How to “Do the Track” . . . Really Big Kid Style!

June 18th, 2013

Amy, a mom with the "inside track," and her daughters.

Welcome to the latest installment of “How to ‘Do the Track’”!  Today, I’m going to focus on the licensed drivers in the family.  For the purpose of this post, these licensed drivers will from now on be called, “Really Big Kids.”

These “Really Big Kids” can certainly do everything I’ve already discussed in my earlier posts – both here and here . . . well, almost everything.  They can’t drive the Kiddie Go-Karts (I’m really hoping they wouldn’t want to), but other than that, they have free reign to experience everything that the younger ones can.

But, they do have a privilege that the younger ones don’t  . . . they can drive the Sprint Track at Track 3!

Now, the Sprint Track is located next to Kids Kountry, and upon first glance, some people think that it is a kids’ ride.  Why?  Well, it is a smaller track similar to the famous tri-oval tracks (that’s for all of you Nascar fans!) all over the country.  But, in this case, smaller does not equal slower! On the contrary!  The Sprint Track is fast!  In fact, it is so fast that you must be a licensed driver (at least 54″ tall) to ride it!

Really Big Kids . . . this is just for you.

And, unlike most of the other rides at The Track, you can’t take a passenger on this one . . . for this one ride, you have been officially relieved of your Really Big Kid duties to drive passengers who are too short to drive themselves.  Oh, the freedom!!

So, Really Big Kids, come on out to Track 3, and give the Sprint Track a try . . . you’ll be glad you did!

Posted in Go-Karts, Moms with the Inside Track, Rides, Sprint Track | No Comments »

How to “Do the Track” . . . Big Kid-Style!

June 13th, 2013

Amy, a mom with the "inside track," and her daughters.

Today, I will be continuing the blog series, “How to ‘Do the Track’”!  Earlier this week, I discussed how to navigate The Track with the littlest ones in the family.  Today I am moving on to those bigger kids . . . not quite the ones who have their drivers’ licenses, but the ones in between.

Yes, there is a wide range between preschool kids and those sixteen-year-olds, but in terms of fun to be had at The Track, everyone in this age group can enjoy most of the same things.

What things? you may ask.

Well, let’s play a little numbers game:

  • 36 . . . If you read my earlier post, you should know the significance of this number.  Anyone?  Yes, that’s right.  Kids who are 36″ tall can ride all the kiddie amusement rides and as passengers on grown-up go-karts, bumper boats, and bumper cars when they are accompanied by a licensed driver.  They can also ride G-Force, the drag race simulator at Track 5.
  • 42 . . . Believe it or not, 42″ allows your kids to ride the Skycoaster.  Yes, this is a thrill ride, and yes, I have allowed my own children to ride this.  No, I have not ridden it myself.  I am a complete wimp – and absolutely fine with that!  Guess what?  My kids LOVE this.
  • 44 + 6 . . . In this case, this does not equal 50.  No, this mean when your child is 44″ AND 6 years old, they can ride the Bumper Boats on their own!  I’ll discuss this fine ride in more detail later, but you should be warned – you will get soaked!
  • 48 . . . This is quite a right of passage.  When kids are 48″ they can drive the Rookie Go-Karts!  The rookie carts are a great training ground for those grown-up go-karts they will ride in a few short years!
  • 54 . . . Kids who reach 54″ can drive the Bumper Cars and also graduate to the Classic Go-Kart and Road Course tracks!  Remember, though, that just because they can drive these go-karts, it does not mean they can carry passengers.  Only a licensed driver can carry a passenger!
  • 58 . . . this is the magic number, really.  Being 58″ tall allows you to drive the High Rise Tracks – Wild Woody, Heavy Metal High Rise, and the LumberJack.  My youngest just reached this threshold this year, and I must say, she has had a blast!

