Holiday Road

This image of a giant banjo is from the Grand Country Mall, Branson, MO, courtesy of Roadside America.

Next weekend we're going to Branson as a family. That's Branson, MO, for those some ways away w/no regional context. I dunno, maybe everyone knows about the place, where Dolly Parton and lots of other mega-country legends (and also Andy Williams, Baldknobbers, other strange acts) end up selling out nightly shows. It's like hillbilly Vegas. We're going to take the kids to Silver Dollar City, which is, yes, a theme park, but it (at least did) features a reenactment camp of early America (candle making and the like). I am looking forward to it.

I just returned from a zip trip to Tulsa, OK, and back.
In July, I went to NYC for several days.

I'm sharing all that just for context. What I want to mention is how our country was once an awesome, quirky collection of Americans, but it's becoming one large corporate franchise sellout. We had to hunt with some diligence to avoid Applebees and the like in Tulsa. I'm positive my family won't care to find local dives on the MO trip. *sad*

For me, it's the quirky America that still has charm. I like places with individuality. I want to be surprised by what's on the menu and by how it may taste once I get my order. I like to marvel at strange statues and natural wonders. For me, in a website, it's Roadside America. If you are not a frequenter of said site, go away--click over there now and check it out!