Branson, Mo.
Discover the splendid sounds of this hospitable Ozarks city

The sound of Branson lures people, and it’s not just the plunking of banjos, the thumping of drums and the flurry of notes from fiddles in this live entertainment mecca.

It’s also the splash of trout leaping from the water, the roar of amusement rides careening around their tracks, the genuine greetings from storekeepers and the peaceful silence of age-old mountains. And the entire melody is set to a rhythm of homespun hospitality.

Branson remains among the most popular destinations in the country primarily because of its dazzling array of performers, including Mel Tillis, The Lennon Sisters, Mickey Gilley, Jim Stafford, Andy Williams, Shoji Tabuchi, Roy Clark and the Osmonds. In all, more than three dozen theaters offer more seats than New York’s famed Broadway.

But the other attractions don’t play second fiddle. With two theme parks, dozens of shops, a scenic railroad, three lakes and plenty of outdoor diversions, Branson can please every member of the family. It’s a great day tour destination, and you can easily find enough to do in several days.

Start your visit with a stop at the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center to pick up tourist information. The center is located at the intersection of Highways 65 and 248. Call 1-800-BRANSON (1-800-272-6766) or (417) 334-4136 for details, or visit www.explorebranson.com.

Cruisin’ the Strip

Any visit to Branson should start with a drive down Highway 76, known as the Strip, to get a feel for what Branson has to offer. Many of the theaters, restaurants, lodgings, shops and attractions are located directly on the Strip, so traffic can be heavy. However, maps from the visitor center can help you find the quickest ways to get around.

Knowing the best routes is handy, especially when you’re trying to get to a music show on time. While Branson has earned national fame for its live entertainment in recent years, the music industry really began in 1959 when a group known as the Baldknobbers began performing. And in 1967, the Presley family opened the city’s first music theater on West 76. Today, Branson offers more than 100 different shows throughout each day, and nearly every type of theatrical performance imaginable can be seen.

If you like to combine a show with a cruise, head to the Showboat Branson Belle. Patterned after a turn-of-the-century paddlewheeler, it offers lunch and dinner cruises on Table Rock Lake along with great shows. Call 1-800-775-BOAT (2628), or visit www.silverdollarcity.com.

Souvenir hunting

For those with shopping in mind, you couldn’t choose a better place than Branson. Every type of merchandise is available in town, and a good place to begin is Old Downtown Branson at the east end of The Strip. The historic area features nearly 100 shops, restaurants and cafes.

Once on The Strip, craft, souvenir and specialty shops line both sides, offering everything from T-shirts to exquisite sculptures. One interesting place to browse is Engler Block, an open mall of shops that stretches an entire block featuring pottery, stained glass, paintings and woodcrafts created by artisans on the spot.

For bargain shopping, the Factory Merchants of Branson mall features about 90 outlet stores that sell everything from shoes and clothes to sporting goods and books. In addition, the Tanger Factory Outlet Center features several dozen stores as well. And northwest of downtown on Gretna Road is the Factory Shoppes of Branson Meadows.

Upscale shopping is available at The Grand Village, which is located next to The Grand Palace–Branson’s largest theater with 4,000 seats. The village of one-of-a-kind shops resembles the Old South with its cobblestone streets and period lampposts. For a bite to eat, try the 1950s-style Hard Luck Diner, where staff members are struggling young performers waiting to be discovered, and they’ll break into song at any moment.

The newest shopping area is Branson Landing, located on 95 acres along Lake Taneycomo. The outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex is so long that a free trolley runs along it.

History in the hills

Apart from the shopping and live entertainment, Branson and its surrounding hills and valleys attract visitors because of a rich heritage.

For a step back in time, head to Hollister just south of downtown Branson on Business Highway 65. The quaint town resembles an English village with its Tudor-style architecture. Charming shops can be found on historic Downing Street, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

And for some historical amusements, venture to two theme parks that celebrate the past, both distant days and more recent eras.

Silver Dollar City, the largest of the parks, is a working community set in the 1880s. On a stroll through the park, you’re rarely out of earshot of rousing banjo and guitar ensembles and singing groups. Also, more than 100 artists and craftsmen share their secrets of blacksmithing, glass blowing, pottery throwing and leather tooling with guests.

