Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Branson, Missouri, offers a multitude of outdoor activities such as fishing, boating and golfing, as well as a wide array of celebrity theaters and attractions for your entertainment pleasure. Branson also is well known for its 200 outlet stores. Other attractions include Branson Ridge Winery, Branson Scenic Railway, and Butterfly Palace and Rainforest Adventure. There simply is no shortage of things to do in Branson.
Branson has been nicknamed "little Nashville" and "the live music capital of the world," with more than 50 live-performance theaters featuring more than 100 different shows. Most shows run through December, but close during the months of January and February. Show times vary at all theaters.
Enjoy some of the more popular shows including the family-friendly Jim Stafford Show at the Jim Stafford Theater; A Tribute to John Denver and A Tribute to John Wayne at The Little Opry Theater; The New Shanghai Circus at the Acrobats of China Theater; Dollie Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show; and Shoji Tabuchi.
Board the Showboat Branson Belle for a Broadway-style dinner show and two-hour cruise on Table Rock Lake. The boat departs from White River Landing. Tickets are available online or at kiosks throughout Branson. Advance reservations are recommended.
Silver Dollar City, a theme park based on America in the 1800s, features 30 rides, 100 craftsmen, 40 live entertainment shows daily and loads of places to shop and eat. You even can take home fresh bread and goodies from an old-fashioned bakery. Silver Dollar City also features six festivals throughout the year, such as WorldFest featuring International performers, crafts and cuisine, and KidsFest featuring hands-on activities, shows and rides for children of all ages. Dates of operation and hours vary depending on the season. You will need to call ahead for specific travel dates.
Cool off during the summer months at White Water, Branson's only outdoor water park, featuring water slides, a wave pool and Kalani Towers--a six-lane slide boasting two 75-foot-tall free fall lanes and four 310-feet-long racing lanes. White Water opens at 10:00 am daily, May through Labor Day.
Words can hardly describe Titanic-Branson, a permanent two-story museum attraction shaped like the Titanic, containing 400 artifacts in 20 galleries. You will receive a boarding pass to "take the identity" of one of the Titanic's passengers and at the end of a 90-minute, self-guided tour, find out if your passenger survived the 1912 disaster. Dates of operation and hours vary.
There are three lakes in the Branson area--Table Rock, Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals. You can enjoy water skiing, swimming and even scuba diving in these crystal-clear cold-water lakes.
You can rent ski boats, pontoon boats, fishing boats and personal water crafts at the public marina on Table Rock Lake. You also can camp and hike the trails around Table Rock Lake within Table Rock State Park.
