Branson & the Ozarks

Departure Points:

Yankee Trails, Rensselaer - 6:45am

Sunday, March 22:

We will board the coach this morning and begin our journey to the west in search of the greatest entertainment and sights this country has to offer! We'll follow the scenic byways to Akron, Ohio where our accommodations for this evening are at the Hampton Inn Akron-Fairlawn (330-666-7361) where each room features a coffee maker, mini-fridge & hairdryer. Upon our arrival you will have time to relax and freshen up. There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel for dinner on your own.

Monday, March 23:

A deluxe breakfast is included at the hotel to start our travel day to our next accommodations at the Drury Inn & Suites in Collinsville, IL (618-345-7700). Enjoy dinner (included) at the Drury’s Kickback featuring items such as BBQ Sliders, Mac & Cheese, Hot Dogs, chicken noodle soup, salad, coleslaw and more (menu subject to change).

Tuesday, March 24:

A full breakfast is included at the hotel this morning before visiting the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Then we will follow the sound of music to Branson, Missouri, a town known for its top-notch entertainment and down-home hospitality. Upon our arrival we'll go to our accommodations for the next three nights at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Branson (417) 312-9824. The hotel offers an indoor pool, as well as WiFi and each room features a coffee maker, microwave, mini-fridge & hairdryer. You will have time to unwind and freshen up after we check in. Dinner is included tonight at Jackie B Goode’s Uptown Cafe. Your meal choices are 1) Pot Roast, 2) Hawaiian Chicken, 3) Jumbo Fried Shrimp or 4) Country Fried Steak each with a garden salad, roll and dessert. After dinner we will see The Haygoods at the Clay Cooper Theatre. The Haygoods bring the house down night after night with incredibly tight harmonies, innovative, energetic choreography, incredible special effects and amazing performances on over 20 different instruments!

Wednesday, March 25:

A hot breakfast is included at the hotel each morning. Then we're off on a 2-hour Wildlife Tour at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park followed by a creekside lunch (included) of Waldorf Chicken Salad & Club Sandwiches, chips, coleslaw, seasonal fruit salad and brownies. Next we will visit The College of the Ozarks for a guided tour including a visit to The Keeter Center, a beautiful lodge-style hotel and conference center as well as the Empty Cross, an art installation on campus. Get some history on the Ozark Lakes Heritage at the Dewey Short Visitors Center with a short film on the Table Rock Dam, fish & wildlife exhibits and the story of Table Rock Lake. We will return to the hotel for a brief rest before dinner at the SS Dockside Cafe with your choice of 1) Bourbon Glazed Salmon, 2) Pulled Pork, 3) Fish & Chips, 4) Grilled Chicken Breast, 4) Fried Shrimp or 5) Grilled Chicken Salad. After dinner we will head back to the Clay Cooper Theatre for Clay Cooper’s Country Express. Branson’s King of Country, Clay Cooper brings you singing, dancing, 24 entertainers, great visual effects & a variety of music!

Thursday, March 26:

A full breakfast is included at the hotel. This morning we will start our day at the Reza Live Theater and the Doug Gabriel Show. Enjoy this multi-talented, seven-time, Branson male vocalist of the year along with his talented family and comedian “J”. A variety of music & special tribute to Veteran’s. There will be time for lunch and shopping on your own in historic downtown and Branson Landing. Visit the heart of Branson located on the shores of Lake Taneycomo. We will return to the hotel for a brief rest before we embark on a dinner cruise aboard the Showboat Branson Belle. Enjoy a cruise of Tablerock Lake plus music from the 60’s to today. Dinner includes a wedge salad w/vidalia onion dressing, hot rolls, Rotisserie Chicken thighs, Pot Roast w/ demi-glace, green beans, garlic mashed potatoes & ooey-gooey butter cake. After our cruise we will head to the Pierce Arrow Theatre for Nashville Roadhouse Live. The Grammy-nominated band with Entertainer of the Year, Stevie Woods, delivers a show full of country music mixed with Rock & Roll.

Friday, March 27:

This morning we will have our full breakfast at the hotel. After check out we will travel to Fantastic Caverns where “America’s Ride Thru Cave” will give you an up-close look at beautiful cave formations, like giant columns stretching from floor to ceiling, delicate soda straws glistening with minerals & tiny cave pearls hidden in crystal-clear water. As we head north we will stop at Buc-ee’s for some shopping time! Grab some of Buc-ee’s famous Beaver Nuggets (like a caramel popcorn) or its famous BBQ, t-shirts, toys, cowhide rugs, cast-iron skillets, and even a glass cabinet with glimmering belt buckles. We will then depart for our accommodations at the Drury Inn & Suites in Collinsville, IL (TBA). Enjoy dinner (included) at the Drury’s Kickback featuring items such as BBQ Sliders, Mac & Cheese, Hot Dogs, chicken noodle soup, salad, coleslaw and more (menu subject to change).

Saturday, March 28:

A full breakfast is included at the hotel this morning. Then we will depart for Akron, OH and our accommodations at the Hampton Inn Akron-Fairlawn (330-666-7361) where each room features a coffee maker, mini-fridge & hairdryer. Upon our arrival you will have time to relax and freshen up. There are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel for dinner on your own.

Sunday, March 29:

A continental breakfast is included at the hotel this morning. We will then depart and head home. Enjoy a unique shopping experience on our way home at the Made in America Store, located in Elma, New York. All across America, visitors are traveling from hundreds and thousands of miles away to shop here because every item for sale in this store is 100% American made. During our ride we will have many fond memories to recall, stories to share, and country tunes to hum. With rest and meal stops en route, our approximate arrival in the Capital District will be 6pm.