Located in southern Missouri, the town of Branson has the benefit of being within an eight hour drive of two-thirds of the United States. This means it is a convenient and fun destination for visitors from youngsters to older tourists.
The town’s permanent population is pretty modest at just over 10,000, but it attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Many return often to enjoy the everchanging attractions as well as the classics that have thrilled visitors for decades.
To help you plan your Branson holiday, here’s our guide to the town.
Getting There
We’ve already mentioned that Branson’s location is one of the many reasons why it has become such a popular tourist destination for visitors from within Missouri, and interstate. It is easily accessible by road, located near the bottom of Missouri near the border of Arkansas. It can make a great stop on any road trip, or is accessible as its own day trip.
For a quicker option, there’s also a major airport about 50 miles from downtown Branson. There are regular flights from various American cities to the Springfield-Branson Airport aboard Allegiant, American, Delta, and United Airlines.
What to Do
Branson is a town squarely aimed at tourists, and especially to families. As a result, there is absolutely no shortage of things to see and do.
Some of our favorites are:
Visit the museums - Branson has an impressive collection of museums, including the kid-friendly Dinosaur Museum, fascinating Titanic Museum (with a life-size iceberg) and the World’s Largest Toy Complex, with over one million toys on show!
Catch a live show – The town is famous for its variety of live shows and attractions, which can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages, as well as locals. Whatever you want from a live show, you’re bound to find it here – from nostalgic, retro inspired cover bands, to awe inspiring magicians and even death defying acrobats! For lovers of country music or gospel, Branson is truly unmissable!
Adventure outdoors – There are many beautiful national parks and attractions close to Branson, including the Ozarks and the Table Rock Lake State Park. These boast hundreds of kilometres of walking and biking trails, as well as many water based activities such as canoeing, paddle boarding, sailing and more. Those who love the great outdoors will be spoiled for choice during their visit to Branson.
Go to a theme park – Both the young and the young at heart will surely love visiting Branson’s several fantastic theme parks. With thrilling rides, carnival-themed food and lovable characters and shows, the theme parks are great fun for families and all visitors who love the lighter side of life. Silver Dollar City is one of the most famous and popular, and features the steepest wooden rollercoaster in the world – ride it if you dare!
Test your physical limits – Branson has many activities that are designed to push your physical limits and give you a bit of an adrenaline rush while doing it! With a plethora of activities including zip lining, mini golf, ropes courses and even “flying” in a horizontal wind chamber, there are so many fun and physical activities to try while in Branson.
What to Eat
Most of the food options in Branson are hearty, Americana-style diners – and that’s just how we like them! With so many nostalgic and delicious restaurants serving all the mouthwatering classics you could want, the only question is how much tasty food you can squeeze in during your stay. Here are some of our favourites!
Branson Café [https://www.downtownbransoncafe.com/] - this café has been serving up tasty dishes for more than one hundred years, so they must be doing something right! This affordable and rustic café has a menu filled with time-tried favourites such as hash browns and fried chicken, as well as sweet treats such as cinnamon rolls and pies.
Cakes-N-Creams Diner and Dessert Parlor [https://cakesncreams.com/] – as the name suggests, this is the place to go if you’ve got a craving for something sweet and sugary! With a gorgeous retro 1950s diner theme, Cakes-N-Creams serves a mouthwatering selection of cakes, biscuits, milkshakes and other treats. Don’t feel guilty – you're on holiday!
The Keeter Centre at the College of the Ozarks [https://www.keetercenter.edu/] – for something a bit different, drop into this restaurant which is staffed by students at the local college. The menu features only ingredients that have been grown and picked on campus, so it’s a fascinating and sustainable eatery. Plus, the meals are delicious!
Danna’s Bar-B-Que and Burger [https://dannasbbq.com/] – are you craving some delicious comfort food to fill up your belly and bring a smile to your face? If so, look no further than this family run establishment that has some of the tastiest meats and burgers in all of Missouri. Plus, the service is friendly and kind, making you feel like you could be eating at your grandmother’s dinner table.
BillyGail’s Café - you can well and truly quench your hunger at much loved BillyGail’s Café, where the servings are ultra generous and the flavours ultra-delicious. Featuring many hearty classics and even an all-day breakfast, it’s definitely the place to go to enjoy American classics, with great service at an affordable price.
Final Thoughts
There’s many good reasons why Branson, Missouri has been a much loved tourist destination for decades. There’s more than enough to keep visitors of all aged entertained, and with so much to do, it is a destination you can return to many times, rarely seeing the same thing twice!
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