While waiting for my pizza to be ready at Mountain Mike’s in Tennant Station this afternoon I overheard a local couple discussing their upcoming Christmas vacation. Apparently, they’ll be staying at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel in Branson, Missouri over both Christmas and New Year’s.

I know this because the kids were all excited about the fact that both Santa and Mrs. Clause will be visiting them in their rooms while the parents plan on hitting up several of the Branson night spots on New Year’s Eve itself like ’57 Heaven, the world’s largest collection of 1957 automobiles & memorabilia showcased in Hometown America .  The dad is also very excited about fishing for Rainbow Trout in in Lake Taneycomo which is apparently located right next to their hotel.

Personally, I’ve considered a visit to Branson for Zaira and myself, but we were planning on staying at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing so we could meet up with Sugar The Clown and Ronzo, the world-renowned balloon artist before heading off to the Silver Dollar City theme park for their Wildfire, Thunderation and Powederkeg roller coasters.

To each their own I suppose, though I’ve never really understood the concept of a “family” vacation where the family spends all of its time separately.

I ran into an old friend while running errands today.  It turns out he’s been working as a waiter at a chalet in Courchevel, France, and occasionally in Meribel, France as well.  If you enjoy snow skiing, he tells me, then there’s nothing like skiing the alps.  Apparently it’s the ultimate in snow skiing vacations.  The only place that even comes close to the French luxury ski chalets is those in St Anton, Austria.

So, why am I talking about luxury skiing holidays in the middle of July, when there’s no snow on the ground?  Because apparently these chalets are booking up in their entirety now.  If yo have been considering skiing the Alps this winter then you need to call your travel agent immediately.  Or, better yet, visit one of our sponsors, SuperTravel.co.uk.