The old image of Branson, MO as a town of little more than country music and country bumpkins isn’t quite accurate any longer. As recently depicted in a 2013 documentary entitled “We Always Lie to Strangers,” this Midwest town has blossomed over the years as a place that attracts some of the most hardworking, talented performers and entertainers to a thriving city full of family fun and lots of natural beauty.
As it is, tourism brings in over 7 million visitors annually, though the city is home to only 11,000 residents of their own. This growing tourist hotspot has become increasingly popular as Branson continues to diversify all that it has to offer those who come, while keeping all age groups and personal tastes in mind.
Spirit of 76
The city has recently undergone a multimillion-dollar revitalization project known as Spirit of 76, which covers a 5-mile stretch of Highway 76. This revamping project has added brand new theaters, attractions, hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. It’s also the home to new modern lighting, landscaping, and roads, making traffic flow more smoothly and strolling around that much more enjoyable. The overhaul project brings a lot more beauty, modern convenience, and entertainment to the area with final completion expected for 2024.
Unique Attractions in Branson
Starting in summer of 2016, visitors can begin enjoying the changes that have already taken place, including riding the 15-story Ferris wheel that used to reside in Chicago’s Navy Pier. This iconic structure can hold a total of 240 passengers in its 40 gondolas and is installed at the Track Family Fun Park on Highway 76 as part of the company’s 35th anniversary celebration. Other exciting attractions to enjoy this summer will include:
- Bigfoot on the Strip – This 200-foot tower offers three different thrilling experiences, including a saddle-swing ride, a freefall ride, and a rotating ride that delivers a 360 degree view of the whole city.
- Fritz’s Adventure – Located at the site of the old Silver Fountain Inn, this attraction will feature three stories of fun which will include: slides, swings, tunnels, zip lines, a ropes course, climbing walls, and lots of other challenging obstacles.
Aside from these attractions, there is so much more to experience in Branson, including lots of live shows, a wax museum, live theater, rows and rows of restaurants, several roller coasters, and so much more! Consider Branson, MO this year when you think of a great vacation spot to take the family!
As summer approaches, a family man’s thoughts turn to summer vacation! It’s the time of year that can bring fear into the strongest of hearts; no one forgives or forgets the year the family vacation involved a small town, tornadoes, and many cans of Spam. A repeat of that vacation could change the way a man’s family looks at him forever!
Fortunately, this year, that same man discovered the luxury cabins Sunset Nightly Rentals offers and the joy of a small town with the heart of a big city, Branson, Missouri. This year, this family’s going to have the vacation of a lifetime as they experience all the activities, events and attractions this scenic town has to offer, making dad the hero once more!
Silver Dollar City
This 18th century themed amusement park offers a little bit for every member of your family: exciting rides, world class festivals, music, and a glimpse into what life might have been like in the 18th century. Glass blowers, blacksmiths, even candy makers and bakers provide demonstrations on their crafts throughout most of the year, giving you the opportunity to buy their wares after. At Christmas, Silver Dollar City becomes a Christmas wonderland with over 5 million lights and over a thousand Christmas trees. This park is a joy to visit year round.
The Lakes
Home to three unbelievably beautiful lakes, Table Lake, Lake Taneycomo, and Bull Shoals Lake, Branson offers world class fishing, boating, and all around frolicking in an area rich with rugged appeal. Picnic on the shores of Lake Taneycomo, fish in the shallows of Table Lake, or hike the trails that surround the Bull Shoals Lake. If natural beauty and fresh air is what makes you happiest, this Ozarks town and its picturesque lakes are where you need to be!
Ride the Ducks
Touring Branson is even more fun when done by Duck: amphibious vehicles designed after the military World War II DUKW (D-designed in 1942, U-utility, K-all wheel drive & W-dual rear axles). Our Ducks will take you on a 70-minute tour of Branson from the top of the mountain to the waters of Table Lake; if you’re lucky, maybe the Captain will let you have a turn at the wheel!
The Shows
Branson earned its honorary title of World’s Live Music Capital honestly, having over 40 theatres featuring musicians of all types. Country, rock, show tunes, even our tribute shows are beyond amazing and all are responsible for having put Branson on the map. Neon lights make the downtown area glow as it thrives and bustles, while the outskirts are pure Ozarks: lakes, mountains, and wooded areas to help you find a little peace and quiet amongst the hustle of downtown Branson. Nowhere else on earth has quite the same mixture of big city excitement and small town beauty.
