We began our long trip from St. Louis, MO to Dallas, TX early in the morning and figured it would roughly be a 12 to 13 hour drive depending on the traffic. With three main stops in mind (Branson, MO; Bentonville, AR; and Fayetteville, AR) we set out early in the morning not knowing what to expect.
We arrived in Branson, MO around lunch time and had a nice lunch at a local establishment that had
been around for over 100 years. In a town that provides endless tourist traps and chain restaurants, we were greeted with great food, nice people, and a breathe of fresh air from the environment surround us. We have to mention the awesome sights that Branson has to offer. One being a giant replica of the Titanic, a giant King Kong on a holywood sign, and of course a Walmart mall.
We then set off for Bentonville, AR in order to explore the corporate headquarters of Wal-Mart. Although we could not gain access to the Distribution Center, Sam Walton’s original store provided an interesting experience and the taste of “America” we were looking for.
The most interesting event of the day was driving through Fayetteville, AR and touring the University of Arkansas. The campus reminded us of a mix of Michigan State University and the University of Michigan with a southern touch. After being continually rerouted due to an event on campus, we decided to check it out. We ended up being allowed to watch the final two minutes of the University of Arkansas play the University of Mississippi in basketball. The event embodied the fun and randomness we were hoping to find on the trip.
As we crossed the Red River into Texas, the realization of our destination finally came into perspective. We saw the road change from a dark quiet road, to a really bright endless stretch of stores and restaurants along the highway. We drove into Dave’s apartment complex at 10:30. It was nice to arrive at our final destination of the day and catch up with Dave, the real reason we made this trip in the first place.
(pictures to come soon)
