Plan a weekend getaway to Branson and explore southwest Missouri where you can visit unique attractions such as the Titanic Museum shaped like the famous Titanic ship and the 1800s-themed Silver Dollar City.
Titanic Museum
Located on Country Boulevard, the Titanic Museum is a two-story museum shaped like the Titanic and anchored in water. Opened in 2006, the museum was built to be half the size of the original ship and is one of the best things to do in Branson, Missouri. Visitors enter the museum through an artificial iceberg and are given a ticket on which appears the name of an actual Titanic passenger.
Lasting one hour, the tour is self-guided and gives visitors the sensation of being a part of the 1912 voyage. There are 20 galleries and exhibits featuring many fascinating artifacts from the Titanic. The museum also offers a variety of education programs in areas such as geography, math, and science.
3235 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, Missouri, 800-381-7670
If you are interested in history, watch this in-depth video about RMS Titanic.
Table Rock Lake
Created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1954 and 1958 on the White River, Table Rock Lake is a popular tourist attraction in the Ozarks near the city of Branson. The artificial lake was formed after the construction of Table Rock Dam, which was built in order to protect the area from flooding.
With 800 miles of shoreline, the lake draws boaters, fishermen, campers and day trippers looking for free things to do. Some of the varieties of fish found in Table Rock Lake include bass, bluefish, and catfish. There are marinas and more than 100 resorts around the lake, and boat trips include a full-sized showboat. Campgrounds, picnic areas, and boat launch areas are some of the facilities at the lake.
Marvel Cave
Located on Silver Dollar City Parkway, Marvel Cave lies under the Silver Dollar City Theme Park. Local Osage Indians discovered the cave sometime before 1500 AD, and Spanish explorers found it later on. In 1869, Henry T. Blow and other explorers entered the cave looking for minerals.
They thought they saw marble, so the cave was named Marble Cave, later to be changed to Marvel Cave. The cave opened for tours in 1894 and was the first major attraction in the Branson area. Today, with one of the largest cave entry rooms in North America, Marvel Cave is a Registered Natural Landmark. Tours include a traditional one-hour tour and a lantern tour where each visitor is given a lantern.
399 Silver Dollar City Parkway,800-831-4386
Branson's Promised Land Zoo
Located on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson's Promised Land Zoo is a family owned and operated zoo and a popular Branson attraction. In addition to caring for the animals, the zoo strives to educate visitors about wildlife and provide them with personalized and exclusive zoo encounters.
There are shows throughout the day, including Bottle Feeding Babies, Live Animal Show, and Tug-of-Roar. Some of the animals you will see include antelopes, big cats, kangaroos, zebras, and many more. Foot Safari allows visitors to feed some of the animals on the nine-acre park, while Exclusive Encounters gives them the opportunity to feed and play with certain animals like kangaroos, lemurs, and sloths.
2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, 417-337-9453
Branson Landing Fountain Show
Located on Branson Landing Boulevard, the scenic boardwalk along the Lake Taneycomo Lakefront, the Branson Landing Fountain Show is a multi-million dollar extravaganza featuring thrilling displays of fire, light, music, and water. The fountain sits at the foot of the dynamic town square and shoots water 120 feet up into the air combined with vertical blasts of the fire cannons. The show is accompanied by musical favorites such as the Star Spangled Banner, Candle in the Wind, Living on a Prayer, and other popular music selections.
100 Branson Landing Boulevard, Branson, Missouri, 417-239-3002
Table Rock State Park
Table Rock State Park is located on the eastern side of Table Rock Lake on the southern side of Branson. The state park consists of a little over 356 acres of pleasant landscapes covered with hickory and oak trees. It is an especially popular place to camp because the campsites feature easy access to the lake. Other park facilities include picnic areas, a marina, and a mountain bike trail.
The marina rents out equipment like fishing boats, ski boats, and WaveRunners, and scuba diving lessons and trips are also available. There is a paved ramp to launch boats, and the marina store sells fishing equipment as well as other camping necessities.
5272 MO-165, Branson, Missouri, 417-334-47043
The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure
The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, a unique and popular destination for visitors, is located on Country Boulevard. Housed in a white building sitting on a hill, it is a walk-through butterfly exhibit and the home of more than one thousand tropical butterflies. The self-guided tour begins with a short film about butterflies followed by a walk through the 7,000 square foot butterfly exhibit with its butterflies, birds, and tropical plants.
