Nelson Family Vacation

Nelson Family Vacation - Part 1

We usually do one big trip per year (and usually in the summer, because school) plus several trips to Crescent Bar and maybe the occasional camping trip. Last year we were set to do two, I guess because we had extra timeshare points, but didn't go on either of them because of Covid, so this year we are doing the two we were supposed to do last year, except instead of Kauai we are going to Orlando because at the time we booked Hawaii still had way too many Covid restrictions. So Orlando is next month, but at the end of June we went to Branson, Missouri.

Now that might seem like an odd destination for a family of four from Washington State, where the oldest family member is 54. But, we tend to choose our travel destinations based on locations of WorldMark resorts, preferably ones we have never been to and bonus if in a state we've never been to. Besides, Branson has tons of family-friendly things--Silver Dollar City theme park, go-karts, water park, zip-lines, mountain coasters, museums, putt-putt golf, and on and on. So we went to Branson. Also, I planned a one-day road trip that would take us to three additional states, because one of my bucket list items is to visit all 50 states in my lifetime. I also am obsessed with Route 66, and this road trip included a big chunk of that through Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. So today's post will cover the first three days or so and then I'll do another post or two to cover the rest.

Day One - we got up at 2:00 AM, left at 2:45 to head to the parking/shuttle place, got there at 3:15, got to the airport around 3:30, flight to Chicago left around 5:00.

We flew to Chicago, then flew on a small plane to Springfield Missouri. We rented a car and drove down to Branson, çhecked in, got settled, grocery shopped, etc. Sitting out on the deck later that night I saw fireflies for the first time in my life! So cool.

Day Two - Silver Dollar City. Really fun, but it was SO hot and humid (it was every day we were there). Really fun rollercoasters, though, especially Time Traveler, Wild Fire, Powder Keg and Outlaw Run.

Day Three - We went to the Titanic Museum. I didn't even try to take any pictures and I'm pretty sure they said you can't anyway, but I did get one of the outside. It was really cool, but I'm still trying to figure out why it's in Branson, Missouri of all places.

Later that day Paul's sister Cheryl arrived from Colorado (she drove). After she arrived, we went to Moonshine Beach, on Table Rock Lake, swam, and then later we went into the old part of Branson to walk around.

The next day was Saturday, and Paul and I left the girls with Aunt Cheryl and took off on a 4-state road trip! Stay tuned...

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