Branson is a museum-lover's paradise that offers unusual oddities, memorials to historic tragedies, windows to history, and fun to thrill the entire family. Here, you can spend days at a time looking at lifelike statues of famous historical and pop-culture figures, riding pulse-pounding roller coasters, learning about the ecology of fish, or just strolling along a lakeshore and riding a classic and scenic railway.
The quirky, educational, and exciting experiences here will help you make memories to last a lifetime. Check out the 10 best things to do in Branson on your family holiday.
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Branson Scenic Railway
Take a historic photo opportunity trip through the Ozark foothills
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The Branson Scenic Railway offers a trip that's both historic and an amazing photo opportunity through the foothills of the Ozarks and along the history of transport. The main depot for the railway is located on the east side of the city centre Historic District. A trip on the train takes you over historic trestles and through tunnels, along the way showing off the beauty of the Ozark wilderness.
The 40-mile return journey takes 2 hours and includes narration regarding the attractions you'll see. The railway also offers special events all year long, including a popular holiday-themed Polar Express ride.
Locatie: 206 E Main St, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Openingstijden: Sunday from 2 pm to 6.30 pm, Monday–Thursday from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm, Friday–Saturday from 9.30 am to 8.30 pm
Telefoonnummer: +1 417-334-6110
Kaartfoto door Doug Wertman (CC BY 2.0) bewerkt
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Titanic Museum
Walk the footsteps of the tragic voyage
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The Titanic Museum encompasses 2 stories of exhibits spread over 20 galleries that offer actual artefacts, photos, and documents tracing the fateful voyage of the ship. The museum is docked on the water and shaped like the Titanic (only about half the size of the real ship). When you enter, you'll receive a ticket with the name of an actual passenger on it, and you'll enter through an iceberg.
In addition to the exhibits themselves, you'll experience fun but educational programmes that talk about issues like science, maths, and geography, all of which played into that tragic night in 1912. It's located only a 10-minute drive west of central city centre Branson.
Locatie: 3235 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Openingstijden: Sunday–Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm
Telefoonnummer: +1 800-381-7670
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Hollywood Wax Museum
Get your picture taken with Hollywood celebrities
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The Hollywood Wax Museum is one of the few places you can get your picture taken with celebrities from Michael Jackson to Bruce Lee, all lifelike but made of wax. The art of making wax figures is centuries old and time-honored, and it's the closest thing you'll ever get to coming face-to-face with hundreds of celebrities all in one place at the same time.
Not only can you see figures like Sandra Bullock and Woody Harrelson, but you'll also learn all about their quirks, favourite foods, charity work, lives, and interests. You can take all the photos you like, just don't touch. The museum is on Highway 76, just about 10 minutes west of city centre Branson.
Locatie: 3030 W 76 Country Blvd A, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Openingstijden: Sunday–Thursday from 8 am to 11 pm, Friday–Saturday from 8 am to midnight
Telefoonnummer: +1 417-337-8700
Kaartfoto door Momwriter (CC BY-SA 4.0) bewerkt
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Track Family Fun Park
Race go-karts, navigate a laser maze, or ride the Skycoaster
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Track Family Fun Park offers fun and excitement on attractions like high-rise go-kart tracks, laser maze challenges, arcade games, and even a Skycoaster. This family theme park offers a wide range of go-kart racing tracks like the Heavy Metal High Rise, the Road Course Track, and the Wild Woody where you can race the day away.
Other attractions include a laser tag arena, bumper cars, arcade games, and a Glow Golf mini-golf course. A single pass gets you 2 hours of unlimited rides at one of the 4 locations, all right in the heart of Branson, just a few minutes from central city centre.
Locatie: 3345 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Openingstijden: Daily from 10 am to 8 pm
Telefoonnummer: +1 417-334-1612
Kaartfoto door Billy Hathorn (CC BY-SA 4.0) bewerkt
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Table Rock Lake
Go fishing, camping, hiking, or biking at an artificial mountain lake
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Table Rock Lake offers 800 miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, camping, picnic areas, and waterfront fun for the entire family to enjoy. This human-made lake is popular amongst all outdoor adventurers whether they're looking for a campground, a resort trip, or just to use a boat launch to take a kayak out on the waters. You can also book a full-sized showboat tour of the lake for a fun evening out.
