Rain or shine, there are such a lot of issues to do in Branson, Missouri. As a part-time resident and lifelong customer, I’m sharing the very best issues Branson sights for all ages, free issues to do in Branson with children, and tricks to make your go to easy!
We spend loads of our time at our fashionable lake home nestled on Desk Rock Lake close to Branson, Missouri. Branson is a household pleasant vacation spot stuffed to the brim with issues to do for a day, week or month all yr!
The place is Branson Missouri?
Branson is in Southwest Missouri, within the Ozark Mountain area. It’s nestled close to the Arkansas border and never removed from Oklahoma. Branson attracts guests from all around the United States, with most visiting spring by New 12 months’s.
The realm is understood for stunning sunsets, out of doors actions, caves, reveals, and household pleasant enjoyable. I grew up visiting Branson, a kitschy getaway nestled inside simply 4 hours of Kansas Metropolis, St. Louis, and Tulsa. It’s lined with reside leisure, over-the-top sights, thrill rides and eating places.
76 is sort of a household pleasant model of the Vegas strip, sans playing.
50+ Issues to Do in Branson Missouri
Branson boasts a wide selection of reveals, indoor and out of doors actions, sights, trails, water recreation and one-of-a-kind experiences. There’s something for everybody, each season, and climate.
See Fish
Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery (free) – See the fish ladder and trout pens that elevate 400,000 kilos of rainbow and brown trout annually! Contained in the training heart you’ll discover loads of reptiles, too. Convey quarters to feed the fish.
Aquarium on the Boardwalk – See the ocean rays, stroll by the water tunnel, benefit from the contact tanks and extra! This newer Branson attraction price a whopping $55 million to construct! The outside of the constructing is a chunk of artwork.
See Animals Reptiles and Bugs
Tiger Sanctuary – Tour and feed huge cats or go behind the scenes to find out about their care. They rescue and launch animals into wildlife as effectively.
Promised Land Zoo – Stroll by a petting zoo and feed parakeets, donkeys and goats. The zoo boasts over 60 acres of animals, together with a tiger and lion rescue. Stroll by to see sloths, giraffes, a capybara and extra, then take a tram or drive by the 60+ acre park to see bison, elk, and zebras. Don’t miss the ostrich and emu eggs within the incubator on the reward store as you exit. In November and December, return to get pleasure from Christmas lights in Branson.
Wild World – Pet a stingray, play with lemurs, feed sharks and otters at this interactive aquarium and zoo.
The Butterfly Palace and Rainforest – The Butterfly Palace supplies a uniquely completely different and enhanced expertise from most aviaries. They provide lovable hats, magnifying glasses and binoculars, which makes it really feel much more adventurous for babies. Stroll by whereas listening to the harp and get shut up views with complimentary nectar flowers positioned on the entrance to draw butterflies. The aviary is house to over 1,000 butterflies and 40+ species! Not too long ago hatched butterflies are launched all through the day. Climb by the rainforest, go to the mirror maze and see an array of reptiles within the science heart.
Take pleasure in Rides
Runaway Mountain Coaster or Copperhead Mountain Coaster – Should you’re right here for the rides, you received’t be disenchanted by this curler coaster expertise! Each of those coasters wind by the woods and YOU management the pace!
Silver Greenback Metropolis – You’ll love this clear, family-friendly amusement park constructed to offer actions whereas company waited to enter Marvel Cave. it’s stuffed with rides all the household can get pleasure from together with glass blowing, blacksmith, and woodcarving demonstrations to call a number of. Don’t miss Grandfather’s Mansion.
Obtain the app for experience wait instances, showtimes and extra. There’s a lot to discover together with 2 all-ages areas and some “all experience” rides! Return for the vacations since you don’t wish to miss Silver Greenback Metropolis Christmas. Bypass the visitors in your approach there and cease on the Outdated Original Dough Firm for wonderful cinnamon rolls or Donnie’s Diner for a standard breakfast and pleasant smiles each time!
