A Winning Getaway
Wichitans Ken and Mia Warlick were the lucky winners of Wichita magazine’s Branson Family Vacation Giveaway, which included hotel accommodations and gift certificates to various restaurants and attractions in Branson, Missouri. Their daughter Sara, a freshman at the University of Georgia, accompanied Ken and Mia on their trip.
08/02 Chateau on the Lake, McFarlain’s Restaurant
The Warlicks arrived at the Chateau on the Lake, a beautiful luxury resort overlooking Table Rock Lake, late on a hot and steamy Saturday afternoon. They checked into a sixth floor suite with a partial view of the lake from the balcony, a room outfitted with furniture in very elegant, dark woods and muted reds and greens, including a very comfortable king-sized bed and sleeper sofa. The luxury bathroom area was replete with dual vanities and heavy, plush towels, as well as aromatic signature soaps and lotions.
After settling into their room, the Warlicks enjoyed a home-style dinner at McFarlain’s Restaurant. The stick-to-your-ribs menu included tender, succulent pot roast, country-fried steak with creamy white gravy and traditional chicken potpie. Their dessert choices of cake and pie rounded out their flavorful experience. Returning to the hotel, Mia and Sara relaxed at the 24-hour indoor pool and hot tub, attempting to burn off a few of the calories they had just consumed.
08/03 IMAX Theater, Branson Landing, Bar Louie, New Shanghai Acrobats
Following a rather large and very tasty breakfast at the nearby IHOP, the Warlicks went to the IMAX Theater to catch The Dark Knight. Afterwards, they enjoyed shopping at Branson Landing, a lakefront outdoor mall with a number of shopping options including the renowned Bass Pro Shop. After shopping the family enjoyed dinner at Bar Louie, which started with an appetizer of tortilla chips and three different dipping sauces. Dinner included a fresh pear salad and the “best meatloaf sliders ever!” The fare was excellent, as was the service, and the Warlicks enjoyed the light show on Lake Taneycomo just outside their window seating.
The Warlicks left Branson Landing and headed to the New Shanghai Circus. The athletic twists, turns, leaps and balancing acts were impressive and some of the most amazing physical acrobatics Mia had ever seen. The costumes were colorful and elaborate, and the showmanship made this one of the family’s favorite Branson shows.
08/04 Butterfly Palace, Celebration City
Ken, Mia and Sara arrived at the Butterfly Palace and enjoyed an informative and entertaining short film just prior to entering the habitat. After spending a few hours amidst a variety of butterfly species, snakes and frogs, they wound their way through a mirror maze that proved to be a little challenging and a lot of fun. That evening the Warlicks headed to Celebration City, a large theme park on the west side of Branson. They rode Roaring Falls, a new water attraction, which left them soaked to the skin and a little breathless from the thrill. They toured the park to enjoy several other rides, and concluded their evening with a spectacular fireworks and light show after the park closed.
08/05 Spa Chateau, Garfield's, Kirby Van Burch
Tuesday was spa day, which Mia said was the highlight of their trip. The 50-minute deep tissue massage at Spa Chateau, and extra pampering at the indoor and outdoor whirlpools, was “just what the doctor ordered,” according to Mia. The spa facilities include a sauna, steam room, “relaxation lounge” and other amenities, as well as plush robes and slippers.
After dinner at Garfield’s Restaurant and Pub, they attended the Kirby Van Burch magic show. The performance was full of illusion acts and comedy routines that involved the audience, a mind-reading demonstration and for the grand finale, Van Burch made a helicopter appear in the center of the stage. He also used tigers and leopards as part of the act; Sara lingered after the show for a short tour of the backstage and animal area.
08/06 Cantina Laredo, Liverpool Legends
Wednesday brought another day of shopping at Branson Landing, with dinner at Cantina Laredo. The Mexican cuisine was excellent, and their waitress introduced Mia to her first taste of mole sauce. She admitted it wasn’t something she’d likely have again, but their meal was memorable. Ken said his steak fajitas were the best he’s ever had. Cantina Laredo prepares many of their dishes at tableside, including hot apple pie warmed in a brandy butter sauce and served with cinnamon ice cream. The Warlicks declared their meal “fabulous!”
Following dinner, the family headed to the famed Liverpool Legends show, a Beatles re-enactment performance. Ken and Mia reported that they felt as though they were at an actual Beatles concert! George Harrison’s sister, Louise, is the founder of the show and is responsible for auditioning and hiring the performers, which are well-cast for their roles. During intermission she took questions from the audience and was also available afterwards for photos, autographs and more Q&A. The performers were also out in full costume, for photo opps and autographs, and the evening turned out to be a trip down memory lane for Ken and Mia.
08/07 Titanic, Yakov, Candlestick Inn
Thursday they toured the Titanic Museum. The museum, a
100-foot tall replica of the original ship, offered a poignant trip back in time with over 400 artifacts and many interactive displays. There were costumes from the Jim Cameron movie, and many photos, trinkets and personal effects from the ship’s passengers and crew. It was an informative and moving experience that included an audio presentation of survivors’ stories.
From there the Warlicks returned to the IMAX Theater for Deep Sea 3D, an adventure film narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet. The movie lasted 45 minutes, taking the family into an underwater nature observation experience. Following that the Warlicks attended the Yakov Smirnoff show. Ken and Mia knew Yakov from movies they had seen, but this was Sara’s first experience with the comedian. Their second row, center seats were among the best in the house, and the two-hour show was full of Yakov and his team performing Russian dance, comedy vignettes and commentary. It was clear that Yakov is very proud of his American citizenship through the moving stories he told of his immigration and American experiences. The Warlicks thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
They capped off their trip with a lovely dinner at the Candlestick Inn to conclude their Branson experience. Ken and Mia planned to send Sara off to college shortly after their return to Wichita, so the family took advantage of their gift certificate to indulge in an upscale dinner together. Their meal was among the best they had experienced in Branson, with impeccable service and a comfortably upscale ambiance.
08/08 Branson Landing
On the final day of their trip, the Warlicks returned to Branson Landing’s historic district to explore. The highlight of their excursion was Dick’s 5 & 10 store, which had virtually everything imaginable. After returning to Wichita, Mia reports that their trip was “loads of fun” and that they plan to return in the near future. “Thank you to Wichita magazine and the people of Branson who provided us with this wonderful experience,” she said. “It was great time to spend together as a family before Sara goes to college, and we’ll definitely plan to travel to Branson again so we can enjoy even more of the great shows, restaurants and other attractions!” —By the Staff, with Mia Warlick
