We love any excuse to gather around a table with family and friends. And Thanksgiving is the perfect reason to travel to those near and far to celebrate. And while the food prepared for Thanksgiving is obviously given much thought, we’ve learned that the table setting is often an after thought. So today we are sharing some ideas and inspiration on how to set the perfect table for Thanksgiving. Because we think good food tastes better when the decor is pretty- don’t you agree?
We love the idea of using mini pumpkins in the center of the table. They can either be clustered together, lined apart with tags, or even used as name tags for each place setting!
And it is fall after all! Take advantage of the natural beauty by going outside and picking up pine cones, acorns, and leaves- green or colored from the fall!
How do you decorate for Thanksgiving?
We book quickly for holidays, so be sure to start planning & check for pricing today!
Spring Break is just around the corner- are you ready?! We’re here to help make your planning a breeze and your trip unforgettable! Branson is full of fun things to do- from live shows and shopping to time spent out on the lake or hiking through the beautiful Ozarks. There is something for everyone in the family. So where do you start? Start here!
Where to Stay:
- Rent Branson :: Enjoy one of their many homes- from 2 bedroom to the being-built 14 bedroom home! There is something for everyone! Traveling with multiple families? Great! You can rent multiple homes located walking distance from one another!Imagine- getting away with your family to a log cabin with a fireplace, full kitchen, BBQ grill on the back deck, and a private hot tub. You could spend the entire spring break in your home. After all, sometimes you just need a getaway to relax! Come relax at Rent Branson. You could even cook all of your meals at home, so you truly would never have to leave! But if you did want to get out, below are a few of our suggestions!
What to Do:
- Silver Dollar City :: Silver Dollar City has over 40 rides and attractions, so everyone in the group will find something to do. There is plenty of shopping, music, roller coasters and a plethora of other rides worth trying!
- Live Shows :: Branson is famous for the live shows!
- Rent a Boat :: Table Rock Lake stretches across Arkansas and Missouri and is as over 800 miles of shoreline! Enjoy the day cruising around on the lake, fishing, tubing, wakeboarding, skiing or simply enjoying the sun!
- Visit the attractions :: There are so many fun museums to explore in Branson. A few of our favorites are the Titanic Museum, Butterfly Palace & Rainforest and the World’s Largest Toy Museum.
- Tree Tops :: Explore the Ozarks from the tree tops as you zip line through the rolling hills.
- Go Golfing :: Branson has multiple golf courses worth visiting!
- Visit the Water Park :: Your kids will love the slides, splash zones and giant pools!
- Go Kart :: Speed down the tracks as you race your friends and family!
Where to Shop:
- Branson Landing
- Historic Downtown
- Tanger Outlets
- Grand Village (be sure to snap a photo on the giant wooden chair)
Where to Eat:
- Dinner River Cruise :: learn more here
- Find more of our favorite restaurants in Branson here
It’s official, Fall is around the corner! And with fall comes everyone’s favorite season- pumpkin season! And since a daily Starbucks run for your favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte can get expensive, we’re sharing the inside scoop so you can make your favorite fall drink at home!
Just think- does it get any better than a cool autumn day, sitting on the back porch of your cabin overlooking the changing leaves, sipping a PSL? We don’t think so. So we are sharing our favorite pumpkin spice latte recipe! We’ve tried dozens and this one wins every time! And you can even make it dairy free!
Imagine your perfect fall day. Can you picture it in your mind? To us, the perfect fall day would look like apple picking with our family, then returning home to bake a fresh apple pie in our log cabin. Sounds perfect- right? And lucky for us, there are a handful of apple orchards within driving distance of Branson. Some of the apple orchards even offer other fruits and vegetables. These are a few of our favorite apple orchards and where we go apple picking near Branson.
After you’ve had your perfect day picking apples with family or friends, we recommend returning home to your cabin and baking some apple inspired treats. These are a few of our personal favorite apple recipes. Be sure to pin the images below so you can use them later! Trust us, you will love them! {We also love this old fashioned apple crisp recipe & these gluten free apple cinnamon donut bites}
pin these images!
Anyone else ready to grab a cozy sweater and all things pumpkin? We love the summer, but fall brings the start of our favorite season in Branson! We’ve done some research and rounded up all the BEST fall festivals in Branson this year! If you aren’t local, these festivals are worth the weekend or mid-week getaway. If you are local, make a bucket list and try to visit them all!
- Still water Resort Harvest Festival :: September 10 – September 30 Kick off the fall with hayrides through a pumpkin patch, great food, live music and giant inflatables.
- Branson’s 48th annual Autumn Daze Arts, Crafts & Music Festival :: September 15- September 17 This free, family-friendly event is filled with fall crafts for all!
- Cedar Fest at Big Cedar :: September 18 – October 31 The guided tram tour will take you to a pumpkin patch for pumpkin decorating, pottery painting, tie-dye, face painting, a balloon artist, outdoor activities, mechanical bull rides and more! Then as sun sets enjoy s’mores, movies, bonfires and singing jack-o-lanterns!
- Harvest Festival :: September 21 – October 29 You’re going to love Silver Dollar City’s annual Harvest Festival! They have everything from craft day and pumpkin activities. You’ll love this non-frightening fun for the whole family.
