Jim and Joan,
If you are in Branson, Mo, you aren't far from my marina on Grand Lake.
There are many beautiful, interesting sights up there by you. Personally, I try to avoid the Branson crowds, but there is a tour of the trout fishery there on lake Tanycomo (sp) on the SE part of town.
Going South out of Branson, it is only about 35 miles to Eureka Springs, a European style artist/hippy colony town built around the side of a "mountain". The smells of candy, chocolate, marianating steaks, and the winding mountain walkway in town is rarely seen in the US. Lots of neat shops, artwork, crafts and hippy eating places with great food. The streets of Eureka Springs are narrow and winding thru the mountains, so you definitely do not want to take your Fifth Wheel into town, but they have large, open parking available just outside of town and the trolleys run back and forth frequently.
The Fall foilage in Eureka Springs is stunning and they are generally busy in the Fall. I usually go there around Thanksgiving time.
Also, on the way from Branson to Eureka Springs you pass an African wildlife "hospital" type farm operation which used to let you pet the deer, tigers, etc, after a small donation.
Also nearby is the "steamy" cold White River going down into Beaver Lake Arkansas upon which you can canoe, float, or flyfish for large rainbow trout. There is a "pay as you fish by the pound" trout pond place right in Branson also. Kind of like fishing in a swimming pool.
Farther South, on the Intercoastal Waterway outside of Tulsa, OK, is Fort Smith, Arkansas, which has neat old storefronts, refinished furniture, boat docks, artwork, etc.. not a big place.
If you want to have some odd fun, go further South toward Hot Springs, AR, which is beautiful, but there is a neat, small national park where you can actually sift the dirt for diamonds. I can't remember the exact name right now, but it'll say "Diamond" something or other park. You get lots of tiny glistening diamond bits and some ppl come away with a small gem.
Grove, Oklahoma, just a few miles from my marina on Monkey Island in Grand Lake 'O the Cherokees has many nearby intersting sites. They often have motorcycle get togethers and neat hot rods, antique cars, etc.. Darrel Starbird of Wichita fame has his custom car museum just South of the Monkey Island turnoff. There is quite a length of the original Route 66 highway thru some of the towns from Vinita, OK on up North to the Twin Bridges area.
I do think you OWE the blonde a trip to Eureka Springs, though. They have trolley busses so you can park your RV or trailer in a remote area. They also have some excellent Native Indian artists with small shops on the outside highway along where all the motels, etc, are. Also, they have a running steam engine ride - or used to.
For a real treat pick out a night in one of the top Bed and Breakfasts in town. We stayin in one that had a "Castle room" which had a huge hot tup spa and artwork and stone (representational) and an entire wall with a running clear water spring running. Also a gourmet restaurant underneath and the springs run from the room to the bar... And, across the street is a large shop specializing the the collection of ancient documents and prints... You really need to visit Eureka Springs....
Have fun, John
If you are in Branson, Mo, you aren't far from my marina on Grand Lake.
There are many beautiful, interesting sights up there by you. Personally, I try to avoid the Branson crowds, but there is a tour of the trout fishery there on lake Tanycomo (sp) on the SE part of town.
Going South out of Branson, it is only about 35 miles to Eureka Springs, a European style artist/hippy colony town built around the side of a "mountain". The smells of candy, chocolate, marianating steaks, and the winding mountain walkway in town is rarely seen in the US. Lots of neat shops, artwork, crafts and hippy eating places with great food. The streets of Eureka Springs are narrow and winding thru the mountains, so you definitely do not want to take your Fifth Wheel into town, but they have large, open parking available just outside of town and the trolleys run back and forth frequently.
The Fall foilage in Eureka Springs is stunning and they are generally busy in the Fall. I usually go there around Thanksgiving time.
Also, on the way from Branson to Eureka Springs you pass an African wildlife "hospital" type farm operation which used to let you pet the deer, tigers, etc, after a small donation.
Also nearby is the "steamy" cold White River going down into Beaver Lake Arkansas upon which you can canoe, float, or flyfish for large rainbow trout. There is a "pay as you fish by the pound" trout pond place right in Branson also. Kind of like fishing in a swimming pool.
Farther South, on the Intercoastal Waterway outside of Tulsa, OK, is Fort Smith, Arkansas, which has neat old storefronts, refinished furniture, boat docks, artwork, etc.. not a big place.
If you want to have some odd fun, go further South toward Hot Springs, AR, which is beautiful, but there is a neat, small national park where you can actually sift the dirt for diamonds. I can't remember the exact name right now, but it'll say "Diamond" something or other park. You get lots of tiny glistening diamond bits and some ppl come away with a small gem.
Grove, Oklahoma, just a few miles from my marina on Monkey Island in Grand Lake 'O the Cherokees has many nearby intersting sites. They often have motorcycle get togethers and neat hot rods, antique cars, etc.. Darrel Starbird of Wichita fame has his custom car museum just South of the Monkey Island turnoff. There is quite a length of the original Route 66 highway thru some of the towns from Vinita, OK on up North to the Twin Bridges area.
I do think you OWE the blonde a trip to Eureka Springs, though. They have trolley busses so you can park your RV or trailer in a remote area. They also have some excellent Native Indian artists with small shops on the outside highway along where all the motels, etc, are. Also, they have a running steam engine ride - or used to.
For a real treat pick out a night in one of the top Bed and Breakfasts in town. We stayin in one that had a "Castle room" which had a huge hot tup spa and artwork and stone (representational) and an entire wall with a running clear water spring running. Also a gourmet restaurant underneath and the springs run from the room to the bar... And, across the street is a large shop specializing the the collection of ancient documents and prints... You really need to visit Eureka Springs....
Have fun, John
In case anyone here thinks I tell Dan what to draw and where to take things, let me set the record straight: I get the strip, resize it for posting here. I will occasionally send him ideas, but this is all Dan. I don't tell him what to write or not write. If that were the case, Captain Jim would be more fearless, Joan would be adoring him more, and Molly wouldn't be such a smart ass. The guy has a real imagination, huh? :wink:
