Fantastic Caverns and THE Bass Pro Shop

We drove back to Springfield early enough to do a few things before heading to the airport. First we toured Fantastic Caverns....pretty cool, but not worth what they charged...not something we will do again.
We had just missed a large school group so our tour only had 4 of us, very nice.

These were the first touring vehicles allowed in the caverns...

We headed inside and stopped to get our first bit of education...

He's listening so intently ...he had picked to go here...hope he liked it..

We were the only ones there and he let me get out and walk a bit, so cool.

A very deep sink hole, but small hole that some folks crawled through to see how far they could go....wow, not me...

Just riding along, and now there was another tour in the cavern as well...but there is plenty of room...

The names of the women that first discovered the cavern....

Years ago they allowed people to rent the cavern for events. This was a "stage" where bands would set up...

This is a large area for party guests and tables...etc...

Huge formations...

The hole where the women 1st crawled in to discover the caverns...

Our group shot

Well...that was interesting, but not sure we can recommend it for the price...if you can get a discount, then maybe. Now we were off THE Bass Pro Shop...Springfield is where Johnny Morris started Bass Pro Shops. The HUGE flagship store is here...there is also an aquarium (a ticket is needed) next to the store but we don't have time for that. We will only have about an hour before heading to the airport.

This store is not just a store....it's also a destination, lots to see...

Entrance to the Aquarium....

Hello Brer' Bear....

So many mounts...of all kinds...

Because this is a store about fishing, (but had some of everything), in this part of the store it's like you are under water..see the bottom of the boat, tree roots and fish...so neat.

Turtle Tank...

Small aquarium...but pretty

There was a knife museum and archery museum for free..but no time to go in..

Because Johnny Morris built Top of the Rock, they had this info about it....so glad we had gone, one amazing place..

This place is huge, we will come back one day and really cover it....

Check out all those antlers....

Well, we were glad we'd checked it out but we certainly only saw a fraction of what's here. We'll be back...for now, time to head to the airport...it had been a great week, perfect weather and very relaxing. A perfect mix of busy and relax....

Thanks Branson...we'll be back!!!

The Branson Belle and the Haygoods

Thankfully friends and family that had been to Branson before coached us on things to do...so today was Showboat day...lunch, paddle boat ride and a show all in one.

Some shops at the dock before you board...

Looking back at the dock and shops.

Looking down from the balcony..

On the top deck ...outside, had to explore as we pulled away from the dock...

From up here we spotted a "duck" tour....

And away we go...

Untied and floating away...

Was a little overcast but no rain...typical lake shoreline

The captain is at the helm....

The comedian and an audience guest...he was ok, not great.

 We had a comedian at first and he was MC for the rest of the show. We had a great small band, singers, dancers...a really good show, after our lunch. Lunch was very good, and lots of it....held us all day and then some.

A nice looking campground on the shore...

 We wandered outside after lunch and before dessert and the 2nd half of the show...if you stayed outside too much you missed the show. I wish we'd had more time outside, but it was  a nice ride.

I didn't buy their picture...I took a picture of it...not too bad.

Really enjoyed that, but wish we'd been able to spend more time outside without missing something inside...maybe we should have doe the "Duck"...lol.

We had a few hours before The Haygoods show so we headed into town to see a Veterans Memorial we'd driven pas a few times. This memorial is in a Y in the road and is very cool. This town is VERY serious about honoring veterans. The garden is maintained by local volunteers...so nice

 It was one HUGE bronze...

Just awesome, what a memorial

Had time to swing by the oldest Ice Cream shop in Branson...we split a shake and a chili dog the shake was good...the dog was typical

Cute diner like atmosphere...this was the building that had the permanent people on the roof...lol!!

Time to head up the road to see The Haygoods...this is an all sibling group...5 brothers and 1 sister, they were amazing...lights, fire, action...they had it all...and they could play like crazy. I think they must have played every instrument you could think of...was just fantastic

And this is how it started...one brother came in by zipline upside down....

The banjo and the violin dual it out.........

Lights....what a show

This was really an amazing show....

Another great day....time to head home..............we head back to ATL tomorrow.