For the past 4 years we have done something called “Thanksmas,” which is a combined Thanksgiving and Christmas trip with my side of the family. This year we decided do a Summer vacation instead. We got a cabin in Indian Point, which is a village in Stone County, Missouri; right outside of Branson, Missouri. It ended up being a 12 hour drive with meals and restroom stops and the last hour drive was pretty wild. It was very windy roads through the Ozark Mountains and pitch black, so I was gripping the wheel pretty good.

The first day we were there we played put put golf and played games at the cabin, then went to Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Show that night. It was much better than I had anticipated, they do a really good job of getting the crowd involved and the food was fantastic. Day two the family went for a little hike, then Sharon and I walked old Downtown Branson and the Riverwalk to close out the morning and the family went back that night and ate at Guy Fieri’s Branson Kitchen + Bar. It was pretty good food, definitely priced for the name, LOL. The next day we did put put golf and played games at the cabin. Day three it rained all day so we stayed inside and watched a few movies, played games, and my brother cooked steaks on the grill. On our way home the next day we stopped off at Billy Gail’s Restaurant for one last breakfast with the family before making the long drive home. They had 18 inch pancakes which most of the family got, but I had eggs, bacon, and grits and it was wonderful. It took us about 12 hours to get back home and all in all it was a very fun trip getting to hang out and build relationships with family. Next year’s trip is still undetermined, but the consensus is that we will not be driving as far, it was a long drive.