Improving Your Branson Vacation With Help From The Locals
Traveling anywhere can be difficult. Branson is no exception, especially during the summer when many families are taking their trips. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, your Branson vacation can be stressful. To keep your Branson vacation hassle-free, here are 5 travel tips that may come in handy when planning your vacation.
1. Find out about alternative travel routes.
Navigating the Branson area can be difficult, especially when shows are starting and ending. Before you come to town, familiarize yourself with the alternative routes through the city. These routes allow you to avoid Highway 76 when traffic tends to get a little congested. The three routes are defined by color on maps, and all can take you right to many of the shows that are located in the Branson area. To get a map, visit our Branson Maps Page.
2. Save some money by finding lesser known shows and attractions.
Many of the widely known shows in Branson have higher ticket prices than some of the lesser known shows and attractions. These shows and attractions can get you more bang for your buck. Some of them are:
• National Tiger Sanctuary – this facility was built with private funds to teach about Earth’s ecosystems. The focus is on the world’s big cats and the goal is to teach about preserving the environment. The tiger sanctuary is open year round and tickets for this attraction are only $20 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $10 for children (ages 3 – 12). For more information, call 417-587-3633 or visit nationaltigersanctuary.org.
•Hollywood Wax Museum – at this attraction, you can get up close and personal with some of your favorite stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Depp, and Charlie Chaplin. The Hollywood Wax Museum is open year round until midnight. Adult tickets (ages 12 and up) are $20.03, and child tickets (ages 4 – 11) are $9.99. For more information, call 417-337-8277 or visit hollywoodwaxmuseum.com.
• Smoke on the Mountain – located in the Little Opry Theater, this show chronicles the Sanders Family Singers through a uniquely entertaining story set in North Carolina in 1938. Shows begin in April, and tickets are $30.13 for adults (ages 12 and up). Children 11 and younger are free.
3. Check out Branson’s city parks to have some inexpensive fun.
Branson Parks and Recreation has worked hard in recent years to make Branson’s city parks as beautiful as people have come to expect of the Ozarks. For your Branson vacation, check out one of Branson’s 15 parks located throughout the city, including Alexander Park, Cantwell Park, Lakeside Forest Wilderness Area, and the popular Branson RecPlex with its 12,000 square foot aquatics center. For more information about Branson Parks and Recreation, visit bransonparksandrecreation.com.
4. Support local restaurants.
One of the decisions that you’ll have to make while you’re on your Branson vacation is where to eat. It seems simple enough, but some of the best eateries in Branson are harder to find and well worth the hunt. Here’s a quick run-down of restaurants to visit while in Branson:
• Danna’s Bar-B-Que and Burger Shop – as the name suggests, this out-of-the-way restaurant specializes in the best barbecue and burgers in the area. Their menu features everything from BBQ Nachos to classic pulled pork sandwiches and ribs to fried catfish. And leave room for dessert – Danna’s also has decadent desserts like Bourbon Brownies and ice cream sundaes. Danna’s is located at 963 State Highway 165. Call ahead at 417-337-5527 for to-go orders.
• The Farmhouse Family Restaurant – this eatery, located in downtown Branson close to the Branson Landing, specializes in home-style cooking. Fried chicken, chicken fried steak, and mashed potatoes are just a sampling of the offerings on the menu. The Farmhouse is famous for its rich blackberry cobbler and other desserts. The restaurant is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. excepting Fridays and Saturdays (open until 9 p.m.). The Farmhouse Family Restaurant is located at 119 West Main Street.
• Sugar Leaf Bakery Café – this quaint café, located in Branson’s Grand Village, is the perfect place to get a fabulous sandwich, salad, or slice of quiche. Sugar Leaf also specializes in the best sweet treats in Branson. Sugar Leaf Bakery Café is located at 2800 West Highway 76. Visit sugarleaftreats.com to view their full menu and product offerings.
5. Schedule your meal times around show times.
Many of Branson’s shows have show times at 2 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. If you’re going to a show, keep in mind that it is advisable to get to your show 30 to 45 minutes early. Doing so can help you get better seats. It also allows you to get your tickets early if you haven’t already ordered them. Even if you’re not going to a show, make sure to eat earlier than show times or later, or plan to wait around in the restaurant until the show traffic dies down.
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Resources
www.explorebranson.com
www.bransontourismcenter.com
www.bransonparksandrecreation.com
www.dannasbbq.com
www.restaurantsinbransonmo.com
www.sugarleaftreats.com
