Though many may consider Branson to be the land of denture cream and adult diapers, I am here to tell you that that is no longer the case. This once famous retirement community has been booming over the last few years to draw a larger crowd. And it's working. Over Labor Day Weekend, 2017, I took the trip to see what it was all about.

Route 66

Ok, we've all heard the song by Mr. Nat King Cole himself, but there are some really cool kicks on route 66 to be had by all (In hindsight, you may not have heard it, so here it is). The drive between St. Louis and Springfield has a handful of cool stop-offs that helped build my first real Midwestern road trip! This was a wonderful venture that showed me a great deal about the joys of the "traditional road trip". I can't wait until I take another one. Yes, it's obviously a lot of driving, but the whole idea of the journey rather than the destination rang true on this trip.

This post is all about that journey and the stops along the way. All of the sights listed below are along the route between St. Louis and Branson in Missouri. Nestled in the heart of the U.S. Midwest is an unassuming town with a plethora of things to do. Full disclosure, I won a trip to Branson. I did not choose this destination, I won it. From what I heard about this town, it was built for the elderly and where you went to grow grey hair. I will admit that the Oldies music started within a hundred miles of Branson and there is a wide variety of things to do for those who have limited mobility. These defend the idea of it being a retirement community, but I assure you that there is so much more to do in Branson than grow old. So strap in, buckle up, and let's get to driving!

I scouted out a handful of places along Route 66 before I left and kind of made a list of the things that I wanted to try and hit. There were a few things that popped up that I had to do, but I targeted attractions that were within a half-hour of Route 66. First step: get the hell out of St. Louis. Second step: the open road.

Route 66 Mines

A short way outside of St. Louis, you will find a town called Pacific, MO. In this town is a little piece of history. In 1932, Route 66 was being widened and something amazing happened. The walls of the rock collapsed and exposed the cave system that was used to mine silica. Check out RoadsideAmerica's article on the topic. While not really a destination in and of itself, it does have its own parking lot and a nice memorial garden for military personnel. The mines are tall and beautiful and provide a nice photo op for any road trip.

Fugitive Beach

What do you do when a 25-acre rock quarry fills with water? Charge admission! Fugitive Beach is a beautiful side stop in Rolla, MO. The waters are a beautiful crystal blue and cliffs and slides and rental beach toys. Admission is only $10 and you can swim all day with that. Families come out to have picnics and swim in the deep gorgeous water. Despite it being a great side stop, I was not dressed for swimming and just snagged a picture and the mental note to bring a suit next time I found myself through this way. If for no other reason, go the extra miles to see the color.

Uranus fudge factory

Uranus, Missouri is a real place, I assure you

Yep, this is real. This was an impromptu stop along the way to Branson. It is real and they know it's hilarious. The stores are full of double entendre jokes and they embrace the joys of the Uranus Fudge Factory to the point that even their bags says "The Best Fudge Comes From Uranus". No kidding. There are a few other shops in here also, complete with saloon. This was not part of my pre-planning in any way, but it should be in yours!

Smallin Civil War Cave

One of the stops that I found ahead of time was the Smallin Civil War Cave. I am here to tell you that I am so glad that I stopped here. This is not only a gorgeous place to visit, but historically relevant to both sides of the Civil War. The photo above is the entrance to the main cave and the tour guide that I had the pleasure of learning from. This cave has been used for thousands of years by animals, travelers, soldiers, and most recently-tourists! The cave served as storage and refuge for people of all walks. Fossils have been found in this cave for the last several decades of everything from animal bones to tools used by ancient peoples.

Inside the cave is a lighted walkway that leads almost all the way to the back, winding through the naturally cut walls. The cave is full of life and the little clear crayfish are hard to catch with the camera. I wish that I could find the words to convey how magical this place was to visit, but I am remiss. So, I'll just share a couple more pictures and roll on in the road trip story.

branson Landing Lights

Pretty Cool stuff here, free show downtown on the river walk and it is amazing to see. If you go down to the Branson Landing, there is a nightly light show set to music and was produced by the same company that does the light shows in Las Vegas. There are lights, water cannons, fire balls, and music. The shows are every hour in the evening until later at night. The schedule changes with the season, so check before you go. There are patriotic themed shows every day, too. It only lasts a few minutes, but it worth the wander. There are lots of shops on the Landing that are fun to wander through before or after the show, as well as amusement rides and restaraunts. Branson Landing is a great place to spend a few hours.

top of the rock

Highlight of the trip, easy to get around, especially if you are traveling with people who cannot get around easily. There are so many things to do at Top of the Rock and I highly recommend it to anyone who is anywhere near Branson. There was one picture that I found on Pinterest when I was researching this trip and it was a picture of the End of the Trail Statue.

The End of the Trail Statue at the Top of the Rock in Branson, MO

This statue is a favorite of my travel partner's and I knew that I wanted to get there to see it. The whole premise of going was based on seeing this statue and yet, an amazing time was lying in wait. This place was built by a man who has a great love for archaeology and history and has invested a great deal in developing entertainment at the facility to attract visitors to learn and be entertained. The statue was found after a few hours of interesting things, but I wanted to say what led me to this fascinating place to begin with. When you first get to Top of the Rock, you are offered entrance to the Cavern Tour. The Cavern Tour is a cool thing. You rent a golf cart and drive along a paved path through the natural park they have built up there. There are rock formation, waterfalls, and lots of woods.

Covered bridge in the Cavern Tour trail at Top of the Rock in Branson, MO

You follow the paved trail in your golf cart and it's all at your own pace. If you are looking for a cool vacation for a family with a breadth of age groups and want to see some neat stuff, I recommend Branson. After the Cavern Tour, there is a Natural History Museum that includes ample Native American History artifacts and information. There are prehistoric animals, ancient peoples, and civil war memorabilia everywhere. This is definitely an all day event, so plan accordingly. There is also a restaurant and a couple bars. They also host weddings and receptions. The church on site is absolutly breathtaking and it would be a memorable place to get hitched.

Chapel of the Ozarks at Top of the Rock in Branson, MO

The view inside this church is stunning and I feel like I have to include it just for reference.

Inside the Church of the Ozarks at Top of the Rock in Branson, MO

In addition to the eateries, tours, and museum, this facility also has a world renowned golf course and a hotel. It really has it all in one place. This was the highlight of the trip and only found because of a picture of a statue on Pinterest. Go figure. You really never know where you'll end up on a road trip. If you want to see more of my pictures from the trip, check them out on Pinterest.

Thanks, y'all!