Branson Welcomes Visitors to 2011 National Travel & Tourism Week!

Area businesses and famous Branson entertainers will gather for the 2011 National Travel & Tourism Week, giving visitors a chance to meet new faces and legendary performers in the Branson area from May 9 – 13. Visitors will enjoy dining on a delicious prepared meal at the cook-out on May 10 at the Welcome Center during the noon hours and greet other Branson visitors. The event encompasses Branson’s main attractions – entertainment and hospitality! A full schedule will soon be made that provides visitors with the times when their favorite Branson performers will be available. If you’re planning on sticking around for the event, you can check out some of Branson’s lodging and make reservations for your big trip.

If visitors would like additional entertainment, they can head out on the water for an exciting trip on the Showboat Branson Belle, one of the city’s most famous attractions. This historic paddleboat features a traditional setting with many sightseeing opportunities on the boat’s decks. Visitors will be able to choose between a dinner cruise and a lunch cruise, featuring delicious cuisine such as fresh salad and a choice of entrees. Sit back at your table and enjoy an incredible performance by actors and actresses.

For an additional round of live entertainment, visitors can head over to the Pierce Arrow Show, featuring a hilarious comedian and many musical numbers from the country genre. The colorful production will surround you with entertainment for two hours and give you a chance to hear the amazing Dan Britton, an amazing bass vocalist who has held the record for the lowest bass singer for many years. The show features the talents of an entire quartet, with Casey Ellison, Gary Koreiba, Tim Storms and Scott Fraker as members.

Visit Historical Sights in Mount Rushmore For 2011!

Don’t miss out on the displays and antiques that surround the Mount Rushmore area this January. Mount Rushmore is known for its history with both manmade and natural relics, and you can see it all by starting your first vacation in 2011. Bring along a camera to snap pictures of incredible sights, whether you’re looking at the sculpted rock of Mount Rushmore or a metallic automobile from the early 1900′s. Check out some of the following attractions while you’re here.

Pioneer Auto Show and Antique Town – Murdo, SD

View 250 incredible old cars, motorcycles and farm equipment vehicles. This reconstructed area holds vehicles that the rich and famous have driven, including Elvis Presley’s Harley Davidson. You and your family will be able to stroll through an old town that is filled with great places to go, including an old general store that has everything from ancient fossil collections to antique toys for the kids. While you’re here, don’t forget to visit some of the other exhibits such as 1909 Ford and 1956 Bel Air Chevrolet.

The Journey Museum – Rapid City

This museum is great for adults and kids alike, featuring a wide range of exhibits and attractions that all can enjoy. Check out the most ancient collections, such as the Museum of Geology, which provides information and theories on how the Black Hills were originally formed billions of year ago. Also, if you’re into the history of culture and tribes, the museum has several collections that provide information on pioneers, the Sioux Indians and miners.

Mammoth Site of Hot Springs – Hot Springs, SD

Before you leave, don’t forget to receive your last dose of history at the Mammoth Site, featuring displays of ancient mammoths and information on how the mammoths lived. The research facility provides a 30 minute guided tour and video presentation along with the exhibits, and if you want to see it all, you’ll want to visit each exhibit consecutively to make sure you have time for views of the working paleontological site. This site gives displays and shows Ice Age fossils that were originally found there.

Museum Extends Invitation for Branson Vietnam Peace Accord Ceremony

On January 28 at the Branson Veteran Memorial Museum, many will be in attendance to view the Vietnam Peace Accord Candlelight Ceremony to commemorate their Vietnam veteran comrades who served in war. The museum is easily accessible just off of Branson’s Highway 76, and the event will highlight parts of the Vietnam War along with pictures and historical information for attendees to read and learn. The event marks the day after the war officially ended. Those who are planning on attending or who will be in Branson toward the end of January are welcome to book one of Branson’s hotels.

If you’d like to see more of America’s past, you’re welcome to check out more of Branson’s great museums, including Titanic – The Legend Continues, which puts you in the role of a passenger entering one of America’s most famous ships. You’ll walk through many of the recreated exhibits onboard this half-scale replica of the Titanic, including the Memorial Room and the Grand Staircase. The museum is loaded with more than 400 artifacts from the passengers who originally boarded the ship in 1912.

For visitors who are taking the whole family to Branson, they’ll want to bring the kids to the World’s Largest Toy Museum, housing every kind of toy imaginable dating from the present time back to the 1800′s. View all kinds of toy trains, bicycles, plans and small wind-ups. Some of the toys may even remind you of your childhood, and you’ll be able to tell your children or grandchildren all about some of the toys you see.

Fiestas Navidenas Combines Hispanic Culture and Holiday Atmosphere

The city of San Antonio has several major holiday festivals to celebrate the season, and their annual Fiestas Navidenas is certainly worth attending, taking place throughout the month of December. If you’re not sure what parts of the city you’d like to visit, you can start with the Market Square, where much of the Fiestas Navidenas is happening. Here, inside one of the hot spots for Mexican culture, you’ll find a reenactment of Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter before she gives birth near San Fernando Cathedral, the most ancient sanctuary in the nation. If you’re in the mood for shopping, the Market Square is more than capable of providing an assortment of clothes, pottery and glistening jewelry. Find your favorite San Antonio hotel while you’re here as well.

