Fall in the Ozarks is an explosion of color, and many people travel from around the country to watch the mountainsides, balds, glades and lakeshores transition from vibrant greens … to yellows … to oranges … to reds, and then slough off their fall dress to make way for Christmastime.

Beautiful fall foliage can be seen practically everywhere in the Lakes Area, but we’ve put together a variety of self-guided driving tours that take you to some of the most spectacular spots for leaf-gazing in the central United States.

• Driving Tour #1 – Table Rock Lake, Kimberling City
  Est. Time: 90 minutes

• Driving Tour #2 – Downtown Branson, Forsyth, Rockaway Beach
  Est. Time: 70 minutes

• Driving Tour #3 – Bull Shoals Lake, Peel Ferry, Mark Twain Natl. Forest
  Est. Time: 4 hours

Feel free to print these driving tours as inspiration on your way to some real Ozarks inspiration. Bring a camera … or a blank canvas … and be prepared to be awestruck.

We recommend before starting any tour of the area that you stop by our Welcome Center at U.S. Hwy. 65 and State Hwy. 248 for free maps of the area, as well as info about attractions you’ll find along the way. All the driving tours assume the Welcome Center as the starting point for the tour.

We wanted to take an evening to view the numerous lighting displays in the Branson area, so we decided to drive a circuit of several displays.

The night started with driving through historic Downtown Branson, where it seemed that every light pole and tree had been wrapped in lights and decorations. After dinner at Branson Landing on Lake Taneycomo, we walked the Promenade and marveled at the Christmas trees in the Town Square.

After leaving The Landing, we put some Christmas music in the CD player and made a quick stop for hot chocolate. We then started our driving tour by going up the Red Route (State Highway 248). At the traffic roundabout in front of Skaggs Community Health Center we saw two big lighting displays, a teaser for what was to come.

Continuing on the Red Route, we then went to the Branson Area Festival of Lights Drive Through, a mile-long light display. The entrance to BAFOL is on the Red Route (Shepherd of the Hills Expressway) directly across from Sight & Sound Theater.

After a few hundred yards of lights, you come to the check-in booth, where you pay a per-vehicle admission fee ($10 for family vehicles, $25 for small buses and limos, and $50 for motorcoaches). Don’t forget to print out your $2 off Internet coupon before going.

The display can only be viewed from a vehicle (no foot traffic), but cars take their time as they cruise past each display. It took about 20 minutes to go through the display.

After exiting the Festival of Lights and getting our goodie bag, we returned to the Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and turned right onto Highway 76, heading west. It was here we found the Shepherd of the Hills Trail of Lights, a 2 1/2-mile drive-through lighting and figurine display that starts at the main parking lot and winds through the 160-acre Shepherd of the Hills Homestead. We saw lots of lights, as well as animatronic characters and displays. We cranked up the heat and rolled down the window so we could hear the music along the trail.

Admission is $10 per adult and $5 per child, which includes a ride to the top of the Inspiration Tower so you can see the display from above. The whole experience took about 45 minutes.

Leaving Shepherd of the Hills, we headed west on 76 and turned left on Indian Point Road. The Silver Dollar City signs at the turn-off were surrounded with numerous Christmas trees, and we took the new Indian Point bypass to the tip of the peninsula, where we found the Indian Point Enchanted Forest lighting display.

Our third and final drive-through of the night was very colorful and very peaceful. Drivers were asked to dim their headlights, and the roadway was lined with red Christmas lights. Trees were wrapped with white, red and green lights, and several arches spanned the road.

The Indian Point lighting display is free (donations are accepted to help offset the cost) and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Our hot chocolate cups empty, we ended the night with a cruise down The Strip. Like most of the rest of Branson, the streetlights had Christmas decorations, and most of the theaters had impressive lighting and decorations.

It’s not difficult to find impressive Christmas displays in Branson… they’re practically everywhere. It’s truly a wonderful place to experience the holiday season.

One of the amazing things about Branson is that you can be near theaters, fine dining and attractions, and just a few yards away you’ll find unspoiled wilderness and plenty of outdoors activities.

Nov. 7 was an overcast and crisp fall day, so we decided it would be a good opportunity to take a lunchtime day-hike and get some fresh air. Wanting something nearby and easy to get to, we chose the Lakeside Wilderness Hiking Trail, which begins just a short distance from The Strip. The trail offers some amazing views of Lake Taneycomo and the College of the Ozarks campus.

The Lakeside Wilderness Area is inside Branson’s city limits and is maintained by the city, and there’s plenty of parking at the trailhead, which is off Fall Creek Road behind Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater.

