We went on a month long trip to Branson, MO. We hadn't done a month trip within the US in 2 years so it was time to head out. Steve arranges the month long stays and we pick a location that we might not otherwise visit. It needs to have good internet (since Steve works remotely for these trips), and has things to do for the kids. Branson MO is a tourist trap meaning they have tons of activities to choose from. We stayed 20 minutes outside of Branson on the lovely Lake Taneycomo.
We drove for 5 days total to and from Branson but stopped along the way for fun. The kids did amazing on the drive there - tolerating being in a car for long distances better than usual. We didn't have reservations during the drive as we wanted to be flexible and it worked out well - driving until we had enough, then finding hotels close to restaurants and one with a pool when we had more time to stay and play.
Kansas City detour - we planned a stop at Union Station to visit Science City. So much fun - a mix of fun and education. We only spent a few hours there as the kids wanted to get back on the road but you could spend a day there. Indoor and outdoor activities were very hands on and we had a great time.
We also took a trip to St. Louis to see the Arch and the City Museum. Going up in the St Louis Arch is just something I had wanted my kids to do for a long time. No real reason; just one of those sights to see in a lifetime. Since it is a National Park, the kids did the Jr Ranger program. It was one of the easiest and quickest programs we have done across the country but it makes sense that they would design it to be completed quickly since people don't spend long at the arch compared to other national parks which could take days to explore.
The St Louis City Museum was NUTS! Basically a really unique, multi-story playground full of places to climb, run, swing, and explore. We only stayed for 4 or 5 hours but you could stay longer. It was easy with older kids because they are OK being separated from adults for short periods. But I would have found it hard with younger kids since slides and caves/tunnels are multistory and end up in unexpected places.
There was plenty to do in Branson and surrounding area too. Downtown has a water/light/fire show and pedestrian mall. There are a TON of expensive tourist attractions in Branson but I also sought out the free ones - downtown, library, overlook, beach (but currently closed), dam, fish hatchery (see below), skate park, etc.
Downtown pedestrian mall:
Overlook
I homeschooled myself too: when my kids didn't want to go to the interactive Dewey Short's Visitor's Center so I went myself (after-all, it is my homeschool journey too).
We went to three homeschool events - Skate World, Big Air, and Fritz indoor climbing zone. It is nearly impossible to make connections at events where the kids are on play equipment and on the move but Em made a friend at Fritz and exchanged numbers. These places were great PE - a chance to get a ton of exercise from 2-4 hours of hard-core climbing, skating, jumping, etc.
Skate World
Big Air
Fritz
A field trip more with Em in mind (since she loves cats of all kinds) was the Tiger Sanctuary. Educational 60 minute tour where we watched the animals being fed and learned more about big cats and their rescue.
A field trip with Tom in mind (since I knew he would like feeding the fish and I knew they had a nature center which may have frogs) to the Fish Hatchery. It was perfect - free except 25 cents to feed fish, educational - helpful staff, great nature displays, 8 min video, etc. We learned a lot about the process of raising fish in a hatchery and they had real amphibians and reptiles along with display boards. It is at the base of a dam so we saw that too (they no longer offer dam tours though). The weather was great and we fed the fish for an hour.
Another educational field trip was to the Butterfly Palace - The kids were able to feed the butterflies, pet a lizard, release newly hatched butterflies, play in a really well-done mirror maze, learn about reptiles and amphibians in the science room, watch a 3D show about the flight of monarch butterflies, see what it is like in a simulated banyan-tree forest, and see a living statue.
Branson seems renowned for it's shows. There are hundreds of them. We chose two - The Acrobats of Shanghai - something different for the kids to see - and the Dolly Parton Stampede (expensive dinner show with horses in a large arena). Kids were most excited about eating without utensils and seeing the horses (for Em). The show was great - Christmas themed, funny, good food, and entertaining.
Acrobats were talented:
Stampede:
While in Branson we stayed at a time share style complex that was really comfortable and had plenty to offer - a pool, tennis courts (under renovation), huge playground, nice putt putt golf course, free videos, coffee, etc. They had a sister resort close by and we could use some of their facilities too - drive though thousands of Christmas lights, use their pool, etc. The best part was the Activity center - 3 activities each day and all but 1 per week were free. Craft projects like bath bombs, sugar showers scrubs, painting rocks, mason jar decorating, pillow making, key-chain making, rope bracelets, etc. Other activities included movie night, scavenger hunt, family bingo, game nights, etc. It was only a few hundred yards from our apartment and it was a wonderful resource.
We spend a lovely morning at Top Of The Rock. The weather cooperated nicely and we went early on a Sunday before the crowds arrived. We rented a golf cart and drove along there pre-determined path through the hills, through and under waterfalls, over bridges, through woods, and inside a cave. Some of it is man-made but it was still a good experience. We took a shuttle to see the "sinkhole" but I wasn't really impressed with that part.
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