So, what is the moral of the story for enjoying The Track with those in-between kids?  How tall your child is determines what they can do on their own.  It is a great idea to have these magic numbers in mind before arriving at The Track so that you know what limitations there may be on what your kids can do at The Track.  It is much better to find out at home that your child may not be tall enough to drive the Wild Woody than it is at the ticket counter . . . if you know what I mean!

Another thing you should know . . . The Track has a measuring system that they use to determine what rides your child is tall enough to ride.  Another day, I will explain that in more detail, but for now, you need to know that how ever tall they measure your child on that day of your visit to The Track is what goes.  It does not matter how tall the doctor said he was at last month’s checkup or how high the pencil mark is on your door jamb at home!  What matters is how tall your child is measured at The Track that day!

So, come ready to enjoy The Track with those in-between kids. They are going to love it!

Posted in Bumper Boats, Bumper Cars, Go-Karts, Moms with the Inside Track, Rides, Sky Coaster | No Comments »

How to “Do the Track” . . . Preschool-Style!

June 11th, 2013

Amy, a mom with the "inside track," and her daughters.

Last week, I was singing the Track’s praises about how they really do have something for EVERYONE in your family.  Well, today starts a series of posts that tells you how to “do the Track” at every age.

And so, we’re going to begin . . . preschool-style!

Though it has been a few years (sniff, sniff!) since I’ve had preschool kids under my roof, I do remember quite well how much fun it was to take the girls to The Track when they were that age.  In fact, I’ve taken a brief walk down memory lane and discovered this adorable picture:

This was at my younger daughter’s 3rd birthday party, which we had at Kids Kountry at Track 3.  And in case you were wondering . . . yes, this was before I owned a digital camera and yes, I did just take a picture of the paper copy of this photo with my cell phone so that I could get it onto this blog (yes, I know I could have used a scanner, but mine is not functional right now!).  And yes, this does remind me to be oh so thankful for modern technology!  But, I digress . . .

Back to how to “do the Track” preschool-style:

  • Start at Kids Kountry at Track 3. This is where there are the largest number of rides designed especially for the little ones!  Kids must be 36″ tall to ride the Frog Hopper or the Swinging Pirate Ship.  What if they are under 36″?  You are still in luck.  Kids under 36″ tall can ride the Rio Grande Train and the Spinning Tea Cups with a parent.  This is good news!  This means that every little one in your family is able to ride something at Kids Kountry.  So, head on over there!
  • Check out the Kiddie Go-Karts at Kids Kountry (Track 3) and Track 4.  Now these have a few more stipulations, so listen up . . . your child must be 4 years old (not just look 4 years old!) AND be 38″ tall to drive the Kiddie Go-Karts.  This is for everyone’s safety – including your child – so please wait until your child is 4 before trying to put them on these go-carts.
  • Let your preschooler (who is 36″ or taller!) ride as a passenger on one of the other “Grown Up” Go-Kart tracks – the Classic Track (Tracks 3, 4, 5, and Track at Pirate’s Cove), Road Course Track (Track 3), Wild Woody (Track 3), Heavy Metal High Rise (Track 4), LumberJack (Track 5).  This just might be the highlight of their visit!  As my nephew put it after his first ride this year as a passenger on Heavy Metal High Rise, “It felt so good to get my hands back on that steering wheel!”  No lie.  I couldn’t make that stuff up!!  Oh, and one other thing to keep in mind – only licensed drivers are allowed to transport passengers on any Track ride.  Again, this is for everyone’s safety!
  • Encourage some good ole’ fashioned bumping . . . Bumper Boats (Track 3, 4, 5) and Bumper Cars (Track 4), that is!  The same rules apply to these rides as on the “Grown Up” Go-Karts.  Passengers must be 36″ tall and drivers must be licensed.
  • Play some preschool-friendly arcade games.  All Track arcades have some games that are geared toward little ones, but I would say that the arcade at Track 5 has the most.  A few preschool favorites . . . Spider Stomp, Feed Big Bertha, and Buzzy Buzzy Bee.

