkling, the view was worth the climb.
From the platform at the top of the tower, we saw beautiful fall colors, the Branson Ferris Wheel, and on the horizon, Inspiration Point.
Inspiration Tower
After carefully climbing down the Lookout Tower stairs, we walked the paved trail back to the parking lot. Even with the light rain, the woods were vibrant with fall colors, and we took our time getting to the car.
Our next stop was a short mile-and-a-half on W 76 Country Blvd. Inspiration Tower is part of Shepherd of the Hills, however, its entrance is separate, and visitors can purchase single tickets for this attraction only. Which is what we did.
After purchasing our tickets, we rode the glass elevator to the large observation deck 230 feet above the ground. The views were well worth the ticket price. We took our time, walking around the displays and looking at the views out the windows.
Inspiration Tower was built in 1989, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Harold Bell Wright’s first visit to the Branson area. Mr. Wright credits this visit with inspiring his best-selling novel, The Shepherd of the Hills. As we walked around the large viewing area, we read the informative displays featuring different characters and scenes from the famous book.
If you love fall colors, you will enjoy Branson and the surrounding area during the fall season. We had a great weekend and look forward to returning.
To see more of our Branson area photos, click this Link.
Peggy Staver, the author of this blog, is a freelance copywriter specializing in outdoor recreation and hospitality. You can contact her at PSCopywriting.com. The majority of photos are taken by Photography by Andreas. Visit his portfolio here.
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