Branson Resorts

photo credit: rjones0856

The beautiful Ozarks Mountain gives shade to the Entertainment Mecca of Southern Missouri, Branson. It gives space to world-class facilities for live entertainment. ABA (American Bus Association) counts Ozark Mountain Christmas (2008) amongst the Top 100 Events of North America. If you are looking to spend sometime with your family and enjoy fresh air, scenery, entertainment and music, then you should definitely pay a visit to Branson.

Festival of Lights

Downtown areas of Branson are lit up using spectacular displays. They even have businesses adored with colorful lights (commonly seen during holiday season) for Branson Area Festival of Lights. If you move down the trail that leads to the Inspiration Tower, you would come across the displays of the city. Visitors have the option of climbing to the top of the tower and having an amazing view of the city and the mountain.

60th Annual Adoration Parade

It was during December 7, 2008, there was an old-fashioned parade for Christmas, which livened up the town. Floats and bands were a great complement to the wonderful parade.

Branson Entertainment

Amongst the reasons why people travel the city of Branson, the one most common to all is entertainment. Branson Theatres have holiday shows from November till the beginning of the New Year. Christmas Carols become a part of the atmosphere with a number of family shows being organized for you. Jim Stafford, Yakov Smirnoff, Presleys and Oak Ridge Boys are there to make your stay memorable. A variety is available for adding delight to your family. There are more than 100 live events for your family’s entertainment.

This year, it will be the Lennon Sisters and Tony Orlando performing in the city’s Branson Theatre, whereas Andy Williams is going to stage a show at the Moon River Theatre.

Old Time Christmas from the Silver Dollar City

An Old Time Christmas, presented by Silver Dollar City, was once given the honor of being amongst the top five events staged during the holiday season in the entire country by the ‘Good Morning America’. The city of Branson gets illuminated by almost 4 million lights. Again, all of these are complemented by a 5-story special and a Dickens’ Christmas Carol.

With an array of events taking place during the holiday season, you should not think of missing out on a visit to Branson.

photo credit: Elite PhotoArt

When you think of Hillbilly, the first thing, which may come to your mind, would be the Beverly Hill Millionaire, Jed Clampett. Clampett is known for finding oil in home. Prior to that, he used to wear a floppy hat, worn clothes and had Duke, his hound dog, follow him always. This was how a hillbilly was known for. Others in the hillbillies include his mother-in-law (the feisty Granny), Jethro Bodine (his dumb nephew) and Elly Mae. In case the Beverly Hillbillies is not the inspiration for you about how folks of the Ozarks can be, then Snuffy Smith and Dogpatch (old comic strip) can be taken as a good example. The comic strip had Daisy Mae and Lil’Abner, who were similar to Elly Mae and Jethro.

People, who have visited the Branson City, located in Ozark Mountains, Southern MO, might find the hillbilly comedy to be a reality. And if you look at the money that Silver Dollar City has made out of the theme for forty years, who would blame them.

The city is recognized for its joke outhouses, postcards portraying ragged hill families, cotton dress circa and funny teeth of the hillbillies. Again, the way the comedians talked with a twang, made things more funny. Hill Folk’s inherent ignorance has been poofed throughout the city. However, recently, there have been a number of Las Vegas style shows, which have been brought to the outside culture of ‘them, thar Hills’.

‘Shepherd of The Hills’ Park is based on the hillbillies. Its characters were first introduced in the best selling novel of 1906, Shepherd of The Hills. People take a tour of the Old Matt’s Cabin along with a number of sites inside of the farm alongside a guide. The guide plays up the history of hillbillies leaving the actual story wanting.

Planning for a trip to Branson, then wait, don’t forget to enlist the visit to Marvel Cave as your trip will be incomplete without seeing the marvel cave. It is an amazing sightseeing. The Marvel Cave is located in the Silver Dollar City. This is in Branson, Missouri. It is one of the natural landmarks which were discovered by the Osage Indians in the 1500s. Anyone can go to visit this wonderland holding the ticket of Silver Dollar City.

The cave is among the largest caves in Missouri. It has a huge entry room which is known as Cathedral Room. This room is 200 stairs down. It is about 204 feet high having an opening at the top of the roof from which the sun makes its way inside the cave. This opening in the ceiling is also known as sinkhole and is originally discovered in 1500’s. Cathedral Room is so huge that it can easily fit five hot balloons into it. The five hot balloons were fitted in 1994 to celebrate the golden jubilee of tours in the Marvel Cave.

