There is big news in Branson as Ride The Ducks opens a second Quack-tacular adventure with another choice for this fun-filled amphibious sightseeing tour. Now, the New Branson Landing Adventure is ready to take guests on a 60-minute tour that rides through historic Downtown Branson and then splashes into Lake Taneycomo to cruise the lake. This new adventure departs from the duck dock at Branson Landing's Neighborhood District near the Arvest Bank.

Of course, the ever-popular Classic Table Rock Lake Adventure is continuing and this 70-minute adventure includes Country Music Blvd., home to the Branson shows, Baird Mountain with fantastic views of the Ozarks and then a splashdown into Table Rock Lake for a cruise. This adventure departs from the duck dock at 2320 Country Music Blvd., just west of Wal-mart.

Ride The Ducks, the nation's largest amphibious sightseeing company, offers the most unique land and water adventure that is fun, informative and engaging. It's the best way for families to enjoy Branson because there is a combination of fun and music with history and sights.

The captains add to the tour experience as they entertain guests with interesting facts of the city. Besides sharing information, guests enjoy the music that's played on the Ducks and the captain's funny stories and jokes. The captains are licensed by the United States Coast Guard, and have a natural love of Branson and the Ozarks that shines through in their presentation and humor. Also included in every tour is the famous Wacky Quackerstm (the duck-bill whistle) that is sure to capture the attention of the people on the street.

Aaron Newberry, Ride The Ducks' Branson general manager, says, "We are excited about the opportunities we offer residents and visitors to explore a second Ride The Ducks adventure in Branson. With so many requests from our guests to expand our Duck tours, we created this new tour to meet their demands. Our family friendly tours only get better from year to year as we continue to keep everyone of all ages entertained and educated about this amazing area".

The Ride The Ducks amphibious vehicle is based on the famous WWII DUKW amphibious design. Today, we build our vehicles from the ground up using the latest in marine design and safety. The vehicles are United States Coast Guard certified and tested regularly to ensure a safe and comfortable tour for our guests.

Ride The Ducks International, the largest amphibious sightseeing company in America, has entertained millions of guests in the United States since the early 1970's. Ride The Ducks has wholly owned operations in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Branson and Memphis and licensed operators in Seattle and Stone Mountain Park, Georgia. Ride The Ducks International is a subsidiary of Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE). HFE owns numerous entertainment venues, including Silver Dollar City theme park, Showboat Branson Belle, and Celebration City in Branson, MO.

Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center today announced plans to host a series of intimate vintner dinners highlighting wines of Missouri and elegant cuisine prepared by executive chefs from around the state.

The first of the Chateau Vintner Dinners will be held on Friday, January 26, 2007 in the Private Dining Room of the Chateau Grille. Reservations are also being accepted for upcoming Chateau Vintner Dinners on February, 23, 2007 and March 23, 2007. A visiting winemaker and chef from Missouri will host each dinner.

Winemaker Daniel Alcorso from Crown Valley Winery and Executive Chef Drew Poniewaz from Tiger Ridge Restaurant, both in Ste. Genevieve, will serve as guest hosts on January 26th. A dinner reception begins at 6:30p.m. followed by a five-course meal featuring Norton-braised Crown Farm Beef Short Ribs and seared Crown Farm Bison Loin prepared by Chef Drew. Guests will have the opportunity to sample five of Crown Valley's most outstanding wines including the Muscat Canelli 2005, Norton 2005 and Vignoles "Late Harvest" 2005. Reservations are required and guests must be 21 years of age. The price per person is $85.00 pus tax and gratuity. Seating is very limited.

Guests are also invited to attend an afternoon cooking demonstration and sampling with Chef Drew and Chateau Executive Chef Anthony Burke beginning at 2:00p.m., January 26, 2007. This informal and entertaining afternoon with the Chefs will feature samples from Crown Valley Winery. Reservations are required and guests must be 21 years of age. The price per person is $25.00 pus tax and gratuity.

Chateau on the Lake is proud to spotlight Crown Valley and other Missouri wineries to help bring attention to Missouri's professional winemaking industry. "First-time visitors at the Chateau are often very surprised by what they find," said Chateau Vice President and General Manager Stephen Marshall. "When I visited Crown Valley Winery, I had the same reaction. It's a very professional operation in a beautiful rural setting. We wanted to bring a piece of it here for our Vintner Dinner Series so that our residents and visitors could experience the unique pleasure of fine wine together with expertly-prepared gourmet cuisine."

