My favorite weekend destination from Kansas City is a Branson road trip! Whether it’s spring, summer, winter, or fall, Branson has it all! Here are some highlights for your trip to Branson:
Where to Stay in Branson
We stayed on the Branson Landing, so there was always something to do. This is a fun place to shop, and if you are with kids, they have a bowling alley, arcade, and other fun things to do! We were walking distance to shops and restaurants which was very convenient.
Every weekend there is a free, outdoor concert on the landing and fireworks, too.
Mom Tip
Wear sneakers! My kids wore flip flops one day, and it was a big mistake on my part!
Things to Do in Branson
Zip lining
I was feeling quite adventurous and my 11-year-old talked me into zip lining! While crossing Lake Taneycomo, we got a birds eye view of all of Branson. Then we zipped back down to Branson Landing. Did I mention that I’m afraid heights? Branson has about a dozen zip line tours. It was a blast!
Mom Tip
Keep your eyes open!
Celebrity Car Museum
The Celebrity Car Museum is a collection of over 100 iconic movie and T.V. show vehicles. Featuring a large variety of instantly recognizable cars, there is sure to be something for everyone in the family. You can get behind the ropes and take photos inside the DeLorean or have a chat with Scooby inside the Mystery Machine.
Dolly Parton’s Stampede
If you are a Dolly fan, Dolly Parton’s Stampede is a must! From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is fun and kid friendly. The entertainment was amazing with so much going on, so keep your eyes open. The show gets the audience involved and is full of singing and horses, Longhorns, Buffalo, chickens and pigs, oh my!
Mom tip: Go hungry! They serve a four-course meal. Plus, no utensils! So it can be messy.
All of the Shows
My kids love music, so the they are always up for a show. We saw Legends in Concert and it didn’t disappoint. We had a front row seat to Lady Gaga, Elvis, The Blues Brothers, Alan Jackson and Johnny Cash. My boys loved every minute of it.
Mom Tip
We bought our tickets through the concierge at our hotel. They had great deals on shows and other entertainment. It definitely saved us money.
You can also checkout Silver Dollar City (tickets are half off after 5 p.m.) and Branson has several indoor and outdoor water parks.
Shopping in Branson
We love Branson for the unique, downtown shops. One of our favorites is Dick’s Oldtime 5 & 10 – which is like stepping back in time! The store has everything: toys, souvenirs, and housewares. They even have foldable metal and cloth hand-held shopping baskets.
If you love candy, you must head to Simply Irresistible which has more than 120 flavors of taffy and various flavors of handmade fudge! You should just drop in for their Pez dispenser collection!
You can also check out Tanger Outlet Mall and the shops at Branson Landing.
Mom Tip
Ride the free, downtown Branson trolley. You can hop on from any of the 14 stops and travel easily through downtown, including Main Street, Branson Landing, and the Branson Convention Center. It runs all year! It’s not in service on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Our Branson road trip was a fun-filled, long weekend. We can’t wait to go back!
