Vacation Spots in Branson Missouri
Vacation Places in Branson
Live Shows, Attractions, Lakes, Outdoor Fun

Andy Williams Show

Vacation Spots for Live Entertainment in Branson

1. 
   Kirby VanBurch
   White Tiger Show
   
   
   Foremost among the vacation spots of Branson are the stage shows and musical performances. Branson is a unique place for live entertainment, with more than 50 theaters, most of them on Highway 76. Country singer Roy Clark liked Branson so much he built his own personal theater. Then singer Andy Williams built his Moon River Theatre. Nationally famous performers appear on the stages of Branson, along with local favorites.
   
   
   
   The Texas Tenors
   
   
   The current list of entertainers includes Daniel O'Donnell, Elvis and the Superstars, the Gatlin Brothers, Debby Boone, Hank Williams and Patsy Cline tribute show, the Haygoods, Jim Stafford, Johnny Mathis, Lee Greenwood, Louise Mandrell, Marty Robbins tribute, Mickey Gilley, Oak Ridge Boys, the Osmonds, Pierce Arrow, Roy Rogers Jr., Eagles Tribute, the Texas Tenors, Tim Conway, Tony Orlando, the Twelve Irish Tenors, Neil Diamond Tribute, John Denver Tribute, Acrobats of China, Andy Williams and Ann-Margaret, Bill Haley's Original Comets, Baldnobber's Jamboree, the Village People, John Conlee, Travis Tritt, singers from Grand Ole Opry, The 5th Dimension, 3 Redneck Tenors, Charlie Daniels Band, and Sawyer Brown.
   
   

Tony Roi
Elvis Experience


2. At The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre, the outdoor drama is an epic story of Ozark life, love, loss, power, hardship, and the true meaning of life, based on the 1907 novel Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright. Every night under the stars, 80 actors, 40 horses, a flock of sheep, several guns and rifles, an actual burning log cabin, and a vintage 1908 DeWitt automobile play roles in this legendary drama. Millions of people have seen it in Branson. The novel was made into a 1941 film titled Shepherd of the Hills, starring John Wayne.
   
   
3. 
   Dollie Parton's Dixie Stampede
   
   
   Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede gives you dinner and a show, but, oh, what a show!! Cowboys on horseback, country songs, riding stunts, special effects, and entrancing musical productions will keep you and the youngsters spellbound. Dolly is a good cook, too.

Popular Vacation Spots in Branson

1. Enjoy the light show on the lake. At Branson Landing, the Fountains are a $7.5 million spectacular attraction that synchronizes water, light, sound and fire. The brilliant light show will remind you of the fountains at Disney World and the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
   
   
2. 
   Showboat Branson Belle
   
   
   Take a romantic dinner cruise on the lake. It's a chance to ride the beautiful Lake Queen, a modern day replica of a three-story paddle wheel riverboat. The Landing Princess, a 100-foot luxury yacht, is also available for cruises and dining. Narrated sightseeing trips are also available. The Showboat Branson Belle has a lake cruise, dinner and a family-friendly stage show presenting Funny Fiddle or Encore.
   
   
3. Ride The Ducks on a guided tour of Branson. These wacky vehicles are both a floating boat and rolling bus. Duck tours will take you through the entertainment district over the dam and splash down into Table Rock Lake or you can see downtown Branson and Lake Taneycomo. They'll let you drive the duck while it's in water if you ask.
   
   
4. Board the Branson Scenic Railway for a 40-mile roundtrip narrated excursion through Ozark scenery. The train departs from the historic 1905 depot in downtown Branson and shows you landmarks, abandoned towns, wildlife, and scenery a car could never reach. No need to hike to see the sights; take the train instead.
   
   
5. There are winery tours and tastings at Mount Pleasant Winery and Stone Hill Winery.
   
   
6. Try the local moonshine. During prohibition, mountain people of the Ozarks distilled their own corn whiskey, called moonshine. At Copper Run Distillery, they keep up the tradition with their own still, but it's all legal now. They offer tours and tastings of moonshine, aged moonshine, and blackstrap molasses rum.
   
