Karen’s Opinion

My previous post got quite a few responses. Thanks so much! It is funny how a little bitty fly can turn our stomachs. LOL

If you would like to hear about another experience we had, be sure to read all about our St. Louis experience. We were in St. Louis checking out Greg’s choice for law school. I think it will be a good fit for our son. We sat in on an actual class where several cases were being discussed. I think I would enjoy law school. A moot court was held and it gave thoughtful insight to potential law students. What I think Greg discovered about St. Louis School of Law is that the professors and staff are there to help the students excel.

The hotel where we stayed left a lot to be desired. We think it was a hospital in a former life. You could tell where the nurses’ station had been. Both Greg and Lynn said they had trouble sleeping. I suppose they were subconsciously thinking that while they slept, a nurse might arrive with a syringe and hurt them.

On a good note, we could see the Gateway Arch from our window.

Are you into pie the way I am into pie? Some might call me addicted to sugar cream pie! I love it. My son found an easy recipe for sugar cream pie and makes it for me when he is home. He is a great kid! While sugar cream is my favorite, I enjoy fruit pies and banana cream pies too. Oh wait! We cannot forget peanut butter pie can we? Yep, I think addicted is a good word for me and my relationship with pie.

I recently discovered that the Great American Pie Contest will be held in Branson, Missouri this year. The dates are April 24-25. That would be a blast to attend. Al Roker, the famous weatherman for NBC will be there. I would love to get his autograph.

It is time to look into the great packages at the Hilton Promenade, Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Not only do they have great packages to attend the Great American Pie Contest but they also offer packages for sporting events, hobby events and many more. They are the choice of destination when visiting Branson. The choice of a relaxing vacation or one full of things to do makes their packages appealing to every traveler. By the way, this is the first year that the Branson Air Show will be held. I can think of several friends who would be interested in being in Branson for that. Pie nut, plane nut, Branson is the place to be.

My vacation day would be about perfect if I were to eat a healthy breakfast, walk around the outlet mall and attend the Great American Pie Contest! Branson has something for everyone.

My husband and I are vacationing in Breckenridge, Colorado. We have been enjoying ourselves although it took a little bit of time, water and ibuprofen to get over the altitude sickness we felt our first day here.

We have been walking a lot and have to be careful because there is ice on the sidewalks. The weather was a beautiful 70 degrees today. We actually got hot wearing our heavy coats. We went on a search today to find souvenirs for our family. There are tons of t-shirt shops. It reminds me of Pigeon Forge, TN and Myrtle Beach, SC. Every shop has the same thing! The trick is to find the best price.

We ate lunch at a French Bakery. We had a ham and cheese crepe. I didn’t know there was another type of crepe besides sweet ones. The one we had was made with buckwheat flour. It was yummy. We enjoyed talking to the baker about his business. He pays $4800 per month in rent for his shop! He must have to sell a lot of pastries to pay that kind of rent each month. He said that is how it is in Breckenridge.

Here is a picture of the French Bakery:

We are supposed to have record breaking cold temperatures beginning tomorrow. I don’t know if I am ready. I want to escape!

I would love to visit Branson again. (That’s me in the photo above).

Branson is the entertainment capital of the Midwest and offers so many shops and boutiques that you can shop until you drop. There are as many restaurants that would enable you to visit a different one every day of the week. During the winter months, their Hilton Branson Escape Package offers many exciting programs that make winter a lot more inviting. The Polar Plunge is a great event that raises money for charity. I doubt I would participate in that but it sure would be fun to watch others plunging their warm bodies into freezing water in the name of charity.

The Winter Escape Package available at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel also offers a different type of art festival. Branson holds an Annual Ice Carving festival. I would love to see the beautiful sculptures that the artists produce. I have heard that they are amazing.

Although the events would be fun, I would be as happy to settle in at the Hilton Promenade and read a book. I love getting away and relaxing. Not having to cook is another lure for me. Branson has a beautiful river walk that is fun and lets everyone enjoy nature’s beauty. That’s the wonderful thing about Branson. You can be as busy as you want or relax in ways that fit your needs.

We enjoyed the holiday season by getting together with our family. It is becoming harder to do that though because our kids are beginning to move away from their home towns. I have been thinking about trying to get together in Tennessee or Ohio at a theme park or somewhere that offers different types of entertainment. I want to find a place that has something for everyone, old and young.

For the past few years, my mom has talked about going to Branson, Missouri. She has heard about the beautiful views and comfortable weather they have there. I have been there before and know she would love the shows. I still remember the look on my mother in-laws face when Andy Williams took her hand and sang directly to her. I didn’t think she would ever wash that hand. The shows are fabulous and are geared towards young and old alike. With 49 theaters, I think we can find something to see that suits us all.

The Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel is a terrific spot to book rooms for all of us. Their holiday packages make it most affordable to visit during the holiday season. It is within walking distance of all the shows and shopping areas. Because the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing is in the heart of historic downtown Branson, it would give our history buffs a chance to satisfy their curiosity and still let us shoppers shop til we drop.

Branson is a wonderful vacation spot any time of the year.