The drive to Branson was an easy one and with rain on the way, we were quick to get settled in. We were in site, #11 at Branson Lakeside RV Park, a park run by the city of Branson and located on Lake Taneycomo. We are not right on the water which is probably good since the lake is pretty high and rain is in the forecast for the next several days. Instead, our site is bordered by the camp road and a bluff, atop which sit the tracks for the Branson scenic railway. Despite the rain, we were anxious to ride the trolley which stops at the park so we could get a sense of the area. It had been years since either of us had visited Branson and we really had no idea what to expect.
We found we were near the area known as Branson Landing, an area of restaurants and shopping. We decided to eat at the White River Fish House for an early dinner. The restaurant is owned by Bass Pro which is located nearby. We both had the trout which was excellent and a really nice chardonnay. It was all a little pricey but it was really good. From there, we walked down to the heart of the Landing to sit by the lakeside fountain, patterned after the one at the Bellagio in Vegas. This one shoots out flames when it goes off as well as water. The music was what one expect in Branson. It was a lovely cool evening and we decided tomorrow, we would visit the Strip.
The strip was as corny as expected. There were go-karts and a Ferris wheel to ride. There are so many shows and restaurants, and we bought tickets to go see the illusionist, Reza. We had a late lunch at Godfathers Pizza which was a real treat since they have all closed in the St. Louis area. The rain continued all day but hopefully, there will be a break in it tomorrow.
When we returned back to our RV, we took Kismet for a walk in the nearby neighborhood. There were a lot of nice houses, some on stilts and often with great views of the lake. Lake Taneycomo is a man-made lake on the White River in the Ozark Mountains of Taney County, Missouri. With a narrow, flowing, river-like appearance, the water in Lake Taneycomo comes from the deep bottom of Table Rock Lake, making the water very cold. This cold water creates an ideal climate for trout and numerous state records have been set.