Hidden Gems in Branson

Neil Sawford • June 29, 2022


Branson has many hidden gems to explore, ranging from international cuisines and unique attractions to live entertainment venues and historical sites. The Branson Mountain Coaster is one of the hidden gems you should try exploring with the entire family on your summer vacation trip. Don't miss out on discovering Branson's best-kept secrets so you can have a one-of-a-kind experience in this popular Midwest vacation destination.


International Cuisines to Satisfy Your Appetite

With the variety of international restaurants in Branson, you will have no trouble finding a sumptuous meal during your vacation. The world's entertainment capital welcomes visitors to the heart of Branson with various international flavors from around the world.

Vasken's Deli, a local eatery that serves a tasty selection of hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and more, will give you a taste of the Mediterranean. Vasken's delicious gyros (a spicy, savory combination of lamb and beef), chicken shawarma, Greek salad, or sample platter with falafel will satisfy you.

Dine at India Clay Oven if you want to experience the satisfying taste of Indian cuisine. If you haven't tried Indian food yet, this restaurant will entice you to return for more. This Indian restaurant serves a diverse menu of traditional Indian dishes such as tikka masala, pakora, and warm naan bread. You can go a-la-carte or munch on the hot lunch buffet.

Wakyoto is another international restaurant in Branson that serves authentic Asian cuisine such as Japanese steak and sushi. You can eat teriyaki entrees, tempura shrimp, edamame, and the special wasabi roll (a signature menu item).

Thai Thai Cuisine, a local favorite, serves dishes such as chicken satay, deep-fried calamari, beef salad, wonton soup, spicy noodles, and more. Other international restaurants in Branson include Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Irish, and many more.


Record-setting Attractions

Branson is proud of its numerous roadside attractions. One of these is Mr. Peck, the world's largest rooster, standing 43 feet tall at Branson's Great American Steak & Chicken House. It's a fun place to stop for a photo with the city's feathered fiberglass friend while eating sizzling steaks and farm-fresh chicken.

When you see the world's largest banjo towering 47 feet in the air inside the Fun Spot at Grand Country Resort, you'll know Branson is a music capital. The banjo is a reproduction of a Gibson banjo. It's a fun place to stop for a memorable photo souvenir.

Ripley's Believe It Or Not is another unusual attraction in Branson, with bizarre displays such as the world's largest ball of nylon twine. The fantastic ball is a must-see attraction, weighing 12,000 pounds and over 40 feet in circumference. This museum features unusual exhibits and artifacts such as a stagecoach made entirely of toothpicks, a spinning vortex tunnel, unique animal skeletons, and more.

Another fantastic photo opportunity with the Ozarks' newest attraction, the Branson Mountain Coaster, awaits at Branson Mountain Adventure Park. As the Midwest's longest and fastest roller coaster, it has been visited and enjoyed by many roller coaster enthusiasts looking for a thrilling mountain ride adventure at the park. The Mountain Coaster is an exciting ride attraction in Branson that every thrill seeker wishes to experience.


Local Sweet Spots

Dreamsicle is another shop that serves sweet treats to both locals and visitors. In Historic Downtown Branson, we serve ice cream, gelato, and sorbet. To make made-to-order pops, this sweet shop uses organic, in-house ingredients.

Another hidden gem in Branson is the Keeter Center at the College of the Ozarks, where you can enjoy ice cream from its creamery that is 100% made from scratch.

Sugar Leaf Bakery, Café & Espresso at the Grand Village Shops is another Branson best-kept secret that serves a delectable selection of bakery products, sandwiches, salads, specialty coffee, and more. This cozy spot is ideal for resting your feet after a fun morning or afternoon on the Branson mountain coaster.


Nightlife Venues

If you want a fun night out after visiting many exciting attractions, don't hesitate to visit some of the best night spots in Branson. The Paddlewheel, located near the Branson Landing and overlooking Lake Taneycomo, is a great late-night stop for drinks and music. The venue hosts "Rock the Dock" and open mic nights and showcases local artists and bands throughout the week.

