The Same But Different: RVs, Rollercoasters, and Returning to Branson
We packed up the fifth-wheel RV this weekend and headed south to Branson.
Branson has always held a very special place in our hearts. For years, it was our go-to spot to come together as a family. We would stay at Top of the Rock or golf at Big Cedar Lodge, and just have an incredible time. But it has been exactly six years to the date since our last family trip down here—because that trip was the last time Larson went with us.
After Larson passed, it is probably pretty easy to understand why it was so hard for us to come back.
But lately, as we’ve started renting out our fifth wheel to others, it hit me: Come on, we’ve got to enjoy this thing, too. Taking the RV seemed like the easiest path to step back into Branson and deal with this emotional hurdle on our own terms.
Seafood Boils and Flintstone Golf
We drove down Friday night, praying for God's protection over the 4.5-hour drive, and pulled into Lakeside RV Park right near the Branson Landing.
Lincoln has been begging for a seafood boil, and since he’d never actually had one, our first stop after setting up camp was SS Dockside. It absolutely didn’t disappoint (and didn't give us food poisoning, which is always a win). We headed back to the RV, went to sleep, and honestly got some of the best sleep I’ve had in months. The park was calm, no dogs were barking, and it was exactly what we needed.
We briefly met our neighbors that were parked next to us and had some Larson's Land Coffee and gave them a couple bags to enjoy.
- Saturday morning, we woke up for a 9:00 AM tee time at the Cliffhangers course at Big Cedar and Top of the Rock.
That course is truly amazing. It feels like you are part of The Flintstones as you wind through the carved-out hills. There is even a hole where you are teeing off inside a cave, hitting out through a waterfall! Lincoln absolutely loved it, and Landry did great riding along in the cart while Nicole and I switched off. It was a perfect, true family golf outing. We love getting on the golf course and it has become something unique with our family that we enjoy being on the course all together.
After we cleaned up, we grabbed tickets for the Branson Scenic Railway. None of us had ever been on a real train before. I’ll be honest—it was a good 2-hour experience riding through the hills, but the novelty wore off about 30 minutes in. We all kind of looked at each other like, "Okay. I've done it now. I'm ready to be back."
Both boys fell asleep on the ride and it felt like Nicole and I were able to speak to each other and have a little date.
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The Same, But Different
Sunday was the hard day.
We realized it had been exactly six years to the date since we went to Top of the Rock for brunch. The last time we were there, we took a photo of all four of us. We decided it would be best to go back and get a new one, this time with Landry in it.
It is a beautiful photo, but standing back up at Top of the Rock definitely brought the tears. As I looked around, the only thought running through my head the entire time was: It’s the same, but different.
Things have physically changed up there over the years. The driving range is gone, replaced by a putting range, and they are carving out the hillside for an extreme putt-putt course. It all looks beautiful, but it’s just different from the last time we saw it.
I guess that’s just how life is, and it's okay to be a little sad about it. We can't go back in time for anything. The landscape of our lives changes. It will just be different.
To shake off some of the heavy emotions after brunch, we pivoted. Lincoln wanted to ride go-karts and a rollercoaster, so we went and did just that. It was exactly what we needed to shift the energy and just have some fun.
Enjoying the Journey
As I wrap up this trip, taking a quiet walk along the path at Lake Taneycomo, I am just so thankful. I am thankful for the past memories we made here, and I am thankful for the opportunity to come back and create new ones.
If I can leave you with one major takeaway from this weekend, it’s this: Slow down and enjoy the journey. Don't be so rushed to get from Point A to Point B. Life goes by so fast as it is. Enjoy these passing moments, because they are truly fleeting. And honestly? It is pretty fun to live life through the eyes of a child.
Keep moving forward, hold the line, and whatever you do this week—don't forget to play.