Best Pizza In Branson? Ramata Italian

TPF! Travel with John and Amy

Best Pizza In Branson? Ramata Italian

The pizza at Ramata Italian at Branson Landing in Branson, Missouri is INCREDIBLE!

We visit one of Branson's newest restaurants and were blown away! The atmosphere, the food and everything else was just perfect!

Best Restaurant at Silver Dollar City AND a Christmas Tour of the Park!

TPF! Travel with John and Amy

Best Restaurant at Silver Dollar City AND a Christmas Tour of the Park!

Wow! This meal was INCREDIBLE! We experienced Reunion Hall's Christmas all-you-can-eat feast. A carving table with prime rib and ham along with other delicious holiday foods made it a can't miss place to eat!

We also tour the park, get wax hands made, see the beautiful lights and Christmas tree, ride The Flooded Mine and MORE!

Silver Dollar City Restaurants | Reunion Hall Family Buffet

TPF! Travel with John and Amy

Silver Dollar City Restaurants | Reunion Hall Family Buffet

John and Amy visit one of the lesser known and seasonal restaurants on park, Reunion Hall.
 
This delicious and cost effective family buffet has all of your picnic favorites from barbecue to hot dogs to fresh salad, cookies and more!

Brand new tasting passport at Silver Dollar City’s Bluegrass and BBQ Festival!

Is the new Tasting Passport at Silver Dollar City Worth it? Yes!

Silver Dollar City's Bluegrass and BBQ Festival

After trying out Silver Dollar City's Tasting Passport during the recent Street Fest and Dollywood's Dining Pass during their Flower and Food Festival, we were excited to see if Herschend Family Entertainment could outdo themselves.

The could. They did.

For $30 you receive a badge and lanyard that provides you many delectable options to choose from. At Dollywood you find a QR code on the Dining Pass that hangs around your neck. While a quick scan opens up an informative website with all of the food items and their locations in the park, we found Silver Dollar City's method preferrable.

Every option was printed clearly on the badge, or as Silver Dollar City calls it, the Passport. Additionally, everything could be seen in larger print in the Pathfinder, Silver Dollar City's free newspaper and park guide. 

Opening day of the festival gave us perfect weather to walk the park and enjoy a great variety of bluegrass music and non-stop, diverse aromas as we passed by all of the various food stands and restaurants. 

While we enjoyed our day at Dollywood recently, we didn't prefer the majority of the Dining Pass stops to be located in one section of the park. We found ourselves aimlessly wandering the nether regions of Dollywood wondering when we might stumble into a kiosk. It wasn't until we moved back toward the front of the park that we found the food.

At Silver Dollar City it's an entire park experience. The cooks are joyfully and artistically creating their edible masterpieces at every corner of the park. Whether you are on Main Street, by the Grand Exposition, near Mystic River Falls or down by Fire in the Hole, temptations abound.

The only time we had to ask for directions was for the last punch of our passport. I was desperately seeking a BBQ bacon mac and cheese waffle cone, but didn't know to look right on Main Street for the kiosk. A wonderful Silver Dollar City citizen pointed us in the right direction and before long I was devouring a waffle cone made out of fortune cookie batter filled with a curious and mouth watering mix. 

Our favorite item of the day was probably the barbecue tater twist dog. It was truly amazing, and the portion size was large.

The Tasting Passport is not meant to be a meal replacement, but rather a fun and adventurous sampling of new and unique foods. While the idea is for each item to be snack sized, if you plan your day of tasting carefully, you'll find some samples are larger than others. In fact, like our tater twist dog, some are full sized.

We'd recommend considering eating a full meal at lunch and also purchasing a single Tasting Passport that can be used throughout the day for snacks and desserts. Between the two of us both times at Silver Dollar City and also once at Dollywood we purchased only one Passport and shared each of the five items. This worked great for us and we weren't at all hungry doing it this way. Of course, if you are zeroed in on treats others in your family are not, then you'll be very happy securing one all for yourself.

So, is the Tasting Passport worth it? We can't answer for everybody, but for us the answer is a resounding yes!

It does seem as if the portion sizes have increased some from the previous festival, which is great.

This time around we didn't get any desserts on the list. It took every ounce of restraint to say no to the temptations that were all around. Suffice it to say the desserts were our favorite foods the previous two festivals here and in Tennessee. My mouth is watering just thinking about them.

A Springfield Must See: Farmer’s Market of the Ozarks

Farmer's Market of the Ozarks

A festival of food, flowers and fun in Springfield, Missouri!

As travel vloggers based in Branson, Missouri, we are always looking for something fun and unique to do. Over two years into our endeavor, one would think we'd be running out of things to do and see in the region. We have covered loads of attractions and restaurants in Branson specifically along with other places of interest near and far. 

It's hard to believe this extremely popular and very well done farmer's market didn't ping our radar much sooner. It's truly amazing!

