Posts Tagged ‘white water’
Branson, Missouri guide for kids: Super fun things to do on vacation
As I peruse the various Branson vacation related Facebook groups, one of the top questions I notice from visitors is, “What are some fun things to do for kids?”
Well into a dramatic transformation that includes a much greater focus on kids and family, many still presume Branson to be mostly for the older generation. While Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa have a myriad of exciting choices in entertainment, Branson is also overflowing with fun things to do for the kiddos!
Silver Dollar City
Those who ask if Silver Dollar City is good for kids have never been to Silver Dollar City. Entire sections of the park have been designed with children in mind. You'll find theming and attractions that are a huge draw for toddlers, teenagers and everyone in between. Both Firemans Landing and the Grand Exposition have several fun rides for the youngsters.
In addition to these kid-focused areas of the nation's number one theme park, riding toddler and kid friendly mainstream rides like Tom and Huck's River Blast, The Flooded Mine and the Frisco Silver Dollar Line ensure the entire family will have a full day of fun. Of course, the older kids will be all about Mystic River Falls, Outlaw Run and the many other coasters and thrill rides. Silver Dollar City is a must do on your next Branson vacation.
Water Parks
Every child regardless of age loves a water park, and Branson has both indoor and outdoor varieties. Whether it's Silver Dollar City's White Water, Splash Country Water Park or the lesser known local favorite Branson RecPlex you'll find a way to stay cool as you splash and float with the kids.
The shallow pools for toddlers, the giant buckets and water playgrounds along with all of the more daring adventures will satisfy everyone in your family.
Mountain Coasters
After the recent opening of Copperhead Mountain Coaster at the Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park, Branson is now home to three thrilling mountain coasters. In a double capacity coaster, a child can ride with mom or dad (or an older brother or sister) and enjoy the twists and turns through the trees. A splendid feature of mountain coasters is the ability to choose how fast or slow you go. If zipping through the mountainside is a bit too extreme for the younger ones, pull on the breaks and enjoy a leisurely cruise along the ultra-smooth rails. Not only will a slower ride make your experience longer, but you'll enjoy some extra quality time together on one of Branson's truly unique experiences.
Fish Hatchery
A visit to the free fish hatchery at the base of Table Rock Dam along the shores of Lake Taneycomo is a must do for families with kids. Mom and Dad will appreciate the beauty and wonder of this part of Branson but the kids will have a blast watching thousands of hungry trout battle for the fish food they toss into the water.
Butterfly Palace
Mesmerized is the right word to describe the reaction your entire family will have as butterflies flutter all around. Be sure to bring your camera as this is a prime spot for capturing some epic memories.
Escape Rooms
While kids of any age can experience many escape rooms (some have age limits, so be sure to check before booking), kids over five or six will have an especially amazing time. Of course, some themes may be less appealing to some kids, but many are perfect for people of all ages. Stepping into dramatic, mysterious and exciting themed environments that are filled with wonder is sure to be something the entire family talks about well after the experience is complete.
Axe Throwing
It would seem axe throwing would not be an obvious choice for a kid-friendly attraction, but you'd be quite surprised at how much the older ones love it! Depending on the requirements at your local axe venue, kids who are at least eight to ten or so have the time of their lives hitting bullseyes along with your entire family.
The Track
Little one's eyes light up at everything they can do at The Track Family Fun Parks. You'll find go-carts, rides and other attractions designed for various ages. Bumper cars, bumper boats, the giant Ferris Wheel and other options will keep you going all day (until mom and dad decide it's time for a nap)!
Buckets N Boards
The extreme energy, musical wizardry and incredible rhythms will capture even the most distracted kid's attention at Buckets N Boards. This show was designed with kiddos in mind all while keeping your entire group at the edge of their seats.
Other shows the younger ones will enjoy include Hamners' Unbelieveable Family Variety Shows, the Amazing Pets Show at Grand Country and Reza.
Table Rock Lake
Whether you splash around on a beach or rent a pontoon boat for the day, kids young and old will have an incredible time. From swimming to fishing to tubing, Table Rock Lake provides loads of fun for all! Plan on spending the entire day on the lake or just a few hours. A picnic lunch works great or head out on your boat to one of the lakeside restaurants.
Dolly Parton's Stampede
Watch your kid's eyes light up as they jump up and point at the beautiful horses as they are ridden across the arena, through a right of fire and around obstacles. Other animals also make an appearance as does hilarious comedy and a delicious meal!
