Mystery Road Trip

Our vacations have always been preplanned and with reservations when needed and made months in advance. This year we decided to do a Mystery vacation trip and just drive. It didn't matter if we had been there in the past or not. We didn't want to be too far from our home but travel far enough that we could see and do a few places of interest as we crossed paths with something we wanted to see or do.
We started out last Monday morning from North Louisiana , we decided to point our truck towards Arkansas. First stop was in Sheridan, Arkansas, dining at Wright's Ranch House where we enjoyed a Hugh old fashion , Chicken fried steak. Id give this restaurant a rating of 4 stars.

Traveling on, and making good time, we traveled on to Missouri. We decided on the town of Branson, where we have visited before. After getting a room at a local hotel, we sat out to see the sites. Branson has grown so much. Lots to see and do. We had dinner at Pasghettis Italian Restaurant on the main strip. Its the home of the largest Fork and Meatball. The food was really good. I rate it a 5 star also.

  After dinner we walked down to the "The Branson Ferris Wheel" as the sun was setting behind it. This Ferris wheel was formerly located in Chicago on the Navy Pier. It stands 150 feet tall and lights up a show of more than 16,000 lights for entertainment. Its a beautiful site to see if you ride it or not.

  We also walked down to the Hollywood Wax Museum located on highway 76. Of course we had to get our photo with King Kong as he threatened people in the background.

Sleeping in on Tuesday morning and taking our time leaving Branson, we headed towards Springfield , where two of our favorite places to stop there would be our plans for the day. The country side and mountains on the way were beautiful. First stop as we rolled into Springfield was the go shopping at the PFI Western Store.  Its worth the stop for the Cowboy or Cowgirl in your family.

Our second stop was to have a late lunch at Lamberts , Home of the thrown Rolls. We didn't eat breakfast that morning, knowing that there would be so much food to try. This was our fourth time in all to get to eat there. So good and such a neat place. They actually throw hot rolls at you. If you can catch them, they are yours. You first order your meat and two sides. That is served in a 12" skillet. Then , lady's walk by with hugh steel bowls filled with home fried potatoes, greens, fried okra, black eye peas. There are three Lamberts in the US. California, Florida, and Missouri.

We traveled on to Oklahoma, one Indian Toll freeway after another and passing many Indian Casinos. The scenery was flat lands and farming.
The next day we traveled on through Oklahoma, onto Texas. Our destination was to Decatur, Texas and to shop at the NRS to shop, one of our favorite places.

 The hotel suggested a great Mexican restaurant there in Decatur so we tried them out. So glad we did too! We have dined at many Mexican restaurants and I have to say, this will defiantly move to the top of our list. So if your visiting Decatur, dine at Casa Torres Mexican Restaurant. The following morning we were back on the road after breakfast and on our way to my husbands home town in Talco, Texas.  Today we stopped at the Petrified Wood Gas Station that was built in 1927.

We passed through Paris, Texas and picked up flowers at one of their local florists to take to James parents grave site in Talco, which we visited first and then went on to visit with some of his family. 

Being how we were only four hours from our home state, we decided to drive on home. But before we got out of Texas we stopped in Avenger to eat an early dinner at the Five D Cattle Co Steakhouse, another one of our favorite places to eat.

  Straight across the street from the Steak House is an old General Store. They have the biggest Granny panties I've ever seen. I'm guessing from eating way too much good steaks.
Well, we made it full circle on our Mystery Trip, five States visited, and made some new memories together. I think thou, that Dorothy, on The Wizard of Oz, said it well....