Ferris Wheel – of the various can’t-miss sights on Freeway 76 lies the ferris wheel, relocated from the Navy Pier in Chicago. It lights up at evening and is particularly enjoyable to see through the holidays. It’s a sluggish, sight-seeing experience.
Branson Scenic Railway – The basic prepare departs on the historic depot nestled in downtown Branson and takes you thru the Ozark Mountains. In the course of the holidays is transforms into the Polar Categorical the place you get pleasure from sizzling chocolate, cookies, a go to from Santa and a experience by a Christmas gentle park!
Helicopter Tour – Considered one of my favourite childhood reminiscences was taking a helicopter experience overlooking Branson and Desk Rock Lake, which you’ll be able to nonetheless do at present! There’s no higher technique to see the Branson strip, lake and the fantastic thing about the Ozarks.
Bear Creek Trails – Take a one hour guided horseback experience by a waterfall.
Branson Points of interest
As a lifelong customer and part-time resident, I nonetheless haven’t had the chance to see and do all of them. This listing is compiled with a few of our favorites and a few we nonetheless hope to discover!
Wonderworks – An all ages, “the other way up” amusement park stuffed with science, know-how, math and engineering enjoyable, rides, actions and extra! It’s your probability to relive the film “Large” and dance on the piano, take a look at the energy of your thoughts, physique, play in bubbles, experience the Surprise Coaster, expertise a hurricane and a lot extra! Now we have visited a number of instances with children and youths and it’s at all times successful! Put on shut toed footwear for the 360 experience.
Hollywood Wax Museum – See the Hollywood signal, Mount Rushmore (up to date model) and King Kong multi function cease! There are a number of out of doors picture alternatives which are definitely worth the cease! Step inside for much more celeb enjoyable.
Simply throughout the road, you possibly can stand beneath a huge meatball at Pasghetti’s. Stick a fork in me, I’m carried out!
Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors – That is interactive fairytale expertise with hallways filled with mirrors and an opportunity to see who might be the hero subsequent to the Wax Museum.
Bigfoot Enjoyable Park – it is a newer Branson attraction stuffed with a lot to do! You’ll discover an arcade, mini golf, rides, and naturally the primary attraction, which is a Bigfoot Discovery Expedition! It’s a cool, totally immersive safari model journey by the Ozark Hills for the entire household.
Branson Touchdown – Go to the fountains at Branson Touchdown (free) for a water, fireplace, gentle and music present that begins on the hour from midday to 10pm day by day (9 on Sundays). Discover a spot within the plaza or seize a drink on the patio at Cantina Laredo to get pleasure from. Branson Touchdown has quite a lot of shops together with Bass Professional, eating places and actions. Convey quarters to feed the fish as you stroll alongside Taneycomo.
Adventurous Actions
Wolfe Mountain Snowflex – Throw on some shut toed footwear and hop on a tube! Hit the slick slopes, with out enduring chilly snow and luxuriate in yr spherical enjoyable! The slick floor is Take pleasure in yr spherical “snow” tubing with out the chilly!
Fritz’s Journey – An indoor journey park excellent for wet days. Climb by tunnels, a aircraft, as much as excessive flying slides and up a brick wall! They provide three indoor rope programs – one for youngsters, one for adults and a treetops course for many who actually wish to fly excessive.
Ziplining
Zipline USA – We’re lucky to have so many wonderful zip-lining experiences within the space. Now we have tried all of them and it’s clear – Zipline USA takes you to new heights! It’s far and away the very best Branson zipline due to it’s distant location, breathtaking views, huge landscapes, and a number of the highest and longest runs in the USA! They’re dedicated to security, preserve an intimate group dimension and have a seamless check-in, gear and switch course of with skilled guides.
Ozark Explorer at Wolfe Mountain – Select between 4 and seven runs at this cover tour with 10 sky bridges.
