We live in Branson year-round, so we’ve always known that our little segment of heaven was one of the best places to visit, but it’s always nice to have some ink to back up our promises, and the New York Times offers some good ink indeed about our Branson attractions. Our hometown was determined to be one of the top 52 places to visit in 2018, and we couldn’t be prouder!

And because we know that the best way to stay relevant is to grow and change, in early January, our newest regional attraction, The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum, located in Springfield, was voted the Best New Attraction in America by USA Today! Life in the Ozarks keeps getting better every day, and if Branson wasn’t on your radar before, it certainly should be now!

Our Family Town Competes with Cosmopolitan International Cities

Because we are a family friendly town, we don’t often get compared to cities in other countries, but that has certainly changed now. Silver Dollar City and its newest roller coaster- Time Traveler, scheduled to open this spring-were mentioned prominently in the NYT article, but our family friendly live entertainment was a factor as well. Considered the live music capital of the world, the extravagant shows in the region never fail to please, and when you combine that with the traditional Ozark friendliness and hospitality, well, we’re surprised this honor didn’t come sooner! East Cape, Los Cabos, and São Tomé were a few of the other winners, and considering there were over 13,000 submissions, we are proud and honored to be chosen.

But What About that Best New Branson Attractions Award?

There’s a lot to be thankful for when living in the Branson area: the Ozark landscape that is both majestic and charming at the same time, the exciting entertainment, and the many attractions that offer fun and adventure at every turn.

The Wonders of Wildlife National Museum is one of the top Branson attractions and according to this accolade, the greatest-attraction to be housed here, and we are excited to share it with you! The galleries, 4D dioramas, and live creatures that reside here offer something for everyone, but the 1.5 million-gallon aquarium is the star of the show; yes, we said 1.5 MILLION gallons, and we do understand how impressive that is!

Dedicated to the preservation and conservation of the natural landscape of the world, the museum is home to fish (35,000 at last count), mammals, reptiles, and over 800 species of birds. With professional, experienced, and caring caretakers to spoil and cherish these creatures, the inhabitants of this exciting museum are sure to live long and happy lives as they teach us the importance of appreciating all that is wonderful about nature.

Check out our wide variety of vacation rentals  and start planning your Branson vacation today!