Points Branson

Does anyone know vacation spots within 5 hours of St. Louis?
We need somewhere that we can drive. We are planning a vacation for right after Christmas and we are considering spending New Year’s Eve somewhere. We know of Branson, so please suggest anywhere else (or point out some great things about Branson we may not realize).
I stayed at Chateau on the Lake in Branson last fall and it was very nice! I found the recently developed landing area to be almost upscale with nice dining and bars. There is some good shopping there too. You should check it out.
Jordan Thomas Adds Final Points for Branson