Branson, Missouri, Remains the Live Music Show Capital of the World

Branson, Missouri, Remains the Live Music Show Capital of the World

Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to see quite a few stars in Branson. Most were past their prime but singers I would have given arm and a leg to see when I was a teenager. I saw the late Paul Revere, Bill Medley from the Righteous Brothers, Bobby Vinton, Bobby Vee, Brian Hyland and the Beach Boys, to name just a few.

Don’t miss a Midwest Wanderer post.  For a FREE subscription, enter your e-mail address in the Subscribe2 box to the left and click Subscribe

While Branson still attracts big names, they aren’t as abundant as they used to be, and most don’t perform as regularly as they once did. However, Branson is still the live music show capital of the world, offering more than 100 different shows. Many of today’s regular performers are lesser known or tribute artists. However, the quality of Branson shows remains high, and all are family friendly. On a recent trip to Branson, my husband and I saw three shows, all of which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Clay Cooper’s Country Express at the Clay Cooper Theatre, combines singing, dancing and comedy for a great evening of entertainment. Clay Cooper was born into a musical family and began his professional singing career when he was 14 years old.

Clay CooperThe family tradition is continuing, as the show includes performances by Clay’s wife, Tina, and their sons, Colt and Caden.

Clay and Tina CoopoerOther performers include several singers and dancers, comedian Matt Gumm, and trick roper Johnny Lonestar, who now has an apprentice.

Dancers at Clay Cooper TheatreJohnny LonestarJohnny Lonestars sonEleven-year-old Ezrah Noelle puts on quite a performance, singing some of Shirley Temple’s hits.

Ezrah NoelleDick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, where we saw so many great artists in the past, is now home to Legends in Concert. Each show includes five tribute artists. There is always a Blues Brothers duo and an Elvis, but the remaining three rotate seasonally.

Blues BrothersYoung ElvisOld ElvisOn the night we saw the show, Michael Buble, Marilyn Monroe and George Strait tribute artists were scheduled. However, George Strait was replaced by a Kenny Chesney tribute artist, who had been part of the summer schedule.

While all of the artists were entertaining, Marilyn Monroe was my personal favorite, as she included some comedy in her act, involving a few reluctant audience members.

Marilyn MonroeOn our last evening in Branson we saw Dublin’s Irish Tenors and The Celtic Ladies at the King’s Castle Theatre. The gentlemen performed part of the show, the ladies another, and they sang some songs together. The selections ranged from traditional Irish songs like Danny Boy, to pop music and even opera. All of the performers had beautiful voices and put on a terrific show.

Unfortunately, they don’t allow photographs at this show, but you can get snippets of their performance on their web site.

You’ll find the schedule of all Branson shows listed on Explore Branson, the Branson/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau web site. For the best seats order your tickets a few weeks before your trip. To save a few dollars, wait until you get to Branson and pick up a discount coupon booklet found in many hotel lobbies. Most shows offer a discount of a few dollars with a coupon.

Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to the three shows described above.

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer. Don’t miss a post. Enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe to be notified whenever I publish another post. Subscription is FREE. After subscribing, be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm.   – Connie


 

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis: One of the Most Beautiful Churches in America

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis: One of the Most Beautiful Churches in America

The architecture is stunning.  Extensive use of arches, domes, marble, and stained glass is  beautiful. But the most breathtaking feature is the mosaics.  Everywhere you turn, mosaics glitter—on the walls, in the domes, on the ceilings, in the side chapels.  Home to one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world, a collection whose installation began in 1912 and was completed 76 years later, in 1988, using over 41 million mosaic tiles in over 8,000 color shades, it’s no wonder that the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis was named one of the 12 Most Beautiful Churches in America by Budget Travel.

The slide show highlights some of what you will see on your visit.

The Mosaic Museum in the lower level of the church takes you through the design and application process of the mosaics.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, located at 4431 Lindell Boulevard in St. Louis, is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.  You may take a self-guided tour anytime during these hours as long as a service is not taking place.  Visit the basilica web site for information on guided tours.

NOOK Books Under $2.99! Great Reads at the Best Prices.

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer.  If you enjoyed this post and would like an e-mail notification when other posts are published, enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe.  Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm.


 

5 Fun Facts about Laura Ingalls Wilder

5 Fun Facts about Laura Ingalls Wilder

You may know her as the author of the “Little House” series of children’s books.  Or perhaps you’re familiar with the popular television show based on her books.  Little House on the Prairie, starring Melissa Gilbert and Michael Landon, ran from 1974 to 1983.  The show, which focused on the Ingalls family’s lives in 19th century western America, still plays in reruns today.

Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the “Little House” book series, based on her real-life experiences, while she lived in her Mansfield, Missouri, home.  Today you can tour the home and browse the adjacent museum for glimpse at the life of the author.  Here are a few fun facts I learned about her and her family on my visit:

  1. Laura Ingalls Wilder started her journalism career at age 44.  She was 65 when she began writing the “Little House” series.  She wrote a total of 18 books, which have been translated into 40 languages.
  2. It took 17 years for Laura and her husband, Almanzo, to build their Mansfield house.  When they first bought their farm, they built a one-room log cabin.  When they could afford it, Almanzo built the house, one room at a time.  On the tour, you enter the back door into the kitchen, the first room that was built.  Of course, at the time, it wasn’t the kitchen; it was the entire house.  The house grew, room by room, until 17 years later, it was finished.  The tour takes you through the rooms in the order in which they were added.
  3. Everything in the house is original, with the exception of fabric items and wallpaper, which are copies.  Some pieces are set in the exact arrangement as they were on the day Ingalls Wilder died in 1957.
  4. Laura Ingalls Wilder typically received 50 pieces of mail each day, which she read at the table under a lamp that Almanzo made.  On her last birthday, her 90th, she received over 1000 pieces of mail.
  5. Pa looked nothing like Michael Landon.  The museum, full of memorabilia including “Pa’s fiddle,” includes lots of pictures.  I wasn’t the only one who noted the dissimilarity in looks between Landon and the real-life, shaggy-bearded Pa.  I heard other guests mention it, too.

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum, open March through mid-November, is located at 3068 Highway A in Mansfield, Missouri.  Check the web site for hours and admission.

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer.  If you enjoyed this post and would like an e-mail notification when other posts are published, enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe.  Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm.


 

 

Dawt Mill: An Ozark Canoe Trip Getaway

Dawt Mill: An Ozark Canoe Trip Getaway

We took a Dawt Mill float trip years ago, when our girls were little, paddling a canoe down Bryant Creek from where we were dropped off and ending at the dam at Dawt Mill about five hours later.  Afterwards we bought the girls snacks and t-shirts in the old mill that doubled as a general store.  That’s about all that was there then: the canoe rental, the general store, and a few camp sites.  Fast-forward about thirty years.  My husband and I visited again, and what a change!  Canoe trips are as popular as ever, but now there are several options for dining and lodging.

We stayed in a one-room cabin overlooking the river, a cabin just right for two people.

Cabin _exterior

Cabin_inside

View_from_cabin

If you have a larger party, you can stay in the two-room suites in the Cotton Gin Inn or in the Log Cabin that sleeps six adults.

Cotton_Gin_Inn_2

The general store in the old mill that we visited years ago has been converted to Henegar’s Gristmill Restaurant, open breakfast through dinner, with several tables that overlook the river.  Though fancier entrees were offered, we opted for simple but delicious burgers.

Burger

Sawyer’s Deli, serving sandwiches and snacks, is a more casual eatery.  If you want a splurge meal, consider the Chef’s Table on the weekends for a multi-course meal.  On summer weekends, enjoy a concert or karaoke on the outdoor deck of the Gravel Bar.

Chefs_Table

It was too cold for a canoe trip during our stay, but watching the rush of the river from our cozy cabin and taking a few walks closer to the water to take photos was relaxing.  And since restaurants are few and far between in the area, it was nice to be able to eat right at the resort.  We’ll have to return yet again for an encore canoe trip.

Dawt Mill is located in Ozark County, Missouri, near the town of Tecumseh.  Check the web site for further details.

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer.  If you enjoyed this post and would like an e-mail notification when other posts are published, enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe.  Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm.


 


Other posts and articles you may enjoy:

Shawnee National Forest and Cave-in-Rock State Park: South Illinois Natural Beauty

Stay in a Tree House in the Shawnee National Forest

Tour Stone Hill Winery, Hermann MO: Most Historic and Awarded Winery in the State

Missouri Hick: A tasty barbecue restaurant on Route 66

Weathering this Midwest Winter

Weathering this Midwest Winter

“I’m tired of this winter.”  I’ve heard it over and over again for the past month.  And I agree.  It seems that every day, at least here in the Chicago area, we’ve been getting either more snow, making roads dangerous to navigate, or single-digit to sub-zero temperatures, so we can’t go out and enjoy snow activities.  Of course, the obvious remedy is to go somewhere warm, and if you can do that, great.  But for many, a vacation to a warm climate is impractical or even impossible.  Besides, a week later, you’ll be back home in the snow and cold again.  So aside from hibernating and counting the days until spring, here are a couple of ways to counter the cabin fever that has hit the Midwest hard:

Go to indoor events and attractions.  On the days that are cold but the roads okay to drive on, go to a local museum that you haven’t been to in a long time.  (Call first to make sure they haven’t closed due to the cold.)  Or go to one of the many travel, RV, boat, auto, or home shows going on in cities all over the Midwest.  You’ll find links to information on lots of them on the Midwest Festivals & Fairs page.

