Choose from 8 Fun Things to Do in Branson
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Promised Land Zoo
As you pass by rare primates, towering giraffes, and striped zebras, you might forget that you’re in Branson, Missouri, when you visit Promised Land Zoo. Perfect for a family outing or a chance to unplug, Promised Land Zoo offers intimate animal encounters that are sure to please curious kids and animal-loving adults alike.
The Basics
There are many ways to explore Promised Land Zoo. Basic entry includes a walking safari past animals, an aviary feeding exhibit called Parakeet Paradise, and a 2-mile (3-kilometer) drive-thru safari for viewing animals from the comfort of your car. Tiered upgrades give you the chance to feed, hold, and pet animals under the careful supervision of trained staff or take an off-road ATV tour of Promised Land with a zookeeper guide.
A fully trained and conservation-minded staff ensure that your visit is more than just good family fun, but also a great educational opportunity to learn about animals from around the world.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Ideal for kids and families.
- Partly wheelchair accessible; wheelchair users are encouraged to book a VIP Experience for the best experience.
- On-site dining is currently limited, so plan to bring your own food.
How to Get There
Branson’s Promised Land Zoo is a short drive from Downtown Branson, and parking is available on-site. Public transportation is not available. Other nearby cities include Springfield, Missouri, and Fayetteville, Arkansas. Be sure not to confuse the address with Promised Land’s second location in Eagle Rock, Missouri.
When to Get There
The zoo is open every day from 8:30am to 6pm. Plan your visit for the springtime to see the most baby animals. Because the zoo is largely outdoors, visit while the weather is nice for the most pleasant experience. Promised Land also has a special holiday lights exhibit every November and December.
Promised Land Zoo Educational Shows
In addition to animal viewings and feedings, Promised Land Zoo puts on informative animals shows. Knowledgeable zookeepers bring animals in front of a live audience for a quick educational talk. These live animal shows are a hit among visitors and are included with the basic entry pass.
Address: 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson, Missouri, USA
Admission: Varies
From $ 20
Silver Dollar City
As a theme park that seems to have frozen in time, the family friendly Silver Dollar City has dozens of rides, live shows, and festivals for visitors to choose from. There’s everything from steam trains to wooden roller coasters, alongside a massive natural cave and historic log cabins. The park is inspired by 19th century Ozark life, and the historic details come to life.
The live shows also have range — visitors can see a Bluegrass concert, a horse show, theatrical dancing, and circus acrobatics in the same day. Other available activities include midwestern cooking classes, unique shopping and dining, and demonstrated crafts, along with seasonal celebrations such as the National Harvest and Cowboy Festival.
Over 100 craftsmen on site preserve traditions such as glass blowing, candle making, candy making, ceramics, wood carving, and blacksmithing that all date back to the 1880s. With so many activity options, there truly is something for everyone at the park.
Practical Info
Located just outside of Branson, you can find Silver Dollar City on the Indian Point peninsula of Table Rock Lake. Get there on Missouri Route 76, and free parking is available (with shuttle) once you arrive. The open season runs from mid-March to late December, and though hours can vary the park is generally open from 10 am to 6 pm. Admission costs $61 for adults and $50 for children, and includes admission to Marble Cave.
Address: 399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy, Branson, Missouri, USA 65616, USA
Hours: Open daily 10am-6pm
Admission: Adults: $61; Children: $50
From $ 70
Dutton Family Theater
The Dutton Family Theater is home to nightly shows featuring three generation of Dutton family performers. As finalists in the popular television show America’s Got Talent, they showcased their musical talents on stage ranging from rock and roll to Opera to Country and Bluegrass. Consisting of the mother, father, and seven children, combined the family has over 31 years of gracing the stage. Multitalented family members play instruments ranging from harmonica and fiddle to violin, piano, bass, cello, banjo, keyboard and drums. Family members have frequently won international competitions for their musical talents.
It was after touring the globe that the Dutton Family began to put on on this entertaining show, and it has been received with rave reviews. Together the family members bring a level of professionalism, talent, and camaraderie to the stage. Their two-hour shows feature a variety of music, dance, and comedy with a masterful range that suits the entire family. They perform over 300 shows a year at this location alone.
It was after touring the globe that the Dutton Family began to put on on this entertaining show, and it has been received with rave reviews. Together the family members bring a level of professionalism, talent, and camaraderie to the stage. Their two-hour shows feature a variety of music, dance, and comedy with a masterful range that suits the entire family. They perform over 300 shows a year at this location alone.
Practical Info
Located on Highway 76 in Branson, the Dutton Family Theater is home to the Dutton Family Show. Playing April to December, the show is appropriate for all ages. Tickets start at $10.
Address: 3454 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Hours: Showtimes vary
Admission: Ticket prices range, starting at $10 for children.
From $ 38
Hollywood Wax Museum Branson
Travelers who want to brush elbows with the rich and famous don’t have to venture to LA, New York or Hollywood Hills. In fact, they can do so in the heart of America’s Midwest at Branson’s Hollywood Wax Museum. Jam-packed with hundreds of life-like wax figures of famous celebrities from the big screen, this destination is an ideal spot for families looking for a bit of fun and a taste of something different.
Visitors can learn what it takes to create one of these impressive figures (hint: three months and seven artists!), explore galleries filled with the rich and famous, and even have their pictures taken in some of the most iconic Hollywood film and tv sets around!
Travelers who are short on time but still want to see it all can opt for skip-the-line tickets options for a fast track to the life-like exhibits and displays.
