Christmas Time Branson Getaway Dec 26-28 '16

Well I am not sure what to say about 2016 other than it has been hectic to say the least and it didn't get any better around Christmas. With everyone's schedule and new families units to consider we were very spread out with presents unwrapped on many different days. We found that on actual Christmas Day we didn't have any anything to do. Of course they was always the annual "Beast Feast" at our friend John's. He lives in one of the magnificent mansions in downtown St.Louis.
So Christmas Day evening found us once again at John's but then we decided to just get away!

This year we were actually late to go see the Christmas lights in Branson Missouri, specifically Silver Dollar City. So I took a vacation day to extend the long weekend and off to the land of rednecks and white trash! LOL

 There is always a big crowd at SDC but we got in relatively quickly and just started to wonder around

Silver Dollar City is an Amusement Park set up as an Appalachian Village of sorts with lots of working demonstrations- blacksmith shops

 Glass blowing

As an Amusement Park it has rides- roller coaster and of course the Train ride around the park

 For Christmas it is decorated all through  the woods with Holiday theme lights. This first day we arrived early and rode the train around 4 pm, so it was not quite dark enough yet.

here comes the train (video)

 Half way through the train ride it stops so you can hear "Grandpa" tell the nativity story.

 we left the park around 5 pm and went to wonder around the town including the new Ferris Wheel which is new as it has been moved from Navy Pier in Chicago to Branson.

The next day Vicky wanted to do some fun stuff around town. The town of Branson is also like a giant Amusement park and tourist trap with many country artists and performers of all kinds with their own theaters and of course lots of go-cart tracks.

 Vicky loves the go-carts

After some rides and breakfast we went to the State Park around Table Rock Lake for a 3 mile walk

Then back to Silver Dollar City later in the afternoon. This second day we are staying for the Rudolf Holiday Parade. 

Vicky rode some roller coasters (while I waited!) and we watched more presentations

 The weather was fantastic both days- blue skies and in the 50's when the sun was up. We found a nice spot and waited for the sun to go down and the parade to start.

Parade is always lead by the "Abominable Snowman" 

The last of the Parade (video)

As we were leaving we went by to see all the large Christmas Trees and enjoy the lights