Branson, MO. – The world will turn its attention to Branson this summer when the Emmy award-winning daytime drama As The World Turns comes to town. The CBS daytime drama will tape on location in Branson on June 6th, 7th and 8th. The episodes will air in July.

In the story, young lovers Gwen and Will Munson (Emmy award-winner Jennifer Landon and Jesse Lee Soffer) and their friend Maddie Coleman (Alexandra Chando) will travel to "The Live Music Show Capital of the World" to further Gwen's musical career. Gwen's rival Jade Taylor (Elena Goode) will follow them to Branson to stir up trouble for the trio. In addition to Landon, Soffer, Chando and Goode, 21 production and crew members will travel to Branson to film at various locations. Additional personnel will be hired from the Branson area to assist with the shoot.

"We are very excited about this opportunity," said Christopher Goutman upon making the announcement. "Branson will play a really big part in the story. We want this to be big for both As The World Turns and for Branson."

The cast members will be available for media interviews and autographs on Saturday, June 9 from 10 am until 2 pm at the Grand Country Square.

As The World Turns celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 2, 2006. The show received 12 Daytime Emmy Award nominations in 2006, including Outstanding Daytime Drama Series. Christopher Goutman is Executive Producer and Jean Passanante is Headwriter. A Procter & Gamble Production, As The World Turns is taped in Brooklyn, NY. The show can be seen weekdays on the CBS Television Network. (Check local listings).

The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB is responding to increasing gas prices by offering visitors to Branson a Gas Buster discount card, accepted at dozens of live shows, area attractions, lodging properties, retail shops and restaurants, worth a total of $50 off purchases, as well as a chance to win a grand prize getaway to Branson.

Between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2007, The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB will give a Gas Buster discount card to anyone who presents a valid drivers' license and a minimum of $40 in gas receipts incurred within 48 hours of their arrival at one of the Chamber's two Welcome Centers, located at the intersections of U.S. Highway 65 and Missouri Highway 248, and at Hwy. 65 and Missouri Highway 160 in Branson. Gas Buster card holders are automatically entered to win the grand prize 4-day/3-night vacation for four to Branson, which will be awarded on October 31, 2007.

"By offering the Gas Buster discount card to our visitors, we are letting them know that we value their business. And Branson businesses are willing to work together to defray the cost of gas so our visitors can afford to do all the things they would like to do while they are here," according to Ross Summers, president and CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce/CVB. "Most of the visitors that vacation in Branson drive into town. The Gas Buster program will help bring more people, especially more of our regional neighbors coming in for a weekend getaway. Branson's location, within a day's drive of roughly one-third of our country's population, makes us very accessible to families looking for theme parks, outdoor and lakes recreation, along with shopping and world-class entertainment."

Gas Buster discount cards and the list of participating sponsors will only be issued from the two Chamber/CVB Welcome Centers. Business hours are 8am to 5pm, Mondays through Saturdays, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. The Gas Buster promotion runs from May 1 through Oct. 31, 2007.

See the 2006 Sturgis "˜Best of Show' bike at World's Largest Titanic museum attraction May 18-20, 2007

Custom bike builder Michael Ballew, winner of Metzeler Tires' "Best of Show" Award at the 2006 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, will be on hand at the World's Largest TITANIC Museum Attraction along with four of his award-winning bikes, May 18-20, 2007, during the Branson Motorcycle Rally.

Museum attraction co-owner Mary Kellogg-Joslyn said she wanted to bring Ballew to Branson because, ""¦having him here will add another fun element to the rally and this is our way of welcoming these folks to town," she said.

Ballew's award-winning candy-apple red custom bike, which was featured in April's American Iron Magazine, will be on display daily at the museum attraction starting Friday, May 18 through Sunday, May 20 along with three other show-stopping bikes. Fans will have an opportunity to take photos of the bikes and meet Ballew, the 32-year-old owner of Ballew's South Central Customs in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The outdoor event is free and open to the public.

The World's Largest TITANIC Museum Attraction is Branson's new landmark tourist destination. The 17,000 square-foot, ship-shaped structure – built half scale to Titanic's original size – towers more than 100 feet above its anchored position on Highway 76. A 90-minute self-guided tour covers 20 galleries on two decks where over 400 priceless artifacts that once belonged to Titanic's passengers or crew are on display. None of the artifacts were retrieved from the ocean's floor. Dramatic lighting, ambient sound, photographs and video accompany a creative mix of music from the period, and hands-on devices give visitors the sensation of being an original passenger on Titanic's 1912 maiden voyage.