If you’re like us, you’re excited for the opportunity to visit favorite vacation spots and discover new ones. For many St. Louisans, embarking on the nearly four-hour drive to Branson, Missouri, is a beloved childhood memory. Once you’re there, days are spent at Silver Dollar City, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, the Titanic Museum Attraction, or Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museum. And that’s just the institutions: The Ozark town is also known for its caves, lakes, shopping, and a fair share of live music. Here’s where we recommend eating, playing, and staying on your next trip to the family vacation destination.
Eat
Is this Branson, or is this Flavortown? Yes…with the arrival of Guy Fieri’s Branson Kitchen + Bar, hungry fans who’ve been craving the bold flavors found in the TV star chef’s wings, burgers, or dragon’s breath chili cheese fries find satisfaction. For something a little more old school, after you’ve browsed the novelties at Dick’s 5 & 10, belly up for breakfast (or lunch or dinner) at Farmhouse Restaurant: favorites like pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and country ham are on the menu, but no one’s going to tell if you just ditch it all for their famous blackberry cobbler a la mode.
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Play
Three water-focused spots deserve a look. The new Aquarium at the Boardwalk is brand-new to town, boasting popular features like touch pools, an infinity jellyfish room (fun with mirrors!), and a mermaid palace blending fanciful tales with fascinating seahorses and schooling sardines. At Branson staple Silver Dollar City, the newest ride, Mystic River Falls, debuted last summer with the distinction of having the Western hemisphere’s highest raft-drop, with a 45-foot splashdown. For classic (and free!) fun, The Shepherd of the Hills trout hatchery cranks out up to 400,000 pounds of fish a year; your kids can do their part by tossing vending-machine fish food to watch the melee. And if you take your show indoors, the tunnels, obstacles, ziplines, free falls, and ropes courses at the new Fritz’s Adventure are great for kids and adults alike.
Stay
Big Cedar Lodge is an obvious favorite for families with kids…just be aware that there’s so much on-property that you may never make it the 15 minutes into Branson proper. Mini-golf, serious grown-up golf, cart tours, caves, bumper cars, a spa and salon, and other amenities pack the place, along with lodge rooms or cabins. To be close to all the action (and shopping and entertainment) of Branson Landing, check out the Hilton Promenade: plenty of amenities and an easy place to park the car once and never need it again.