   
7. Go caving in Cosmic Cavern, one of underground treasures of Arkansas. Take the guided tour to see the bottomless cave lakes, the miraculous rock formations, the blind and colorless trout and the rare blind cave salamanders. The far reaches of the caves are still being explored. Above ground is an authentic sluice where you can pan for gemstones and gold. There's another cave tour at Talking Rocks Cavern in Reeds Spring a few minutes west of Branson. See thousands of beautiful natural living crystal cave formations.
   
   
8. Take a free ride on the trolley. It runs through downtown and to the river landing, a 15-minute loop. Historic Branson lies on Lake Taneycomo and Roark Creek. Downtown has a wide variety of restaurants, retail shops, entertainment, and attractions to visit.
   
   
9. Play around at the World's Largest Toy Museum. It's a nostalgic trip back to childhood. There are thousands of toys, old and recent, to enjoy: Star Wars, dolls and doll house furniture, toy cars, trucks, action figures, die cast toys, antique bicycles, kaleidoscopes, tin toys, toy trains, pedal cars, Howdy Doody, Elvis, John Deere, Roy Rogers, and Power Rangers.
   
   
10. Also at the Toy Museum is the Harold Bell Wright Museum. Local history comes to life as you view the antiques, personal items, furniture and the manuscripts of Mr. Wright's nineteen books. His gun collection features historical firearms of the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Outdoor Vacation Spots in Branson

1. The Branson Lakes Area has three pristine lakes with hundreds of miles of shoreline, featuring more than 200 miles of hiking, biking and horseback-riding trails. More than 100,000 acres of city, state, federal and privately owned wilderness areas are open to visitors.
   
   
2. Within minutes of the bright lights of Branson, outdoor enthusiasts enjoy hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, trout and bass fishing, hunting, trap and skeet shooting, spelunking, rock climbing and other recreational activities. Area public parks, beaches, resorts, campgrounds, forests and recreational facilities abound.
   
   
3. Campers will find many privately operated campgrounds and RV parks. The nearby 1.5 million acre Mark Twain National Forest offers a wealth of outdoor opportunities and a natural setting for your camping trip, with level campsites, picnic tables, drinking water, grills or fire rings, and toilet facilities in many locations.
   
   
4. Pick one of the three pristine lakes in Branson for outdoor adventure: Table Rock, Taneycomo and Bull Shoals. Water sports enthusiasts can swim, water ski, wakeboard, tube, boat, sail, scuba dive, jet ski, parasail, kayak, and of course, fish. All three lakes have camping and RV parks, public docks and marinas, boat rentals and fishing guides. The lake water never freezes, so visitors are welcome all year.
   
   
5. Try the water sports at Table Rock Lake, a public recreation area that adjoins Mark Twain National Forest. Table Rock Lake is one of the top 10 vacation spots in Branson. The lake is a paradise of 43,000 acres for boaters, scuba divers, campers and fishermen. It's also good for swimming, tubing, wake-boarding and parasailing. Full service marinas, 13 campgrounds, 100 or more resorts, rental shops for boats and equipment and five commercial boat cruises make your experience memorable.
   
   
6. Dogwood Canyon Nature Park is a 2,200 acre outdoor paradise! For the scenery, take a self-guided tour walking or biking, or ride the guided tram. Features include trout fishing, horseback riding. cafe, general store, wilderness chapel and log cabins for overnight visitors to rent.

Educational Vacation Spots in Branson

1. Car fans will be awed by the Branson Auto Museum, one of Branson's newest attractions. The museum has cool and unusual cars, like the 1976 Lincoln Batmobile. Some of the custom and vintage vehicles are even for sale.
   
   
2. At Table Rock Lake, tour Table Rock Dam, completed in 1958, and operated by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. It provides hydro-electric power and controls flooding downstream. A guided walking tour takes you deep inside the dam to show you how it works, a valuable lesson about energy, conservation, and engineering.
   
   
3. Visit the dinosaurs at Branson's Dinosaur Walk Museum. These dinosaurs aren’t fossils or bones. They are amazing life-size sculptures. One of the world’s largest collections of prehistoric animals has the two-story-high Tyrannosaurus Rex and a tiny 12-inch tall Microraptor. Giant sea lizards, flying reptiles, and replicas of bones, skulls, and skeletons of ancient prehistoric creatures will astound everyone. There is also a dinosaur fossil dig, creative coloring stations, books, and movies about dinosaurs.
   