In addition to your other San Antonio holiday experiences, you can travel through much of the city with carriage tours like the King Williams Carriage Tour. Take some old fashioned, holiday transportation through the sreets of the King William Historic District, discovering the sights of beautiful homes decorated in brightly lit Christmas apparel, and see the historic significance behind the architecture. The land once belonged to a mission that was built many years ago.

If you’d like yet another carriage ride or would simply like to explore a different area, the San Fernando Carriage Tour covers a large region of the San Antonio area, exploring the San Fernando Cathedral. The church has been completely renovated and restored to its original form, and it was originally given the honor of being the “center of San Antonio” by Spanish colonists. Learn and listen as the horses trot along the streets.

Events Close to Nashville Help the Needy for the Holidays

Nashville hosts many family music events during the holiday season, and you can be part of the experience by attending the nearby Hendersonville event, “Christmas 4 Kids,” on December 13 and 14. All the proceeds of the show will benefit the children in underprivileged families, and you’ll be able to enjoy great entertainment. Artists such as Burns and Poe, Chelsea Field and Bo Rice will be in attendance and ready to give you a performance you’ll never forget. Join in the festive atmosphere not far from Music City, and be sure to reserve your Nashville lodging soon.

The Christmas 4 Kids performance is one of many in Nashville, and you’re welcome to see other shows in the area, including entertainment on the colorful General Jackson Showboat. Reserve your seat for lunch or dinner time and enjoy a delicious gourmet meal with live, country music. After you’ve gotten your fill, take a peaceful stroll out to one of four decks on the boat and watch the flow of the Cumberland River as it slides past the historic showboat.

If you’d like to see a tribute show, Nashville has just the thing for you – Always… Patsy Cline. This incredible performance highlights Cline’s life from her steps toward fame up until the time of her death. You’ll hear all your favorite tunes, from “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” to “I Fall to Pieces.” The show has a large production, and talented vocalist Mandy Barnett plays the lead role of Cline, so you know you’re in for a treat.

Washington DC Brightens with the National Christmas Tree Lighting!

On December 9th, Washington DC will celebrate its 87th National Christmas Tree Lighting in coordination with the Pageant of Peace. The city’s White House Ellipse Visitor Pavilion will display lit trees from each of America’s states and territories every day after the National Christmas Tree Lighting until New Year’s Day. Visitors are more than welcome to come out and view all of the city’s great holiday displays and festivities during this time. If you’d like to stay for the entire celebration, be sure to book one of the warm and cozy DC hotels.

You can see more of the city as it lights up with Christmas decorations with tours like DC After Dark, which take you to some of the most popular memorials and highlights of the city. The tour lasts approximately three hours, and you’ll be able to stop at famous places such as the Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial and Jefferson Memorial. These are just a few of the landmarks you’ll see. There are more than 10 famous other sights you’ll view from up close in your motorcoach.

There’s even more great DC architecture available to see at night, and you can view it by taking the DC The Lights! Tour, which starts out at the Old Post Office, dating back to 1899. From here, you’ll be able to look up at the skyscraping clock tower, reaching up 315 feet. Afterward, you’ll head to the US Capitol Building, where your tour guide will give you an extensive background of the building and people that have served there, as well as answering any questions you may have. As you continue, you’ll see many other famous memorials, including the Vietnam and WWII Memorial. Enjoy the rich history of DC as it’s bathed in city lights!

Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge Lays Groundwork for Christmas

As the leftovers of Thanksgiving are gobbled up, locals in the Gatlinburg – Pigeon Forge area prepare for another great month of holiday events. If you’re planning on a trip to Tennessee, the city of Gatlinburg has plenty of places to go for attractions, shopping, eating and enjoying the general atmosphere. The weather may not be the temperature you’d like, but the friendly locals will warm up to you right away. Relax and enjoy the perfect getaway on your trip, and find out what awaits you on your vacation destination:

American Oldies Theater

Tag along with the family as you embark on a journey through time at the American Oldies Theater. The shows provide the best entertainment and let you hear the talents of stars like Kenny Evans, Quentin Flagg and Patty Waszag. The performers play a wide variety of genres, ranging from rock of the early sixties to soulful gospel. The production value of the show is worth every penny, and you’ll be able to sing along with your favorite tunes to bring you back to the good ol’ days.

Soul of Shaolin

After you’ve received your fill of American performances, you may want to engage in a cultured experience that takes you beyond our borders to Shanghai. You’ll see incredible choreographed fights, acrobatic feats and martial art moves. The show’s action sequences include the moves of over 30 Chinese nationals and have an 800 square foot backdrop with powerful lighting sequences. Reserve a seat soon for an up-close look at the performance.

