What to Know About Visiting Branson
If you’re trying to decide on a travel destination, you might want to add Branson, Missouri to your shortlist of potential destinations.
Branson has a population of only around 10,000 people year-round, but yet anywhere from 8 to 10 million visitors come to visit each year from around the world.
It’s often ranked as one of the best places to visit for a variety of reasons, from being fun during the holidays to having some of the best live music in the world.
The entertainment options are extensive and for all ages in Branson, but there’s more to the city than that.
The following are some things to know if you’re thinking about visiting Branson.
Theater and Live Music
As was mentioned above, one of the many things Branson is known for is live entertainment. Branson actually has more theater seats than Broadway, and some of the live shows that are most popular for visitors include:
- Billy Yates’ Hit Songwriters in the Round: This show brings a bit of Nashville to Branson. It features Billy Yates’ songwriting-themed show, and there are two Nashville songwriters who join Yates on stage during each show. Billy Yates is a Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter, and the unscripted show features artists talking about the stories behind their songs. They also perform them acoustically.
- Shrek The Musical: This show is at the Welk Resort Theatre, and it just came to Branson in the summer of 2019. The show is based on the book and animated film about Shrek. There is an original score with this show, and it’s age-appropriate for everyone in the family.
- Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers: This is a country music variety show that has been on stage in Branson for 60 years. It features the Mabe family, and they perform country and gospel music along with comedy.
- The Haygoods: This show features six brothers and a sister who have been performing music in Branson together for nearly 30 years.
Outdoor Activities
Branson isn’t just about the entertainment—if you’re a nature lover, there’s plenty for you to do as well.
One of the popular trails in the area is called Murder Rock Trail. Murder Rock Trail is a historical trail, and it follows the former path of Springfield-Harrison Road.
Three lakes are surrounding Branson also. There is Table Rock Lake, which is home to the Table Rock Dam, and it’s on the White River around six miles southwest of Branson.
Table Rock Lake is a place where you can hike, hunt, and fish and there are watersports also. Table Rock Lake covers more than 50,000 acres, and there are almost 800 miles of shoreline. Some of the summer swimming areas popular among residents and visitors include Moonshine Beach near the Dewey Short Visitor Center Recreation Area as well as Cape Fair. You can rent a boat at Indian Point Marina or State Park Marina.
Bull Shoals Lake is home to Bull Shoaks Sam, also on the White River.
Lake Taneycomo is known for having the best trout fishing in the world.
Missouri is known for limestone caves, and in Branson, there are options like the Marvel Cave at Silver Dollar City.
If you’re adventurous, you can try out the Branson Zipline or take a canopy tour to see the Ozark Mountains from the Wolfe Creek Preserve.
Other Branson Attractions
Some of the many other Branson attractions are:
- The Branson Scenic Railway starts at the downtown Branson historic depot. It then takes you through the Ozarks, and during November and December, it becomes the Polar Express.
- White Water Branson: White Water Branson is a water park that’s considered a sister attraction to popular Silver Dollar City. White Water Branson features a 500,000-gallon wave pool and a lazy river.
- Branson Landing: Branson Landing is located along Lake Taneycomo, and it is a venue for shopping, dining, and entertainment. There are more than 100 stores and popular eateries like the White River Fish House. You can do Parakeet Pete’s Waterfront Zipline across the lake, and walk along the boardwalk.
Finally, it’s impossible to skip Silver Dollar City when talking about all the things there are to do in Branson since it’s one of the most popular attractions.
Silver Dollar City is a theme park with thrill rides and entertainment, and it takes on the atmosphere of a 19th-century coal-mining town. You can hear bluegrass music and even young kids can ride most of the rides.
