Top 10 Fun Things To Do in Branson, MO

Have you ever been to the Ozark Mountains? Branson, in southwest Missouri has been called the #1 Family Vacation Spot in America, but on our recent trip we found it to be just as fun for couples. Right through the middle, 76 Country Boulevard is famously lined with lots of theaters, restaurants, and attractions. It once hosted mostly country music performers but today the entertainment is very diverse.

Shows include everything from rock tribute bands to pop to country music as well as magicians, comedians, ice skaters, and much more. Also along the strip are attractions like the Marvel Cave, the Wild West-style Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner Attraction and Silver Dollar City, an 1800s-themed amusement park with live music.

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1. Showboat Branson Belle

Showboat Branson Belle – This is really fun. We enjoyed beautiful views of Table Rock Lake from a unique vantage point as we cruised around. Themed after the majestic showboats of the 1800s, the Showboat Branson Belle will take you on a two-hour cruise across the waters of Table Rock Lake.

The ship has four decks you can walk around on, so you get panoramic views of the Ozark Mountains — beautiful at any time of the year. We walked up to the very top deck and enjoyed live music and great views.

In addition to time for exploring the lake, your Showboat Branson Belle ticket includes a performance of an outstanding live show and a three-course meal! The show was very entertaining. We had great seats on the third deck facing the stage inside. Sitting next to us was an older couple celebrating their anniversary. In getting to know them I learned that they were both professional water skiiers and still ski. I was so excited, because I used to perform in water ski shows (see my Sunshine Award post). Everyone was so friendly and happy – maybe because they were all on vacation like us! Ha! So you are getting a boat cruise, a dinner, and a show all-in-one.

Before and after your cruise, you can enjoy the scenery and shopping at the ship’s dock, White River Landing. There are two specialty shops there with clothing, jewelry and accessories at Layton Mercantile and a variety of Showboat Branson Belle souvenirs and Table Rock Lake apparel at McAdoo’s Boatworks. Parking at White River Landing is free — and you don’t have to have a ticket to look around McAdoo’s Boatworks or Layton Mercantile.

2. Titanic Museum

Titanic Museum – This is a cool museum. It is hard to miss this half-scale replica of the ship as you drive along Highway 76 in Branson. The Titanic Museum is really much more than just a museum; it’s an interactive attraction that tells the stories of those who were onboard for the famous ocean voyage. This shipwreck has fascinated the world for more than a century.

Those who were lost, as well as those who survived, are memorialized in the displays, special events, and holiday celebrations held throughout the year. Both entertaining and educational, it has everything from authentic artifacts to news coverage from the time of the disaster, to personal items from families and loved ones of those who were aboard the Titanic. You can dip your fingers in the 28 degree water and touch a real growing iceberg.

The museum goes to great lengths to transport passengers back in time to the original voyage in 1912. What was really cool is that when you enter the museum you are given a boarding pass featuring the name of an original passenger. You can try to find out more about your passenger as you walk through the museum before discovering whether or not that person actually survived the catastrophe at the end of your visit. It makes the experience very personal instead of just learning about a long-distant event in history. This is different than most other museums I’ve visited.

As you travel through the museum, you’ll climb through different sections of the ship, including many that are built to the actual scale of the original. The huge dramatic Grand Staircase was pretty impressive. You’ll go from the engine room to cramped lower-class quarters and then up to more spacious first-class cabins. There are detailed reproductions as well as actual artifacts related to the ship.

It was sort of eerie and haunting to see the original life preserver vests, personal letters and other items that have survived more than a century since the ship’s collision with an iceberg. Photos and video were prohibited, so it is something you just have to see in person. But if you like history, I encourage you to check it out!

3. See a Show

Shows – Branson is known for its many live shows and theaters. In addition to the show on the Branson Belle Showboat we saw the “Haygoods” in concert. It was so great! Video was not allowed, but it would not be the same as being there live anyway.

The Haygoods are a family who has been in show business together for 27 years. There are 5 brothers and one sister, and they all play several instruments and sing and dance. It was very entertaining and well worth the money. There are so many different types of entertainment. It is hard to choose! I’m glad we bought tickets to the Haygoods for sure.

4. College of the Ozarks

Eat Lunch at The Keeter Center and Walk Around the Campus of The College of the Ozarks – We are so happy that we heard about this place! The Dobyns Dining Room offers 5-Star Dining at the price of a regular restaurant, because it is prepared by culinary students.