Journey Ziplines – This roadside different at Shepherd of the Hills is brief and candy. Ticket buy, registration, check-in and equipment is somewhat clunky, however the location is fast and handy to squeeze into your journey. The runs and views are somewhat underwhelming, however it’s a simple introduction for newbies.
Vigilante Excessive ZipRider – Sit and leap off of the Shepherd of the Hills tower! This expertise is ticketed in 10 minute increments and is just obtainable when winds are minimal. It’s an exhilarating experience that takes you over an equestrian space and ends with a gentle touchdown. The ticketing and check-in expertise is clunky, however value it.
Parakeet Petes Zipline – No expertise required! This two-seated expertise zips you throughout the lake as much as the cliff and again – twice! Now we have carried out this again and again and nonetheless get pleasure from it!
Branson Museums
Toy Museum – Revisit your childhood favorites and 1,000,000 others!
Dinosaur Museum – We haven’t visited, however I think about this museum makes some little children very blissful.
Movie star Automobile Museum – See an ever altering array of vehicles from films and TV reveals together with the Quick and the Livid, Again to the Future, Automobiles and extra.
Branson Auto and Farm Museum – Over 90,000 sq. toes of basic vehicles and farm tools.
Titanic Museum – You solely thought the Titanic was 12,600 beneath sea degree. It’s really positioned in Branson, Missouri. On the Titanic Museum, you possibly can view artifacts, take images on the duplicate stairway, contact an iceberg, shovel coal and a lot extra.
Ripley’s Imagine it or Not – Ripley’s is understood for it’s oddities and intriguing actions. Excellent for a chilly or wet day.
Historical Ozarks Pure Historical past Museum – This museum is a should for historical past buffs! It’s thoughtfully curated and superbly embellished. This expansive museum is stuffed with prehistoric creatures, civil struggle relics, Native American artifacts and wealthy in midwest historical past.
Branson Space Caves
Speaking Rocks is a fantastic strolling cave tour that makes use of gentle and sound to indicate off the curtain formations. As soon as outdoors of the cave children can get pleasure from a enjoyable play space full with a playground, statement tower, maze, gemstone panning and extra.
Marvel Cave – this Nationwide Landmark is de facto fascinating to see, nonetheless, it requires entry into Silver Greenback Metropolis. It was Branson’s first attraction bringing vacationers from throughout. Take a stroll down and experience the tram again up for a novel expertise.
Suggestions
Butterflies are interested in brilliant colours. Gown accordingly if you wish to entice them.
Don’t miss the mirror maze, rainforest (small play space) and science heart (reptiles).
Dicks 5 & 10 – Dick’s 5 and dime is a favourite of children and adults alike and a staple in downtown Branson. The shop is stuffed with TikTok traits teenagers and tweens go loopy over, nostalgic toys, quaint sweet, crafts, collectibles, books, wonderful video games, pranks, quirky laughs, sodas, licensed favorites, cooking devices, {hardware} and a lot extra! You’ll discover every thing you by no means knew you wished, all beneath one roof.
Past the Lens – Escape rooms, digital actuality, flip zone bumper vehicles, augmented actuality scavenger hunt and a lot extra.
Enjoyable Mountain – Enjoyable Mountain is an indoor / out of doors exercise at Large Cedar and provides a novel bowling expertise, arcade, playground (free), laser tag and golf simulators indoors. Outdoor you’ll discover sloooooow go karts and an unimaginable ropes course over a number of gators, with a zipline!
Wineries
Lindwedel – Native, household owned vineyard with wine flights and snacks. They provide juice for youngsters.
Ozark Hills – Wine and whiskey tastings and flights accompanied with charcuterie. Juice is obtainable for youngsters and people who don’t want to partake and beer and whiskey is served by the glass as effectively.
St. James – Wine tastings, full bar, and a restricted menu together with brick oven pizza, charcuterie and salads.
Curling Vine Vineyard – Wine and juice tastings.
Issues to do on Desk Rock Lake
Don’t skip stunning Desk Rock Lake when you’re in Branson. It’s an unimaginable technique to benefit from the open air – see the hyperlink above for a full listing of issues to do there!
