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Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City is a favorite among the young and the old. It offers such an array of activities that everyone will have a great time. My family loves riding the rollar coasters and the wet rides (when it’s really hot)! We always have to visit the candy store where they are sure to be baking up something yummy (I love the peanut brittle!). For lunch, I usually can’t pass up the skillets or somethimes the BBQ.
It really amazes me, all the different things you can see there. On one corner someone is carving wood, then there is someone blowing glass in another area, and someone baking some of the tastiest treats you have ever eaten. The guy that makes the pig rinds is always fun to visit with.
At Christmas they have the biggest and most beautiful light display that I have seen anywhere. I always have to ride the train to see all the lights and sing along with the Christmas Carols. They also have the best hot cocoa and apple cider… I am ready for Christmas to be here just thinking about it!
History of Branson
Everyone knows what Branson is today, with all the live entertainment, shopping, and restaurants. But how did that happen?
In the 1880’s settlers began settling the area of the Ozark Mountains because of the “free land”. And a guy by the name of Rueben Branson opened a general store and post office, and there it is, that’s how Branson got it’s name.
The first official attraction in Branson was the Marble Cave, which people began to take tours of in the late 1800’s. Then, it was leased by the Herschend Family, who originally used it to host square dances in the 1950’s. Then in 1960, they began what is now know as the Silver Dollar City theme park in the same area and the cave became a big attraction.
Also, in the early 1900’s there was a very popular book written called The Shepherd of the Hills, by Harold Bell Wright. This book brought many visitors to the area. In the 1960;s they opened up The Shepherd of the Hills Homestead and outdoor theater.
Did you know we didn’t always have a lake? In the early 1900’s, they began constructing a dam and power site on the White River. First, they created the Taneycomo Lake, then later around 1958 they finished the dam and created the Table Rock Lake.
The Prestley’s moved into a theater on Hwy. 76, followed a year later by the Baldknobbers. Now this area host more than 50 theaters and over 100 shows. This area became know as “the strip”. With these developments, it didn’t take long for Branson to become known as the live entertainment capital, that it is today.
Branson Landing
Branson has a lot of great places to go shopping. We have a Tanger Outlet Mall, Factory Merchants Mall, and my personal favorite the Branson Landing.
The Branson Landing has over 100 shops, including Belk Department Store, Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works, Hollister Co., Dress Barn, Yankee, Aeropostal, etc. Along with the regular stores, there are places to get your hair and nails done too!
The Landing also has some really great places to eat! My favorites include: Shorty Small’s, Texas Land and Cattle, Cantina Laredo, and Famous Dave’s. Shorty Small’s serves some really fabulous classics such as ribs, catfish, burgers, and chicken fingers. Texas Land and Cattle definitely has some of the best steaks in Branson. Cantina Laredo serves really great Mexican food, my favorite being their fajitas. Famous Dave’s is great BBQ.
To top off the great shopping and restaurants, the landing also has a beautiful facade. Street lamps that change color high-light the bricked pathway leading you through the walkways, which have beautiful flower beds scattered everywhere. Then, in the center of the landing there are these fabulous fountains that shoot up water and fire to the sound of music. Even if you don’t want to shop or eat , you could just go walk along the river front and enjoy the atmosphere.
Ozark Mountains
My husband and I drove through the pig trails this weekend between Ozark, Ar and Huntsville, Ar. Wow, what a curvy trip! If you have been down that road you know exactly what I’m talking about. But with all the trees and flowers just starting to bloom, it was beautiful. This time of year gives me huge appreciation for nature and all of God’s wonders. This might make a pretty drive up to Branson for some (who don’t mind curves). I have heard motorcycle riders really enjoy this route.
Here are a couple of my pics.
Herschend Family with SDC, Showboat, and Ride the Ducks in Branson
Undercover Boss on CBS went undercover with the CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, Joel Manby. He went undercover with Silver Dollar City and Showboat and in Branson. He also previewed Ride the Ducks from another location. What a neat company!
Want to see a little bit of this? Here’s a preview!
Flying to Branson, MO?
We have a beautiful new airport on the southern tip of Branson, MO. This airport only carries a few smaller airlines: Frontier Airlines, AirTran, and Air Express. The airport code is BKG. But the benefit of flying with these smaller companies is that the prices are often much cheaper than the bigger airlines.
Frontier Airlines connects through Denver, CO and goes into many different places, including Boise, ID, Salt Lake City, UT, and Phoenix, AZ.
