The Strip
Branson Lakes Area
Silver Dollar City
Titanic—World’s Largest Museum Attraction
- When you visit Branson, sooner or later—and most likely sooner—you’ll end up on The Strip, the gaudy seven-mile stretch of Highway 76 packed with live music and comedy clubs, 24-hour restaurants, shopping outlets, and hotels, hotels, hotels. (Branson has 18,000 hotel rooms, an astonishing number for a town of 7,000 tucked in the Ozarks.) You might catch Barbara Mandrell, Wayne Newton, Jim Stafford, or Glen Campbell, all regulars on the Branson Strip, which bills itself as “The Live Music Capital of the World.” Close to 90 music and comedy shows run daily in over 47 theaters. Even if you don’t see a show, The Strip is worth a visit just to people-watch. www.branson.com.
Branson Lakes Area
- Branson’s “other” side is far removed from the noisy tumult of The Strip. The rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains that surround Branson are drop-dead gorgeous, and feature three scenic lakes. Table Rock Lake is nationally known for its bass fishing, and the lakes allow swimming, boating and water sports such as parasailing and jet skiing. There’s even a deep-water scuba diving area that’s said to rival Caribbean dive locations for water clarity. More than a hundred miles of hiking trails wander through the surrounding hills, and the area hosts a wide range of outdoor activities, from archery to cycling. www.visittablerocklake.com.
Silver Dollar City
- Besides live music, Branson’s other specialty is amusement parks, with nearly a dozen in the immediate area. One of the best is Silver Dollar City, a cross between an historical theme park and a flat-out scream-at-the-top-of-your-lungs amusement park full of scary rides. A portion of the grounds feature an 1880s craft village meant to evoke life in the Ozarks at the turn of the century. When the kids get bored with that (and they may, being kids, after all), there’s plenty of good roller coaster action nearby: A ride called the Powder Keg goes 0 to 53 mph in 2.8 seconds. Just outside of Silver Dollar City is White Water, a huge waterpark that alone is worth the trip. www.silverdollarcity.com.
Titanic—World’s Largest Museum Attraction
- However ill-fated, the Titanic was big, and the newest major off-site option that has sailed into Branson bills itself as the world’s largest museum attraction. This permanent facility boasts more than 400 artifacts on display, and allows guests to wander a replica of the ship’s Grand Staircase and explore ornate gallery rooms. The facility can host events from 100 to 300 people, with formal sit-down dinners or progressive dinners. www.titanicbranson.com.