The city of Branson is located in Taney County in the southwest area of Missouri. Branson offers year-round, fun-filled activities for the entire family including theme parks, an impressive water park, and educational and entertaining museums. The Branson area provides an abundance of scenic hiking and mountain biking trails, secluded picnic spots and freshwater fishing locations surrounded by the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains.
Entertainment Parks
A trip to Branson would not be complete without a visit to Silver Dollar City. Open from March through December, the acclaimed 1880s-style theme park features of attractions for all ages. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Silver Dollar City affords more than 30 amusement rides, 100 craft stores showcasing glassblowers, potters and blacksmiths, and more than 40 live entertainment shows daily. The venue offers over a dozen restaurant locations to grab lunch, dinner or a healthy snack and is home to six area festivals, including the National Kids Fest from June through August.
Get Wet
The kids are sure to love Branson’s largest outdoor water park, White Water. Offering 5,000 feet of water slides including twisting typhoons, water-blasters, geysers and a 500,000-gallon wave pool, White Water is major local tourist destination. After a morning or afternoon of aquatic fun, relax and enjoy a snack at one of the parks outdoor cafes or stage your own family cookout at one of the available barbecue areas.
Fishing
Enjoy a day of fishing with the kids at one of Branson’s three area lakes, including Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals Lake, offering some of the best freshwater fishing in the United States. Fish year-round for trout, bass, crappie, grouper catfish and blue gills. The 52,300-acre Table Rock Lake offers many scenic fishing locations with more than 857 miles of pristine shoreline. The summer months are best for crappie and large bluegill with early spring and late fall being the optimal bass season. Commercial boat docks and the Table Rock State Park Marina provide boat and equipment rentals. A State of Missouri daily fishing license is required for ages 16 and older. Fishermen can purchase the license for a nominal fee on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website.
Hike, Bike and Explore
Explore the natural beauty of Branson and the tranquility of the Ozarks outdoors on one of the many family-friendly hiking trails. The 2.2-mile Table Rock Lakeshore Trail features spectacular wildlife including deer, fox, eagles, wild turkey and cranes. The 2,200-acre Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, located in south Branson, offers a wide array of outdoor fun including walking, hiking and mountain bike trails, serene picnic locations and back-country Jeep tours. The park also provides an outdoor café and a gift shop to purchase local souvenir items.
Go Golfing
The Don Gardner Golf Course located in Eiserman Park near downtown Branson is an excellent location for an affordable family round of golf. The 9-hole, par-3 golf course is manageable for parents and kids alike with hole distances ranging from just 82-yards to 182-yards. The tree-lined course features two scenic ponds, several sand bunkers and a separate practice green. The Don Gardner Golf Course is open daily until one hour before sunset and requires no reserved tee time.
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