The first half-mile of the trail is wide and suitable for hikers of any age or ability. There are several benches for taking breaks, and pets on leashes are allowed on this section of the trail. After walking a few moments on this well-worn trail, all we could hear was the rustling of the wind through the trees and it was very easy to forget we were only a few hundred yards from The Strip.

After hiking about a half-mile along the top of the ridge, we came to some wooden steps and the entrance to the Cliffwalk Stairway, the most strenuous portion of the hike. The stairway consists of 315 stone steps that take you down the hillside, where the trail continues and parallels Lake Taneycomo. The steps were built in 1937 and 1938 and have survived remarkably well for seven decades.

The clearing where the stairs start their descent offered some of the best photo opportunities, with a great view of the lake below and of the College of the Ozarks Campus on the horizon. This portion of Lake Taneycomo is relatively undeveloped and is very scenic.

No pets, except for service animals, are permitted on this portion of the trail, and proper hiking shoes really are a requirement. Young children should be accompanied by an adult on this portion of the trail, since there are many places to slip and lose your footing.

The stairs stop about 50 feet above the shoreline, where the trail continues along the base of some nice bluffs. In several places, the trail was wet or muddy, or required some care to navigate. We saw some limited views of the lake through the trees, but the really interesting views on this part of the trail were the caves and wet-weather waterfalls. The trail winds along the lake for about a mile before a sign warns you of a dead-end about a mile ahead. We didn’t make it that far, though … we hiked along the bluff-line for about another half-mile before deciding to turn back.

Here’s where the trail gets strenuous and isn’t for the faint of heart: climbing back up those 315 stairs. It’s a great workout, to be sure, and we took advantage of a rock bench about halfway up the stairway to rest. Back at the top of the ridge, we were hit with a very welcome breeze and quickly covered the half-mile stretch back to the parking lot.

Overall, our hike took about an hour and was a great way to spend a lunch break.

Fall Foliage Driving Tour
Distance: 60 miles
Time: 90-120 minutes

I wanted to take a driving tour of the area surrounding Branson to soak in as much of the fall foliage as possible, and the route I took on Oct. 27 didn’t disappoint.

The majority of oaks and other hardwood trees were showing a mixture of yellows and golds with some leaves still making the transition from green. This yellow paintbrush across the landscape was interrupted by flashes of rust and red, and then deep greens from the occasional stand of evergreens.

My route made a loop around Branson, and took about an hour and half. Along the way there were many places to stop and take photos, and numerous public-use areas for picnics or walking a pet.

I started my drive at the Branson Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center at Highway 248 (Red Route) and U.S. Highway 65. Leaving the Welcome Center, I turned left onto Highway 248 and followed it to the right at the intersection of Gretna Road. When the “Red Route” turned left at Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, I went straight on Highway 248. The road leaves town quickly and narrows into a two-lane highway, and then climbs a ridge toward Branson Hills Parkway and the Ozark Mountain Highroad. Looking back and out the side window, I saw some great views of the city.

At the intersection of Highway 248 and the Ozark Mountain Highroad (Highway 465), I turned left onto 465 South. The four-lane highway, recognized as a scenic “Missouri Byway,” provided some great mountain views with the Shepherd of the Hills observation tower perched on the horizon.

Highway 465 ends at West Highway 76. I exited and headed west on Highway 76 past Indian Point and Silver Dollar City. It was this stretch of highway, with the trees closing in on the roadway, that provided some of the most brilliant golds and vibrant reds, with leaves tumbling across the highway.

In Branson West, I turned left at the stoplight, and then left again onto Highway 13 south. Driving atop the ridge on the road to Kimberling City, I caught the first glimpses of the mountains giving way to Table Rock Lake. Within moments, I was in Kimberling City, where I stopped to grab a cup of coffee and take some pictures of the lake bridge set against the mountains and colorful foliage. The lake was shimmering with reflections of bright sunlight and the light blue sky.

I crossed the Kimberling City Bridge, and as Highway 13 climbed another ridge and continued toward Lampe, the trees seemed to close in on the highway, and I quickly noticed leaves presenting more deep gold, rust and crimson. Along the way, several Bradford Pear trees and maples were showing intense reds.

Passing Dogwood Canyon, I continued on Highway 13 until it dead-ended at Highway 86, where I turned left. The two-lane highway continued along a mountain ridge, and I was able to catch occasional glimpses of mountain valleys painted yellow. Highway 86 descends quickly toward the Long Creek Arm of Table Rock Lake, and much like the view at Kimberling City, I witnessed another breathtaking view of Table Rock Lake with the colorful mountains as a backdrop.

Highway 86 climbed away from the lake, and within a few minutes, I found myself back at U.S. Highway 65. I turned left at the stoplight and headed back to Branson.

