Branson vacation

WHCSC

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2002
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OK, so Chicago is out. Give me your tips and tricks for a family vacation to Branson.
 

regoratsginrom

All-American
May 15, 2004
9,147
6,139
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Big Cedar is awesome.
Silver Dollar City is an ozark-themed amusement park (similar to Worlds of Fun)
Shephard of the Hills is a pretty cool show if the kids are a little older
Mini-Golf and go-karts on every corner
Presleys Jubilee is a fun music/entertainment show if you have kids
 

TFrazier_rivals269992

All-Conference
Jun 8, 2001
7,429
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steinek11

All-Conference
Apr 18, 2004
13,481
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OK, so Chicago is out. Give me your tips and tricks for a family vacation to Branson.
1) Water and lights show with zip line at Brandon Landing is cool. Nice shopping and restaurants

2) sight and sound theater (religious)

3) Titanic museum (otherwise stay away from the loop, very touristy in a bad way)

4) Branson scenic railway

5) Shepherd of the hills

6) Table Rock State Park

7) Big cedar Lodge

8) Marvel Cave

Have fun, I love Branson. The people are really nice and easy going.
 

3fingershomer

Redshirt
Feb 8, 2022
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VRBO or AIRBNB lakeside property would be my go to. Silver Dollar City if the majority likes amusement parks. My kids loved Whitewater water park, pay extra for a cabana.
 

MOHUSKER

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2009
16,561
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Fantastic golf if you like that, when are you planning to go? Traffic on 76 can be brutal in the summer, there are relief routes to avoid the worst of it.

Branson is littered with chain restaurants, so if you like that, you are good. There are some decent to great local options, but it’s not a foodie destination.

Big Cedar Lodge is high end, but fantastic lodging. The Marriott Willow Ridge is also great with larger options of 1-2 bedroom villas (timeshare resort).

Still Waters Resort is a bit more affordable and not quite as nice, but still a ton of fun.

Make a stop in Springfield, visit Bass Pro and the aquarium. If you like beer Mothers is the best local brewery (Springfield based) with decent distribution in the region. If you want a calorie filled dinner, stop at Lamberts in Ozark “Home of the throwed rolls”, just a bit south of Springfield on the way to Branson. Eat at Andy’s frozen custard, they have expanded a lot across the country now, but Springfield is “home” to them.
 

FuzzyFreddy

All-American
May 28, 2012
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There are plenty of good shows there. Can't remember the name, but the Magic show in town a year ago was good.
 
Aug 27, 2006
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We stayed on the lake, next to a marina so walking to boat rental was a breeze...traffic is a nightmare there...cannot put into words how bad it is...try to stay as close to the places you want to visit as possible. Our favorite parts were renting a pontoon and the scenic rrailway. Silver Dollar City was fantastic when I was 10...when I was 35 not so much, the lines for the cool rides were beyond insane....great area IMO, and even if you don't fish the fishing is so good you really should try it. Been 3 times, won't go back but loved all 3...traffic not with standing.
 

T...Chafes

All-Conference
Oct 9, 2004
28,414
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Went there a few years ago with the family. Branson is the go cart and putt putt capital of the world!! You can buy credits at one place and use them at other putt putt places.

Dolly Pardon's dinner show is cool. Good food, show was entertaining. Horses, fire, music, etc. Silver Dollar city is a decent amusement park.

Branson is the most 'Merica place I've ever been to. Be prepared to say the Pledge of Allegiance and lots of Star Spangled Banner being played all over the place.

The Duck Boats were cool, oh wait, nevermind!
 
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WHCSC

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2002
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Branson got nixed pretty quick after looking at prices.
Now we're set on KC. Worlds of Fun and other attractions.
 

Husker Hambone

Sophomore
Sep 15, 2013
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Branson is slightly overrated, crazy amount of traffic and gridlock. Silver dollar city is ok. Table rock lake is pretty cool! Springfield aquarium and bass pro is off the charts awesome.
 

3fingershomer

Redshirt
Feb 8, 2022
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Branson got nixed pretty quick after looking at prices.
Now we're set on KC. Worlds of Fun and other attractions.
Ok then. Give any thought to St Louis? Six Flags, zoo is free, Arch. Metro train can be an option to avoid driving to some of the destinations.
 
Aug 27, 2006
27,799
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Branson got nixed pretty quick after looking at prices.
Now we're set on KC. Worlds of Fun and other attractions.




It has gotten so crazy expensive everywhere to stay now I literally sleep outside in the bed of my truck when I travel by myself.

That's up Boreas Pas Rd outside of Breck.....had much of the mountain to myself, that view was looking up from my "bed" when I woke at 6AM, not to shabby. Course it was 38 degrees which makes for cold showers.
 

tro80

Senior
Nov 17, 2014
1,037
532
106
Have you considered Wisconsin Dells? Water parks and other touristy stuff to do. Kids will enjoy it. I dont' know what prices are like these days.

OR, go to Estes Park. Stay at the YMCA facilities on the Southwest part of Estes. Not luxurious by any means, but a good price and they have a pool and many activities going on for kids. You won't spend much time in your room. Relatively short drive into the park from there. Breakfast in the cafeteria. Lots of hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park to waterfalls and other stuff that are not terribley difficult hikes. Drive accross the divide to Grandby for a day trip. We saw moose, bear and elk (had to wait on a street in the YMCA property for several minutes one morning waiting for a huge bull elk to decide to wander off the road) so we could drive on by. Good eating places in Estes, although it also has a lot of traffic on the main thoroughfare.
 