See?  Navigating The Track with a preschooler might just be easier that you thought!  So, get out there and start having fun!  And, stay tuned . . . more good info coming at ya in the next installment of “How to ‘Do the Track’”!

Posted in Arcades, Bumper Boats, Bumper Cars, Go-Karts, Kids' Rides, Moms with the Inside Track, Rides | No Comments »

Something for Everyone!

June 6th, 2013

Amy, a mom with the "inside track," and her daughters.

In my last post, I (strongly!) encouraged you to buy the Go Card in order to get the most bang for your buck!  One thing that I didn’t mention, however, is that you only need one card for the entire family.

This brings me to the subject of today’s post . . .

The fact that The Track has something fun for the entire family – from the littlest to the biggest – is one of the things I like best.  There are only a handful of places in Branson that you can go where everyone in your family can find something they enjoy . . . and you and I both know how much more pleasant things are when everyone is having fun!

Your toddler, your preschooler, your school-aged child, your tween, your teen, your adult children, your parents, your grandchildren . . . you get the idea.  There is something for everyone at The Track!  I am going to spend some time over the next week giving you some insider tips about how to “do the Track” at every age.

But until then, you might take a look at this great interactive feature on The Track website.  It lists all of the attractions for each Track location and gives you important age and height requirement information so that you will be in the know!  You can also download this Printable_Map to bring with you for quick and easy reference.

And now . . . grab your ENTIRE FAMILY and head out to The Track!

Posted in Moms with the Inside Track | No Comments »

Go Get the Go Card!

June 4th, 2013

Amy, a mom with the "inside track," and her daughters.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and are getting excited about planning a trip to Branson!  A big part of my job as the “mom with the inside track” is to help families make the most of their time at The Track.  So, today I am going to tell you about the very best deal that The Track has to offer.

The GO CARD.

I highly recommend that any family coming to The Track buy one of these.  Why?

Well, let me tell you.  Here are the top five reasons to GO GET THE GO CARD:

  1. It gives you the most bang for the buck! The Track uses a credit system for all of their rides and games.  One credit = $1.  But, buying the Go Card gives you more credits than you actually bought.  Yes, that’s right . . . you get FREE credits – and a lot of them – when you purchase the Go Card.  If you buy the Go Card at a Track location, you will pay $120 for 160 credits.  That’s 40 FREE credits!  If you buy the Go Card online, you will pay $120 for 170 credits.  That’s 50 FREE credits!   GO GET THE GO CARD!!
  2. You get half price buying power until December 31, 2013! So, after you use up the initial credits that are on your card, you can purchase an unlimited number of half price credits until the end of 2013.  That means that you can re-load your Go Card as much as you want for your current visit to Branson, as well as for any other visit you make to Branson this year.  That is big savings!  And, the credits never expire!  You can either re-load your Go-Card at The Track locations OR online before or during your trip.  This means no standing in line for you . . . straight from the parking lot to fun!!  GO GET THE GO CARD!!
  3. You get other great FREEBIES with purchase! Once you purchase the Go Card, you will receive a coupon for a FREE Pizza World Buffet at Track 4 ($9 value).  If you haven’t tried Pizza World, you are in for a treat.  Their pizza is delicious, their salad bar is extremely fresh, and they have some of the best dessert pizzas I have ever tasted!  You will also get a coupon for a FREE one-topping sundae from Andy’s Frozen Custard also at Track 4 ($4 value).  Yum, yum, yum.  And finally, you get a coupon for a FREE ride on G-Force at Track 5.  G-Force is a drag race simulator and is a really great time!  For you competitive types, there are foot pedals that gauge who has the fastest reaction time.  A little healthy competition never hurts, right?  GO GET THE GO CARD!!
  4. You get great discounts at other quality area businesses! I will definitely spend some time talking about these great partners in more detail, but today I will leave you to peruse the list and start calculating how much money you will save when you visit these popular spots! GO GET THE GO CARD!!
  5. You will be one of those savvy Branson tourists! I know, I know.  That’s not the strongest of reasons, but it is true!  GO GET THE GO CARD!!