Aquarium at the Boardwalk
I don't know if I've met a child who doesn't love aquariums, and Branson's offering is absolutely stunning. You can also upgraded to their FIVE'R ticket and enjoy the Hollywood Wax Museum, Castle of Chaos, Hannah's Maze of Mirrors and Shoot For The Stars Mini-Golf. This will give you a full day of big fun for all of the kids and adults in your group.
Wonderworks
What kid wouldn't love to venture into a massive upside-down house? Wonderworks offers hours of fun and education in this science-oriented adventure.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of things to do for kids in Branson. (Speaking of an iceberg, don't forget to check out the Titanic Museum too!)
Depending on their age you could also consider summer snow tubing at the Snowflex at Wolfe Mountain, ziplining, Ripley's Believe it or Not, Bigfoot on the Strip and other exciting attractions. The list seems quite endless. Whatever you choose to do with the kids on your trip, it's sure to be a vacation filled with wonderful family memories!
Where and how to beat the heat in Branson, Missouri
It seems the pleasant, cool seventy-degree afternoons in Branson were with us just yesterday. As season pass holders, my wife Amy and I would walk around Silver Dollar City several days a week just to enjoy the atmosphere, watch the shows, listen to some music and smell the amazing aromas, all without breaking a sweat. Oh, how times have changed.
Enjoying Branson in our new reality of mid to upper nineties takes some thought and planning to ensure we are cool and refreshed while we have the vacation of our lives.
Silver Dollar City
No vacation is complete (in our not so humble opinion) without a visit to the nation's number one theme park. As one of this beautiful park's top fans I must admit that the roasting heat can make a trip there much less comfortable. With shade trees battling with acres of burning blacktop the mission to remain cool is a challenging one indeed.
We have a few tips that will help make your visit much cooler and more enjoyable.
Did you know you can receive free ice water from most food and drink vendors? There's no need to haul around a cooler full of water bottles or even spend a dime to remain hydrated. Just ask for free ice water, and if that place doesn't offer it they will be glad to point you in the right direction.
If you do plan to bring along a cooler then, by all means, load it up with ice cold drinks. While you are at it throw in some snacks. We have to stop short of recommending hauling your homemade lunch around the park as we absolutely love the various food options that Silver Dollar City offers. But, you do you!
Of course, riding the water rides will cool you down in a splash. Mystic River Falls, The Great American Plunge and Tom and Huck's River Blast are great ways to stay cold and wet. Indoor rides like Fire in the Hole and the Flooded Mine are nice and pleas
Especially days that are both very busy and very hot it's best to arrive as early as possible. Start your day well before rope drop and enjoy a delicious breakfast and watch the inspiring opening ceremony. The air is cooler and the lines to your favorite rides will be very temporarily shorter when the park officially opens. If you are less rushed and want to sleep in or take in other Branson attractions during the day, consider a later afternoon arrival. The last few hours of the day are typically cooler and less busy.
Lastly, the sixty-two degree Marvel Cave is a can't miss when visiting. This is a tour that will cool you off as you venture deep under the ground.
Water Parks
Of course nothing beats the heat like water slides, lazy rivers and wave pools. White Water is Branson's premier water park and your entire family is sure to stay icy cold as you splash around pools and shoot down slides.
Branson has several other watery options including Splash Country Indoor and Outdoor Water Park and the little known yet inexpensive and very nice Branson RecPlex.
Float Trips
Within thirty to ninety minutes from Branson you will find some beautiful rivers to float. One of our all-time favorite things to do in this area is a four to six hour float on the Buffalo National River in Arkansas. You'll shift from a slow cruise underneath massive bluffs to zipping through mild rapids. Of course, there are constant opportunities to stop and swim, have lunch and relax.
You can also consider the James River in Missouri if a float trip is your way to beat the heat.
The Lakes
Rent a pontoon boat on Table Rock Lake and spend the afternoon investigating, swimming, fishing and tubing. Table Rock State Park and other local resorts and arenas offer a variety of vessels including ski boats and jet skis. You'll want to reserve early (weeks in advance) as boats are limited.
Lake Taneycomo is a cold water lake, and while it might be tempting to jump in when triple digits are searing your body, it's not a lake meant for swimming. However, the ice cold water does provide a bit of natural air conditioning if you'd like to kayak, boat or spend time along the shore.
Indoor Attractions
A clear and obvious answer to evading the heat while on vacation in Branson are the many amazing indoor attractions. From places like Wonderworks, Beyond The Lens and the Aquarium at the Boardwalk to escape rooms, axe throwing, interacting with butterflies and incredible music shows, it's easy to have loads of fun while keeping the temps crispy cool.