Visitors descend those 200 stairs to enter into the Cathedral Room. After that they are moved through the slippery narrow pathways and stairs. While passing through these passages you may feel uncomfortable but it is worth to visit the cave as you will be totally amazed to see the beauty of this cave. It is just splendorous.  The cave tour comprises of many narrow passages, numerous slippery stairs and very low ceiling pathways.

This cave is also known for its waterfalls, calcite formations, stalagmites and stalactites that takes place in it. An occasional bat can also be seen in this cave. There is a large colony of Gray bats. You can only see few of them as the majority of them stays in the Mammoth Room which is closed for the visitors.

As we all know that, it is the tour guide which makes the tour best or worst. A tour guide should know everything about the cave. He should have the historical knowledge then only the visitors can enjoy the tour. According to me if you unluckily get a bad tour guide, then it is better to avoid his talks and explore yourself. The cave is so amazing that you can’t stop yourself from clicking pictures. A group generally has 60 people. It is better to stay at the back as some people not come to visit the cave rather they run like they are in the race.

I must say, Marvel Cave is a great place to visit and every time you visit it you come up with more different and interesting aspects of it.

photo credit: Colin McMillen

If you live in the neighborhood of Missouri, Branson is the perfect destination for an affordable family vacation. Even if the place is very attractive to older people, there are plenty of interesting attractions for young families as well.

There are a lot things to do and visit while in Branson for a let’s say three days vacation. The main attractions offered by Branson City are the numerous shows. Silver Dollar City, Showboat Branson Belle, Ride the Ducks or The Dixie Stampede are just some of the main attractions in Branson.

Show that worth to visit include The Shoji Tabuchi Show, The Baldknobbers, 50’s at the Hop and Mel Tillis. The Shoji Tabuchi show is famous for Shoji’s amazing violin playing as well as for the beautiful singing of his wife and daughter. The show also features other remarkable singers too. It is not the cheapest show around, but it well worth the price.

Locals and tourist both highly recommend as a not to be missed show, The Kirby VanBurch Show, featuring Kirby as “The Prince of Magic”, his wife Bambi and of course, Kirbam the White Tiger. There are plenty of shows to choose from, but these two shows are among the best possible shows in Branson.

In case you want to mix dinner with some quality entertainment, you will definitely want to try out the Showboat Branson Belle and the Dixie Stampede.

Are you looking forward to visit Branson, MO? Read this article to know about the BEST FREE places, which you can visit in Branson, if you are looking to spend quality time in the city at affordable rates.

Branson has many interesting options for you. However, most of them are expensive. Still, if you choose well, this place offers fun along with savings.

As most people are unaware of it, it is considered as a “secret” of Branson.

Still, thinking about what this article is about? Well, I am talking about the Fish Hatchery! This fish hatchery is a local favorite of many families. Let me tell you another secret. Branson and Taney County Missouri is immensely popular as a Trout fishing destination. For that reason, the lakes need to be full of stock by some means! This is where the fish hatchery gets into the scene.

Below the Table Rock Dam, a breeding and growing unit is located. This unit stocks up the lakes by producing 1,125,000 trout per year. This breeding and growing unit is run by the Missouri State Conservation Department and is entirely FREE for anyone to visit. For just a few cents you can feed large number of baby trouts which comes in groups. When you throw the food at them, they start swimming around the food. Some even start jumping making the scene more amazing to look at. Before entering the outside area to see all the fishes you have the option of visiting a small museum. In this museum, you can see various types of snakes, larger trouts, huge spiders and many other interesting animals. If you have any questions about these animals, you will find that there is someone all the time to answer. They also show a video every hour I through which you can learn more about the function of the hatchery. It is also educational for kids, as they offer touch and feel areas. After you have finished touring the hatchery, take a walk around the place. There are wonderful natural trails for you to walk on. You can also watched people fly-fishing by going down by Lake Taneycomo and standing there.

There are many more interesting and exciting FREE things, which you can do at Branson. Keep this in mind when you come to Branson next time. Go to Fish Hatchery near the Tablerock Dam to enjoy a great time with your entire family.