From news.branson.com

What do Branson, Missouri; Belize; Hawaii; Colorado and Italy have in common? They are all listed in the “Top 10 Family Destinations for 2010” on the Travel Blog of Fodor’s thanks to guest blogger Kara Williams, one of the co-authors of the “VacationGals” blog.” The respected and well read travel blog provides advice in many areas of travel and is heavy in its emphasis on family travel.

Williams is one of the three “Gals,” all moms, who co-author the blog. She is from the Colorado Rockies and is known as “ColoradoGirl” on the blog. The other two co-authors are Beth Blair, from Minnesota known as “TwinCitiesGirl” and Jennifer Miner from Southern California, known as “SoCalGirl.” Prior to starting “VacationGals” they were major contributors to another major award winning travel blog “Traveling Mammas.”

The VacationGals, both individually and collectively have done a lot of traveling, given lots of expert travel advice and are so respected within the travel industry that they got the guest blogger gig on Fodor’s, one of the world’s largest publishers of travel and tourism information. However, as relates to Branson, one of the things that caught this writer’s attention was the part of the introduction to their blog where they said, “We’re all about traveling with our families — after all, what better way to unplug from computers, carpools and commitments and connect with our kids than on a vacation?”

In introducing the “Top 10 Family Destinations for 2010” Williams expressed her belief that the current state of the economy “won’t stop families from traveling in 2010—but we’re definitely looking for value in the trips we plan. That means we’re shopping for great deals and seeking locales that appeal to toddlers through teens all at once…”

In presenting Branson on the list, she emphasized the family aspects of what Branson had to offer saying, “…my kids would love it—from the permanent Titanic museum, to the plethora of mini-golf courses and go-kart tracks, to the area amusement parks.” She mentioned Branson’s live shows with specific reference to “Yakov’s Moscow Circus,” “The Legend of Kung Fu” and “Cirque Montage.” She also highlighted some of the many other things families can do while in Branson saying, “When you get your fill of man-made attractions, you can always seek out local lakes and recreation trails for fishing, boating, hiking, horseback riding and biking.”

In addition, from a value perspective, it is interesting to note that less than a year ago, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) published a press release entitled “What U.S. Destinations Are Most Budget Friendly for Travelers?” Based on a survey of its thousands of agents, Branson, Missouri came in third behind Las Vegas and Orlando/DisneyWorld and ahead of New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Paul Miller, General Manager, Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show tickets, attraction tickets and lodging said, “The variety, value, atmosphere and fun that Branson offers families provides a unique synergy that could make a family vacation in Branson a memory that will last a lifetime. Branson and families just go together.”

The article may be found on www.fodors.com.