As one of America's top vacation destinations it's well worth it to visit Branson, Missouri no matter the weather. Planning ahead and considering your options will help ensure your visit is fun and refreshing for the entire family.
FUN things to do on THE STRIP in BRANSON, MISSOURI
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
AMY BURTON:
Hi everyone! This is Amy with TPF! Trips, Places and Fun! And today we're going to be talking about some of the fun things you can do on the Branson strip, highway 76. This is the place where all the fun happens. It's also the place where you may run into some traffic, but there is so much fun stuff around you that we're hoping that even in the midst of bumper-to-bumper traffic you will be entertained. So we're going to just start by, if you are coming back from Silver Dollar City, so, Silver Dollar City is in Branson West, if you were coming down all the way towards the Landing. We're just gonna start and pick out some different attractions along the way.
THE BUTTERFLY PALACE
So the first attraction you would encounter as you're heading down from Silver Dollar City is the Butterfly Palace. Head on in there. They have a great place where you can see all sorts of butterflies flying around. The kids can grab an explorer's hat and some magnifying glasses and just check out all the lovely butterflies. It's like something you've never seen. They also have other exhibits, so they have a reptile exhibit they they even have a mirror maze. So there's other places in Branson where you can pay to go through a bear maze, but here it's all included in your ticket and it's a really great maze too. I can't always find my way out, or sometimes I come back out the entrance which isn't what you're supposed to do, but it's a lot of fun.
BIGFOOT ON THE STRIP
Alright, so heading on down I'd like to highlight Bigfoot on the Strip. If you just want to be flung into the air or do some death defying drops through things like that you can do that here at Bigfoot on the Strip. I was not brave enough to do them, but my husband and my boys were, so they did it. They had a lot of fun. There's also a movie ride you can do, even participate in the arcade, mini golf, all sorts of fun things like that.
WHITE WATER
So afterwards you are going to pass White Water. White Water is owned by Silver Dollar City. It is so much fun in the summer, lots of water slides, you know, the lazy river, the wave pool, all those traditional things that you'll encounter at a waterpark. So definitely check out White Water if it's hot and you want to cool off.
CICI’S PIZZA
Across from White Water, if you decide you're hungry and you want to stop for a bite, there is Cici's Pizza. Now you have Cici's probably all over the place but there is a really great arcade in here so you can stop for some pizza and also have some fun playing some games with the kiddos. Really, you know, the traditional Cici's, but they're right on the strip and very convenient and fun.
RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT
Who could pass up Ripley's Believe It or Not? So you'll see this huge robot just standing outside. You'll get in there, you will see all sorts of unique oddities that you can't see anywhere else anywhere, from the world's tallest man, the shrunken heads, it's all in there. So if you want to gain all kinds of knowledge about stuff you never knew you needed to know about, head on in to Ripley's Believe It or Not.
BRANSON FERRIS WHEEL
Across from Ripley's is the Branson Ferris Wheel. Now this was brought in from Chicago and now it’s an icon or a landmark of Branson. You can see it from all over the city, especially at night. It's so gorgeous. It's all lit up. Sometimes they'll do light shows on the Ferris Wheel, so definitely look at it. Check it out even if you're not going to ride it. The Ferris Wheel is owned by The Track, and the track has several locations on the strip. So if you want to play some arcade games, play some laser tag, go go-karting, things like that, definitely check out one of The Track locations.
TITANIC MUSEUM
The next thing I'll highlight on this trip is the Titanic Museum. Now this is a sobering yet exquisitely done tribute to the sinking of the Titanic. You will see all kinds of artifacts, you'll be given all kinds of information. There's an interactive exhibit. It's great for people of all ages, all the way, you know, from kids, all the way up through adults, and there is so much to do and see here. It really is a beautiful museum and it's so immersive sometimes you feel like you're right there on the Titanic in the midst of the action, so it really will pull at your heartstrings. It is, of course, the sobering story of a sinking of the Titanic, but really well done and something I highly recommend.
HOLLYWOOD WAX MUSEUM
Next you will see a giant monkey, gorilla, but not monkey, there's a difference. You'll see a giant gorilla crawling up the side of a building. This is of course King Kong, and you are at the Hollywood Wax Museum. You can go in there. The great thing here is that you can take pictures with all these celebrities, who of course, they're in wax form, but that's really fun. Lots of great photo ops. There they also have mini-golf. There they have the Castle of Chaos, which is kind of like a scary interactive movie ride type thing. And they have a mirror maze, so you can check out all that out or just at least hit the wax museum if you just want to do one thing, because it's pretty cool.