The attraction also includes the Great Banyan Tree Adventure and the Emerald Forest Mirror Maze. Live amphibians and reptiles from the rainforest can be seen in The Living Rainforest Science Center. There are also interactive activities for children like feeding and petting.
4106 W 76 Country Boulevard, Branson, MO, 417-332-2231
Ralph Foster Museum
The Ralph Foster Museum is located on Opportunity Avenue on the campus of the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout south of Branson. It is a wing of the College of the Ozarks and focuses on the culture and history of the Ozarks area. Foster collected Native American and Western artifacts, and during the 1960s, he donated his large collection as well as necessary funds to help establish the museum.
Antiques, dolls, weapons, and many other objects are displayed in the museum. The hands-on Children’s Discovery Room is a popular education program, and the Brownell Research Library contains over 6,000 books and periodicals.
100 Opportunity Avenue, Hollister, 417-334-6411
Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Branson
Dedicated to all those who love things weird and wacky, Ripley’s Believe It or Not is filled to the brim with some of the most bizarre exhibits you can find. As you step inside the 8-gallery Odditorium, prepare to be amazed. The facility includes an ever-changing collection of more than 450 oddities, mind-bending art, crazy illusions and fun inter-actives. Visitors are invited to spend as much time as they like enjoying all the exhibits at their own pace. Exhibits in the Odditorium include a careful mix of clever, weird and fascinating objects and artifacts; you will see art installations made from household waste, strange and mysterious scientific phenomenon and odd natural freaks.
2320 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, 417-337- 5300
Ripley’s Super Fun Zone
Located right next door to Ripley’s Believe It or Not you will find Ripley’s Super Fun Zone where the whole family can participate in a variety of energetic fun activities. You can start your adventure in the Laser Tag Arena where you can take on your family and friends in a fast-paced game of tag. From there you can move on to the outdoor, interactive Maze; here you need to stay vigilant as there are surprises around every corner. Other fun activities include the high energy Laserace, the fun Smash Dash and the Ozarks’ themed Shooting Gallery, where you can show off your shooting skills.
2320 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, 417-337-5300
The Track Family Fun Parks
Offering all the fun of the fair in a single family entertainment venue, The Track Family Fun Parks will keep your family happily occupied for hours. It all starts with the 12 unique tracks which ensure that every member of the family can have high-speed fun. Adults can get their kicks on the 4-storey high-rise tracks while younger drivers can have fun on the Kiddies and Rookie Go Karts. After your karting adventure you can move on to the giant Ferris wheel, followed by a variety of other rides for adults and children. There are also bumper cars, laser tag games, batting cages, mini-golf and a games arcade.
3345 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, 417-334-1612
Beyond the Lens!, Branson, Missouri
Another of Branson’s many family entertainment hubs, Beyond the Lens! will fascinate you with intriguing exhibits, interactive games and dramatic selfie backdrops. Exhibits and rides include the amazing 360 degree Flip Zone Bumper cars, the totally immersive Fly Ride simulator which will take you on a journey across the nation and the Virtual Reality Games and Escape Room. There is something for everyone to enjoy and great memories to be made. Children will love the Augmented Reality Games and the fun Alien Egg Pit. Combo tickets for adults and children are available online.
3115 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, 417-337-9333
Hollywood Wax Museum
A great attraction for all ages, the Hollywood Wax Museum in Branson is the place to go to get up close and personal with all your favorite celebrities and big-screen movie stars. Not only can you snap some brilliant selfies alongside your wax heroes, you can even get into character using a variety of costumes. You can live out your fantasies of walking down the red carpet, marrying a movie star or attending a celebrity event. If you are not into dressing up and selfies, you will still have a great time learning all about your favorite stars and about how the museum goes about making each of these very realistic sculptures.
3030 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, 417-337-8700
Branson Mountain Adventure Park
Branson Mountain Adventure Park will get your adrenalin pumping as you fly down the thrilling Coaster or Zip Lines. The park is home to the one-and-only Branson Runaway Mountain Coaster, which operates all year round, weather permitting. The coaster offers a thrilling high-speed adventure ride for all ages, from 3 year up. First the driver and passenger will board their cart at the bottom of the coaster and will enjoy a slow and scenic journey up to the top. Now the fun begins as you cart is set free and you are in charge of your exciting downhill ride, which can reach speeds of 30mph if you are brave enough. The park also features a high-flying, hair-raising quad zipline where you can race your friends to the finish line.