View more photos from my driving tour at Flickr.

“Fall in Branson” Photo Contest

The Branson/Tri-Lakes Convention and Visitors Bureau is holding a photo “funtest” to find the best fall photo taken in Branson, Missouri. The contest is being held on Flickr and is open to both amateur and professional photographers. The theme for this contest is “Fall in Branson.” Participants are encouraged to submit up to three photos taken in the Branson, MO, area that they feels capture the essence of fall in the Ozarks.

The deadline for submitting photos is Nov. 1, 2008. The winning photos will be announced Nov. 7. The top three photos will be featured on ExploreBranson.com, and the first-place winner will receive a 3-day, 2-night Branson vacation.

For more information, visit http://www.explorebranson.com.

David Letterman’s Late Show
Stupid Human/Stupid Pet Tricks
Will Hold Tryouts in Branson on May 10

David Letterman’s Late Show will at Town Square in the Branson Landing, located in downtown Branson, Missouri, to audition those who would like to try out for the Stupid Human Tricks and Stupid Pet Tricks segment of his the popular late night show.

The free auditions are open to all ages and will be held Saturday, May 10, from 10 am until 4 pm. Folks will compete to be flown all-expenses paid to New York City where they’ll have a chance to appear on the Late Show on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater in their classic Stupid Human Tricks and Stupid Pet Tricks segment.

The casting call is first-come first-serve, so participants will want to arrive early. No camping is allowed, however. All auditions will take place outdoors, so please remember to bring water for your pets.

Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB Announces 2007 Community Award Recipients

Branson, MO – The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau announced the recipients of the 2007 community awards—including one new annual award—at the Chamber’s 61st annual Black Tie Celebration, at the Chateau on the Lake in Branson, MO.

The evening’s events were sponsored by Branson.com, Branson Tourism Center, Golden Corral, Hawthorn Bank, Pickett Ray & Silver, Inc., Skaggs Community Health Center, St. John’s Clinic Branson, and Titanic – Branson at the Ruby level. Sapphire level sponsors included Akers & Arney, BOTT Radio Network, CenturyTel, Connell Insurance, Inc., Empire District Electric, Hiltons of Branson – Branson Convention Center, Liberty Bank, Silver Dollar City, and Whisper Cove at the Sapphire level. The Emerald level sponsor was BKD, LLP. The Black Tie Celebration serves as an opportunity to recognize outstanding members of the Branson/Lakes Area community. The awards presented at the 2008 event were:

The Mary Award, named in honor of Mary Herschend and Mary Trimble, the first recipients, was presented to Dr. Charles Spears for his many years of service to the Branson community. The physician began his Branson practice in the early 60’s with an open-door policy and a warm heart for many patients without insurance or the ability to pay for services. He has been instrumental in seeking “state of the art” medical care for the Branson/Lakes Area.

The Pioneer Award, recognizing outstanding service to the community in the past, was given to Mark Trimble, past owner of major tourist attractions including Shepherd of the Hills and Fantastic Caverns. Trimble was instrumental—working with Peter Herschend and Pat Jones—in the creative marketing effort during the national gas shortage of the 1970’s that led to the creation of the Ozark Marketing Council.

The Ambassador Award acknowledging an individual who has brought attention to the Branson/Lakes community was presented to Jim and Sue Alkire of America’s Best Campground for the promotion of Branson in RV/camping trade shows and rallies. They have won the “Welcome Mat Award” from the Good Sam Club for being the most RV-friendly Good Sam Park in the U.S. and Canada for five consecutive years.

The Beautification Award honoring individuals or organizations that enhance the appearance of the community was awarded to God & Country Gardens. Dick and Dawn Easton converted a former go-cart track into a beautifully landscaped area that makes a positive impact on visitors just beginning their trek down Missouri 76. The property also boasts an enormous U.S. flag that can be seen from around the community.

The Community Spirit Award sponsored by Myer Hotels recognizes ‘above and beyond’ efforts to benefit the Branson community. It was presented to Tim Connell of Connell Insurance for his generous attention to the employees of Tantone Industries, Taney County’s sheltered workshop. Connell has provided and served Thanksgiving and Christmas luncheons to the staff for several years. He has provided special touches that include Santa hats, and disposable cameras to record the occasion.

The Care for Kids Award is a new annual award sponsored by the Silver Dollar City Foundation to recognize a person, business or organization providing outstanding leadership and service on behalf of kids in our community. The first recipient was Mary Pierce, a site supervisor at Hollister Schools for the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program. Pierce is an outstanding role model to young people at the school, and spends much of her spare time supporting school activities, and personally impacting the lives of countless young people in need of guidance and support.