Moonshine Seaside (free) – Sit back on a sizzling summer season day and let the youngsters play within the sand and swim on the seaside on Desk Rock Lake.
Dewey Quick Customer Heart (free) – Take a break on a chilly or wet day and benefit from the view and actions on the customer heart. Construct a dam, learn a guide or get pleasure from one of many interactive actions whereas studying concerning the hydroelectric dam. You’ll be able to go to the Dewey Quick Customer Heart and get an in depth up view of Desk Rock Dam by automobile or boat! It’s related to a number of trails which are excellent for a simple stroll or bike experience!
Desk Rock Lake Dam – Simply throughout from the Dewey Quick Customer’s Heart, you possibly can catch a glimpse of water being launched from the lake. Verify to see if there’s a spillway launch earlier than you go.
Feed the fish at State Park Marina. Step out over the water to see carp, blue gill, turtles, minnows and extra. Eat on the water at Danna’s BBQ, get pleasure from a snow cone and the boutique whereas there. Meals is simply $1/bag.
Hire a ship, kayak or paddle boat to get pleasure from life on the lake. There are a number of locations to pick from together with State Park Marina, Indian Level Marina, and Large Cedar.
Take a swim cruise on a catamaran – the Spirit of America takes day by day cruises with inflatable swim toys like a trampoline and impediment course. Cool off and luxuriate in Desk Rock Lake…our house candy second house!
Take a daytime or dinner cruise across the lake on the Showboat.
Cease by the Tiki Bar at Rock Lane. Don’t let the encircling space discourage you – the Tiki Bar is effectively saved and a lot enjoyable! Swing on the bar or play one in all their many out of doors video games whereas listening to reside music. You’ll be able to go to by boat or automobile.
Try one in all these Desk Rock Lake Eating places when you’re there!
Prime of the Rock
Go on a golf cart experience at Prime of the Rock for stunning views, carved rock, artificial waterfalls that movement over the paths and take your breath away. Convey money to seize a drink on the bat bar as you drive by the cave.
Partake within the sundown ceremony at Prime of the Rock – collect on the patio on the Buffalo Bar or on the garden close to the chapel to hearken to bagpipes play whereas an actual canon fires off to have fun one other sundown (March-October).
Take a stroll by the wine cellar for a fantastic view of “Finish of the Path” (proven above) and luxurious views of the lake.
There’s a stunning museum there as effectively – when you go to it, plan to peruse for at least 2 hours.
There’s additionally a par 3 golf course which is being expanded.
Day on the Spa
Seeking to loosen up? Take somewhat reprieve on the spa.
- Chateau on the Lake
- Large Cedar
Water Parks
- White Water – This childhood favourite is an area out of doors waterpark with a wave pool, water slides, lazy river, household rides and a lot extra! Go for a number of hours or for a full day of enjoyable within the solar!
- Splash Nation is an indoor / out of doors water park with a lazy river, big slides, toddler pool and extra!
- Nonetheless Waters – Nonetheless Waters has an outside water park with slides obtainable to in a single day company.
Miniature Golf
Branson is loaded with miniature golf programs to check your abilities. Select your theme or attempt all of them!
Out of doors Mini Golf
Indoor Mini Golf
Go Karts
- Xtreme Racing
- The Observe
- Enjoyable Mountain
- Grand Nation Resort
Bumper Boats
- Bumper Boat Amusement Heart
- The Observe
Bumper Automobiles
- Enjoyable Mountain (Flip Zone – the other way up, Spin Zone – spin)
- The Observe
- Grand Nation
- Bumper Boat Amusement Heart
Arcades
See a Present
There are such a lot of reveals in Branson MO they usually’re always altering.
- Acrobats of Shanghai – a really wonderful present stuffed with unimaginable stunts {and sadly actually sluggish music}. The youngsters completely cherished this present.