Posted in Moms with the Inside Track | No Comments »

Oh Yeah, She Did!

May 31st, 2013

Amy, a mom with the "inside track," and her daughters.

So, you might recall from my last post that we were having a lazy, hazy day of summer at home despite the repeated requests from both of my daughters to go “do something fun.”  By the end of the afternoon, each of the girls had a friend over with plans for a sleepover (my poor, outnumbered husband).  I think this qualified as getting to “do something fun.”  They were perfectly content.

But, I had something up my sleeve.  You see, every once in a while, I like to surprise them with a mom-initiated, “Let’s go do something fun!”  When I told them my plan, there was loud squeals and lots of jumping around . . . We were headed to Track 4.

When we arrived, I insisted on taking a “pre-fun” picture out in front of the building.  They were dying to get into the arcade, but humored me enough to get this shot:

Once in the arcade, they were off and running.  The younger two headed immediately for the huge Connect 4 . . . I have to admit, I really love this game too!  The only tricky thing is that there is a time limit for each turn – no time to sit and contemplate your strategy on this one!

The older girls chose an oldie, but a goodie (gotta love shooting a few hoops!), as well as this new game that is also quite fun!

And then . . . things got REALLY exciting.

Yes, the younger girls were on a mission to try to win the most tickets possible.  They even vowed that they would pool their tickets and share their loot at the end of the night.  They had a pretty good strategy . . . only play the games that had the potential to yield the most tickets.

All of a sudden, I hear squealing (for the second time of the evening!) and decide that I should go investigate.  I didn’t have to look far before I figured out the source of the excitement:

OH YEAH, SHE DID!  She won the Monster Jackpot . . . 3000 tickets.  Here is a closer look:

And, this picture was taken when only about half of the 3000 tickets had spilled out of the machine.  It was unbelievable!!  Now, I expected the excitement from the girls – they certainly succeeded in their mission to win the most tickets possible!  But, what I didn’t expect was becoming an “arcade celebrity.”

Oh yeah.  You would not believe the number of people who started gathering around the game, talking to us about our winnings, and asking us what we were going to buy with the tickets.  There were so many nice, friendly people sharing in the girls’ excitement!  It was such a fun moment.

The girls rushed over to the ticket counter (or ticket-eater, as I like to call it) and started feeding it their winnings.  It kept them interested for a while, but then they were off to ride bumper cars, leaving me inside the arcade to finish the job.  Now, I am not trying to rub it in, but you just can’t imagine how long it took to feed all those tickets into that machine!  When I finally finished and printed out the receipt, I promptly gave it to my husband for safe keeping.  The girls eventually decided on these fun prizes – my personal favorite is the huge slinky that has since been crawling down my stairs . . . over and over and over again.

The adrenaline from the jackpot-win propelled us over to the Heavy Metal High Rise.  My daughter is tall enough to drive (over 58″), but wasn’t sure if she was ready to do it on her own.  Even though I am the “mom with the inside track,” I had forgotten that if a person is over 58″ tall, he/she cannot ride as a passenger on the Heavy Metal High Rise.  On all other tracks, passengers can be over 58″, but not on this one.

So, she had a decision to make.  Without much convincing, she decided to take her first solo drive on the Heavy Metal High Rise!  And, she loved it!  Of course, we had to celebrate with one of these fine pics (the first of many this season, I’m sure):

The older girls jumped in as well (Should I be worried? Seriously, where did they learn these faces?!):

What a great night!  I think it’s pretty safe to say that even without the jackpot win, they would have had a whole lot of fun!  The summer is off to a great start!

Posted in Arcades, Bumper Cars, Go-Karts, Moms with the Inside Track, Rides, Track Indoor Fun | No Comments »

Heatin’ Up . . . Coolin’ Off!

