Families searching for a summer vacation destination can find world-class live entertainment, international award-winning theme parks, lake recreation and outlet shopping all within a day’s drive of one third of the country’s population.
Branson, Missouri, is a top 20 overnight family vacation destination where hospitality, tradition and time-honored family values are observed 365 days a year. Branson is a great place for families to visit because it’s a place where families produce many of the more than 100 live shows, own and operate multi-million dollar theme parks and attractions, and provide a diverse range of cross-generational vacation experiences.
Silver Dollar City theme park, worldwide winner of the Applause Award, the industry’s highest honor, began in 1960 as a small family-owned business atop Marvel Cave. Still owned by the same family, Silver Dollar City presents 50 live shows each day, 17 thrilling rides and attractions, 60 shops and restaurants and five world-class festivals including Bluegrass & Barbecue, (May 21- June 5), and National Kids Fest, (June 10 – August 21).
The same year the Herschend family opened Silver Dollar City, Lloyd and Bessie Presley opened the first theater on Branson’s world-famous 76 Boulevard, also known as The Strip. They designed the building so it could be used for boat storage, in case their venture into show business didn’t pan out. “Table Rock Lake was new then and there were lots of boats, but not too many storage places,” Presley said. We just had folding chairs, so it could change to storage very quickly.”
Today, 80-year-old Lloyd, sons Gary and Steve, along with their children and grandchildren can be seen at the 1,500-seat Presleys’ Country Jubilee seven nights a week performing their hit music and comedy variety show which has been featured on shows like 60 Minutes, Live With Regis and Kathie Lee, How’d They Do That, Good Morning America, The Today Show and Paul Harvey’s The Rest of the Story.
Through the years there have been numerous state-of-the art improvements made to the theater including the addition of leather seats. “Thank goodness we never had to keep any boats in there,” Presley said.
The Presley family and the Mabe family, also known as the Baldknobbers, are pioneers of the Branson family music show. Several other talented families at many of Branson’s 49 theaters present today’s music along with classic hits that span a diverse range of styles including pop, country, Broadway, Big Band, swing, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, gospel, patriotic, classical and even blues and hip hop. The Hughes Brothers, The Braschlers, The Lowe Family, Doug Gabriel, The Haygoods, The Brett Family and The Duttons all headline marquees along The Strip. Nationally known entertainers such as Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, The Lennon Sisters, Mel Tillis and comedian Jim Stafford also present family shows.
Not only do guests in Branson get to choose from a diverse range of music and comedy shows performed by both adults and kids alike, they can also see magic by up-and-coming stars like Darren Romeo, protégé of Siegfried and Roy; Chinese acrobatics performed by the Acrobats of China featuring the New Shanghai Circus; and stampeding buffalo at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show.
The $40 million Celebration City, also owned by the founders of Silver Dollar City, is a children’s paradise with 30 rides and attractions, games, toy stores and boutique shops, plus an all-new nightly outdoor multi-media show.
White Water and Splash Country water parks are popular attractions for summertime fun. The 40,000 square foot Splash Country features both indoor and outdoor water play.
Glen Robinson and members of his family own and operate the Grand Country Square complex on Hwy. 76, which not only features Splash Country, the Grand Country Inn, Grand Country Music Hall, and Grand Country Buffet, but boasts the world’s largest banjo.
“When our kids were young we were always on the look-out for free or inexpensive things to do. Guests at Grand Country Inn can use the water park for free, and anyone can stop in to take a picture next to the banjo.” Robinson said. “Sometimes it’s the simple things that make a vacation fun.”
Something as simple as a helium balloon is often enough to delight a child, and in Branson, home of the word’s largest tethered gas balloon, guests of all ages can take a ride 500 feet above the ground, attached to the balloon! If only Mary Poppins had discovered the Branson Balloon!
Grandparents, parents and children alike can find dozens of ways to have fun together in Branson and at Ride the Ducks, history buffs, veterans and lake enthusiasts of all ages can get in on the fun. These World War II era amphibious vehicles take guests on a land and lake excursion complete with informative, yet light-hearted commentary on the area’s popular landmarks.
Those who grew up watching Roy Rogers and Dale Evans on the silver screen can hear the music that made them famous performed by grandson Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. at the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum & Happy Trails Theater. Fans of the big screen can also see larger-than-life first-run Hollywood movies and IMAX films at Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex.
In addition to popular family attractions like Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, Talking Rocks Cavern and Adventure Park, the World’s Largest Toy Museum, The Track Family Fun Parks, The Butterfly Place, Showboat Branson Belle and Playtime Pizza, area visitors can enjoy outdoor adventures at dozens of area resorts, marinas and privately-owned nature parks like the 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon.
At places like the family-owned State Park Marina on Table Rock Lake, guests can rent houseboats, fishing boats, pontoons, jet skis, tubes and even receive scuba diving instructions.
Resorts along Table Rock Lake offer a variety of amenities for everyone in the family. At the family-owned Still Water’s Condominium Resort guests will find a marina and boat launch, jet skis, paddleboats, kayaks, sand volleyball, playgrounds, swimming pools with water slides, bicycles, game room, a deli, and a variety of accommodations for every budget and taste. Co-owner Doug Battaglia said his family is planning to open dozens of new units and even more amenities this summer.
Throughout the summer months, the Branson area is alive with special events for the whole family such as Mardi Gras in Branson, (June 2-4), Hydroplane Short Course National Boat Races on Lake Taneycomo in Rockaway Beach (June 4-5), “Welcome Home… America’s Tribute to Vietnam Veterans” (June 13-19), American Kids National Finals (July 28-31), Shepherd of the Hills Super Summer Cruise automotive festival, (August 11-13), 18th Annual Old-time Fiddle Contest (August 27) plus many more.