   
4. Veterans Memorial Museum covers the wars and conflicts of the 20th century, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and others. There are 10 large halls with displays of sculpture, murals, historical objects, personal stories, uniforms, weapons, POW experiences, medals, letters, planes, motorcycles and a battlefield organ. You'll be fascinated and moved by this tribute to our veterans.
   
   
5. Look around at the Discovery Center of Springfield, an interactive, hands-on learning center and museum. It's about 40 miles north of Branson and well-worth the ride. Each different gallery focuses on science, environment, health, culture, technology, cell biology and the social sciences. It's fun to learn how electricity, weather and light work. You can dig for dinosaurs, or build your own airplane.
   
   
6. Our Body - The Universe is a one-of-a-kind exhibition about human biology. You see what's under your skin, in the actual bodies and organs of lifelike people. The bodies are preserved using a new process called polymer impregnation. You should see it for yourself. The exhibit has toured the country with extensive press coverage.
   
   
7. See the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri, where Laura wrote the series of "Little House on the Prairie" books. These endearing stories about pioneer life were the basis of the long-running television show. Mansfield is about 90 minutes from Branson.
   
   
8. The Ozark Medieval Fortress is a work under construction. An authentic 13th century fortress with 5-foot stone walls and towers is being built by hand using medieval tools and methods. The job is expected to take 20 years. Visitors are welcome to learn all about the history of the time. Volunteer laborers are especially welcome.
   
   
9. Visit the Ralph Foster Museum on the campus of the College of the Ozarks. One of the more famous exhibits is the original car the Clampetts drove in the television series "The Beverly Hillbillies". Five episodes of the show were set in Branson. Museum visitors will find antiques, weapons, dolls, western collectibles, Native American artifacts, firearms and a Bengal tiger. Even if you don't do museums, you'll enjoy this one.
   
   
10. 
    Rose O'Neill's Kewpie Dolls
    
    
    Visit the home of famous magazine illustrator Rose O'Neill. In 1909 she invented the unique Kewpie dolls that became a merchandising sensation. Many people are familiar with her dolls, but not her name. Bonniebrook Historical Society runs the museum full of Kewpie dolls and other memorabilia of Rose and her era.

Amusing Vacation Spots in Branson

1. Get a good scare at Branson's Haunted House and Monster Asylum. State of the art animatronics and realistic monsters, ghosts, goblins and frightful terrors will scare the pants off you. The thrills and chills are a real adrenaline rush. This vacation spot is next door to the Dinosaur Walk Museum.
   
   
2. Hobnob with the stars at the Hollywood Wax Museum. Snuggle up to Charlie's Angels, sing at the American Idol, insult Donald Trump and walk around the Starship Enterprise. Take pictures of yourself hanging out with famous characters from TV and the movies. Even in wax, Angelina still looks stunning.
   
   
3. The Castle of Chaos is a 3D haunted house ride and game in one. The premise is that you must rescue film star Karly, whose final movie was Castle of Chaos. It's an action-packed multi-media adventure with special effects, animatronics, horror movie and a gun battle against evil. The second attraction is Hannah's Maze of Mirrors, where you try to rescue the lovely Princess Hannah from an ugly spell.
   
   
4. See a show at the IMAX Complex. First run movies are shown the giant IMAX screen 6 stories high. The IMAX Entertainment Complex includes two full-service restaurants and a food court. Save time to browse 16 specialty shops featuring fashion, gifts, collectibles, art, music, magic, and more. The Little Opry Theatre features live entertainment with 7 different shows every week. The John Denver, George Strait and Hank Williams tribute shows are very popular.
   
   
5. 
   Ripley's Believe it or Not
   
   
   Believe it or not, Ripley's Odditorium in Branson presents over 400 exhibits in seven themed galleries! In 1812 an earthquake measuring more than 8.0 on the Richter Scale occurred at New Madrid, Missouri. This earthquake made the Mississippi River run backwards for three days and made church bells ring In Philadelphia! To commemorate the event, the Ripley Museum looks like it was cracked wide open by an earthquake.
   
