Your Guide To Branson, Missouri!
Written: Jun 12 '00 (Updated Jun 15 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: LOTS of things to do!
Cons: traffic is sometimes tough during the high season
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| gym-378's Full Review: Branson |
Living in a small town outside of Branson during the "big boom" as we called it, I was offered the opportunity to check out nearly every show on the strip. My family owned a small resort and all the show owners were quick to offer us free tickets in an attempt to get us to recommend the shows to our guests. As a result, I have a pretty good opportunity to offer potential visitors to Branson some good advice on what you should and shouldn't miss in Branson, Missouri and its surrounding areas.
**THE SHOWS**
There are several shows that you should not miss out on. Keep in mind that you probably won't be able to get to all of these in one trip unless you are going to stay for a week. Also, many of these shows play twice a day (usually at 3pm and 8pm) so you can catch two each day if you are so inclined. Here are some of the shows that rank high on my list.
----SHOJI TABUCHI----
It is no mistake that Epinions picked Shoji's theater for the picture that represents Branson. Shoji Tabuchi is a classical violinist turned fiddle player who puts on an incredible show with the help of his wife and daughter. This one is ALWAYS sold out, so call early and reserve your tickets if you want to go. If they don't have any tickets available during your stay, stop by the ticket booth each day and see if any of the tour groups cancelled, freeing up tickets.
----JIM STAFFORD----
Jim Stafford is a little country combined with a lot of comedy. In my opinion, this is the greatest show in Branson because it changes often. Jim adds everything from flying blimps with an audience-cam to a 3D portion of the show. For those of you looking for a family show that is great for people of all ages, don't miss Jim Stafford.
----Dolly Parton's Dixie Stamped----
Don your Southern Garb and get ready to cheer for your side! Dolly's theater is a combination of dinner and entertainment that pits North against South in a battle of everything from ostrich rides to barrel-racing while offering its visitors a huge meal! The ticket is a little on the pricey side, but well worth it for an evening of entertainment.
----The Branson Belle----
The Branson Belle is another dinner theater, only this one is on a huge paddlewheel boat that cruises around Table Rock Lake while providing you with dinner and a short theater presentation. When I went is happened to be a shortened version of "Showboat". If you don't want to watch the show, grab a seat outside and enjoy the sunset on Table Rock.
----The Baldknobbers----
This is a TRUE hillbilly show! And one of the best in Branson. Baldknobbers claims to be the first show in the Ozarks and provides families with a combination of country, gospel, and hillbilly comedy.
***THE ATTRACTIONS***
The tri-lakes area is full of cool things to see and do. Most of them are water-based but a few are located on the strip.
----Shopping, Shopping, Shopping----
Branson has more shops than a 'coon-dog has ticks(that's the best hillbilly saying I could come up with)! Whether it is the Tanger Outlet Mall, the Red Roof Outlet Mall, or the Branson Meadows Outlet Mall, you should be able to find a great deal. For a little more upscale shopping, check out The Grand Village and all of its collectable shops.
**A big thanks to i_culookn for reminding me to put shopping in**
----Ride The Ducks----
A Duck is a military water transport similar to those that transported soldiers to Omaha beach in WWII. These amphibious vehicles now take tourists on a trip around Branson showing them all the sites and then drops into Table Rock lake for a quick spin. These are a lot of fun and kids really like them. Ducks leave every 15 or twenty minutes from the Ride The Ducks Station in the center of the strip.
----Silver Dollar City----
Step back into the late 1800's and enjoy a day at Silver Dollar City. Here you can find rides, shops and theaters and awesome food. Also, check out Marvel Cave which boasts a main cavern tall enough to fit the Statue of Liberty. A lot of fun...but just like every other amusement park, be prepared to spend some cash.
----White Water----
White Water is Branson's local water park. They have a wave pool, a huge eight story slide, and numerous smaller slides. One of the things that is truly great about White Water is that they let you bring in coolers. This means that a family can bring sandwiches and drink boxes and not have to worry about buying an expensive lunch. You can even get a family pass for a discounted price.
----Bass Pro Shop----
This is actually located in Springfield, MO about 35 minutes north of Branson. The Bass Pro Shop is a sportsman's paradise and then some. Find all the newest sporting equipment and boats along with some great animals. There is a giant snapping turtle, a regular box turtle pond, and a great fish pond where you can feed the fish. Trust me...you'll want to check this one out.
----Taneycomo Fish Hatchery----
If you have kids, take some time and visit the fish hatchery. Lake Taneycomo is one of the premier Trout lakes in the US and their hatchery allows you to walk around and see the fish in their different stages of growth. Everything from little tiny new ones to huge eight-pounders. You can even buy fish food and feed them. It's a lot of fun!
----Table Rock Lake----
Table Rock is the warm-water lake in the area providing boating, fishing, and swimming for everyone. You can rent boats at any of the local resorts or at the State Park Marina. This is truly a beautiful lake and if you don't want to rent a boat, at least check out Moonshiner Beach for a great place to sun and swim.
----Lake Taneycomo----
As I said earlier, Taneycomo is one of the premier Trout fishing lakes in the US boasting HUGE rainbow and german brown trout. I have seen fishermen pull some MONSTERS out of this lake using pieces of cheese as bait. If you are serious about fishing visit Rockaway Beach, Missouri's public fishing dock or contact a local fishing guide for the best places to drop line.
***THE RESTAURANTS***
As a tourist town, Branson has its share of restaurants. Every kind of fast-food and bar and grill is here. But the best restaurants aren't the chains. Check these out for a great meal!
----The Outback Steak and Oyster Bar----
No...this is NOT The Outback Steakhouse. This restaurant offers a TRUE taste of Australia with THICK steaks, alligator tails (yes, they really are alligator and they are goooood!), and huge sausages! Where else in Branson can you kick back, drink an oil can of Foster's and eat some shrimp from the barbie. When your done, you can take a walk up to the Outback Bungie tower and work off that giant meal by jumping off a 8-story tower attached to a giant rubber band. OK...maybe you should do that first.
----McGuffey's Restaurant----
Another great place to get a steak (hey...you're in the midwest) although they have a wide variety of good food. The other thing you can't miss at McGuffey's is the the OranguTang, their signature drink. All I know is it's a whole lot of liquor mixed with Tang and it will leave you feeling more than a little light-headed.
----Lambert's Cafe----
Lambert's is located 35 minutes north of Branson in Springfield, MO and is the "home of the throwed rolls". If you leave this place hungry...it's your OWN FAULT! These meals are HUGE with a capital H-U-G-E. On top of the meal, they toss rolls to you and walk around offering you their "extras" which include fried potatoes, fried okra, black-eyed peas, collared greens, macaroni and cheese and more. If your belt has busted after the meal, get one of their huge cinnamon rolls.
OKAY!! If you've made it this far, you're just about ready to start planning your trip to Branson. Just a few more points and I'll wrap it up. About lodging, there are TONS of hotels in Branson. You could reserve a room at one of the big chains, but you will get better rates and just as nice of a room at one of the local hotels or motels. Off the top of my head, the Magnolia Inn, the Lighthouse Inn, and the Fiddler's Inn are all very nice and have great rate. For an extra touch of fun, stay at the Settle Inn and take part in one of their murder mystery packages.
Finally, call the Branson chamber of commerce to get more information on all the attractions I have mentioned and the hundreds of other things to do. There number is 1-800-214-3661 or they can be visited at www.bransonchamber.com on the web.
Enjoy!!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
gym-378
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 - Top 500 |
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Location: Kansas City, MO
Reviews written: 198
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Motorcycles, Computers, Gadgets, Cars, Books, Just about everything you could write on.
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