An Ozark Mountain Christmas isn’t just a state of mind. It’s all the things my family loves about the holiday season. Today we attempt to wrap it up in one great big gift to you complete with ribbons and bows as well as a Free Printable Holiday Lights Scavenger Hunt you can use at Silver Dollar City and a Family Fun: DIY Christmas Bingo Game Free Printable to entertain the family in your suite at the Stone Castle Hotel.
I’m not a big fan of traveling over the holidays. I like being home and decorating the tree. Driving through neighborhoods and looking at holiday lights. Shopping for friends and family. Baking cookies and other treats with my daughters. I like my “old-fashioned” Christmas.” I love reading the “Night Before Christmas” and watching sappy holiday movies. I enjoy “The Nutcracker” and carolers. But as my daughters get older we find that the holiday season is one of the few open times we can travel without it interfering with the school schedule. But what if we could take all the things I love about Christmas and turn them into a travel adventure? Wouldn’t that be the best of all worlds? I recently discovered that it IS possible to have it all. The Christmas sights, sounds and feelings I love as well as the exciting travel adventures our family desires. Where can I do all that? By creating an Ozark Mountain Christmas.
I was invited to attend a travel trip to Branson, in partnership with Stone Castle Hotel, to attend the #BloggingBranson Event in exchange for my coverage. No other compensation was provided and all additional expenses were my own. All views shared are 100% my own.
Where to stay in Branson?
Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Center is my home away from home this week. Check out this beautiful location, conveniently near the main strip, downtown Branson and all the exciting places on my itinerary.
It’s so comfortable and clean at the Stone Castle Hotel and Conference Center. Select from double rooms, family suites, or themed suites. My room this week was supposed to be a couple getaway with the husband, but a new job made it impossible for him to join me. Instead, I’m able to enjoy the Miss Kitty Saloon all by myself. The room is perfect for a couple with so much space to spread out, a conversation area and our own bar. There is a small fridge and microwave and one of my husbands’ favorite features of a hotel is complimentary breakfast every morning to hotel guests.
I found having a nice big suite also means that I have some space to invite friends to join me in my room. After a, ll I DO have my own “bartender” built in. One night I had an impromptu happy hour in my room with delicious yummies from Macadoodles (one of my favorite Branson stores with gourmet food, wine, spirits and more located near Branson Landing) and Down Home Punch I made with moonshine from my trip to the Copper Run Distillery. I can’t wait to get home and make my Apple Pie Moonshine at home and test out some yummy recipes ideas I have for serving up an Apple Pie Wassal.
Take a little tour of the room with me!
And you know how I mentioned that Christmas isn’t Christmas without the stories I love? During the holiday season gather next to a fireplace and enjoy the crackling fire while reading along or with your family your favorite holiday stories. You may even have a surprise storyteller make an appearance to share the story time with you and other guests.
Sure it’s wonderful to have a nice hotel which also includes two indoor pools which I saw many families taking advantage of but it’s time to get out there and explore the city, creating one very memorable Ozark Mountain Christmas.
More about Stone Castle Hotel – Stone Castle Hotel: Your Branson Home Away From Home
The Sights and Stories of an Ozark Mountain Christmas
The holidays just aren’t the same without certain things. In Branson, I found them all! Warmed Wassail and Sweet Apple Cider, holiday dining complete with all the “fixin’s.” My favorite stories like “The Christmas Carol” was performed at Silver Dollar City where I also got to ride rides (perfect for the whole family – don’t miss out on the Time Traveler roller coaster) My husband would have been thrilled because you can also watch his favorite holiday story “It’s a Wonderful Life” on stage at Silver Dollar City. Carriage rides, carolers, decorations, artisans and some very special shopping opportunities for unique holiday gifts for friends and family all round out your day. To top it all off Silver Dollar City decorates the city with over 6 million holiday lights and light displays!
Enjoy some sounds of the holiday season!
Want even more “thrills” with your holiday travel?
If the roller coasters aren’t enough for you or you require something a little tamer head to the Branson Ferris Wheel for a beautiful view of the city from the sky with over 15,000 lights at night. Spend time at the Branson Fun Tracks riding go-carts, playing the arcade or enjoying bumper cars. I opted for the Ferris Wheel, while my friend headed off to take on the Zipline! Other attractions include a helicopter ride, where you can view all the city lights and the beautiful Ozark Mountains in all their glory. Our family also enjoys the beauty of the Butterfly Palace. Your family will also be WILD about the National Tiger Sanctuary (content coming soon) just a few minutes away from downtown Branson.
