A short day trip from almost any city in the Ozarks region: Branson–it’s like the Hollywood of the Ozarks! This hot spot is known as the Live Music Capital of the World for good reason. Find out why below.
Location: Taney County, Southwest Missouri
How did this Midwestern town earn such a designation? Sort of like a Disney movie, everyone is always singing. In Branson, even your servers serenade you. That is, of course, if you dine at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner (which I recommend you do).
Branson has all three F’s, from food to fun to fast roller coasters, and we give it an A for an Awesome Time!
There’s no shortage of entertainment in this busy town, and there’s no way to do it all in a day. Fortunately, there are literally thousands (an estimated 16,500) of places to stay, including hotels, cabins, and lodges, making it easy to turn this destination into a week-long vacation.
And once you see it for yourself, you’ll probably be like us and keep coming back to experience something new each year!
Extensive Dining Experiences
I’ll try to convey the expansive options when it comes to dining in Branson, but truthfully a paragraph won’t scratch the surface. Aside from entertainment dining, there are famous eateries such as Paula Dean’s restaurant and just good ol’ hole-in-the-wall food places.
If you want to dine with a show, you simply can’t skip past the Showboat Branson Belle. It’s a cruise, it’s a live show, and it’s an amazing meal. You’ll eat in awe with performances from well-polished dancers, musical talent, and magicians. After dinner, you can take in the scenic sights that make the Ozarks so breathtaking.
In Branson, the Showboat isn’t the only option for dinner and a show. If you want to be entertained and impressed, make sure you check out these options too:
- Hughes Brothers Country Dinner Show
- Whodunnit Hoedown Murder Mystery Show
- Lambert’s Cafe – Home of Throwed Rolls (30 minutes North of Branson)
Having been to the Dixie Stampede, I can honestly say it’s a memory that will stick. Before the show, we got to meet performers and their horses. We cheered, participated, and enjoyed each other’s presence during the show. As a mother-daughter date, it was a great experience.
Fun for the Kids
When I personally think of Branson, I think of Silver Dollar City. You can spend your entire day at the theme park. Here you can ride roller coasters, choose from 40 available shows happening every day, or browse one of the 60 boutiques inside the park.
While Silver Dollar City is sure to please the entire family, Branson offers so much more in the way of attractions.
Be wowed while you explore:
- Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure
- Dinosaur Museum
- Branson’s Wild World
- Copperhead Mountain Coaster
- White Water Park
- Marvel Cave
- Grand Country Resort
- Branson Landing
If you’re wondering how to snag a good deal, I’ve found that the best deals for any of these mentions are online. The booking is more accessible, the tickets are cheaper, and it streamlines the process.
Entertainment is Just What Branson Does!
I can’t part without talking about why it’s called The Live Music Capital of the World. Again, there’s no way to take in all that Branson has to offer in a day (or even a week).
Branson started as a show town. The Marvel Cave was the first attraction to the area (I think it’s incredible the cave tours are still available). Since then, it’s been born to perform. There’s no limit to live shows, including:
- Comedy Shows like The Magic & Comedy of Taylor Reed
- Animal Tricks and Magician Shows
- Shepherd of the Hills Performance
- Sight and Sound Theaters
- Titanic Museum
- Live Music Shows at Legends in Concert
- Stunts & Fire Eating Shows at this Shanghai Theatre
Fun For the Whole Family
There’s entertainment for every age. Branson offers such a wide variety of entertainment options that it can fulfill any type of retreat you need. You’ll find things to do as a family, a group of friends, or part of your retirement bucket list.
Pricing obviously depends on the experience, but we’ve had fun as a family of three for under $300 with a season pass to Silver Dollar City. You’ll find it overall a family-friendly experience with something worth doing on any budget.
And better yet, this fan-favorite tourist destination has plenty of deals in store. We enjoyed a weekend at the Grand Country Resort indoor water park complete with accommodations, family-friendly fun, and great food for an incredibly value under for $300 all-inclusive for our family.
Book Your Branson Vacation Today
There’s so much to do in Branson, book your rental car, flights, or hotels at trip.com
Get tickets to your favorite attractions and shows here for:
▶ WonderWorks
▶ Titanic Museum
▶ Beyond the Lens! Branson
▶ The Six Show
▶ Fritz’s Adventure Playground
▶ King’s Castle Theatre
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