1st Inn Branson Raises the Bar on Budget Friendly Hotels

The 1st Inn Branson is located on Branson’s famous Country Music Boulevard (Hwy 76), in the heart of the Branson Entertainment District. This property is a budget hotel, offering pocket-book friendly rates while also providing a higher level of comfort, design and amenities than most other Branson budget properties. Their recent renovation, which occurred in late spring, is responsible for many of the changes which have turned 1st Inn Branson into a top choice for Branson travelers who are looking to save money yet still desire the comforts of home.

The hotels amenities include an outdoor pool, which is of medium size and equipped with a nice-size patio area. The pool area also feels secluded, even though the property is on busy Hwy 76, a plus in any visitor’s book. There is also a hot continental breakfast to take advantage of, offering your basic breakfast staples as well as French toast and waffles. There is a small fitness center available, as well as a guest laundry unit. The 1st Inn Branson is completely smoke and pet free. Wireless internet is also available throughout the property.

As mentioned previously, the hotel underwent extensive renovations this past spring, which are apparent in both the exterior and interior of the hotel. The exterior is a mix of stone and natural hues creating a welcoming environment which overlaps into the interior of the property. The same warm hues are used throughout the property, and they create very inviting rooms. The rooms are completely new in design and concept and feature 32’ flat screen televisions, new carpet, new drapes, new bedding, new case goods, new tile and new shower curtains. That’s a whole lot of new, and it shows! I was impressed with this property during my stay and found their property to be a nice change of pace compared to other budget properties where I have lodged.

The Pierce Arrow Show in Branson Hits Their Target!

The Pierce Arrow Show in Branson, Missouri is a spectacular display of music, comedy and special effects. Their theater is definitely one of the nicest in town, and the matinee show I attended had one of the biggest audiences I had seen. After seeing the show, I realized why their show was so full – it’s because they’ve got one of the best shows in Branson!

Jarrett Dougherty, Pierce Arrow’s resident comedian, starts the show and had me laughing out loud in a matter of seconds. Pierce Arrow then took the stage, to the tune of confetti, smoke and flashing lights for a spectacular introduction and even better set of country and gospel hits. A little bit of everything is covered in their show, though, evident by the likes of song choices like “Pretty Woman,” “Can’t go Home,” by Bon Jovi and Bob Seger’s “Take it Easy.” However, I thought the band really shined during their gospel selections, which included the moving “I can only Imagine,” “Elizabeth," and “Spirit in the Sky.” They were also joined by Desta, the woman songstress of the show, for a rousing rendition of “O Happy Day,” which highlighted the entire crew at their best.

The mix of Jarrett Dougherty’s comedy, including a skit featuring lotto winner Claude Hopper, with Pierce Arrow’s vocal stylings is a winning combination that has proved to be extremely popular. I came away from the show a fan, and I believe the show emphasizes the importance of God, Country and Family in a very honorable, yet entertaining way. Branson’s Pierce Arrow show also has a moving tribute to veterans, beautifully orchestrated to showcase the sacrifices made.

The Pierce Arrow show is a Top Ten Must-See Branson Show.

Branson's Comedy Jamboree Features a Variety of Entertainment

The Comedy Jamboree Show in Branson, Missouri is located at the Grand Country Music Hall in a quaint but comfortable theater. With a capacity of just 551, the theater provides an intimate atmosphere for the audience participation heavy show. The show is more variety show than anything else, with comedy, music, dancing and zany antics at the forefront of the production. The Ozark Mountain Country Band is present throughout the show, providing some nice instrumental stylings while their lead singer, Splinter Middleton, provides the right amount of country twang.

The show features a lot of comedy bits, many of them corny in nature but also completely hilarious. As this is Branson, the comedy is completely G-rated and family-friendly. The best routine of all was the “Dr. Phil Sketch,” where the host, Stretch, and comedian, Jae, take the world of talk shows for a spin around the Comedy Jamboree block. And let me tell you, the end results are hilarious! A lot of the comedic skits in Branson’s Comedy Jamboree Show rely on audience members to participate, which leads to tremendous laughs for everyone. One in particular, which I’ll call the “Monkey See, Monkey Do” segment, had me rolling with laughter.
Tracy Heaston, a fantastic piano player, is part of the show’s line-up as well, and his playing is very good. The band does an excellent job on “The Devil went down to Georgia” and “Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” which was my favorite.

Overall, the Comedy Jamboree does succeed as a variety show matinee. It definitely brings the funny to town.

The Duttons in Branson Show America They've Got Talent

After seeing The Duttons in Branson, Missouri all I can is “Wow!” I was completely in awe of their mastery of instruments, singing, and overall appeal they exude. This is one talented family, albeit one of the most talented I’ve ever seen, and they connect the idea of family-friendly entertainment in all they do. Some of you might be familiar with them already, as they were top ten finalists on last year’s “America’s Got Talent.”

The show began with a medley of country & bluegrass hits, including “Mountain Music,” “If you’re gonna play in Texas,” “I’ve Been Everywhere” and “Bayou.” From there, the performers delighted me with their sheer instrumental talent, even playing behind their backs. Amy is one of the finest Fiddle/Violinists I have ever heard, and she amazed me throughout the show. Her brother, Tim, is also one of the most versatile musicians I’ve found in the Branson area, and his ability to play every instrument on the stage was remarkable!