935 Highway 165, Branson, MO 65616, 417-334-7337
Shepherd’s Adventure Park
Shepherd’s Adventure Park offers hours of outdoor fun for the whole family, set against the scenic backdrop of the Ozark Mountains. There are activities suitable for just about all ages. The Zipline Canopy Tour is great for anyone over the age of 3 years and includes 8 individual zip lines through a scenic wooded area. For the dare devils, the park offers their Vigilante Extreme ZipLiner, which flies off the top of the Inspiration Tower, the tallest structure in South Missouri. You can also try your hand at the outdoor SkyTrek Ropes course and enjoy a ride on the Copperhead Mountain Coaster.
6021 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, 417-334-4191
The Park at Shepherd of the Hills
The Park at Shepherd of the Hills is the original setting for the novel Shepherd of the Hills. The farm is a delight to visit with children who will love meeting some of the farm animals in the Petting Zoo and enjoying all the activities on offer. Youngsters can have unlimited fun playing mini-golf, exploring the rope-bridge linked tree houses or playing corn hole. Visitors can join a guided tour of the 160-acre historic farm on an open-top jeep-drawn tram. After your tour you and your family can enjoy some tradition Ozark cuisine at the Shepherd’s Mill Restaurant.
5586 W 76 Country Boulevard Branson, MO 65616, 417-334-4191
Silver Dollar City, Branson
In a city which is bursting at the seams with family entertainment, it would be a mistake to leave out a visit to Silver Dollar City, which has been voted in the top 5 theme parks in America. This seasonal theme park, set in the 1880’s, will delight the whole family with a wide choice of fun rides and activities. There are more than 40 rides to get your adrenaline pumping; some of the wildest rides include the American Plunge, the Electro Spin and the Fire Fall. While these are not suitable for younger visitors, the Elephant March, Grand Exposition Coaster and Hugo and Mary’s Carousel are idea for children. There are also dozens of craftsmen offering live craft demonstrations.
399 Silver Dollar City Parkway, Branson, MO 65616, 417-366-7100
Shipwrecked Treasure Museum, Branson
Revealing the secrets of the deepest corners of the oceans, . Shipwrecked Treasure Museum is chock-full of authentic salvaged treasures from shipwrecks all over the world. Visitors can learn about the causes of several of the world’s most famous shipwrecks by watching documentaries from National Geographic and the Discovery Channel before setting off to view the salvaged items, which span several centuries from the Roman Empire through to WWII. There are numerous hands-on touch screens, simulators, games and other interactive activities to explore. A few of the key exhibits include ancient coins, arrowheads and beads, vintage weaponry, priceless porcelain and silver ingots from WWII.
505 Branson Landing Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, 417-635-5041
Aquarium at the Boardwalk
Combining education and fun, the Aquarium at the Boardwalk is a must-visit family attraction in Branson. Visitors are greeted at the door by a massive mosaic octopus modeled after Aquarius, a Giant Pacific Octopus. As you enter the aquarium you can walk along the boardwalk which leads you to ten fishy zones. You will take a journey through a watery tunnel to a sunken ancient city – here you will be surrounded by sharks and many species of fish. Then it’s on to the fabulous Coral Reef to see thousands of reef fish in their natural environment. There is a touch/petting pool for the children and a magical underwater Mermaid Palace.
2700 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616, 417-335-3476
Branson Auto and Farm Museum
The Branson Auto and Farm Museum invites you to step back in time as you admire a huge collection of vintage cars and farm equipment which span 120 years. The massive museum covers 90,000 square feet; one half is dedicated to preserving classic and antique vehicles which document automotive history, while the other half showcases vintage farm implements and equipment. All the vehicles and equipment has been lovingly restored to its former glory. Taking a tour of the museum is a great nostalgic experience for the whole family, as you can admire all the old cars from your childhood days and show them off to the grandkids.
1335 West Highway 76, Branson, MO 65616, 417-335-2600
Celebrity Car Museum
Calling all dedicated petrol heads and movie fans - the Celebrity Car Museum in Branson invites you to step this way and spend a fun hour or two admiring a collection of vehicles which have “starred” in various block-buster movies. The collection changes regularly as more celebrity cars are acquired and other are sold on. At any time you will be able to admire at least 100 vehicles, including several which will be instantly recognizable. If you want a more immersive experience you can get kitted out in one of their costumes and take some memorable selfies in one of your favorite cars.
1600 State Highway 76, Branson, MO 65616, 417-239-1644
