Amy had been following the weather diligently for days. Before the trip, she knew we would be sleeping without any service or WiFi for several days in Tornado country. She took the initiative to buy an emergency weather radio that will automatically trigger if we are in danger. Looking at the radar, Amy determined it is best if we forego our campsite on a lake in the Ozarks and instead get a hotel with a solid roof for the evening. 

Because of that, today we had the best weather of the entire trip. We ended up in Branson, Missouri, a sort of mini Las Vegas without the gambling. 

We have come across these places before, Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Niagara Falls, and we always have fun… Branson fits right in. If I’m to be honest, I try to avoid these tourist traps like the plague, but when in Rome… (for the record I acted like a big boy and didn’t even mention the warm sunny weather once more than a few times)

So we took to the strip and found ourselves eating at a fifties diner and at a giant upside down home called Wonderworks. Somewhat of a children’s museum but with more technology and money injected. The kids had so much fun, if it wasn’t for the promise of a hotel bed and continental breakfast in the morning we never would have left. Fitz found enough pulleys he could easily pull himself to the ceiling, Everest made the longest bubble in the world. Amy got fifty compliments on her dress, but that won’t help when she’s robbing a bank surrounded with freaking laser beams. Maple seemed indifferent to her bed of nails and I dominated at laser tag then watched a kid ask his dad who won, the dad had to look over at me and admit to his disappointed child who was boss. 

Luckily or rather unluckily, campgrounds are so expensive you hardly notice the price difference when weather has you staying at a hotel instead anymore. 

It is sad leaving the campgrounds as our kids have often made some friends, it’s amazing how quickly they can bond over a bike ride and visit to the creek. It hurts seeing it again today as even at the hotel pool Maple became besties with two girls she will never see again. It’s both rewarding and saddening to watch them be able to create a friendship in such a quick time only to see it evaporate. Tomorrow we start over at Table Lake.