For even more entertainment enjoy the storytelling, history, and mystery of the Titanic Museum. Each time I visit I learn even more about this dramatic event in history. This time I was a first class passenger who survived and went on to be among the many women celebrated for there heroic acts both on the ship and after the sinking.
The Sounds of an Ozark Mountain Christmas
There are so many sounds of the holidays! Some prefer more religious music, others traditional. Some enjoy modern and pop, while still others enjoy classical holiday music. No matter which type of holiday sounds you and your family enjoy an Ozark Mountain Christmas will give you and your family all the sounds of the season you know and love. It may even introduce you to several holiday sounds and songs you learn to love after experiencing. Where can you go to enjoy all this music? Our stops included the Clay Cooper Theatre, The Hughes Brothers Music Show, Andy Williams Moon River, and Branson’ First Family of Entertainment, The Baldknobbers. (more on all these to come!)
Clay Cooper Theatre celebrates the season by making you feel right at home. It’s not the first time I’ve said that being at a Clay Cooper show is like being invited right into their home and spending time with them. They have one fabulous and unexpected surprise in this years Christmas Express so all I’m going to do is leave you with one of my favorite segments of the show.
What can I say about The Hughes Brothers Music Show? Just don’t miss it. Just don’t. I’ll have more but this is on your MUST see while in Branson list. The combination of the elements of the holidays season is so spectacularly done that you won’t want to even experience the intermission. Except well, to maybe buy one of the hats. I did! There are historical, spiritual, family oriented, classic and even humorous vignettes and every moment brings something new to see and experience.
Don’t forget the Dining
Families can’t live on entertainment alone. And while your complimentary breakfast buffet at Stone Castle Hotel may get you going at some point you have to it and there are plenty of places to choose from. Do dinner and a show on the riverboat cruise The Showboat Branson Belle as well as Dolly’s Stampede, shopping, and dining at Branson’s Imax Entertainment Center and McFarlains Restaurant. There are also a number of other restaurants in the area which will guarantee you won’t go hungry. Enjoy the beautiful decor inside the funky outdoor of Pasgetti’s Resturant with an assortment of casual meals including the delicious Meatball Sub (which I enjoyed) Fettucine Alfredo or Spaghetti and Meatballs just to name a few. Those meatballs are 5 ounces EACH and so good! Or head to Montana Mikes, it is known for having the best Burgers in Branson!
Your family may also enjoy Fall Creek Steak and Catfish House Caught Me at Tossed Rolls , Mamma Mia, It’s Good! Florentina’s: Old World Italian Delicious Dining Experience , or Pizza, Play and Prizes at the World’ss Largest Cici’s Pizza.
It’s not too late or too early to plan your Ozark Mountain Christmas! The season begins Nov. 1 and carries through till January 1. Can’t make it this year? Start planning now for next year and enjoy the old and new style holidays that your family will remember for years to come.
An Ozark Mountain Christmas has everything that my heart could desire for my family. Now I can’t help but wonder, “Why don’t we travel to Branson for Christmas MORE?!!” If only I had known then what I know now!
Stay tuned as we continue our Ozark Mountain Christmas Series. Don’t miss out on more information, the inside scoop and our thoughts on so much more of what Branson has to offer! Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter by email to get more in-depth information on many of these attractions and some fun giveaways coming your way.
Rebecca Bryant says
Branson looks amazing. I definitely want to visit one day. I’m thinking maybe summer would be fun but Christmas has me wanting to book a flight tonight.
monique s says
This really looks great and I think it has something for everyone in the family
Lisa Carey says
It really did! I was so surprised at everything I discover each time I go back to Branson what I can find that will entertain everyone in my family.
Liz Newsome says
I never knew there was so much to do – like the Ferris Wheel! Awesome!
Lisa Carey says
It was so much fun to ride the Ferris Wheel! There were so many things to do there and I’m still discovering more for when I plan our next trip.
Jenny Ham says
Looks like so much fun I would love to go and experience this. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa Carey says
Spring is a great time to plan a trip there! I’m headed back in the Summer because it’s the only season I haven’t experienced yet. Hope you get your chance soon!,