In addition, a number of rides will delight children of all ages, including Wildfire, a multi-loop roller coaster that reaches 66 mph. In the WaterWorks Waterboggan, get wet in a raft-style boat. The Giant Swing launches riders seven stories in the air and nearly upside down. And the Geyser Gulch children’s area includes a giant tree house and Splash Harbor, a water play area. A free evening music show is offered, and beneath the park is Marvel Cave, which has a room 400 feet long and 20 stories high. The park holds several annual festivals, including the National Kids’ Fest in the summer and the Festival of American Music and Craftsmanship in the fall. For hours and admission, call 1-800-831-4FUN (4386), or visit www.silverdollarcity.com.

While Silver Dollar City, which opened in 1960, was one of the main reasons that Branson began growing into a tourist destination, the town actually has been attracting tourists since the early 1900s. When author Harold Bell Wright penned “The Shepherd of the Hills” in 1907, a national best-seller about life in the Ozarks, visitors began flocking to the area to experience the beauty and simple lifestyle that he described.

To learn more about Wright, head to the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre. The park is the same area featured in the novel. By day, the homestead offers horseback trail rides and drive-through tram tours, which take visitors past Old Matt’s Cabin, home of the book’s leading characters. Also on site are a sawmill, gristmill and wheelwright shop. For a great view of the region, take an elevator ride to the top of the 230-foot Inspiration Tower.

At night, visitors can enjoy the Sons of the Pioneers chuckwagon dinner show. And later, the park’s outdoor theater dramatizes the story of “The Shepherd of the Hills” with a cast of about 80 people. Performances are held nightly late April through October. A drive-through lighting display is offered in November and December. For hours and ticket prices, call (417) 334-4191 or 1-800-OLD-MATT (653-6288). Or visit www.oldmatt.com.

Array of attractions

If the rides and games at the amusement parks aren’t enough, there are several golf courses in the area, miles of go-cart tracks, more putt-putt courses than you can shake a golf club at, bumper boats and more.

Some other interesting attractions to consider include: Ride the Ducks, a sightseeing tour on land and water in amphibious World War II vehicles; the Hollywood Wax Museum; several wineries; Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, which exhibits a bizarre collection of items; and the American Presidential Museum, which features a collection of presidential artifacts.

Also, don’t miss the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum and Happy Trails Theater. Through artifacts and exhibits, the museum pays tribute to Rogers and Evans, the most popular cowboy and cowgirl the world has ever known. Rogers made 88 Western feature films, 27 of which also starred Evans. The couple also worked on television and in radio. In the museum, the Happy Trails Theater features Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. and the Highriders, who perform Western classics. For hours, admission and details, call (417) 339-1900, or visit www.royrogers.com.

Another highlight is the Titanic Museum, which was built half scale in the shape of the famous ship. The museum features 400 artifacts, exhibits, room re-creations, historic photos, models and more. There’s even a replica of the famous Grand Staircase that visitors can ascend. For hours and more information, call 1-800-381-7670, or visit www.titanicbranson.com.

When you want to cool off on warm days, head to White Water, an outdoor water park with waterslides, wave pool. a family area and more. For hours and admission, call 1-800-831-4386, or visit www.silverdollarcity.com.

Water is one of the primary attractions in Branson. The area’s three lakes–Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Taneycomo and Table Rock Lake–offer a host of fishing and boating opportunities, including several sightseeing cruises.

Another sightseeing adventure can be found on the Branson Scenic Railway, which departs from the foot of Main Street. In stainless steel Zephyr Cars from the 1940s and ’50s known as Vista Dome cars, passengers travel on narrated 40-mile round-trips through the Ozark foothills, passing through tunnels and over bridges. Breakfast, lunch and dinner excursions are available from March through early December. For schedules or reservations, call 1-800-287-2462, or visit www.bransontrain.com.

If you feel guilty about vacationing away from work, round out your tour with a visit to the College of the Ozarks, known as “Hard Work U.” Located about two miles south of Highway 76 just west of Highway 65, the liberal arts college requires its students to work at one of 80 campus jobs to help pay the cost of their education.

On campus, check out Edwards Mill, a working mill powered by a 12-foot water wheel with which students grind whole-grain meal and flour, available for purchase. In a weaving studio upstairs, students craft rugs, shawls and more. Students also create delicious treats for sale in the nearby Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen. Also, visit the Ralph Foster Museum, which is dedicated to the history of the Ozarks. Guests can stay at the Keeter Center, which resembles a rustic Maine lodge. Call (417) 334-6411, or visit www.cofo.edu.

Spend a day listening to Branson’s many sounds, and soon you’ll be humming along, tapping your feet and whistling a tune. From Kansas City, take Highway 71 south about 155 miles to Interstate 44, head east about 65 miles to Springfield. Then follow Highway 65 south 44 miles to Branson. The approximate round-trip mileage is 528 miles.

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