AirTran goes into Atlanta, GA. It offers a lot of great connections into places such as Orlando, FL, Cancun, Mexico, ect.
AirExpress offers flights into Austin, TX, Des Moines, IA, and a few other places.
If these airlines don’t work for you, you can also fly into the Springfield, MO airport. It is only an hour drive to Branson from there. Or if you don’t mind a little drive, you can fly into Kansas City, MO, Saint Louis, MO, or Tulsa, OK.
Is Branson, MO like a little Vegas?
Not quite, here are a few differences.
Branson, MO does not have any casinos. You can drive over to the Missouri/Oklahoma border (about 1 hr.), or up to Saint Louis or Kansas City (about 4 hrs.), but there aren’t any right in Branson.
Branson shows are typically much cheaper than shows in Las Vegas. Shows in Vegas cost in the hundreds typically, while Branson shows typically range in the $30 to $70 range. Also, Branson does not usually get as many of the really big stars as Vegas does. However, a lot of the older stars come to Branson more often than a lot of other places.
Branson is not open as long of hours as Vegas. Most restaurants close by 10pm and most attractions do as well. Even the shopping in only open til 9pm in the malls.
Hiking in Branson
There a lot of great trails and places to go hiking in the area. I love the Branson Lakeside Trails, which take you down the side of a mountain to a beautiful lake view.This one is found across from the American Bandstand Theater, on Fall Creek Rd.
For an easy walking trail, the one behind Stockstill Park is a great option.This park is off of Epps Road.
North of Branson, there is another park inside the Mark Twain National Forest called Busick Park, it has multiple trails.
Another great option is the White River Corridor Trail, which is found off of Hwy 165 S. just below the dam, close to the fish hatchery. In the same area, there is great trail called the Table Rock Lakeshore Trail, which is part the Dewey Short Visitors Center.
South of Branson, about 45 minutes, there is a beautiful park called Dogwood Canyon. Unfortunately this park is privately owned and they make you pay for use of the trails, but you can also rent bikes and ride horses there.
Favorite Branson Shows
From someone who lives in and loves Branson, MO; here are my favorite shows. These are shows I take my family to, when they are in town.
- Broadway- Love this show, even if you don’t know a lot of Broadway tunes, it is an over-all wonderful performance; great dancers, fun songs, and beautiful costumes!
- SIX- This is six brothers who sing acapella, and use their voices to perform these amazing sounds and melodies. Every time I am looking around for some instruments, but there aren’t any!
- Legends in Concert- True they are impersonators, but they are great… the Blues Brothers, especially, they always have so much energy.
- Spirit of the Dance- These are the Irish river dancers and they are amazing.
- Yakov Smirnoff- Love good comedy? Then, this is the guy for you!
- Andy Williams- He is only here in the fall through Christmas, but always an outstanding show.
- Oak Ridge Boys- Who doesn’t love these guys? Sadly, they only perform in Branson on select dates.
- Showboat Branson Belle- Want something a little different, or maybe something for a special occasion? This large paddle-wheel boat is sure to provide that! Enjoy a dinner, ride, and wonderful variety show all in one.
- Presley’s Country Jubilee- Do not forget this show. As one of the original shows in Branson, you can’t get much more ‘Branson’ than this. This show is just a little country, he-haw comedy show.
- Pierce Arrow- Never heard of these guys? Well they are big in Branson; this show has some of country’s biggest hits, and one of the funniest comedians in town.
- NEW!!! Noah the Musical- This show is a fantastic production! Live animals and a huge stage that looks like an arc.
What’s not to love about Branson, MO?
Okay, maybe the traffic is a little horrific at times, but a seriously fun place to be. Branson is home to such a wide variety of attractions that it is a perfect travel destination for all types of people.
Branson is nestled right in the beautiful Ozark Mountains and has three spectacular lakes (Table Rock Lake, Taneycomo Lake, and Bull Shoals Lake). The climate and location inspires a wide array of local wildlife. So there is sure to be a perfect place for you to go hunting, fishing, golfing, hiking, cave exploring, and boating. Plus new in 2010, there are going to be several places to go zip-lining right in the mountains!
Not it to all that the great outdoors has to offer? Branson is also home to over 100 live entertainment shows’ including Dixie Stampede, Oak Ridge Boys, SIX, Pierce Arrow, Spirit of the Dance, and many more. It also offers some fantastic shopping opportunities with two outlet malls and a huge shopping area at the Branson Landing.
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