Branson vacation

Dave and I just returned from a week's vacation in Branson, Missouri.  We have a timeshare at Emerald Pointe near Hollister with a wonderful view of Table Rock Lake.  We took Pita along and she had a great time.  Our condo has a kitchen, bedroom, living room and screened porch, so we have all the comforts of home plus a view of the lake.  We took in a few live shows in Branson, ate at some wonderful restaurants and did a little shopping.  There is no internet access at Emerald Pointe, but I was able to read my email on my Palm Treo phone.  The weather was cool and rainy most days, but the sun came out a couple of times as well.

Highlights . . .
Shows:
Country Tonite - popular country tunes, nice country band and some great dancing.

Cassandré - Our favorite show.  She has a band of eight versatile performers and she sings a wide variety of genres.  She told the audience near the end of her show that she earned a vocal performance degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney about 10 years ago.  She sang with the Haygoods at Silver Dollar City for nine years, and just opened her own show in March.  Her husband is one of the Haygood brothers.

Six - Six brothers - all acapella.  They provide their own vocalized "instrumental accompaniments" to back up their amazing singing.  One brother specializes in percussive sounds, another in wind instruments, another strings, etc.  Very high energy and totally amazing vocal work.

Restaurants:
Candlestick Inn with a great view of Branson Landing.  Pork Osso Bucco turned out to be the same as Czech Kolena (pork knee).  Fabulous!

Andy Williams' Moon River Grill - his mother's recipe for Chicken Pot Pie is the best.

Montana Mike's Steak House - great steak and great atmosphere.

College of the Ozarks - all student run restaurant - still our favorite place in Branson.  Great fish and chips (trout). No student pays tuition.  They all work on campus an average of 15 hours per week.  The campus nickname is Hardwork U.

And now a few photos . . . . 

View of Table Rock Lake from our bedroom window.

Pita enjoyed her view of Table Rock Lake.

Nice screened porch with a view of the lake.

One of the few days we had sun.

Emerald Pointe on Table Rock Lake near Hollister, Missouri.

View of Branson Landing from the Candlestick Inn Restaurant.

It was pouring rain, but I got a nice photo of the fountains and fire show.

Frederick Remington bronze sculpture in the lobby of the Oakridge Boys' Theatre where we went to see Country Tonite.

The trees were nice, too!

The hardest part of being away from home was finding a comfortable chair for Dave.

The best shopping in Branson is at Grand Village.

They also have the best chairs.

Andy Williams' Theatre right next to his theatre.

I recommend the Chicken Pot Pie.

Already looking forward to our next trip to Table Rock Lake.

Jeannette