Branson is something to be experienced

 My first thought upon arriving in Branson, Missouri, is “why can’t we do this in Bryan/College Station?”

My second thought was, “Thank God we don’t!”

For decades I’ve heard about what a wonderful place Branson is with all of its live music and theaters. I never really paid it much mind until a couple weeks ago when Sandy’s parents invited us to join them on a week-long vacation there. Branson isn’t a place to go to be entertained. It’s a place you have to experience. It far exceeded my expectations.

Branson is a family-friendly Midwestern Las Vegas but without the casinos. It has all the bright lights and gaudy buildings that make a drive down the main drag an entertainment in itself.

From the huge, mirrored octopus and King Kong on the Empire State Building to a half-scale replica of the Titanic, an upside-down building and even a giant rooster, it is a sight to behold. Add to that the fact that we visited during the shoulder season in the second week of November, and we hit the peak time for fall leaf colors but missed out on the huge crowds. If you ever desire to visit Branson, that’s the time to do it.

In addition to gorgeous scenery and small crowds, the city is geared up for Christmas and the holiday shows are under way. I normally cringe at Christmas before Thanksgiving, but I made an exception for this. It was wonderful and got me into the holiday spirit.

The highlight of our trip was going to the Sight and Sound Theatre to see “David.” The production was so elaborate and so powerful that it makes Broadway shows look like community theater. It’s a multisensory experience on a semicircle stage. It includes live animals – lots of them!

After a long drive to get there, Sandy’s parents rested on Monday while Sandy and I toured the Titanic Museum Attraction. I’ve been a Titanic buff since reading Clive Cussler’s “Raise the Titanic” in the late 1970s. Being in the museum was almost like being on the ship itself with its replicas of the grand staircase and bridge. It has hundreds of artifacts and numerous reproductions. The only thing that disappointed me about the two-story museum was the fact they don’t allow photography on the first floor, which is where many of the salvaged artifacts are displayed.

On Tuesday we went to the Veterans Memorial Museum, which covers World War II through the Gulf War. It was very poignant and moving. That evening we went to Riga Tony’s Murder Mystery Dinner Show. It was a 1930s prohibition era mobster whodunit with unique audience participation and a surprising twist at the end. The food wasn’t to die for but the entertainment sure was.

Wednesday, which happened to be the anniversary of Sandy’s 29th birthday, was the day we went to see “David.” The musical recounts the life of King David from the Bible. Past shows have featured Jesus, Noah, Esther, Moses, Jonah, Joseph, Daniel, and Samson.

The next day we took a trip on the Branson Scenic Railway, which took us on a short journey south into Arkansas and back. It was a spectacular way to see the fall foliage. We finished our excursion on Friday with a triple-header. Sandy and I took a ride on the Copperhead Mountain Coaster and then toured the Dinosaur Museum. That evening we all went to the Legends in Concert for our finale. It featured tribute artists doing the music of Elvis Presley, the Blues Brothers, Shania Twain, The Judds, and Toby Keith. Their grand finale was a medley of Christmas songs.

For Branson newbies, there are some things you need to be aware of. The town has lots of visitor centers. These are not chamber of commerce centers to help you find things to see and do. They are high-pressure sales offices designed to separate you from your money. The staff will seem friendly enough, asking you where you’re from, where you’re staying and what shows you’re seeing. That’s where the upselling begins.

Your best bet is to use Google, Yelp and other trusted sights to find the attractions you want to visit and then buy tickets directly from them. It’s true that the local visitor centers can probably get you a better deal, but by the time they’ve sold you other packages you will have spent more money that you originally intended.

Trust your navigation apps to find shortcuts around town. Driving the main drag may be the shortest way, but congestion can more than triple your travel time. If you’re driving, be aware that Branson is in the Ozarks and is so hilly that it makes the Texas Hill Country look flat.

Branson was a great place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. That’s why I’m glad Bryan/College Station hasn’t tried to make itself a similar entertainment destination. Our roads are congested enough already. The glitz and glamour would wear off quickly and the high cost of living in such a city would make living here difficult.

That being said, there is so much to see and do in Branson that we couldn’t get to in a week that we plan to go back some day for more entertainment and adventure. In the meantime, it sure is great to be back in Aggieland!