Branson, Missouri, is a favorite vacation destination for all ages. These are our favorite attractions, shows, hidden gems, and free attractions for your Branson getaway.
Best Attractions in Branson for Families:
This theme park is a favorite for the entire family with roller coasters, live shows, and artisans demonstrating their crafts (blacksmith, glassblower, candlemaker, broom maker, woodworkers, grist mill, candy makers, and more). In the Spring, they host Young Christians Weekend with live concerts and shows. Throughout the year, they host music and food festivals. Every autumn, they host Pumpkinfest with hundreds of carved pumpkins and their Pumpkins at Night light display. An Old Fashioned Christmas during the holiday season brings daily Christmas parades, holiday shows, and thousands of Christmas lights!
Silver Dollar City Tips:
Season Ticket Holders are rewarded with free bring-a-friend tickets and coupons.
This park is built in the Ozark Mountains with lots of hills. Wear comfortable shoes.
In the summer, come prepared for water rides.
You may bring your own food, strollers, and wagons. There are many places to park wagons in the park. No glass or alcohol permitted. We often bring food and then purchase cinnamon rolls, skillet meals, barbecue, or frozen lemonades as treats.
The fast pass is great on weekends and the busy season.
If you come when it is busy, arrive early and head straight to the back of the park for shorter lines, then work your way forward.
Take advantage of package pick-up for purchases. You can purchase souvenirs from artisans and gift shops and have them hold it at the front of the park with your name.
You may purchase a Silver Dollar City package that includes lodging.
The Titanic Museum is a favorite attraction for our family. The museum is home to the world's largest collection of Titanic memorabilia. Through interactive exhibits, visitors experience the story of the Titanic. You have the opportunity to walk through replica living quarters, the grand staircase, and interactive exhibits. Each guest is assigned a passenger aboard the ship as their "character" throughout the museum, and they learn about their assigned passenger and the ill-fated ship. Plan to spend a half-day (at least) at this attraction.
Fun Mountain at Big Cedar is our favorite indoor family entertainment center in Branson. With the coolest underwater-themed bowling alley, a ropes course, bumper cars, billiards, a golf simulator, arcades, laser tag, and great food this is a great hangout for all ages. Fun Mountain is open to the public daily. During the Christmas season, you may also enjoy holiday activities and ice skating.
Bowling: Choose from 16 lanes surrounded by sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays. Each lane features top-of-the-line Brunswick equipment, optional bowling bumpers, ball ramps, and animal-inspired ball returns.
Timber Ridge Ropes Course: Climb over 40 feet into the air, race past obstacles, and zip line over live critters at the Timber Ridge Ropes Course. Overlooking Table Rock Lake, the course features a rolling log, swaying ladder, balancing beam, and two Sky Rail zip lines.
Kids Ropes Course: A miniature version of the Timber Ridge Ropes Course, Sky Tykes features nine obstacles that test balance and problem-solving skills. All participants must be accompanied by a chaperone, fit safely in a harness, and have on closed-toed shoes.
Thunder Alley Go-Carts: Race around a quarter-mile outdoor go-cart track at Big Cedar Lodge! Choose from go-carts featuring your favorite NASCAR driver names and numbers including Dale Earnhardt Jr, Austin Dillon, Tony Stewart, and more. Overlooking Table Rock Lake, the course was designed by NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr. and NASCAR crew chief Cole Pearn.
Spin Zone Bumper Cars: At Spin Zone, you and your friends will go spinning in cars that rotate 360 degrees every time you contact the spin zone target.
Arcade: Play 40+ games including skeeball, air hockey, Mario Kart, video games, Big Buck Hunter, and more.
Krazy Darts: Immerse yourself in an electrifying world with a one-of-a-kind social gaming experience! With cutting-edge graphics, seamless gameplay, and a giant 98-inch diagonal target board, you’ll be transported to a whole new dimension of excitement.
Laser Tag: Fort Big Cedar is a 4-000-square-foot arena for a game of indoor laser tag.
Climbing Wall: Perfect for climbers of all skill levels, the indoor rock wall features multiple games, projected graphics, and proprietary body tracking.
Our family enjoys this indoor attraction. They offer Fritz's Forest for young children with underground tunnels, an airplane, a laser room, and more. The TreeTops course for older kids and adults features 11 ziplines, a multi-story ropes course, and tree houses. Additionally, families enjoy these attractions: The X-Speleo: A vertical climbing maze with over 300 feet of tunnels. Airplane: A suspended 1959 Twin Beech airplane, also known as the Beechcraft “Super 18” with functioning controls and switches. Slides: Five slides ranging in size and shape. A 32-foot spiral slide, fast chute, and more. Underground Tunnels: A series of tunnels with entrances, exits, and windows scattered around the building waiting to be found. City Wall: City warehouse climbing wall with bricks and other elements as handholds. A multi-story ropes course: Three consecutive floors of obstacles suspended in mid-air. Water Tower: Houses a spiraled rope netting to climb, slide, and explore.
