Just a few hours from the center of the contiguous United States is an incredible tourist destination. A destination located within a day’s drive of a third of the country’s population. There are Broadway-quality shows, sprawling lakes and theme parks, not to mention great shopping and dining. With its convenient proximity and year-round activities, Branson, Missouri has become a favorite of savvy travelers.
There are over fifty live performance theaters within the Branson city limits. The shows, which pride themselves on completely healthy content, appeal to any age group. Children are allowed in all Branson theaters and most have special accommodations with windows and speakers so parents can still watch and enjoy the show if their young children get upset during a performance. These acts have a long history and will satisfy even the most demanding taste. Theaters offer the musical talent of some very recognizable names, comedy clubs, stunts and plays, just to name a few of the local venues.
Branson is home to three lakes, which are Table Rock Lake, Bull Shoals, and Lake Taneycomo. Each offers a unique recreational outlet. Table Rock Lake, although a challenging bass fishing lake, is a wide lake for boating and swimming. The Showboat Branson Bell is one of the most popular dinner show cruises around Table Rock Lake. Bull Shoals is a favorite with water skiers of all ages and abilities. For world class trout fishing there is the unrivaled Lake Taneycomo, which has an impressive hatchery open to the public for free guided tours. The Branson Landing is a shopping and dining mecca located along the shores of Taneycomo. This lake also has day and dinner cruises aboard The Landing Queen and The Landing Princess.
Herschend Family Entertainment Company, owner of the famous Dollywood, owns and operates two different theme parks in Branson. Whitewater is a water park that offers rides for toddlers, teens, and adults alike. Silver Dollar City is Branson’s 1880s Ozarks theme park. Its visitors can find excellent food, shopping, live entertainment, as well as soft and exciting water attractions. In case of rain or snow, there are many other things to do. One of them is The Butterfly Palace and Rainforest Adventure. It has an exquisite collection of butterflies, orchids and palm trees. Visitors quietly examine butterflies in a magnificent habitat or learn a quick lesson from the experts. They even allow butterflies to perch on guests under supervision.
As if all the entertainment, shopping, and great food weren’t enough, there are also incredible opportunities for sightseeing. Branson boasts incredible views of the vast Ozark Mountains. Along most highways are well-kept parks and overlooks where visitors can see the splendor of the city. There are open hiking trails nestled between the mountains where birds are sure to sing, flowers show off their colorful brilliance and deer playfully meander.
Branson is well aware of its reputation as an affordable travel destination. This amazing city wants visitors to return for generations to come. In keeping with that tradition, retailers, artists, lodging, and food are always kept at reasonable prices. With an increasing number of tourists looking for affordable travel to exciting destinations, Branson is an incredible find.