RainForest Adventures Discovery Zoo

Finally, after your shows are over you can take some time to relax and sightsee through Sevierville’s exciting zoo. You’ll find exhibits of beautiful and unique animals like enormous tortoises and African Green Mambas. If you arrive in the early part of the day, you may get to see the zookeepers feed the animals, which is an exciting event for the kids to watch. The zoo has a unique environment to match the animals, including a 25 foot jungle waterfall inside.

Sightsee Nashville with Antebellum Mansion and Home Holiday Tours

Thanksgiving is past and Christmas brings a new look to many of the historical structures near Nashville with the Antebellum Mansion and Home Holiday Tours. During the month of December, many of these attractions will be adorned in festive wreaths, lights and interior decor to display for visitors. Discover what Christmas was like over a century ago, and walk through each mansion for an extensive tour. Some of the plantations and mansions that will be participating in this grand event include the famous Belle Meade Plantation, Belmont Mansion, Hermitage and Sam Davis Home. Stay nearby in some of the Nashville lodging to get the full experience of your vacation.

Once you’re done touring these historical sights, you can receive a broader overview of the city with an “All About Nashville Pass.” With the pass, you can travel from landmark to landmark aboard an exciting trolley. You’ll be able to view theaters and architectural wonders like the Ryman Auditorium, Parthenon and State Capitol. Once you’re done on the trolley, you’ll travel on foot with the Nashville Unpublished Walking Tour. Finally, add the icing on the cake to your activity with admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where you can view the best and most legendary country stars to ever perform!

 Also, you can add a little luxury to your visit to Tennessee with the Nashville Limo Sightseeing Tours. Choose from one hour to up to three hours of exciting sightseeing across the mansions of stars like Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson. Each place has its own unique look, and you’ll be able to view each one in style to match the high class of the music stars. Choose from either a full stretch limo or comfortable SUV to travel.

Branson Christmas Shows Provide Fun for Families!

After Thanksgiving, many of the performances in Branson will be gearing up for the final productions before the week of Christmas. Across the city, hotels are being reserved during the first two weeks of December, and you’ll want to do the same to make sure you have a room for your family. Be sure to check out some of the great shows taking place during this time, and check out all of the seasonal festivities while you’re in the area. You won’t regret your stay! Here are a few of the highlighted Branson Christmas shows:

Circle B Chuckwagon Supper and Cowboy Music Show

Take a stroll into the rustic atmosphere of this western, down-home performance and witness the acts of some of the most friendly and talented performers in the business. As a guest, you’ll be given free popcorn and old western movie to watch before the show starts. You’ll know when dinner’s ready as the bell will ring throughout the rustic shelter and food such as baked beans, cornbread muffins and chicken a la range will be yours for the eating. Observe the fun Christmas environment accompanied by great country tunes!

Barbara Fairchild Diner

For another Christmas option, you may attend the Barbara Fairchild Diner, which has plenty of delicious food, and it features entertainment from Barbara and her husband, Roy. The couple knows the Branson area well and have been performing in the city for over a decade, singing hits like, “Could You Walk a Mile” and “Apples of Gold.” The show appeals to everyone in the family, whether it’s a grandparent or a small child, and the lights and decorations will blow you away.

Brett Family

Don’t forget about the Brett Family, a show that brings a new perspective to the holidays with their tribute to American Veterans and special Christmas carols. The family has all ages performing in it, from the parents, Tom and Andrea, to their three children, Brydon, Briahna and Garon. View the enormous Christmas production for yourself, and take in all the lights, colors and costumes provided by the theater.

DC Craftsmen Ready for Sixth Annual Downtown Holiday Market!

Not long after Thanksgiving Washington DC will light up for the Christmas season, and you can be a part of it by visiting the Downtown Holiday Market, which runs from December 3 – 23. Setting up near historic areas like the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the downtown market will be filled with over 150 craftsman and artists. You’re welcome to travel the streets to find the perfect deals and ideal gifts for your loved ones, such as pottery, picture paintings and endless crafts. The area will have stages set up for entertainment as well, and Christmas lights will line almost every artisan’s tents, bringing holiday cheer to DC. You can spend additional time at the festival if you book DC lodging beforehand.

Don’t forget – there are many other venues to see Washington DC as well, and the city offers several quick stop-and-go’s at its historic points with tours like the City Sightseeing Double Decker Hop On/Off Pass. You can spend an entire day touring the city or just a few hours, depending on your schedule. The bus stops at 25 places and you can see memorials like the Arlington Cemetery, National Archives, National Gallery of Art, Fords Theatre and Union Station. The list goes on, and buses depart every 30 minutes from the stops.

If you’d like to explore DC’s attractions in authentic historic transportation, you can travel on the Old Town Trolley Narrated Hop On/Hop Off Tour. The trolley travels around the heart of DC’s memorials, making stops at places like the Washington National Cathedral, White House, Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial and others. Your tour makes 17 stops total and includes unlimited on and off privileges on the trolley. Bring your camera along to snap photos of your family and friends.

You won’t soon forget your experience in Washington DC, especially since the Christmas season is almost here. Bring the family along for a truly memorable time!

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