Taking My Family To Branson/table Rock Lake For 1St Time...rec's Needed

[E Green]

Hello. My wife and I are taking our children (1 and 3) and her perents to Branson for the first time in two weeks. We are staying for an entire week and considering I have never been, I started this thread hoping to obtain any advice or rec's that some of you locals and experts might like to share. What are some good places to eat? Are there nice state parks or conservation areas to visit within a 45ish minute drive?

Can I take my kayak on that lake or is that a bad idea? I assume the town will be very crowded so is traffic an issue driving around? Should I get familiar with backroads to and from the tourist trap type stuff....

thanks for any info....

[Wayne SW/MO]

What are some good places to eat? There are restaurants on every corner, If you like BBQ Danna's is a good place for locally produce Q, it's on 165 S of 76, or on old 13. The Farm House, in old downtown is a great place for any American cafe meal. Are there nice state parks or conservation areas to visit within a 45ish minute drive? The dam, the COE visitor center just south of the dam, Eureka Springs in AR come to mind. Not cheap but an afternoon cruise on the Branson Belle would be memorable.

Can I take my kayak on that lake or is that a bad idea? I would stick to coves on TR or hug the bank around Indian Point. The same cauton aboiut staying close to the bank would apply to Taneycomo I assume the town will be very crowded so is traffic an issue driving around? That depends on whether you are in a hurry, it is slow going on 76, but if you are going somewhere else there are detours Should I get familiar with backroads to and from the tourist trap type stuff....There are free maps available everywhere.

thanks for any info....

[E Green]

thank you so so very much....

[mic]

If you can check out Lilley's place (he sponsors this web page). Awesome little store. He supposedly works there, but everytime I visit, he is out fishing.

[bfishn]

I saw you wanted to set a line for cats, if it's convenient, I'd go to the timber nearly in the back end of Jacques Creek on the east side of Indian Point. Pick a couple trees paralell to the bank in 25-30feet of water with no trees between them. Leave some slack and tie on a 5-10lb rock on a dropper near each end to sink the entire line to 5-10 feet deep. Take some worms and go early enough to catch some green sunfish or bluegill right there to bait live with.

Since you're in a 'yak, take a stringer when you return... :-)

[RSBreth]

I take my solo canoe out in that cove sometimes - it's usually fine and fishermen are usually pretty good about not runnning by very close - but "pleasue boaters" are another story. During the week it should be fine.

[E Green]

thanks for the info guys...looking forward to this trip

[Feathers and Fins]

Where to start??? Yaks are a good way to experiance Taneycomo and TR but i would not be on the Rock itself on the weekend in one. Food wise if you dont do Lamberts you are missing out its not in Branson but 30 minutes down 65. In town there are just to many to list. It shouldnt be to bad during the week, weekends crowded. I like going to the Christmas Shops when im there.

[Quillback]

If you've never been to Basspro in Springfield, it's worth a trip, just leave the credit card at home. If you can deal with the 2 hour drive from Branson, we have the Crystal Bridge art museum here in Bentonville. Entrance is free and it's a great museum from what I hear.

[Terrierman]

If you've never been to Basspro in Springfield, it's worth a trip, just leave the credit card at home. If you can deal with the 2 hour drive from Branson, we have the Crystal Bridge art museum here in Bentonville. Entrance is free and it's a great museum from what I hear.

Crystal Bridges is a very and I mean VERY rewarding day trip. A world class collection in an incredible setting. It takes a full day to do it close to justice.