Category Archives: Missouri
exploring chocolate in Missouri
I was really pleased with the chocolate findings in Missouri. Considering Branson is a small community of less than 10,000 permanent residents, they are very lucky to have an innovative chocolatier offering a very creative range of chocolate treats. Chocolat Hand Crafted Artisan Chocolates is owned and operated by April and Shane Heaton, who in themselves, have a fascinating background. Shane is originally from British Columbia, Canada, and chief chocolatier, April, was born in Korea. April’s Asian heritage can be felt throughout the shop, which is stylish and somewhat Zen. Her chocolates offer a wide range, from the playful (inspired by the fact that the Heaton’s have a young daughter who can often be found playing in the shop) to the serene. I would have liked to have seen more dark chocolate offerings, but April confessed that it’s been a hard sell converting the sweet tooth of Branson residents and visitors from milk to a darker chocolate. Even the dark chocolate at Chocolat at 60% cocoa is not quite dark enough for me. But that’s not to say I didn’t like it most of it. I was inspired by April’s playful approach to chocolate and you can’t help but feel good when you’re admiring the playfulness of her creations. There are gourmet Smores, a variety of chocolate covered pretzels, and about 20 varieties of Bella rounds that sell for just $1. So a trip to Chocolat won’t break the bank! A word of caution: I find the Mayan variety of Bella Bar to be much too peppery for my taste. The packaging says “an infusion of spicy chile and cinnamon in dark chocolate.” I could hardly taste the cinnamon and the chile pepper was far too hot for my taste, but for the most part, I’m not someone who likes …
Branson offers much for the outdoor enthusiast
I had planned to share my chocolate findings with you this week. Really I had. But going through my notes, I realized there is much more about Branson and area that I at least wanted to touch on. So bear with me. The chocolate will come as my New Year’s gift to you in the next post. So what else did I like about Branson? Last post we touched on the endless entertainment opportunities to enjoy. But there’s also a myriad of outdoor activities ranging from zip-lining, boating, fishing, the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, hiking and more. A good place to explore the complete range of options is at explorebranson.com. We hit the end of the season, so most of the leaves were off the trees, but I still got a great sense of how lovely the hiking trails along Table Rock Lake must be in the peak of summer. This is a beautifully peaceful place, and the Visitor Center is well worth a visit. There’s an interesting video you can watch about the Table Rock Dam and local landscape in addition to some great exhibits. If you happen to visit during spring, summer or fall, pack yourself a nice lunch to enjoy along the trails, or enjoy a refreshment on the outdoor patio overlooking the lake. Keep an eye out for the nostalgic Branson Belle Showboat that cruises the lake as if from a dream. Overlooking the lake is the gorgeous Chateau on the Lake Resort & Spa. As someone who really enjoys pampering and a touch of luxury, I made sure to pick up a brochure, have a room tour and make a mental note to return as a guest some day soon. And as someone who loves shopping and hanging out at waterfront bistros, I’m glad …
why Branson?
Filed under:Branson, entertainment, Missouri, North America, timeshares, travel,United States Leave a comment December 6, 2011 It’s funny how Branson reminded me of two of North America’s raciest cities – Las Vegas and New Orleans – because Branson is far from racy. It’s rather the opposite and unquestionably driven by pure-hearted religious forces. You’d be pretty hard pressed to find the seedy side of life in this small, wholesome Missouri city. There are massive churches everywhere – primarily Baptist and Methodist. No casinos. No chicken ranches (brothels.) Yet, Branson is filled with neon lights and endless stage show entertainment reminding the visitor of nights on the strip in Las Vegas. (Perhaps it was more so because we visited during the holidays and Branson is very big on Christmas and Christmas lights.) A salute from the Santa at Branson Landing But the fact that you can find performances going at any hour of the day, and free spontaneous entertainment at any eating venue in the city really reminded me of New Orleans and made me pinch myself several times throughout our week-long visit. Just where were we, and how did we find ourselves in Branson? It was my husband’s choice. We take turns choosing vacation destinations and Branson was his choice. He’d heard there was good live entertainment at reasonable prices. And he was right! I’m told there are 100 choices for live entertainment daily in this tiny city of just 10,000 permanent residents. It’s no surprise that Branson hosts approximately 8 million toe-tapping visitors each year. There is lots to do, and much of it won’t cost you a bundle. Country music is prevalent, with a heavy dose of gospel thrown in. With music greats like Elvis Presley and Ray Charles having gotten their start in gospel, it’s no surprise that Elvis and Ray Charles impersonators are big draws …