Practical Info
The museum is located at 3030 West 76 Country Boulevard. It is open daily from 8am-11pm, except Fridays and Saturdays when the museum stays open until midnight.
Address: 3030 West 76 Country Boulevard, Branson, USA
Hours: Open daily from 8am-11pm , Friday and Saturday 8am-midnight
Admission: Adults (Ages 12+) $20.00 Children (Ages 4-11) $10.00
From $ 26
College of the Ozarks
The College of the Ozarks is a private Christian school near Branson, Missouri, that has long been famous for its policy of not charging admission to its full-time students. Founded in 1906, the school has never charged admission. Instead, students work on campus 15 hours a week during the school year and also work two 40-hour weeks during each break between semesters. The motto of the school is “Hard Work U.”
Enrollment at the College of the Ozarks is roughly 1,500 students, and there are work opportunities on campus in every academic and administrative department. With more than 40 possible majors to choose from, that means students get an education as well as potentially valuable work experience in a related field. Not only that, students graduate from C of O with no debt.
Practical Info
Visitors are welcome at the College of the Ozarks, which is in Point Lookout, about six miles from Branson. You can use the campus map to do a self-guided tour, and prospective students can take a one-hour walking tour with a guide. You can visit the Ralph Foster Museum to learn about the history of the Ozarks, and the Fruitcake and Jelly Kitchen to bring home one of the college's famous fruitcakes.
Address: Point Lookout, Missouri, USA
From $ 52
Clay Cooper Theatre
The city of Branson, Missouri is famous for its many theaters and entertainment venues, and one of the acts visitors have been enjoying for more than 25 years is at the Clay Cooper Theatre. Clay first performed in Branson at the age of 16 in a band with other kids, and he loved the atmosphere so much he ended up staying. At the Clay Cooper Theatre, he's been performing with his Country Music Express – a country music variety show – for more than 25 years.
Entertainers in the Clay Cooper Music Express include a cowboy trick roper, a comedian, dancers, and a talented band. There are other regular acts at the theatre, and some special acts that appear for short engagements.
Practical Info
The Clay Cooper Theatre is located on Highway 76 in Branson, where many of the city's theaters are. It's across from the Titanic Museum. The show runs nearly year-round (there's a break in January and most of February), and tickets start at $30 for adults, $18 for teens, and $16 for kids age 4-12.
Address: 3216 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson, Missouri, USA
Hours: Nearly year-round
Admission: Adults: $30; Teens: $18; Children (4-12): $16
From $ 34
Branson Landing
Featuring a lively boardwalk along the shores of Lake Taneycomo, Branson Landing is the only lifestyle retail, entertainment and waterfront entertainment district in the region. At its heart is a town square that terraces down to a unique water attraction that mixes water, fire, lights and music. The spectacular show features 120 foot high water geysers and booming fire cannons, choreographed to music and light.
Covering 95 acres, Branson Landing attracts more than 4 million visitors annually. It boasts a 450,000 square foot retail complex anchored by Bass Pro Shop and Belk Department Store and features both casual and fine dining options along the waterfront. A 1500 seat amphitheater often hosts concerts while the Town Square is home to a variety of other special events throughout the year. Branson Landing is also the jumping off point for scenic cruises and sightseeing tours around Lake Taneycomo, including a “Riding the Ducks” adventure that takes you through downtown and into the lake.
Covering 95 acres, Branson Landing attracts more than 4 million visitors annually. It boasts a 450,000 square foot retail complex anchored by Bass Pro Shop and Belk Department Store and features both casual and fine dining options along the waterfront. A 1500 seat amphitheater often hosts concerts while the Town Square is home to a variety of other special events throughout the year. Branson Landing is also the jumping off point for scenic cruises and sightseeing tours around Lake Taneycomo, including a “Riding the Ducks” adventure that takes you through downtown and into the lake.
Practical Info:
Branson Landing is located between US Route 65 and Lake Taneycomo, within walking distance of the central Branson tourism district. If you drive, free parking is available just off Branson Landing Boulevard in either the Bass Pro Shop or Belk Department Store parking lots. The fountain show takes place at the top of the hour, noon through 10:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and noon through 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: Branson, USA
From $ 38
Titanic Museum
In commemoration of what is perhaps the most famous ship sinking of all time, the Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri, is one of the world's largest tributes to the doomed vessel. With authentic replicas and hundreds of Titanic artifacts on display, the museum showcases the history of the "unsinkable" ship and the era during which it was built, sailed, and sunk. The museum itself is even a partial reconstruction of the ship, built half to scale and anchored in water to create the look of the Titanic at sea. A total of 20 various galleries are open for exploration.
Upon boarding, visitors are given the chance to experience what it felt like to be a passenger on the ships ill-fated maiden voyage. As a luxury liner, the details of every part of the ship were well thought out and constructed (as can be seen in a replica of the famous grand staircase). Visitors are given a ticket with the name of an actual Titanic passenger and will get to find out if they survived or lost their life after the ship encountered the iceberg. The museum does an excellent job of bringing Titanic and the story of its passengers to life.
Practical Info
The Titanic Museum is located at the center of Branson at Country Blvd & Highway 165. A 90-minute self-guided tour is available upon entry and costs $28.50 for adults and $13 for children ages 5 to 12. Museum hours can vary greatly by month, but the attraction is generally open daily from 9am to 9pm. Visitors should note that the site is wheelchair accessible, and that cameras are not allowed.
Address: 3235 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, Missouri 65616, USA
Hours: Daily 9am"“9pm
Admission: Adults $28.50, Children $13
From $ 28