- Dixie Stampede is likely one of the women’ favourite issues to do in Branson. Get your tickets upfront for this widespread present. It consists of dinner, when you wish to eat along with your arms.
- Sight and Sound Theatre is called the Christian Broadway.
Free Issues to Do in Branson MO
- Dewey Quick Customer Heart – see above
- See the Horses at Dixie Stampede – Take the horse stroll across the stables outdoors. See above.
- Fish Hatchery – see above
- State Park Marina – see above
- Moonshine Seaside – see above
- Desk Rock State Park – strolling/biking path
- Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation is 1,534-acre nature protect provides self-guided trails, benches and an statement tower.
- Fountains at Branson Touchdown – see above
- Movie star Automobile Museum – see one of many many vehicles on show outdoors and take your picture (presently 2 vehicles from Automobiles, The Thriller Machine from Scooby and extra!
- Scenic Overlooks
- Photograph Ops – 76 is FULL of picture ops! Take your picture beneath the enormous meatball, subsequent to King Kong, with Large Foot, by Mount Rushmore (Branson model) and extra!
- Trolley – get pleasure from a experience on the trolley that runs by downtown Branson MO to see outdated time Important Avenue.
- Boat or Kayak by Satan’s Pool waterfall
And only a brief drive from Branson, you’ll discover Dogwood Canyon! You’ll be able to go behind the scenes to see all it has to supply in our YouTube video!
- The Social Birdy – Scheduled to open in 2024, we will’t wait to test this place out! It is a 9,000 sq. foot leisure advanced, with stunning out of doors patios, {golfing} stimulators and pickleball courts!
- Scheduled to open in August of 2024, Ozark Nights is one other new attraction to take a look at. That is an immersive stroll by the woods, with components of thriller, hauntings and historic exploration.
- Immersive Disney Amimation is an interactive gentle and sound present that’s getting nice critiques – when you love Disney films you’ll love this one!
Tip
Lots of sights are Route 76 resulitng in heavy visitors, particularly within the night. Use Waze or visitors aid routes. When you’ll enterprise a number of miles out of your approach, they’re a good time saving measure.
The place to Eat in Branson
A few of our favourite native Branson Missouri eating places are:
- Mr. G’s Pizza – Chicago model deep dish pizza in a quaint household pleasant pub model restaurant in downtown Branson. The salads, sandwiches and toasted raviolis are all delish, too!
- Little Hacienda – Wonderful Mexican for brunch, lunch and dinner.
- Danna’s BBQ – Brisket, burgers, hen tenders, sizzling canines, nachos and your entire favourite sides.
- Outdated Original Dough Co – Tucked in Branson West simply previous Silver Greenback Metropolis you’ll discover rolls as excessive because the coasters you’re about to experience! Say hello for me!
- Laketime Bistro – In close by Kimberling Metropolis, it’s my go to for appetizers, salads, seafood and steaks.
- Cantina Laredo – This chain provides nice tex mex and serves unimaginable views of Taneycomo and The Touchdown Fountain present.
- Prime of the Rock – Go to Osage or the Buffalo Bar for a memorable sundown ceremony, stunning views, and upscale eating.
Branson at Christmas
For one of the vital particular celebrations you possibly can think about, come to Branson at Christmas time! There’s a lot to see and do, for each age and stage of life. They actually know the right way to do it proper round right here!
Regularly Requested Questions
It’s a lot enjoyable to go to Branson through the holidays. A lot of Branson, in addition to Silver Greenback Metropolis, turns into a festive winter wonderland! Summer season months whereas children are out of college are highly regarded, however meaning larger crowds, longer strains, and naturally summer season warmth.
Branson is most notably identified for music and reveals on 76, however the Marvel Cave at Silver Greenback Metropolis and the guide, The Shepherd of the Hills in 1907 gave the world notoriety.
It has grown to be a vacation spot for all ages with an amusement park, spectacular water options synchronized to music, numerous distinctive museums, actions, parks, caves, zoos, adventures and extra!
