Branson, Missouri Visit Suggestions

[Rik Brown]

I've been wanting to visit Branson for many years as so many people tout its virtues including both shows and nature.

Questions:

1) How many nights do you think are necessary to get a good feel for the area?
2) What hotels would you recommend?
3) What restaurants would you recommend?
4) What area sightseeing sites would you recommend?
5) What are the best shows?

I hope to visit Branson this summer as everyone I've spoken to enjoyed their visit and many go back. Hope anyone can give me their suggestions.

Thanks. - Rik

Branson is a wonderful family vacation place. Anything you want to do can be found there. Being from the KC area, my family travels to Branson 2-3 times a year. If you plan on making it a one-time trip, and you want to "see it all" then I would suggest 3-4 nights, depending on if you plan on spending time on the water. There are numerous lodging options, from reasonably priced motels (which we find to be quite adequate when we visit), to cabins on the water's edge of either Lake Taneycomo (no swimming there, too cold) or Table Rock Lake. There are modern condos available on either lake, with boat ramps, marinas with rentals, there is a very nice state park on Table Rock if camping is your thing. Bass Pro Shops owns the Big Cedar Lodge just south of Branson if you are looking for more of an upscale, yet rustic, resort. Really, you can find decent motels for about $60/night, to condos that run about $200/night. The great thing about Branson is that it is very safe, and even the older motels, while maybe not as appealing as far as appearance, are safe. (In other words, there is no "bad neighborhood").

The main highway through town is 76, and almost all of the main attractions are located along "the strip". The most important thing to know is that traffic along this road is unbearable! First thing - get a map with all of the express routes. You can get that at any motel or travel information location (of which there are many). The express routes are very clearly marked , red, yellow, green, blue, and can save you literally hours of time from the traffic jams on 76.

We find the newer motels that are popping up all along the express routes to be very nice and affordable, and much easier to access. However, you will want to make at least on drive down the entire strip, just to see what all is there.

Attractions include Silver Dollar City (located out of Branson on Indian Point Rd.) - plan on a full day, but a very enjoyable alternative to the usual amusement park. Also owned by SDC is the amusement park that is located on the strip, Celebration City. If youi go to Celebration City be sure to stay for the laser light show at the end of the evening. It is spectacular. If you are planning to go to both parks, check into getting a special pass - you can get info on-line at silverdollarcity.com. You can also get a discount on tickets to the Dixie Stampede. Dixie Stampede is fun, and the food is wonderful. Kids absolutely love it. Be sure to take in the free "pre-show show" - it is very entertaining, especially for kids (all ages).

Other attractions include numerous mini-gold locations and go-carts. There is a new HUGE wooden go-cart track right on the strip that looks awesome - we watched it being built, but haven't tried it yet. You can get discounts on go-carts and mini-golf if you are willing to go in the mornings, you can also buy ticket books at the various tracks. There are also several go-cart/mini-golf locations that have kiddie rides and go carts for younger kids. There is a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum - we sent the kids through and they enjoyed it.

Fishing is supposed to very good on Lake Taneycomo (which is very cold because all of the water comes from the bottom of Table Rock Lake, let in through a dam). The dam has a visitor center and is a great way to spend an hour or two, a way to cool off if its really hot outside. There are some hiking trails near the dam, also. When driving out to the dam, you can also stop at a fish hatchery - interesting for about an hour.

Table Rock Lake will accommodate any kind of water sports you want. It is a very pretty lake. Since it is a Corps of Engineers Lake there is very little commercial or residential development along the shore of the lake which has preserved it's beauty.

There are way too many shows to list, but you can find info on them at branson.com. I would highly recommend the Shoji Tabuchi Show, however. He is a Branson legend, and puts on a high quality show - not to mention that the men's restroom (with billiard table) was listed as among the top ten most elegant restrooms in a recent travel channel show! The show is quality music - not hillbilly corn, like many of the other. If it's Hillbilly corn you want, check out the Baldknobbers. There are often times big name country starts performing - check the branson.com web to find out when/who will be there. Shepherd of the Hills has been around for decades and is a fun place to visit even if you don't stay for the show. There are a couple of magic shows - Bart Rocket and Kirby VanBurch. We enjoyed Bart more than Kirby - but just our preference.

Restaurants are plentiful...you'll have a hard time deciding, but I recommend avoiding the "chains" that you can find at home. Stick with the local flavor. The Farmhouse Restaurant in the old downtown section of Branson has good food and good prices -we usually eat a couple of meals there - great country breakfasts and wonderful apple dumplings. Another famorite restaurant is McFarlain's which is located in the I-Max Theater complex. The cornbread is heavenly. Again, good down home type cooking. The I-Max complex is another good way to spend an hour in air-conditioning if the heat is unbearable.

Shopping is plentiful. There are 3 major outlet malls that cover about anything you could possible want. There are also several craft shops that have booths representing crafters from all over the area. Pick one to visit - they are all the same! The one right next to the I-Max complex is a nice one. We usually stay at the Orange Blossom Hotel directly across the street from there. (Kids can swim while Mom shops.) The Grand Village offers more unique shopping and The Hard Luck Diner where the servers are music wannabes and will break out into song at any given moment - fun place for lunch. The Engler's Block, located towards the east end of the strip is a little more unique in the craft shopping category - again, an hour or so out of the heat!

I guess I have pretty well written a book here - I hope this all helps.

[Rik Brown]

A very elegant description. I hope to get down there (from St. Louis) later this summer. Its so close by to have missed it all these years. Any suggestions for the best values/favorites in restaurants?

Thanks and regards. -- Rik

ps: We have a handful of photos online for Branson. I hope to take several hundred pictures while there as its hard to get a good idea of what its like from what I've seen so far.

[Rik Brown]

Was planning to go to Branson, Missouri last summer but didn't make it. Hopefully, I can make it in October this year and so I am making plans now.

Would appreciate any recommendations on attractions, shows, restaurants, etc. Planning a 2-night stay. We're coming from in-state so its not too far away.

Any good suggestions appreciated.

Thanks. -- Rik

ps: Thanks dssmith for your prior answer which I'll print out and take with me.