Plan your summer travel.  Now is the time to plan your summer getaways.  Get them on the calendar before your calendar fills up with other obligations.  If you’re planning to go to a popular seasonal destination, you should make your accommodation reservations as soon as possible, too, for the best selection.  Need help in deciding where to go?  Turn to the convention and visitors bureaus of the states you are thinking about.  On the Internet, search “[state name] tourism” to find the state’s official tourism site, which will have listings of attractions, accommodations, dining options, and events.  You can order free hard copy travel guides for the states or regions you are considering for your getaways, too.  I personally like to peruse the hard copy guides from the cozy comfort of a sofa and then use the Internet to get further details on places that interest me.  To get you started, I’ve included links below to order tourism guides for the Midwest states.

Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
South Dakota
Wisconsin

Just thinking about and planning your summer getaways will do wonders to counter the winter doldrums.  Do you have other suggestions for cabin fever remedies?  Answer in the Comments box below.

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer.  If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe.  Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm. 


 

Other attractions you may enjoy this winter:

Peoria Riverfront Museum: Interactive Exhibits, Planetarium and Giant Screen Theater

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Springfield IL: Museum Meets Disney

Frank Lloyd Wright Dana-Thomas House: 12,000 Square Feet of Phenomenal

Visit Jelly Belly, Pleasant Prairie WI: Take the Tour, Taste the Candy

Tour Stone Hill Winery, Hermann, MO: Most Historic and Awarded Winery in the State

Tour Stone Hill Winery, Hermann MO: Most Historic and Awarded Winery in the State

Tour Stone Hill Winery, Hermann MO:  Most Historic and Awarded Winery in the State


Entering Stone Hill Winery’s cool limestone cellars that date back to the mid-1800s, you inhale the heady aroma of oak and fermenting wine mixed with the cellar dampness.  It is in these cellars of Missouri’s second largest winery that 250,000 gallons of wine are produced per year, resulting in more award winners than any other winery in the state.

The History
In 1836, German immigrants settled in Hermann, Missouri, hilly land along the Missouri River reminiscent of German Rhineland, perfect for growing the grapes of their homeland.  The winery opened in 1847 under the name Michael Poeschel, after the founder.  After changing hands and names several times, George Stark took ownership of the winery, changed its name to Stone Hill Wine Company, and by the late 1800s the winery became the second largest in the country and the third largest in the world, producing 1.25 million gallons of wine per year.

All of that came to an end when Prohibition took effect.  Barrel upon barrel of wine was dumped into the Missouri River, and the vineyards were burned.  For decades after that the cellars were used to grow mushrooms, until in 1965 Jim and Betty Held bought it and reopened the Stone Hill Winery.

The Tour
For the bargain rate of only $2.50 you can tour the winery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and taste as many wines as you’d like.  As your guide takes you through the cellars, he or she will relate the history of the winery and many tidbits of information about the wine making process.  Here are a few of the facts you’re likely to hear on your tour:

  • The cellars were carved out of limestone and rank as the largest set of underground arched cellars in North America.
  • Sweet wines age in stainless steel tanks; dry wines age in white oak barrels.
  • One of the winery’s pre-Prohibition barrels still exists.  It had been shipped to a St. Louis monastery during that Prohibition and used for communion wine.

The tour ends in the tasting room, where you can sample the finished product.  After sampling, you may choose to enjoy a full glass of your favorite at the adjacent Vintage Restaurant, serving American and German cuisine.

winelunch_Stone_Hill_restaurant

Stone Hill Winery is one of several wineries on the Hermann Wine Trail.  Hermann, Missouri, is located about 80 miles west of St. Louis on the Missouri River.

Enjoy this post?  Click the Subscribe2 button to the left to be notified whenever I publish another post on MidwestWanderer.com.  (Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm.)  Visit the Midwest Wanderer Facebook Page, and check out my Examiner.com page, too, where I’ve had over 70 articles published.