- Shepherd’s PumpkinFest :: September 23 – October 30 This fun pumpkin patch experience is open weekends and has pumpkin picking, scarecrow building, hayrides and more!
- McKenna’s Pumpkin Patch :: September 25 -October 31 Enjoy pumpkin piking, a big bale hay baze, bonfires, fall decor, a bounce pillow for kids, games, hay rides and so much more at Mckenna Family Farm!
- Sycamore Creek Ranch Fall Roundup :: September 30 – October 30 Come Friday-Sunday for a full Fall Roundup experience! The whole family will enjoy hot cocoa, gunny sack slides, horseback rides, a huge corn maze and so much more!
- Veterans Homecoming Week :: November 5 – November 11 Veterans are honored all year long, but Veterans Homecoming Week is an extra special celebration commemorating those who served.
We love fall. Don’t you? From apple picking to pumpkin patches, this season is filled with fun for the family. And Branson is within driving distance of all of it. Below are a few of the best pumpkin patches near Branson.
And if you want to bring a little bit of the pumpkin experience home, we highly recommend picking a few pumpkins {big or small} then coming home to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. And in case you don’t already have the perfect recipe, we have you covered. This is our family secret recipe.Fun fact, the brown sugar makes all the difference in the world! I actually use 1/4 cup dark brown & 1/4 cup light brown, but any type of brown sugar will work!
Labor Day is all about celebrating all the hard work Americans put in all summer. So obviously, we all want to make the most of it! Here’s some tips on how to make the best of Labor Day:
Do:
- DO get out on the lake. Long Creek Marina is a great boat rental place. Old 86 Campground and Moonshine Beach are both good swimming spots.
- DO send your ladies shopping. Tanger Outlet Mall has a great Labor Day Sale.
- DO attend Big Cedar’s Picnic and Firework Celebration.
- DO barbeque! Don’t like to cook? Danna’s Barbeque and Oscar’s Barbeque has you covered!
Don’t:
- DON’T forget bug spray.
- DON’T drink and drive. Be safe while having your fun!
- DON’T forget to book your Branson vacation home! 😉
For other great activities, visit our Branson Blog. For accommodations and more information, visit our website. Make this Labor Day memorable
Branson is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the country and we believe it makes the perfect backdrop for a spa retreat! We’ve done quite a bit of research and found all of the best spas in Branson. Wether you are looking for a 5 star experience or a more affordable pampering- we have suggestions for you!
- Big Cedar Cedar Creek Spa :: Prepare to spend at least an afternoon at this spa. They have everything from facials and mani/pedis to 30-minute massages or three hour long packages. And the ‘grotto’ style indoor pool will transport you to Italy while you enjoy a relaxing dip.
- Body Works Day Spa :: This full services salon offers everything from massages and mani/pedis to waxing and hair coloring.
- Pure Tranquility Massage :: Enjoy a couples massage, facial, mani/pedi and more at this highly rates salon.
- The Spa Chateau :: The Spa Chateau at Chateau on the Lake has everything from stone massages and Swedish massages to manicures and pedicures. You will love relaxing in the cozy spa robes! And be sure to arrive early or stay a little late so you can enjoy the steam room and/or sauna!
- Spa 02 :: Spa 02 is a newer spa in Branson and offers a variety of services from couples massages and deep tissue massages to facials and detoxes. Also, be sure to take advantage of the Oxygen Bar where you get to breathe filtered 90% oxygen combined with an aromatherapy of your choice!
- At home :: When you book one of our Rent Branson homes, we work with a private company who will bring the massages to you! They bring everything needed to bring the spa experience to you! We always believe the at-home {in your vacation rental} experience is one of the best spas in Branson! 😉
Traveling can get expensive… we know. So we are doing our best to help you save money wherever possible. We recently added the option to pay using an e-check, which allows you to save on the credit card fees! Depending on the cost of your trip, that can save you TONS of money! Check out our “Make a Payment” page for more information!
Looking for more ways to save money on vacation? Check out a few of our other suggestions!
Do you love the outdoors and are looking for different ways to get outside while in Branson? There are so many incredible ways to enjoy the outdoors in the Branson area and we want to help you make the most of it! These are a few of our favorite ways to enjoy the beautiful Ozarks.
Bass Pro Shooting Range
This is one of the prettiest shooting ranges you will ever see. Image views overlooking the rolling hills of the Ozarks, with Table Rock Lake in the background. At the Bass Pro Shooting Range, you can find everything from ATA Trap, Wobble Trap, American Skeet, Sporting Clays, and 5 Stands. You can also rent shotguns, ammunition and safety gear.
Dogwood Canyon
We love visiting Dogwood Canyon in every season. It’s a great place for fishing, exploring, horse riding, bike riding, eating and more. It’s a great place for the family.
Go Hiking
We’ve created a list of hiking routes for everyone- from beginner to experienced!
Soak in Your Private Hot Tub
After a long day, is there anything better than soaking in your private hot tub while overlooking nature? Each of our homes have private hot tubs for you to enjoy!
Get on the Water
Whether you want to get out on a boat, rent a kayak or Stand up Paddleboard, or go fishing- Branson has multiple options! We highly recommend getting in touch with White River Kayaking!
