Bass Pro “Granddaddy” of All Outdoor Stores, Springfield, MO

If you have ever been to Bass Pro or Cabela’s stores, you know that they are famous for their fish aquariums and taxidermy animals. The Bass Pro shop at Springfield, Missouri is nicknamed the “Granddaddy” of all outdoor stores. Their web site boasts it is the number one tourist destination in Missouri attracting four million families, sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts every year, with nearly 500,00 square-feet of shopping fun. There are seven aquariums, complete with educational sessions on native fish, and alligators and turtles the in-store swamp. There are daily fish feeding shows in Uncle Buck’s Auditorium on the ground floor where divers feed the fish and give an educational seminar.      

Also located there is Hemingway’s Blue Water Café, National Archery Hall of Fame, National Rifle Association Sporting Arms Museum, John A. and Genny Morris Conservation Education Center and White River Conference Center.

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Next door to this is the Bass Pro Shops 20,000 square foot Outlet Store.   They state “you’ll find reconditioned rods and reels, trolling motors, black power and archery at unbelievable bargain-bin prices and plenty of other great merchandise at rock-bottom prices.”  Also located in this building is Wildlife Creations (fish reproductions and taxidermy) and Outdoor World Rod and Reel Repair Service.      
 
Give yourself lots of time to go through these buildings – there is so much to see!

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Downtown Riverside RV Park, North Little Rock, AR

Downtown Riverside RV Park is a gated park located on the bank of the Arkansas River. It is a Passport America participating park, along with other discounts. We didn’t have reservations, but were able to grab a spot for Thanksgiving weekend. It wasn’t a prime spot, but it had water and 50 amp electric.  All full-hookups were taken. It cost us $10.80 a night. Free wifi, 32 TV channels, 4G Verizon. This is our second time staying here; first was in 2012.

                                          

Nearby is the Verizon Arena and Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. When we were here in 2012 we walked across the pedestrian/bike bridge, to the Clinton Presidential Center and Park, Heifer International, stores and markets. We also went to the Peabody Hotel to see the “famous” Peabody Ducks.  I’m glad we did it then, because the ducks got retired in 2013 as the motel changed to a Marriott.      (Pictures from Wikipedia)

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Outside of the park, along the water is a Veterans Memorial and a Maritime Museum (which was closed).

         

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Port of Kimberling Marina & Resort, Kimberling City, MO

Port of Kimberling Marina and Resort is approximately 14 miles from Branson, Missouri, on Table Rock Lake. They are a Passport America participating campground, along with other discounts. There are 172 sites, rates range from $13-35, depending on the site. There are also cabins and a hotel.

   

We had 30/50 amp, full hookup, free internet, 4G Verizon, TV. It was a pull-through site, $13.20 with Passport America rate, which is good for seven days. We were there from November 18th to the 22nd.

     

There are private boat launches, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, swimming area.

       

There are trees all over the campground, and at this time of year, leaves. One afternoon when we got back from town, they were burning leaves near our coach. It stunk outside and inside.

   

We didn’t realize the Branson area was full of hills and steep roads. Our GPS showed a different road than what my phone did. Luckily my road was first, and we took that one. The bad thing was that it was getting dark already (we never drive at night) and was hard to see where we were suppose to go for sure. We took the GPS road the next day with the Jeep. Luckily we hadn’t taken that one, it was really steep after a sharp corner.

 

 


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Branson, Missouri

Branson, Missouri, a small town in the southwestern part of the state, is a very popular tourist area. There are theaters, performers, museums, shopping, restaurants, hotels, theme parks, golf courses and so much more. A few things are free. We were at a campground about 14 miles from town, and drove in a couple of times. There’s a lot of driving, and lots of hills, and a lot of weird, uneven parking lots on hillsides.

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