BUCKETS-N-BOARDS
Across from the wax museum, I just want to highlight one of our favorite shows in Branson, and that's Buckets-N-Boards. Come on out and see Matt and Gareth, they are a hoot. So not only is it percussion, as you might imagine, but there is also improv comedy, singing, even some gymnastics moves, a little bit of everything here. I believe they run probably spring and summer so check out their schedule on Buckets-N-Boards dot-com. That's buckets the letter n boards dot com. You'll have a lot of fun there.
GRAND VILLAGE SHOPS
Heading further down Highway 76, you're going to come to the Village Shops. So lots of great little shopping and dining in this area, but we just want to highlight one of our favorite restaurants in Branson, and that's the Sugar Leaf Bakery and Cafe. Great food here, especially if you want to check out some sweets, you cannot find anything better in Branson. So we will talk more later in a subsequent video about our favorite restaurants in Branson, so make sure you press the like button, subscribe and hit that bell so that you can hear more about that when the time comes.
GRAND COUNTRY
A little bit further down the strip you're going to come to Grand Country. Grand Country has a little bit of everything. They have Splash Country, which is an indoor water park. They also have a variety of shows to choose from. There was an animal show, there's comedy shows, country show, so come check those out. There's a great buffet, so if you're wanting to get some good home cooking, you can find that there. They have the Fun Spot, so some arcade games indoor go-cart, mini golf. It's great for everybody, so come and check it out.
DOLLY PARTON’S STAMPEDE
No trip to Branson would be complete without Dolly Parton’s Stampede. Do you agree with me? Let me know your favorite Branson must-see the comments below. Now the Stampede is a dinner theater, so you're gonna get a great meal. You get to eat with your hands, all different courses, you will be so full when you leave here. And you'll be watching a show with, of course, a lot of horsemanship, but also a ton of audience participation, some singing, some comedy, a little bit of everything, Really a great, can't be missed show.
FRITZ’S ADVENTURE
Next door to the Stampede, you will see Fritz's Adventure. It cannot be missed. Head on in here in any kind of weather and you can experience a ropes course, some climbing obstacles, some laser thing that you got to try to get down under, tons of things. You can climb into an airplane that's hanging from the ceiling. This will give you a workout, so if you want to get in there and you want to burn some calories this is the place to do it. Fritz’s also hosts the Aerodium, so if you are the brave type and you want to go flying through the air, check this out. It's pretty incredible. I haven't done it yet, not sure if I'd be brave enough. As you can probably tell by now I'm not the bravest person when it comes to crazy or unusual rides but for those of you who are, this is probably just the thing for you.
DOWNTOWN BRANSON
Heading a little further down the strip you are going to pass through downtown. So downtown Branson has lots of great shopping and dining. They have Dick’s Five-and-Dime, which is a little general store that's been there forever. Lots of great things to see and do there so definitely make sure to just take a break, walk through downtown, if you get a chance.
BRANSON SCENIC RAILWAY
Now going through downtown you're going to go pass the Scenic Railway. If you want to take a gorgeous, scenic trip into Arkansas, and that also goes through some scenic areas in Missouri, depending on which way they're going. Definitely make sure to check this out. My husband and I took the dinner train and this was fabulous. We got to eat as we watch that beautiful scenery go by. It's a real treat.
BRANSON LANDING
So 76 is gonna dead end into The Landing. Now The Landing is this really cool outdoor shopping mall, lots of places to eat, play and dine there, so you definitely want to check it out. In the middle of it they've got this really cool fountain water, fire thing where you can see shows every hour on the hour. So make sure you stay around for that.
Now I really hope you've enjoyed this scenic trip down the Branson Strip. I just picked out a few of the things that there are to see and do. There was really so much I could never cover it all, but these are some of my favorites. If you have some favorite, comment in the section below and we'll see you next time. Safe travels everyone!
Top 10 Things to do for families and kids in Branson, Missouri
Top 10 Things to do for families and kids in Branson
Branson is a premier family vacation destination. There are many exciting adventures for kids and the entire family here!
It's tough to limit the fun to ten attractions the team at Escape Code loves, but we compiled a list of ten of our Branson favorites that children of all ages will enjoy.
It goes without saying that Escape Code is a favorite of families and we'd love to invite you to play! Children, mom, dad, grandma and grandpa will have a blast!
You can BOOK YOUR ROOM online right now!
Here's our most up to date list of our ten favorite attractions for kids and their families in Branson, Missouri:
- Escape Code
- Silver Dollar City
- Grand Country and Fun Spot
- The Track
- The Butterfly Palace
- Ride the Ducks
- White Water
- Dolly Parton's Stampede
- Titanic Museum
- Promised Land Zoo