WHCSC

All-Conference
Feb 4, 2002
10,788
3,598
88
Have you considered Wisconsin Dells? Water parks and other touristy stuff to do. Kids will enjoy it. I dont' know what prices are like these days.

OR, go to Estes Park. Stay at the YMCA facilities on the Southwest part of Estes. Not luxurious by any means, but a good price and they have a pool and many activities going on for kids. You won't spend much time in your room. Relatively short drive into the park from there. Breakfast in the cafeteria. Lots of hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park to waterfalls and other stuff that are not terribley difficult hikes. Drive accross the divide to Grandby for a day trip. We saw moose, bear and elk (had to wait on a street in the YMCA property for several minutes one morning waiting for a huge bull elk to decide to wander off the road) so we could drive on by. Good eating places in Estes, although it also has a lot of traffic on the main thoroughfare.
We usually do Colorado or Souf Dakota so they wanted to try something different. I'd much prefer a mountain cabin.
 

steinek11

All-Conference
Apr 18, 2004
13,481
1,215
113
Have you considered Wisconsin Dells? Water parks and other touristy stuff to do. Kids will enjoy it. I dont' know what prices are like these days.

OR, go to Estes Park. Stay at the YMCA facilities on the Southwest part of Estes. Not luxurious by any means, but a good price and they have a pool and many activities going on for kids. You won't spend much time in your room. Relatively short drive into the park from there. Breakfast in the cafeteria. Lots of hiking trails in Rocky Mountain National Park to waterfalls and other stuff that are not terribley difficult hikes. Drive accross the divide to Grandby for a day trip. We saw moose, bear and elk (had to wait on a street in the YMCA property for several minutes one morning waiting for a huge bull elk to decide to wander off the road) so we could drive on by. Good eating places in Estes, although it also has a lot of traffic on the main thoroughfare.
We're taking our family vacation to Colorado in August. I need to give some serious thought to all the things we might do.
 

GBRforLife1

Redshirt
Feb 18, 2020
13,913
3
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Branson got nixed pretty quick after looking at prices.
Now we're set on KC. Worlds of Fun and other attractions.
WoF is pretty good. Make sure you get the speed pass to jump the lines. It's definitely worth it if it's busy there.
 

Spartanhusker

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
22,566
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Fantastic golf if you like that, when are you planning to go? Traffic on 76 can be brutal in the summer, there are relief routes to avoid the worst of it.

Branson is littered with chain restaurants, so if you like that, you are good. There are some decent to great local options, but it’s not a foodie destination.

Big Cedar Lodge is high end, but fantastic lodging. The Marriott Willow Ridge is also great with larger options of 1-2 bedroom villas (timeshare resort).

Still Waters Resort is a bit more affordable and not quite as nice, but still a ton of fun.

Make a stop in Springfield, visit Bass Pro and the aquarium. If you like beer Mothers is the best local brewery (Springfield based) with decent distribution in the region. If you want a calorie filled dinner, stop at Lamberts in Ozark “Home of the throwed rolls”, just a bit south of Springfield on the way to Branson. Eat at Andy’s frozen custard, they have expanded a lot across the country now, but Springfield is “home” to them.
Golf is GREAT, if not a bit pricy......
 
Feb 16, 2011
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Agree that St. Louis is very underrated. Just stay away from the north and north part of downtown. Go to Grants Farm, Six Flags, The Arch, Botanical Gardens, the Magic House, City Museum, Science Center, Forest Park. Food is unbelievable if you go to the Hill. It's just a few minutes from downtown--- Mama's on the Hill is my favorite restaurant anywhere. Everything we've tried has been outstanding. Prices are reasonable too. Great music scene if you're into that. I personally think it's got KC beat and it's not really close. KC has slipped a lot the past few years in my opinion.
 

SickOfPractice

Redshirt
Oct 10, 2021
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We enjoyed the Titanic Museum.

If you get tired of the traffic and chain restaurants head about 45 minutes south to Eureka Springs, AR. Very cool place where's it's entertaining just to walk around.
 

Spartanhusker

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
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We enjoyed the Titanic Museum.

If you get tired of the traffic and chain restaurants head about 45 minutes south to Eureka Springs, AR. Very cool place where's it's entertaining just to walk around.
Sparky's Cafe USED to be a must...don't know if it's still there...
 

Rhule Szn

All-American
Nov 22, 2020
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Watch out for the Navarro cartel. They are everywhere down there. Stay safe.
 

MOHUSKER

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2009
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Watch out for the Navarro cartel. They are everywhere down there. Stay safe.
He may not know that’s the TV show Ozark. Anyway, Ozark is actually filmed in Georgia, around and north of Atlanta. Regardless, Lake of the Ozarks is about 2 hours from Branson
 

BigBadHusker

All-Conference
Mar 12, 2007
500
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Another tip about Branson I will give is the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks. A nice place to go out for a meal, would need reservations for dinner.
 

NebChicago

Sophomore
Oct 14, 2009
3,565
141
0
Has anyone been to Disney World lately? Absolutely insane how fat everyone is!! It’s seriously like 75% morbidly obese people.