May 29th, 2013

With Memorial Day Weekend behind us, we can say with certainty that the summer season is in full swing!  This has become especially apparent at my house today. . . in the past two hours, I’ve been asked if we can go to White Water, The Landing, and The Track.

Clearly, summer fun is on the brains of my two daughters.  And just as clearly, we are not at any of those fun places right now.  Nope.  As I sit here and write this post, one is in front of the TV (watching something educational, I’m sure) and the other is in her room with a friend making their own fun (which surely translates into making a big mess!).  It is a lazy, hazy day of summer at my house.

But, I can assure you that there will be plenty of days where we have plenty of summer fun – Branson style. Oh yes, we will.  And you better believe it – you will get to hear all about it!

But until then, let me give you a little INSIDER TIP for your next trip to Branson.  Are you ready?

OK.  If you are planning on going to The Track (need I even say, “IF”!) and to White Water, then let me suggest that you come have your fun at The Track first.

Why?

Because when you buy a new Track playcard (let me suggest the Go-Card, but more about that another day!), you get a special deal on White Water tickets . . . yes, that’s right.  Here’s the deal – you will get a coupon for a FREE one-day child’s ticket to White Water when you buy 2 one-day Adult tickets.  Wow! That’s a great deal!

Posted in Moms with the Inside Track, Other Branson Family Fun, Track Promotions, White Water | No Comments »

Bring On Summer!

May 24th, 2013

Amy, a mom with the "inside track," and her daughters.

Yesterday was the start of a new chapter at our house.  Yes, the much-awaited last day of school / first day of summer came in all its glory. And with Memorial Day weekend fast approaching (you know your counting down the hours until you get off of work today!), we can just about make it official . . . SUMMER IS HERE!

So, how do you plan to kick off summer this Memorial Day Weekend?  Let me tell you how we got started . . .

As has been the tradition the past few years, we packed up and headed to Moonshine Beach after the kids got out of school.  If you haven’t been to this little gem, it may be worth a visit during your vacation to Branson this year (maybe even this weekend!).  It is located in between the Chateau on the Lake and Table Rock Dam and is a beautiful stretch of shoreline complete with a sandy beach (with a volleyball net set up!), picnic areas, a playground, restrooms and outdoor showers – pretty much everything you need to enjoy an afternoon at Table Rock Lake.

I will warn you, though – the sand toward the water gets pretty gravel-ly (sorry for the made up word), which can make wading in the shallow areas a bit uncomfortable on the ole’ feet.  So, to make your visit to Moonshine Beach the most enjoyable, remember to pack some water shoes for all the feet in your family.  Oh, and it costs $5 per car to enter the park – not bad for an afternoon of fun by the lake!

It was the perfect kick-off for our summer. If you are in town this Memorial Day weekend, you might give it a try.  And, plan to try one of these NEW attractions:

  1. Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City – I have to admit that I have not ridden this new coaster (I am a wimp), but I can tell you that my oldest daughter rode it last weekend and absolutely loved it!  I just loved her comment about it – “You are like upside down the entire time!”  All the roller coaster enthusiasts in my life just can’t get enough of this one.  And, it is the last weekend for the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival, which will not disappoint!
  2. Batting Cages at Track 5 – You have to admit that summer and baseball go hand-in-hand!  Last weekend, The Track held their Grand Opening for the batting cages by inviting several local teams to come out and check them out.  Look at this great bunch!

Now, I have to tell you . . . I thought it was important that I get out there and take a few swings (I’ve played some softball in my day).  Now, whether or not there were actually balls being pitched – that’s up to you to determine ;-)   And, yes, I am in the clothes I wore to church (lunch ran long, ok?!).

I hope you are chuckling right now at my expense.  But even more, I hope that you will come on out to Track 5 to check out the batting cages this weekend – or whenever you are next in Branson.  It just really isn’t summer without baseball, right? Right.

