Cave Guide Corey

Cave Guide Corey Follow my expeditions into Marvel Cave and beyond!

My wife Shera and I explore hidden gems, go on backroad adventures, and find off-the-beaten-path restaurants across the Ozarks!

Which future country music star toured Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City on June 22, 1979? None other than Reba McEntire...
11/25/2025

Which future country music star toured Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City on June 22, 1979? None other than Reba McEntire! In just a few years, she would become a superstar!

Special thanks to the person who sent me this picture, one of the kids in the front row, Travis Battles.

Can you spot the country music superstar in this Marvel Cave photo from June 22, 1979?This picture was shared with me by...
11/25/2025

Can you spot the country music superstar in this Marvel Cave photo from June 22, 1979?
This picture was shared with me by one of my followers — who is one of the little boys in the front row. One of his family members he attended Silver Dollar City with that day would later go on to become very famous.

Drop your guesses below! 👇
I’ll update later with the answer — and with the name of the young man in the front row who brought me this awesome photo.

12 years ago today, we went out to SDC to see the lights! I was due to give birth to our daughter in 12 days and didn’t ...
11/24/2025

12 years ago today, we went out to SDC to see the lights! I was due to give birth to our daughter in 12 days and didn’t want to miss SDC st Christmas! This was the only pic we took that trip. It happened to be below freezing temps, and we didn’t make it out of the square. We watched the giant tree and the parade, then left after 15 mins. Always a fun memory. 🤣 -Shera

Class field trip with our daughter today. Things got interesting… 🤣 -Shera
11/24/2025

Class field trip with our daughter today. Things got interesting… 🤣 -Shera

Our oldest is in town and Corey is off work, so we joined the masses at SDC on this gorgeous day! 🌲-Shera
11/23/2025

Our oldest is in town and Corey is off work, so we joined the masses at SDC on this gorgeous day! 🌲-Shera

We spent some time in Crane, MO this week. After shopping and having lunch, we stopped by the city park, which is absolu...
11/23/2025

We spent some time in Crane, MO this week. After shopping and having lunch, we stopped by the city park, which is absolutely beautiful. The water of Crane Creek is incredibly clear. They have a great trail there. Crane is about a 45 minute drive from Branson, and it is absolutely worth the trip.

Last night I took our youngest kiddos to see something they had never seen! They were born and raised in Branson, but I ...
11/22/2025

Last night I took our youngest kiddos to see something they had never seen! They were born and raised in Branson, but I realized, I had never taken them to see my favorite hotel lobby at Christmas! Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa & Convention Center has the most peaceful lobby year round, but at Christmas, it is truly magical! The lights, the huge gingerbread houses, the nativity, Santa repelling from the ceiling, and so much more! Sounds silly to be entertained by looking around a hotel lobby, but we loved it and they didn’t want to leave! We also discovered there was a gymnastics competition happening this weekend, so my daughter ran into several of her school friends! We even got a sneak peak at some of the medals and trophies! 🤫😉
The Chateau has some amazing events offered year round and their restaurants and Spa are wonderful! Definitely worth the time to check it out when you’re here! -Shera

I love reading, libraries, and bookstores! Did you know Branson has a local owned bookstore right downtown? The Book Bri...
11/21/2025

I love reading, libraries, and bookstores! Did you know Branson has a local owned bookstore right downtown? The Book Bridge, located at 105 S Commercial St Branson, is a new favorite of our family’s! One of my favorite movies is “You’ve Got Mail”, and if you’ve seen it, this place has a definite “Shop Around the Corner vibe! They offer new and used books, and they’ll even trade your used books for store credit!
A popular among locals is the Banned Books section! Every book in this section has a bookmark explaining why it was banned, and I was definitely surprised by some of them as they were favorites that I read and loved as a kid!
I love the Blind Date with a book section. Each surprise book is adorably packaged with a bookmark, stickers, tea bag, and a couple hints as to what kind of book it is! (Example in photos)
My kids chose a mystery grab bag with 5 books this time! I loved seeing how excited they were to get home and see what they got! 😊
The owners Casiee and Lena are so friendly and very knowledgeable! They are always happy to answer any questions or help you choose the perfect book!
This place is definitely Mrs. Cave Guide Corey and kids approved! Hours are Tuesday - Sunday 11am- 4pm. Thursday 11am- 6pm. Go check them out soon!! (See what I did there?) 📕 😉 -Shera

11/21/2025

The fog wasn’t fun to drive in last night, but check out the beams from our Christmas lights!

It’s an insanely foggy night at Silver Dollar City…but those lights are burning bright!
11/21/2025

It’s an insanely foggy night at Silver Dollar City…but those lights are burning bright!

Whenever you find yourself in Crane, MO, you owe it to yourself to grab a meal at Festus Jack's Restaurant on Main Stree...
11/20/2025

Whenever you find yourself in Crane, MO, you owe it to yourself to grab a meal at Festus Jack's Restaurant on Main Street. This place has such a cool atmosphere—everything on display has a story behind it, and the owners are more than happy to share them.

The food? Outstanding! I had the Breaded Tenderloin sandwich with fries, and both were amazing. Shera went with the Pulled Pork and Sausage sandwich—called the Redheaded Stranger—and she says it’s one of the best she’s ever had! She also added a salad with their homemade ranch. Soooo good. I hear folks even get extra ranch here to dip anything in.

The owners, Mark and Jill Evans, named the restaurant after Jill’s dad. They’re incredibly friendly and make you feel right at home the moment you walk in.

One thing that really intrigues me is their Homestead Breakfast. They say it’s like eating breakfast in the 1800s. I’m definitely going back to try that!

Festus Jack’s is located on Main Street in Crane, MO—about a 45-minute drive from Branson—and they’ve been open for about a year. Absolutely worth the trip! Menu included with the pictures.

Cave Guide Corey approved!

Today we took a quick drive over to Crane, MO. Crane is a really cool place that reminds me of Mayberry, but Shera gets ...
11/19/2025

Today we took a quick drive over to Crane, MO. Crane is a really cool place that reminds me of Mayberry, but Shera gets more of a Stars Hollow vibe. Main Street is lined with really cool shops and flea markets. If you are looking for unique antiques and gifts in the Ozarks, Crane is a must. One of the places we visited was Peddler's Junction Flea Market & De'cor, and yes, purchases were made. Crane is about a 45 minute drive from Branson, and the shops and dining offered there are very much worth a trip. You could easily spend a whole day in Crane!

Address

Branson, MO

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cave Guide Corey posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category