Branson, Mo., is a little resort town nestled in the heart of the Ozark mountains with a big reputation for family fun and entertainment. Dubbed the "Live Music Show Capital of the World," the city is home to more than 50 live performance theaters. Over 8 million visitors make Branson their vacation destination each year, staying at one of the city's 207 lodging facilities. A few of these hotels offer the added attraction of water parks with slides.
Conveniently located just two blocks from Branson's Highway 76 strip, the Castle Rock Resort & Waterpark features an indoor water park with two water slides, two 500-gallon dump buckets, indoor and outdoor activity pools and a lazy river. The resort charges $15 for a day pass to use the water park. One child under two is free with each full-paying adult. If you're looking for some land-based fun, head over to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show. One of Branson's most popular attractions, the North vs. South-themed show, is a full-scale production featuring dancing, singing and 32 horses. Be sure to bring your appetite to enjoy the four-course, down-home country meal.
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Guests who stay at the Grand Country Inn, located in the heart of Branson on the famous Highway 76 strip, have free access to the hotel's indoor and outdoor water parks. The 20,000-square-foot Splash Country Indoors is open year-round and features two large tube slides, two "melting pot" spas with massaging water jets, a 250-foot lazy river, a toddler pool and a basketball play pool. The Splash Country Outdoors water park, also 20,000 square feet, features the Eureka Mine water slide, the Froggie Bog with five jumping levels of squirting water, and the Hatfield Holler creek, which is a virtual mine field of water buckets and water rifles that keep guests diving for cover. One bonus of staying at the Grand Country Inn is the convenience of eating at Branson's renowned Grand Country Buffet. Located right on the premises, this family-friendly buffet serves up a wide variety of American favorites daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Although it's located 3 miles south of Branson's famous strip, you may want to check out the Welk Resort's new indoor/outdoor water park. Free to guests, the Splash-A-Torium is a 10,000-square-foot water playground that features a 100-foot indoor water slide, an indoor/outdoor pool, a large indoor/outdoor hot tub and a Splash-Zone play area. After a day of watery fun, relax at the Stage Door Restaurant. Located in the resort, the Stage Door's World War II theme complements its simple American and German cuisine. Fuel up with a bratwurst sandwich or burger before taking in one of Branson's many shows or area attractions. You may want to take a quick ride over to Silver Dollar City, Branson's famed theme park, or plan a day of fishing and boating on the nearby Table Rock Lake.
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