Branson, Missouri, used to be little more than a country store and a post office. It's grown to be a popular tourist destination and has a reputation for offering family-friendly attractions and entertainment. The city offers live shows, musicals and theater every night of the week. Visitors can also find family fun parks, lake cruises, museums and theme parks such as White Water and Silver Dollar City. Church groups often arrange trips to Branson, and there are several agencies which offers Christian tours of the area.
Tom's Christian Tours offers different Christian-themed travel packages, including international ones to the Holy Land. Tom's Branson tour is Christmas in Branson, scheduled after Thanksgiving in late November through early December. This coach tour is open for up to 20 people and lasts six days. Tom and Janie Niedfeldt personally guide groups through the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield and the Old Court House in St. Louis, as well to live music shows and theater in Branson itself. As of 2010, the Christmas in Branson tour costs $765 per person, including accommodations, admission to seven shows, six main meals and continental breakfasts.
Tom's Christian Tours
N8338 Park Ridge Drive
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
800-656-7745
tomschristiantours.com
The Travel Branson agency offers customized group tour packages, allowing church and other Christian groups to pick out their own attractions and help plan the itinerary. Travel Branson tours must include 20 or more people. Rates are based on airfare and/or bus transportation, guides, attractions, live shows, food and lodging. Travel Branson also provides a list of hotels which tour groups can include in their itineraries. In 2010, travelers can pick entertainment options such as country music, classical, gospel, "Noah-The Musical" and the Christian gospel show "Smoke On the Mountain." Rates depend on season. In 2010, a five-day, 4-night, six-show package in October through December was $391 per person, while the same four-night package scheduled January through April was $333.
Travel Branson, Inc.
6858 Selmore Road
Ozark, MO 65721
800-280-3279
travelbranson.net
Branson Christian Tours bills itself as "Your Christian Package Connection to Branson." The company specializes specifically in putting together packages with a Christian theme, with shows at the Sight & Sound Theater, "the largest faith-based live theater in America, " which offers drams based on stories from the Bible. In 2010, Sight & Sound Theater productions were "Noah-The Musical" and "The Miracle of Christmas," about the birth of Jesus Christ. Branson Christian Tours arranges meals, lodging and tickets, and provides groups with maps and area information upon arrival. The company can also accommodate trips to theme parks, golf and "The Great Passion Play" performance in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Branson Christian Tours also allows groups to choose which kind of accommodations they prefer, from hotels to motels, resorts or even timeshares.
Branson Christian Tours
P.O. Box 6118
Branson, MO 65615
417-336-3322
bransonchristiantours.com