Located at the Farmer's Market Pavilion at 2144 E. Republic Road, the Farmer's Market of the Ozarks is easily accessible even though it sits hidden, tucked back behind a hotel. Once you zig and zag down some side streets, you'll know you are in the right place on a Saturday morning when you see throngs of people joyfully darting about. 

Food trucks lined the entry way outside of the pavilion as did several booths. Surrounding the market was Aviary Cafe and Creperie, a barber shop, other upscale businesses and a roaming banjo player that made the experience all the better.

As is true for most farmer's markets, much of the enjoyment comes from engaging with the various business owners and employees who manned the booths. There's something about good ole' fashioned American entrepreneurship and ingenuity that feels healthy and right. The energy in the environment was palpable and we couldn't help but cheer for the smash success of every business represented.

Aside from the social aspect there was, of course, food! Flowers! Crafts! Goodies of all types!

Whether you want to try some honey sticks (as we did), pastries, jerky or kombucha, or find some farm fresh eggs, meats and other staples to take home, the Ozark's Farmer's Market is the place to be!

Our favorite experience of the day was street corn at the Corn Hub booth. Various concoctions of corn on the cob were prominently displayed and resistance was futile. We chose the barbeque adorned option and found a picnic table outside to savor our snack. Suffice it to say it was absolutely delicious. I can't recommend it enough. It would do you well to head down to the Farmer's Market Pavilion this Saturday and get an ear or two. The owners are great and their passion for their business is obvious.

As entrepreneurs ourselves, it was hard not to celebrate the festive atmosphere filled with fellow dreamers. 

Even if you have no plans on purchasing anything, head on out for a visit. Enjoy the music, smell the aromas, meet some new friends and take notes for future visits. However, I'll warn you, window shopping is all but impossible. The enticing nature of the market will probably overwhelm you, and that's a very good thing. Whether it's duck meat, dog chews, smoothies, egg rolls, fresh and organic vegetables, kettle korn, banana bread, T-shirts or all flavors of honey, among many other options, you most certainly will give in. 

The Farmer's Market of the Ozarks is open Saturdays from 8am until 1pm. In the winter, January through March, they are open 9am until 1pm. How great is it that Springfield, Missouri has a year around farmer's market? Really great!

If you are in the Branson area, they have a market there 3pm until 7pm on Tuesdays from April through October. We haven't visited that one yet, but we plan on it very soon!

For more information about Farmer's Market of the Ozarks, visit their website at www.loveyourfarmer.com. 

Have you visited Farmer's Market of the Ozarks? Leave some comments and share your experience! 

 

Is The Dining Pass Worth It? Dollywood Flower And Food Festival

TPF! Travel with John and Amy

Is The Dining Pass Worth It? Dollywood Flower And Food Festival

John and Amy head out to the Flower and Food Festival at Dollywood and check out several of the food options with the Dining Pass. Is it worth it to get the Dining Pass? Watch and see.

AND, John and Amy were thrilled to have run into Will and Dawn from Yankee in the South!

Check out their channel at www.youtube.com/yankeeinthesouth!

Guy Fieri Branson MO | Branson Kitchen

Guy Fieri's Branson Kitchen + Bar

Guy Fieri Branson MO | Branson Kitchen

John and Amy checked out Guy Fieri's Branson Kitchen + Bar at Branson Landing in beautiful Branson, MIssouri!

They are sitting outside on the deck watching the boats on Lake Taneycomo and also the zip line that takes people across the lake.

The atmosphere is incredible and the food is delicious!

You can visit their website HERE.

Flat Creek Restaurant | HUGE Portions! | Republic, Missouri

Flat Creek Restaurant

Flat Creek Restaurant | HUGE Portions! | Republic, Missouri

What an incredible restaurant! John and Amy check out Flat Creek Restaurant in Republic, Missouri…and they loved it!

Check out the amazing food, atmosphere and MASSIVE portion sizes at Flat Creek!

*TPF! Travel received a complementary meal in exchange for this review.

Cruise Ship Buffet | Are Buffets Going Away?

Cruise Ship Buffet | Are Buffets Going Away?

Are buffets on land and sea going away? John discusses some news from Royal Caribbean's Windjammer and shares some thoughts on one of the favorite parts of life, both when cruising and on land – buffets!

Some don't prefer the Windjammer or other cruise buffets, and others can't stand the thought of hundreds of other people touching tongs and spoons. Still others absolutely love the variety that buffets offer, especially when cruising.

Just what changes are coming to buffets? What thoughts do you have?

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LIVE from Dolly Parton’s Stampede’s annual Whoadeo in Branson, Missouri! Parts 1 and 2

LIVE from Dolly Parton's Stampede's annual Whoadeo in Branson, Missouri! Parts 1 and 2



Dolly Parton's Whoadeo is an annual community event with FREE food, prizes, games, bounce houses, access to the arena, fun characters, a fire truck and SO MUCH MORE!

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Check out part one here: https://youtu.be/NgY486C-rIE

Check out part two here: https://youtu.be/Cdwtz4UJeUo

dollysstampede #whoadeo #branson #tourist #living #moving #attractions #travel #family #adventure #vlog