Of course, the batting cages are just one of the many ways you can be entertained at The Track.  I could go into all of those others things today, but then I wouldn’t have anything to blog about the rest of the summer now would I?

Before I leave you at the start of your Memorial Day Weekend, I must pause to remember the sacrifice of those who have died in service to our nation – a BIG THANK YOU to all of these men and women!  We are so grateful for ALL veterans and active military personnel who are such great examples of service and dedication to a cause beyond themselves.  Thank you.

Please enjoy your holiday weekend – we hope to see you here in Branson!

Posted in Batting Cages, Moms with the Inside Track, Other Branson Family Fun, Silver Dollar City | No Comments »

Party Time!

April 24th, 2013

This past weekend was my daughter’s 10th birthday.

Having your youngest child enter her second decade was a little jarring . . . I mean, I’m not old enough for that, right?!

Apparently, I am.

To celebrate this right of passage, we had a great big party – a riddle hunt, to be exact.  Yes, we toted lots of giggling ten year old girls around Branson in a caravan of “mom” cars from one clue to the next.  I knew they would enjoy it, but I have to admit that I was quite impressed at their enthusiasm all the way through!

The final stop on our destination – the climax, if you will – was Track 5.  Boy, we sure picked a great Track location for the party.  It was a bit chilly for outdoor things, and Track 5 has plenty of great indoor things to do . . . arcade and laser tag, here we come!

Now, I’m here to tell you . . . some people may be surprised that little girls would be so entertained by arcade games and laser tag, but they definitely were.  Many of them had never played laser tag before, but it was a big hit! (Speaking of big hits . . . we didn’t get to do the new batting cages this time, but this is your friendly reminder that they are ready and waiting for you!)

Honestly, is this not the greatest picture?

You can tell how much fun they are having . . . I think they thoroughly enjoyed the black light effect too!

All in all in was a great evening, and I’m glad that we chose to make the Track a big part of it.  Take a look at these great birthday party packages for your spring and summer kiddos – you’ll be glad you did!

Posted in Kids' Birthday Parties, Moms with the Inside Track | No Comments »

Spring into Branson!

March 8th, 2013

It is officially Spring Break at our house . . . and I must say, I do enjoy a week off right about now!

Spring Break season in Branson is an exciting time every year.  Yes, we enjoy the relative quiet of our town for a couple of months.  But, it’s always nice to welcome our visitors back each March.

The NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championships are held at College of the Ozarks near Branson every year during the first week of March.  So, the first signs of spring around here are busloads of basketball players from all over the country.  The community really embraces the tournament with local businesses sponsoring each of the teams in the tournament.

This year, the Track is sponsoring Nebraska’s Midland University, who just advanced to the quarter-finals!  A couple of days ago, the team got to come over to Track 5 for some fun before their big games started.  They had a blast riding the Wild Woody, playing laser tag, and taking advantage of the NEW batting cages!

When your family comes to visit this Spring Break (do you like how I said “when,” not “if”?!), be sure to check out the new batting cages at Track 5 and the NEW state-of-the-art arcade at the NEW building at Track 4 . . . it will not disappoint! Check this out:

That makes you want to head right on down (up or over) to Branson, doesn’t it?  This is just one of several new additions to Branson this spring.  Have you heard about this?

That’s right.  Branson has gone big time!  Southwest Airlines starts flying in and out of Branson Airport on Saturday, March 9th (that’s tomorrow!).  And, if that weren’t exciting enough . . . Have you heard about this?  You really must watch these videos:

Yep, that’s Outlaw Run.  Silver Dollar City’s newest attraction opening March 15!

Yes, it is wooden. Yes, it is that steep.  Yes, it will be AWESOME!!

So, pack up the minivan and head to Branson this March.  We’ll be waiting for you!

Posted in Moms with the Inside Track, The Track's Community Involvement | No Comments »

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