Branson's Best Day Trips - A Guide to Discovering the Best of Branson & Ozark Mountain Country [Paperback]

Carol A. Shaffer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

Writen by an area resident, Branson's Best Day Trips has 11 family-pleasing day trips to major tourist attractions (such as popular Silver Dollar City theme park) as well as fun and inexpensive places only a local would know. Would you enjoy touring a fish hatchery, viewing a nature film, and hiking in the pretty Ozark hills? How about exploring a working gristmill or a Victorian village where every building is listed on the National Register of Historic places? Also included: Info on avoiding Branson's infamous traffic jams, 20 maps, 60 souvenir photos, restaurant suggestions, and historical highlights throughout.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the best how-to-see-Branson books available. Visitors, local residents, and all tour directors will find it a valuable source of information on what to see and do in Branson and the surrounding area." -- Tony Cracraft, Branson Area Tour Directors Assoc.

"This enchanting book goes beyond the expectations of a reader seeking a mere travel guide. It is lovingly written as one would write about one's own family members. The great detail concerning routes, travel tips, suggestions and insights of which only a local would be aware are frosted with an icing of warm descriptive passages and generously spiced with pictures that look like they have been donated from the family photo albums of all the original settlers of the area.

"Even if one were not planning a trip to this area, one can enjoy this book on its own merits as a fascinating view of the history, people and geography of one of the orginal garden spots of the United States. It is a book you will thoroughly enjoy reading. But if you intend to travel in the area, you will find this an invaluable reference from which to plan your trip and to take with you as your personal guide." -- Barry Stier, Pres. Oceanco Ltd. Publisher of travel books, newspapers and magazines worldwide

"This outstanding guide could have been titled: How to See the Real Ozarks For Less Than $25 a Day. Complete with driving instructions, meal stops, interesting attractions and history, it has no equal. No visitor . . . wanting to know the stories behind local sites and traditions should be without it." -- S. Burkett Milner, Ph.D., CEO Ozark Mountain Tour and Travel

About the Author

Concerned that many of Branson's millions of visitors were missing much of the area's natural beauty and history--and therefore its true spirit--Branson resident and long time history buff, Carol Shaffer, began researching and writing Branson's Best Day Trips. In choosing what to see and do the following were foremost: sites and attractions that would appeal to everyone in the family; places that best represented the true flavor of the Ozarks; and cost. Shaffer's style is easy and direct and her fondness for the Ozarks, both past and present, is evident throughout her thoughtful and freshly written book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ivy Publishing; 20 maps; 60 photos edition (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964976692
• ISBN-13: 978-0964976696
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,711,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Local Shaffer Writes the Ultimate Branson Book, August 20, 2000

By 

Keith A. Halfpop (Branson, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Branson's Best Day Trips - A Guide to Discovering the Best of Branson & Ozark Mountain Country (Paperback)

Now this is a guidebook, written by Branson "local" Carol Shaffer. Branson's Best Day Trips mixes area history (better than any show!) and photographs with a complete guide to Ozark attractions from shows to inexpensive day trips in the area. After all, the Ozarks do not begin and end on the Strip; Shaffer takes you to surrounding communities, and provides 19 maps and detailed directions clear enough for even the most directionally-impaired traveler! To top it off, Shaffer's writing style is delightful. We highly recommend this book.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource!, January 14, 2000

By 

Julie Nedlam (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Branson's Best Day Trips - A Guide to Discovering the Best of Branson & Ozark Mountain Country (Paperback)

Wow, what a great book! I can't believe how much information is in here. Carol obviously knows the area and I think she was able to explain a little of the background behind the different places without becoming a history lesson. I also think the maps are very clear and plenty easy to read and I think the text was well written. I especially like the section on how to navigate the various side-roads (if you've been to Branson you know how bad the traffic can be). I went on vacation to Branson before but only got to see a third of what is in this book - now I can't wait to go back again!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful book, March 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Branson's Best Day Trips - A Guide to Discovering the Best of Branson & Ozark Mountain Country (Paperback)

We used this book throughout our vacation. The maps were great. Our favorite chapter was the one to Branson's free attractions. We would have missed a lot had it not been for this book and would recommend it to anyone.