The Dutton Family also has several little members, the Dutton children. Now, many Branson shows have the performer’s children in them. However, none have impressed me the way the Dutton Children did. They took the stage and made it their own! My favorite kiddie performance was the Dress Shop segment, where Ben’s little boy sings “Somewhere Out There.”

There is so much in The Dutton Show, it is hard to point out all of the highlights. But, a few more of my favorites included the classical segment, where the violin is accompanied by the piano, then by the whole band, for a moving number. Their “Devil Went Down to Georgia” performance was a rousing rendition of a country classic, as was their fun interpretation of “Cotton Eyed Joe.” The Branson Dutton Show was capped off by a spot-on performance of their signature song, where all performers played the opposite violin, creating an instrumental effect I’ve never seen before!

Dick Clark's 2 O'Clock Rocks Show in Branson is Rockin' Good Time

One of the newest venues in Branson, the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater, is home to 2 O’Clock Rocks, a very entertaining afternoon production on the Branson show circuit. Featuring “Diamond” Dave Somerville, original lead for “The Diamonds,” McKenna Medley (Bill Medley’s Daughter) and Bill Haley’s Original Comets, this show is a nostalgic look at the glory days of Rock ‘n Roll. It celebrates not only the beloved music of this era, but also the innocence of the days when poodle skirts and saddle shoes were all the rage.

The first half of the show highlights an incredible number of songs. McKenna sings everything from “Great Balls of Fire” to “One Fine Day,” with a medley of hits by women artists thrown in for good measure. My favorite part of her performance, however, was her medley of songs featuring Bonnie Raitt, The Eagles and Elton John. Dave Somerville does a great job covering his hits as well as playing tribute to others. He performed “Love, Love, Love,” "Let’s Stroll,” “Silhouettes,” “Blueberry Hill,” “Little Darlin” and many others. He was great on Buddy Holly’s “Oh, Boy!” and made it a lot of fun for the whole audience.

The second half of Branson's 2 O'Clock Rocks Show features The Comets, their fantastic hits, and of course, a bit of comedy to spice things up! They begin their set with “Shake, Rattle & Roll” and dive right into other hits like “House is Rockin,” which was a great performance, as well as a medley of lesser known hits like “Crazy Man Crazy.” My favorite, though, would have to be their performances of “Rockin Robin” & “Rock Around the Clock.” They were spot on during these segments, and really brought the house down.

The gentlemen who perform in this show are really amazing, and I have to pay special tribute to their drummer, who at the young age of 85, did a great job of banging those drums. His drum solo totally blew me away!

Quality Inn in Pigeon Forge a Comfortable & Convenient Choice for Visitors

The Quality Inn in Pigeon Forge is the sister property to the Comfort Inn and Suites. Their properties are located right next door to each other and Quality Inn guests have access to the large indoor pool and hot tub room located at the Comfort Inn. However, Quality Inn does have a pool on property as well. Located near the lobby of the hotel is an outdoor pool with hot tub and kiddie pool with water features, like a splash zone.

There is small breakfast area located in the large lobby of the hotel and there is ice and vending machines located on every floor. I found the rooms at the Quality Inn to be very elegant, with a nice modern décor throughout. There furnishings were also all new, including the case goods. All rooms also come standard with microwave and mini-fridge, a nice convenience, and free Wireless Internet. Another update I found was new carpet throughout the rooms. The hotel is a convenient option too, because it is located just minutes from all of Pigeon Forge’s best attractions and has several restaurants located adjacent to property, including Pizza Hut.

Pigeon Forge's Quality Inn is very well taken care of and the extra touch can really be seen. Families, couples and retirees can enjoy the facility without breaking their budget.

Branson's Island Fire Show is One Hot Ticket

Island Fire in Branson, Missouri is a unique show encompassing island customs and flare from the people of Samoa. Known as the ‘happy people,’ the Samoans who perform in the show, located at the Dutton Theater, are an engaging group who radiate life, and a love for what they do. The truly amazing thing about the show is how it creates an island-state-of-mind right in the midst of the heartland. While watching the show, I felt like I was at real luau, on a sandy beach in some distant tropical locale. Not many shows in Branson can say the same, which is one of the top reasons visitors should make Island Fire a part of their itinerary.

The Branson Island Fire Show jumps right into the action, with performers running to the stage to perform the first of many island dance routines. Not long after, the first fire routine is showcased to some amazing results, and then performers teach a select few audience members how to make a Polynesian fruit salad, which I participated in. The show also has a few songs by Hawaiian Elvis Dave Lemmond, and fun black light dance routine as well. My favorite dance routine of the night was the ax dance, where the men did tricks with actual axes while dancing. My absolute favorite part of the show, though, was the final fire routine. It starts with one fire dancer, and works up to a total of four, to create a routine where fire is tossed, twirled, touched and danced with to a high degree of entertainment.

The Island Fire Show is fun for those of all ages, and should be a part of any Branson experience.