A FALL FAMILY TRIP TO BRANSON, MISSOURI

With 2018 having been a big travel year for us, it was only fitting that it included shooting a couple of destination weddings — including one in the Lake of the Ozarks area.

And while Branson is quite a bit farther south in the Ozarks, we opted to head out a few days before the wedding for a Branson trip with my parents. I hadn’t been since I was a kid, so it was fun to visit again as well as to travel for the first time as a family of four, since adding Seth. Here are some highlights:

day 1 • 09.26.18

Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede

Somehow, I took no photos of this show we saw the evening we arrived in Branson. Maybe because I was more focused on the dinner portion of the dinner show than on documenting the show portion? Maybe because getting good photos of moving animals in dim light and from a distance is difficult? Maybe because I just wanted a passive experience (a theory that jives with the fact that Seth and I actually were asked to participate in the show, but declined)?

In any case, our only documentation was in the form of a few photos Seth took with his phone — and even being a little of a snob when it comes to phone photos, I’d definitely say these are better than nothing when it comes to showing that we saw some cute pigs run a race (among other things).

day 2 • 09.27.18

Table Rock State Park & Showboat Branson Belle

After breakfast this morning, we headed out for a hike on the White River Valley Trail System in Table Rock State Park. The hike was the first time this year I really felt some hints of fall, and it was a fun way to welcome the season.








Later in the day, we headed to White River Landing at Table Rock Lake to board the Showboat Branson Belle. The boat is said to be the largest ship on a landlocked lake in the United States. It was built at this port (above), then moved into the lake using launching rails lubricated with 2 tons of bananas (since bananas are biodegradable and wouldn’t pollute the lake). 


In addition to dinner and a show on the boat, we also got some nice views from its top deck:




Table Rock Lake was pretty as the sun set on our drive back to our condo. And we ended the night with a game of Monopoly Deal (I’m the reigning champion, which is no small feat when playing strategy games against Seth!).

day 3 • 09.28.18

Branson Landing, Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai & 165 Scenic Overlook

After another breakfast out, we hit Branson Landing — a shopping, dining and entertainment area on the White River. Then that afternoon, we saw the Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai, who really were amazing!














After dinner at Rocco’s Pizza — which was interesting, as a restaurant operating out of a converted home — we went to the 165 Scenic Overlook for some golden-hour photos.



We hadn’t planned outfits prior to the trip, but I did make a point this day to coordinate our clothes as much as possible from what we’d packed (and hadn’t yet worn!). Given those limitations, I’m pretty pleased to have come up with a look this cohesive for this family portrait — which was just the right way to wrap up our Branson experience!