The lake is regularly stocked and offers great fishing for bluefish, catfish, and bass. If you own your own boat, you can dock at one of the many marinas. The lake is located in the Ozarks, just about a 20-minute drive from city centre Branson.
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Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
Go fishing while you learn about the ecology of trout
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The Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery offers education, viewing decks, picnic areas, and a nature centre devoted to the ecology and conservation of trout-rearing activities. At the conservation centre and observation decks, you'll be able to learn all about fishing and the life cycle of trout. Other activities in this attraction offer hiking, trout fishing, bird-watching, and seasonal guided tours of the hatchery.
You can visit exhibits and displays inside or take 3 miles of hiking trails with wildlife viewing and more fishing areas. The hatchery can be found about 16 minutes southwest of city centre Branson.
Locatie: 483 Hatchery Rd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Openingstijden: Tuesday–Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm (closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Telefoonnummer: +1 417-334-4865
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Runaway Mountain Coaster
Race through the Ozark landscape or catch a leisurely view
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The Runaway Mountain Coaster may start as a traditional coaster, but it allows for a user-controlled thrill ride through the natural topography of the Ozarks. Each car is individual, rather than a train like usual roller coasters, and you'll be pulled by chain up the mountain, then released. From there, you can use a braking system to shoot breakneck through the trees or take a slow, scenic ride down.
This experience makes the coaster a fun and enjoyable experience for thrill riders or those who want leisurely views of the Branson skyline. You can find the coaster on Branson's west side, about a 20-minute drive from the heart of city centre.
Locatie: 935 MO-165, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Openingstijden: Friday–Saturday from 10 am to 9.30 pm, Sunday from 9.30 am to 5 pm (closed Monday–Thursday)
Telefoonnummer: +1 417-334-7337
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Veterans Memorial Museum
Discover the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform
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The Veterans Memorial Museum offers educational and fascinating exhibits tracing the 20th-century American military with a special focus on the men and women who served in these conflicts. The museum's exhibits contain documents, artefacts, photos, and ephemera from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and even current military actions.
The more than 2,000 exhibits display the heroism and commitment of our armed forces. Outside is a memorial statue commemorating the sacrifices our military service members have made for our way of life. The museum is located right city centre.
Locatie: 1250 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Openingstijden: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Telefoonnummer: +1 417-336-2300
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Ripley's Believe It or Not!
See the strangest, most unusual, and exciting sights around
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Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a museum of unusual and unbelievable facts, strange cryptids, oddities, and unusual exhibits located in the heart of Branson. The museum offers the opportunity to pose with a vampire woman, get lost in a vortex tunnel, witness a shrunken head close up, and see strange sculptures like a lion made of tyres, a dragon made of scrap metal, and a bison made of nails.
The Family Super Fun Zone offers games like laser tag as well as interactive exhibits inspired by the oddities in the museum. The 8 galleries offer more than 450 artefacts, illusions, art, and exhibits that thrill the whole family.
Locatie: 3326 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, USA
Openingstijden: Sunday–Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm, Friday–Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm
Telefoonnummer: +1 417-337-5300
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Discovery Trolley
See the sights of historic city centre Branson for free
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The Discovery Trolley offers an entertaining and educational way to see all the sights Branson has to offer, totally free of charge, with a narrated historic tour. The Trolley has been nicknamed "Sparky" by locals, and it offers a fun way to see all the sights of Branson and to get around to all of the local shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues in the historic city centre.
The trolley choices up and drops off at multiple locations throughout town, so you can see the sights at your leisure, hopping off whenever you like to grab a bite or do some shopping. While on the trolley, you'll have an educated guide filling you in on local insight and interesting area highlights.
Locatie: 102 W Main St, Branson, MO 65616, USA
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