   
6. The Titanic Museum Attraction revisits the famous "unsinkable" luxury ship. You can walk through life-size replicas of 20 rooms, parlors, cabins, the ship's bridge and the grand staircase, all furnished with replicas of the ship. Actors in costume relive the drama of that fateful day.

Special Events In Branson

1. Plumb Nellie Days’ Dog Show, held in May, brings out the best-dressed, most talkative, and most unique, prettiest dogs.
   
   
2. The Fiddle Festival and Mid-American Fiddle Championship takes place in August with contests, street dances and all-day fiddling around downtown.
   
   
3. Autumn Daze is an arts and craft show in September featuring a handmade crafts and artists from all over the country, vendors, food, live entertainment and a street dance.
   
   
4. In November Branson holds America's largest Veterans Day celebration, "Veterans Homecoming Week."

Branson Vacation Spots for Adventure

1. To stay active in Branson, try water sports at the lakes, the hot air balloon rides, helicopter tours, all-terrain vehicles to ride, zip lines, water parks. And the list goes on: laser tag, miniature golf theme parks, and game rooms.
   
   
2. Gear up for a zip line tour of Branson and the Ozark Mountains, an exciting eco-adventure. A zip line is a cable high above the trees with harness and pulley for each rider. Gravity takes you zipping through the skies for a huge adrenaline rush. Branson has several zip line adventures.
   
   
3. Ride the Branson Ballknocker, a 12-foot tall round clear ball with room for you to ride inside. If you ever rode a big tractor tire down a long hill, you'll know what I'm talking about. Sky, ground, sky, ground. Maybe you've seen this done on television.
   
   
4. Have you tried geocaching? The high-tech of geocaching, where hikers use global positioning technology to hide and seek out items in urban and rural areas, has caught on here, with dozens of caches hidden throughout the Branson Lakes Area.

Vacation Spots with Entertainment Parks in Branson

1. 
   Christmas Silver Dollar City
   
   
   Silver Dollar City is a giant entertainment park with a Western theme. It features 30 thrilling rides, live entertainment, 40 stage shows every day, music festivals, 60 craft shops, a water park, a scenic ride on a steam train, a dozen restaurants, cooking classes and, for the little kids, Half Dollar Holler. There's a fun house, the world's largest tree house, the Powder Keg Roller Coaster and the Lost River. The whole family will enjoy a day at Silver Dollar City.
   
   
2. Grand Country is a family entertainment center that includes Splash Country indoor water park, three live shows daily at the Country Music Hall, 36-hole indoor mini-golf, arcade games, bumper cars, black light mini-golf and more.
   
   
3. The Track Family Fun Parks has 4 locations in Branson, called Track 1, Track 3 and so on.You and your family can ride the wooden or classic go-kart tracks, water blaster-equipped bumper boats, themed mini golf arcades, sky coasters, or drag racing simulators. Activities depend on which Track you visit.
   
   
4. Get wet at White Water, Branson's popular outdoor water park. This exciting family attraction has lots of theme places, water-blasters, super-soakers, speed water slides, and a wave pool. The water features include geysers, bubblers, misters, fountains, and a Tiki water tower.
   
   
5. Miniature golf is always popular here. At the Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, golfers putt their way around pirate ship, caves, waterfalls and treasure islands.

Vacation Spots with Animals in Branson

1. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is an animal refuge and rescue center for the big cats, lions, tigers, cougars, bobcats,bears and leopards. When wild animals are found mistreated in private hands, they found a permanent home at this refuge. Small animals are on site, too, at the petting zoo. Feeding time is a remarkable experience.
   
   
2. Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure might be the most beautiful vacation spot in Branson. Enter a white palace, and see thousands of exotic tropical butterflies flutter around you. A fluttering blue mountain swallowtail may land on your finger. There is also the Incredible Insect Zoo and an interactive 3D film about bugs and butterflies in the rain forest, plus a movie, Science Center, Emerald Forest Walk and a Coconut Tree you can climb. This is definitely a worthwhile vacation attraction.
   
   
3. Promised Land Zoo is a drive-through nature park of wild animals. It is located in Eureka Springs, 45 minutes from Branson. On the scenic drive through 120 acres, the whole family will get a chance to see 500 animals, zebra, impala, antelope, ostrich, elk, camels and kangaroos. There is also a petting zoo where the animals will eat right out of your hands.

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