Christmas In Silver Dollar City

If you read yesterday's post you know that AD, G2 and I went to the Dixie Stampede on Saturday morning and then went to Silver Dollar City later in the day.

We arrived about 3:30 and it was pretty cold. The picture above was taken just after we went through the turnstile and just before you enter the "City." It's one of my favorite picture spots. G2 took the photo because he didn't want his picture taken.

I headed straight to the back of the park to see if there was a chance I could get in to see Silver Dollar City's production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol while AD and G2 went to see what rides were open. (Like I said, it was cold and sometimes rides will be shut down due to the temperature.)

The theater or Opera House, as it's called, holds lots of people and the next show was at 3:45. From past experience I really knew I didn't have a chance of getting a seat 15 minutes before the show. And I was right. This is one of the most popular shows at Silver Dollar City and there's ALWAYS a line.

The line for the 5:45 show was already forming although some people thought they were still in line for the one at 3:45. Silly people! So as the word started getting around that there would be a 2 hour wait - in the cold - for the next show, the line started to shrink putting me closer and closer to the head of the line.

I've seen the production many times (in fact one year I actually stood in line to see it twice in one day) but it's just so outstanding - in my opinion and the opinion of many others - that it's well worth the wait.

You meet some really nice people standing in line and this time was no exception. As the temperature dropped and the wind picked up we passed the time talking about lots of things. The people I happened to be talking to had tried to get in to see the show last year but wasn't able to stand in line so they were determined to see it this year. I told them they wouldn't be disappointed. I didn't see them after the show so I don't know what they thought but I can't imagine them thinking they'd wasted their time.

This is my favorite part of the whole show. The Ghost of Christmas Present is a hoot! She's not the original Ghost but her performance was every bit as good as her predecessor's.

Once inside the theatre I discovered the battery was low on my camera. Ugh! So I limited myself to only a few photos. You have no idea how hard that is for me! Flash photography is strictly prohibited so I did the best I could.  (And it does "snow" inside the theatre at the end of the show.")

I immediately saw this sight as I came out of the theatre. I wish my photo did the scenery justice. Silver Dollar City decorates with millions of lights - and that's not an exaggeration.

At the front of the park there's a huge tree that is lit every night starting at 6:00. Music plays and the lights dance up and down the tree to the music. It's quite a sight to behold.

There's also a short parade a couple of times a night. We really weren't planning to stay for the parade because of the cold but as we were trying to leave the park we were told we couldn't go "up the hill" because the parade was coming. G2 said we might as well stand there and watch it.

Santa Claus always leads the parade.

And it always ends with a float that is entitled "The Greatest Gift of All." Very appropriate in my opinion.

AD and G2 did ride the big roller coaster called Wildfire earlier in the day but when the temperature dropped and the the wind really began to howl the big, outdoor rides were shut down. They rode a few "inside" rides and even stopped into the Carousel Barn where Santa visits with all the children. They stopped in to warm up but said they didn't stay long. The barn was packed with kids waiting to see the jolly old elf.

We really wanted to ride the Christmas "Sing-a-Long" train but we just couldn't stand the cold any longer. It's a great train ride. The train ride is always in the park but at Christmas it turns into the "Sing-a-Long" train. Christmas music plays while everyone sings along to old, familiar Christmas songs. As it makes its way around the park there are many light displays to see.

Then about half-way through the ride, the train stops at "Grandpa's house" and he's there, sittin' on the porch rockin' in his chair. He greets everyone and then proceeds to tell the story of the very first Christmas. It brings tears to my eyes just typing this.

Once the story is told the train proceeds on its way back to the train station with everyone singing along again to the music.

So that was our day at Silver Dollar City. If you've never visited the City and you're ever in the area, it's a fun time. Lots of things to see and do. They have a saying there - "You've got a great past ahead of you."

Another Fun Weekend

After the adoption celebration last Friday our weekend continued.

Saturday nights are generally spent at a local race track watching G1 and G2 race. This past Saturday was no different. They both raced in the same heat race with G2 finishing in first place and G1 finishing third.

When the checkered flag fell at the end of the feature race, G2 had again placed first and G1 was close behind finishing second.

It was a late night at the track. We got home at 1am and grabbed a few winks because on Sunday morning we were off for a couple of days in Branson, MO.

G1 and his gf went with us. She'd never been to Branson and it was fun showing her around.

Our first stop was in Ozark, MO to eat at one of our very favorite places - Lambert's!
Of course we love their "throwed rolls" and we also look forward to their "pass-a-rounds".

If you've never been to Lambert's, you place your order but then some of the guys and gals come around with big pots of pass-a-rounds. There's blackeyed peas, fried okra, fried potatoes and onions, macaroni and tomatoes and of course the rolls and sorghum if you like.

AD's favorites are the blackeyed peas and the okra. My favorite is the fried potatoes and onions. Daughter's favorite is the macaroni and tomatoes. And we all have to have us some throwed rolls.

Then it was off to Branson. After a bit of shopping at Branson Landing we checked into our hotel. G1 and his gf took some time to cool off in the hotel pool.

A trip to a miniature golf course came next.

There are a number of miniature golf courses in Branson. G1 likes the "Lost Treasure" course. Actually they have 2 courses - the Diamond Course and the Gold Course. G1 chose the Diamond Course.

Normally I am the one that ends up on the short end of the club so to speak. I'm not sure if G1 was just being nice because gf was with us or if he was having a bad day or if I just had an EXTREMELY good day because I - that's ME! - I WON!!! Woo hoo! I. NEVER. win. The gf came in second and I can't honestly remember who came in 3rd and 4th but it was the guys.

After the round of golf came it was on to the Lumberjack go-kart track. The kids enjoyed the karts while AD and I spectated.

By the end of the ride we were all pretty tired so it was back to our rooms for some much needed rest because

Monday found us at Silver Dollar City. The park is celebrating 50 years in 2010.

My how times have changed. When I first went to the park as a kid, other than the tour of the cave, there was only a stage coach ride and the train. Over the years rides have come and gone

and the parking lot has expanded to parking lotS.

For years our family had season passes to "the City". Then a couple of years ago when we were working on the house we decided we wouldn't have time for any visits for awhile.

Even more changes were in store for us when we arrived yesterday. The parking lots have changed some and so have the trams that take you to the entrance.

Look at that nice new tram. The old ones were green and the roofs were very low. I'm not very tall and I bumped my head on the old ones more than once.

Once inside G1 and gf headed to the Wildfire roller coaster. They stood in line extra time just to be able to ride in the front seats. G1 says that's the only place to ride in order to get the full effect. Personally I'm fine on the observation deck.
Then it was off to Powder Keg. Again they stood in line extra time to be able to have the front seat viewing advantage.

After a bar-b-que lunch we met up with one of gf's friends and her family in the Grand Exposition area of the park.

gf and her friend wanted to ride the Electro Spin. It's kind of hard to describe other than the track is sort of a U-shape. Riders set on the seats as you see in the picture. The seats are attached to a spinning platform. As the platform spins it also starts going back and forth from right to left, each time going a little higher. 55 feet is the maximum height that it goes, all the while spinning round and round.

Try as she might, gf just could not coax G1 getting on the ride. His point of view was that he'd just eaten a big bar-b-que lunch and he just didn't think his stomach would be able to handle the motion. A very wise choice in my opinion and I'm sure the other riders, had they known, would have appreciated him choosing not to ride too.

The last ride of the day was a wet one in the Lost River. The kids were ready to call it a day and so we headed home.

It was good to get back to Branson and "the City" after a 2-year hiatus. I'm pretty sure AD and I will be making at least a couple more trips this season.