Sunset Nightly Rentals
We helped make dad a hero again and we can do the same with you. Check out our website and discover the joys of Branson in your very own rustic, yet luxurious cabin rental located in the heart of the Ozarks.
Branson, Missouri is a small town located in the heart of the Ozarks known as the Entertainment Capital of the Midwest. Multiple theatres dot the landscape of the downtown area, featuring big name celebrities including Dolly Parton, Statler Brothers, and many, many others. But Branson is so much more than glamour and glitz and big named stars; Branson is scenic vistas, rugged landscapes, and activities that the entire family can enjoy, making it the number one family friendly vacation destination! Hiking and water activities, theme parks and museums, even shows that kids of all ages will enjoy. If you’re thinking about planning a getaway for your family anytime soon, Branson is the place you should consider visiting!
Premium Theme Parks
Kids and adults alike love to spend a day riding the rides and exploring the sights of decent theme parks, and Branson is home to one of the best theme parks around – Silver Dollar City. This 18th century themed amusement park features rides, shows, and delicious foods best enjoyed on a stick! If you are fortunate enough to visit during the Christmas season, Silver Dollar City goes all out with their decorations; millions of twinkle light add a magical ambience loved by the very young, the very old, and everyone in between!
Branson’s Wild World
Featuring a wide variety of exotic animals, this wild life park also includes touch tanks where the children can have a hands on experience with safe animals, and also lets the family get involved with the feedings! Animal lovers of all types will be enchanted with the shows, and the play areas are fun for younger children. The opportunity to get a souvenir photo with some of the more exotic animals gives you some serious bragging rights when you get back home!
National Tiger Sanctuary
Offering off road Eco Tours and the opportunity to learn pretty much everything there is to know about the big cats, the National Tiger Sanctuary allows families to feed the tigers as they discover the individual personalities of the cuddly beasts who make their home in this unique attraction.
The Butterfly Palace
Get in touch with your softer side while visiting the magical Butterfly Palace, which also features birds and tropical plants. Open daily from 9-5, this interactive attraction will appeal to nature lovers of all ages.
Outdoor Activities
In addition to the activities listed above, Branson is home to three freshwater lakes offering a variety of activities including, but not limited to, fishing, waterskiing, and kayaking. The wilderness areas are great for hiking, exploring, and camping, all proving that you really don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a fun-filled family vacation designed to bring your family closer together. The greatest thing about a town like Branson is visiting a place that has not forgotten the meaning of family. Bring your kids, bring your dogs, and prepare to have the experience of a lifetime in the number one rated family vacation destination spot; we promise you won’t be disappointed!
The Track Family Fun Parks has always been an exciting adventure for kids of all ages, but it is now about to get even better! Offering go-karts, laser tag, miniature golf and so much more, park President Craig Wescott had felt his fun park needed just a little something extra and when he heard about the possibility of Navy Pier disposing of their Ferris wheel, he jumped at the chance, and the wheel will soon be rolling 550 miles south to its new home overlooking Branson’s dazzling strip. Branson locals are excited about the new “family member”!
History of the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel
The first Ferris wheel was designed and built for the 1893 World’s Fair held in Chicago, Illinois in direct response to the success of the Eiffel Tower’s construction at the 1889 Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) held in Paris. Wanting to prove that “anything they could do, we could do better”, George Washington Ferris designed and constructed the world’s first Ferris wheel and history was made.
The current wheel is a replica, built in 1995, designed as homage to Chicago’s first, and is well loved by visitors and residents alike. Chicagoans will not be left without a wheel for long, though; a new 196-foot-high Ferris Wheel should be in the old one’s place by the summer of 2016. Construction on the new wheel began in the beginning of January, so visitors to Navy Pier get to enjoy the sight of the large structure rising up into the clouds. Navy Pier CEO Brian Murphy is happy that the former Chicago Landmark will get new life in a new home and that families will continue to have the opportunity of viewing a new town from a unique perspective – 150 feet high up in the air!
Dismantling and Transporting
Dismantling and transporting the wheel will not be an inexpensive operation, nor will it be a simple one. Costing over 2.5 million dollars for transportation and maintenance to get it back into top operating order, it is now living in pieces in a gigantic Chicago warehouse, waiting for Mr. Wescott to determine the best method of transportation. The 150-foot-tall Ferris wheel has 40 gondolas and can hold 240 passengers when in operation, and will take at least 2 trucks to deliver it to its new home in beautiful Branson, Missouri. Wescott is estimating that it will be open for business by Memorial Day Weekend.