We had lunch there and found it to be one of the highlights of our trip. Be sure to make reservations! We did not know to make reservations, so we had to wait over an hour and a half for a table. But that just gave us time to drive and walk around the beautiful college campus. See my video below for some footage. When looking for a unique restaurant in the Branson area, look no further. It is a farm to fork dining experience with live instrumental music Thursday through Saturday evenings, and on Sundays during their award-winning brunch.

There is a bakery with pastries, cookies, and a variety of coffee and specialty drinks any time of the day. We tasted a cranberry biscuit and a honey wheat roll – both delicious. The College Creamery has premium homemade ice cream, made with cream from their own campus dairy.

From their website: “The Keeter Center is unique from other Branson restaurants, as it is an integral part of College of the Ozarks Work Education Program. Also known as Hard Work U, it provides the opportunity for full-time students to work at one of more than 120 campus workstations, in order to pay for their cost of education. By working 15 hours a week, student workers are earning their tuition and can graduate college debt free. Some of the student workers at The Keeter Center are Culinary Arts or Hospitality majors, while others are earning degrees in other fields of study, such as Nursing, Education, Engineering, and Business Administration.”

For reservations, call  (417) 690-2146.

5. Water Light Show in Branson Landing

Watch the Water Light Show at Night From the Balcony of Cantina Laredo Restaurant – Branson Landing

Branson Landing is a cool place for all ages, offering more than 100 storefronts for specialty shops, restaurants and accommodations. It is easily walkable. Branson Landing is less than a mile long with a central, open-air promenade and a scenic Taneycomo Lakeside boardwalk.

The whole area is a great place to just hang out. Their tag line is: Branson Landing…Where Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment Take Center Stage! And you don’t want to miss Branson Landing’s $7.5 million water and fire spectacular located in the middle of Town Square!

At the heart of the Landing is a busy town square with steps down to this $7.5 million spectacular water attraction that features what they call the first-ever merging of water, fire, light and music. It really is an amazing dazzling display of giant water fountains shooting 120-foot geysers and fire cannons blasting, all choreographed to light and music. And it is free! (My favorite price). See my video at the end of this post for some live footage.

6. Mel’s Hard Luck Diner

Eat a Hamburger at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner and Be Serenaded

This is a fun place that feels like it is straight off the set of “Happy Days.” For 27 years now, their talented servers (and sometimes cooks and bus staff) have been singing people’s favorite songs while serving up some really great food too.

This 1950s themed diner is staffed by talented, professional singers, songwriters and musicians. Many have been or are currently in some of Branson’s most popular productions. These are not amateurs. They are professional, award winning entertainers, including one who climbed high on “American Idol!”

We enjoyed the food too. Awesome cheeseburger, and we got to listen to some oldie but goody favorite songs performed live and up close… a truly unique experience. They say at Mel’s Hard Luck Diner they “sing for your supper!”

Be sure to take a look around the diner and see the memorabilia and hard luck stories too. It is a cute place. The Grand Village shopping center where the diner is located is also pretty neat. Lots of little gift shops and specialty stores are there if you like shopping.

7. Hiking

Go Hiking and See the Fall Colors

We visited Branson in October. Fall is a great time to see some of leaves changing color, when it is not too cold. We took a short hike to a small waterfall, which was nice. You can also see some pretty Fall foliage along the shore if you take a boat tour.

8. Other Museums and Attractions

Museums and Attractions

There are so many fun tourist attractions in Branson. Funny story…I walked up to this guy who was standing outside the wax museum to ask how much tickets were, when I realized two things: (1) He was Ryan Reynolds, and (2) He was not real! Ha!

9. Shopping

Shopping!

Branson has an outlet mall and lots of cute shopping areas with gift shops and specialty stores. What more could you want? Did someone say bargain?

10. Silver Dollar City

Visit Silver Dollar City

We did not visit this theme park on our most recent trip, but it is definitely on our list for next time! Even in October they were advertising for their spectacular holiday events, and the lights look gorgeous!

In October they have pumpkins everywhere and pumpkin themed events. The theme park has awesome rides, but they are also known for their award winning shows as well. I have never heard anything negative about this park. In fact, my college roomate worked there one summer and met her now husband at Silver Dollar City! Just saying….you never know what could happen when you visit Branson!

Where to Stay

We booked our trip through BookVIP, and I cannot say enough good things about them. They have these outrageous deals all the time for really nice places. And sometimes they run specials where you can go for almost nothing. So, I will be honest. I was a little skeptical at first when I saw how low the prices are, but our accomodations were spectacular!

If you use this link you are guaranteed the best price at tons of amazing vacation destinations, and you will help support this blog at no additional cost to you. If you are a travel blogger shoot me an e-mail, because I have something extra for you.

Have you ever been to Branson? Leave a comment below with your best Branson experiences.