For many folks, they know Branson, Missouri, the Live Entertainment Capital of the Midwest, as a fantastic summer vacation destination – and it certainly is that! But if you don’t get vacation time in the warmer months, or don’t like crowds, or just prefer going against the grain, fear not – Branson doesn’t close at the end of the summer! This unique Ozarks town boasts many great activities that are open all the time – so whenever you decide to vacation in Branson, you and your family are sure to have a real blast! Read on for some great year round vacation ideas.
Scenic Drives: If you find yourself casting your vote for autumn being your favorite season, you will love Branson in the fall season! The Ozarks are known for their stunning fall colors, and a vacation in Branson during this time will earn you some stellar views. Taking a scenic drive is a great vacation activity; there are plenty of auto routes around Branson –including Sugar Camp National Forest Scenic Byway! This is a beautiful 28 mile drive through stunning Ozarks scenery. Featuring wooded hills, high up vistas with panoramic views and dazzling stream filled valleys, this Ozarks scenic drive is one you will want to put on your road trip map. The traffic on the Sugar Camp Scenic Byway is light, making it a literal ‘road less traveled by.’ Sugar Camp Scenic Byway leads you close to Table Rock Lake, and if you keep going, you will be rewarded with arrival at Roaring River State Park!
The Butterfly Palace: If you take a vacation in Branson in the winter, perhaps around holiday time, plan to take your family to the Butterfly Palace! The colorful tropical jewels that are the star residents here will most certainly brighten up any winter’s day! And if you do visit around Christmas, maybe to see family or just to create some new traditions, be sure you check out White Flight – White Flight is a special holiday exhibit featuring hundreds of white tropical butterflies floating about the tropical butterfly aviary like winged snowflakes. You and your family will watch in awe as these beautiful Christmas butterflies fly among Living Statues of Angels, and soar up to the top of an eighteen foot tall Poinsettia Christmas Tree, while Christmas carols play in the background.
Busiek State Park: Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, located off of Highway 65, just a few minutes north of Branson, provides a great family vacation recreational spot any time of year – but it is especially beautiful in the spring! With the redbuds and dogwoods just beginning to bloom, and migratory birds starting to return, you are sure to enjoy a hike with your family here through the Mark Twain National Forest. Wildlife is abundant here, and there are great spots to stop for a family picnic!
A vacation in Branson is great any time of the year – so if you don’t get the opportunity to make it out during the summertime, you can plan a great family getaway no matter what the season!