There are so many attractions, events, and entertainment opportunities in Branson, MO. A visit to the area, even for several weeks, is likely not long enough to see, do, and experience all that the area has to offer. Branson is a great place for sightseeing and with such abundant, natural beauty, you’ll be glad to spend the better part of a day, or even a weekend, sightseeing in one of Missouri’s most beautiful spots.
Branson Scenic Railway
The Branson Scenic Railway takes riders on a 2-hour long sightseeing trip aboard the Ozark Zephyr. Made up of stylish vintage cars, passengers can enjoy the views of beautiful Branson below from over 120 feet up in the air. This tour is a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors from high up, while seeing the forests below from unique angles. Inside the vintage cars aboard the Ozark Zephyr is a 360-degree view of bridges, forests, rivers, towns and so much more. This scenic ride is 40 miles roundtrip and includes historical information during the tour.
Lake Taneycomo
You can’t visit the Branson area without stopping by Lake Taneycomo. This Branson lake includes lots of Branson lake activities such as kayaking, canoeing, and of course trout fishing. While sightseeing around the lake and enjoying all the nearby wildlife, be sure to stop by Scotty’s Trout Deck Marina, located near Branson Landing, where you can rent a personal pontoon boat for a day of fun out on the lake. A local guide is available for hire to show guests all the best Branson lake activities, such as spots for fishing and hiking near and on the lake.
“Ride the Ducks” Lake Tour
The “Ride the Ducks” Lake Tour, or the Branson Landing tour, provides tourists with the perfect way to experience the town with an entertaining tour. Lasting about an hour and 15 minutes, the “Ride the Ducks” tour is suitable for all ages, is handicap accessible, and allows guests to videotape all the attractions they’re sure to see on this unique sightseeing tour. The ducks are built to resemble the WWII DUKW and use a marine design for ultimate safety. Essentially, the ducks are trucks enclosed in a water-tight shell, which make it possible for them to travel on land and water. Enjoy stops such as Branson Landing, Table Rock Lake, the Ozarks, Baird Mountain, Branson Entertainment District, Table Rock Dam, and so much more. Each captain has a Captain’s License from the United States Coast Guard to ensure safety of all the guests aboard this fantastic guided tour.
Christmas in Branson, Missouri may not be how you would normally consider spending your Christmas vacation, but we think it should be. Cool winter nights spent partaking in traditional Christmas activities will become a unique adventure when you spend those nights in a cozy cabin with lake views, a fireplace, and sparkling lights on a Christmas tree. An Ozark Mountain Christmas is a special one that everyone should be able to experience at least once in their lifetimes! Below is a list of Christmas time activities guaranteed to delight all members of your family!
Take in a show
Branson is known as the Live Music Capital of the World, so it only seems right to spend some of your vacation watching Christmas themed musical acts! Billy Dean’s “Let them be little” Christmas is a show your entire family will enjoy…and don’t be surprised when you find yourself humming his songs hours later. Voted Branson’s best Christmas show 7 years in a row, you will experience a Christmas wonderland in the Hughes Brothers Christmas Show. And prepare to be dazzled by Christmas Wonderland and its magical sleigh ride of singing and dancing elves. Branson does Christmas right.
All Aboard!
Starting weekends in November, The Branson Scenic Railway becomes Santa’s Polar Express! Christmas Carolers sing as Santa moves throughout the cabins, passing out a special gift for children who believe. This magical expedition lasts an hour and 15 minutes – and the memories will last a lifetime.
The Adoration Celebration
Branson does Christmas in a big way…and the 28 foot high Nativity Scene located high atop Mount Branson has its lighting ceremony, followed by a parade through town, the first Sunday in December. Celebrate the true meaning of Christmas as we have year after year since 1949. It’s a moving experience.
Silver Dollar City’s AMAZING Light Show
Featuring 5 million lights, 1000 Christmas trees (including a five story high talking one!) only a Scrooge could visit this amusement park without feeling the Christmas spirit! Kids of all ages will ooh and ah over this breathtaking seasonal extravaganza! Feast on prime rib in the reunion hall or just wander the streets of Silver Dollar City while humming Christmas songs. Bring your camera, this show deserves to be immortalized on film!
Just the start!
Celebrating Christmas in Branson will be an experience you won’t soon forget – and one you just might want to repeat next year and the year after that! Twinkle lights, Christmas parades, nativity scenes…these are just a sample of what occurs during an Ozark Mountain Christmas. Why not book your vacation today and discover the magic that is Branson during Christmas? Sunset Nightly Rentals has a Christmas cabin just waiting for your Christmas tree…all you need to do is provide the presents!