We love the Lost Canyon Golf Cart Tour. Guests ride a golf cart through nature trails with waterfalls, covered bridges, and an expedition through a cave where you can enjoy a beverage. Overlooks offer beautiful views of Table Rock Lake. The trail is decorated with lights at Christmas.
Our girls love riding through the Ozark Mountains on a mountain coaster. Runaway Mountain Coaster is our family's favorite mountain coaster in Branson. This is the longest and fastest coaster in Branson. Riders control their speed on a silent track as they ride down the mountain. This smooth, scenic ride is one of our favorite mountain thrills. You may ride during the day or at night when the track is colorfully lit.
Our Favorite Shows in Branson for Families:
My daughters love Dolly Parton's Stampede, This fantastic live dinner theater show is a good time for the whole family. Spectators gather in the arena, ready for rodeo-style entertainment. Everyone is served a tasty meal including juicy chicken, hearty soup, corn on the cob, and a sweet treat for dessert. The dinner show features a thrilling rodeo-style showdown between the North and South Poles (holiday edition, of course). The show is packed with over thirty magnificent horses, a variety of animals, and classic holiday tunes that get us all in the festive spirit. It's a festive experience for all ages.
Reza Edge of Illusion Show is a classic magic show with a modern twist. Reza performs sleight-of-hand illusions, tricks that involve the audience, and big showstoppers involving sharp blades, motorcycles, and helicopters. His dry humor and skill make this a favorite for families.
Our Favorite Hidden Gems in Branson:
Silver Anvil Metal Craft is located near Branson Landing is one of the most unique experiences in Branson. Our family learned to forge knives from horseshoes and railroad ties at this DIY shop. Guests choose a day and time for their class and the size of their project, and the instructor guides them through the process of making a knife in a forge. Everyone is required to wear closed-toed shoes for the class, and safety goggles and aprons are provided. This was one of our favorite Branson experiences as a family.
Visiting Branson, Missouri as a favorite vacation spot for years, I love to discover new adventures for our family getaways in the area. During one of our multi-generational trips to Branson, we embarked on a memorable adventure with Stained Water Bowfishing at Bull Shoals Lake.
Meet Clydesdales at this Branson-area farm. Our family enjoyed a Clydesdale-pulled wagon ride, horse rides, and a meet and greet with the horses including grooming and learning about the animals and their care. This is a unique experience in Branson for all ages
FREE Fun in Branson
Top of the Rock provides a complimentary sunset ceremony from spring to autumn. Guests pay for parking at the Top of the Rock, then proceed through the building and restaurants before reaching the lawn with a view of the chapel and statue. During the ceremony, they play "Taps," light a cannon and observe a moment of silence. Discover the beauty of the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake at Top of the Rock, situated at the highest point in Taney County. This destination offers a range of top-notch recreational activities and attractions. Located just south of Branson, Missouri, visitors enjoy many dining options, a scenic golf cart cave tour, a par-3 golf course, an intriguing history museum, captivating sunset ceremonies, and much more.
Known as "Hard Work U," students at the College of the Ozarks work toward their tuition. On campus, they work in the stained glass shop, grist mill, and Keeter Center, a gourmet restaurant. Free campus tours where visitors can witness students engaging in learning and hands-on activities.
More Free Fun in Branson
Branson Landing Fountain Show: The Branson Landing area boasts a boardwalk alongside the 1.5-mile Taneycomo Lakefront. One of the highlights of this shopping destination is the $7.5 million water feature that combines water, fire, light, and music. The synchronized water fountains shoot 120-foot geysers and fire cannons to a backdrop of light and music. Experience the free shows of the Branson Landing Fountains, which begin daily at Noon.
Hiking at Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area: This conservation area offers multiple trails suitable for hikers of all levels. The park is home to wildlife and stunning scenery, providing an ideal setting to relax and connect with nature.
Enjoy Table Rock Lake: This beautiful lake is perfect for picnics, swimming, and hikes. With over 800 miles of shoreline, it's great for kayaking and canoeing. We also love renting boats at the Table Rock Lake State Park Marina for a day on the water in the summer.
Gingerbread Houses at Chateau on the Lake during Christmas: This luxury hotel goes all out for Christmas with its exquisite handcrafted gingerbread houses.
Branson looks like a super family friendly place. We've been through but really have not spent enough time there to take advantage of all of these things to do.