Andy B's Bowl Social at the Branson Landing offers guests a perfect evening out with friends or family. Bowling, arcade games, private karaoke rooms, virtual reality games, escape rooms, and other activities are available. Andy B's entire restaurant and bar will keep you going all night.


If this is your first visit to Branson, don't miss the opportunity to see the hidden gems listed above, as they will help you have a wonderful vacation in this popular Midwest vacation spot.


third person view of a person riding a mountain coaster in Branson
By alulamoxie.com alulamoxie.com June 6, 2025
Top Thrilling Activities for All Ages
By alulamoxie.com alulamoxie.com June 6, 2025
This is a subtitle for your new post
a view of forest trees from below
By alulamoxie.com alulamoxie.com May 29, 2025
This is a subtitle for your new post
By alulamoxie.com alulamoxie.com May 23, 2025
Learn more about our historic Branson attraction
By alulamoxie.com alulamoxie.com May 16, 2025
Branson, Missouri is home to a plethora of family entertainment options
By alulamoxie.com alulamoxie.com May 2, 2025
Come See the Lake & Historic Downtown Branson
By Neil Sawford April 25, 2025
Table Rock Dam -- Keeping Us Cool for 70 years
By Neil Sawford April 18, 2025
Anyone visiting Branson will discover numerous excellent pizza restaurants to choose from. Whether you're gluten-intolerant, vegetarian, or a meat-lover, you'll find something delicious here! Below are some of the best pizza restaurants in Branson to visit after a thrilling ride on the Branson mo roller coaster. Rocco's New York Style Pizza Rocco's New York Style Pizza serves up metropolitan-style fare like pizza, sandwiches, calzones, and salads in a unique setting. Garlic knots are popular, and specialties such as lasagna and penne Palermo are available. To ensure that customers receive the freshest vegetables available, this pizza shop selects and cuts them throughout the day. The shop also shreds all fresh Mozzarella instead of buying pre-shredded "cheese products" high in preservatives and additives. Mr. G's Chicago Pizza Mr. G's Chicago Pizza has been serving Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas since 1992, and it also serves salads, sandwiches, and pasta portions. Mr. G's, located just around the corner from Historic Downtown Branson, has been a favorite lunch and supper spot for the entire family for more than 20 years. The shop uses traditional Italian or unusual toppings on a deep-dish or thin crust, such as chicken, ranch sauce, or roast beef. This lovely pizza parlor is the ideal place to unwind not only after an exciting Flyaway Zipline Ride but also after a thrilling ride on the Branson Mo roller coaster. Cicis Pizza Cicis Pizza, located at 76 Country Blvd. in Branson, offers pan pizzas, loaded crusts, flatbreads, pasta, salad, soup, and more. At Cicis, you'll find an endless variety of delectable Pizzas. All served hot and fresh right out of the oven. From traditional and pan pizzas to flatbreads and stuffed crust, Cicis Unlimited Pizza Buffet has something for everyone. This pizza restaurant enjoys providing you and your family with new, money-saving discounts on all of your favorite Cicis menu items, such as our delectable Pizza, Pasta, Salads, and Desserts. Choose from any of these deals at any Cicis Unlimited Pizza location, where Carryout, Curbside Pickup, or Contactless Delivery are available. Cicis Pizza is a great place to eat after an exciting adventure ride on the Branson mo roller coaster. Parmesan's Pizzeria Parmesan's Pizzeria serves dine-in, carryout, and delivery in Kimberling City, just outside of Branson. This pizza parlor serves traditional pizza toppings and pineapple, mandarin oranges, BBQ chicken, cilantro, refried beans, Swiss cheese, and even spaghetti and meatballs, which are available on gourmet deluxe pizzas. Parmesan's Pizzeria serves delicious fresh pizza, subs, calzones, salads, and pasta plates. It offers fresh-baked bread, pizza dough, pizza, pasta sauces, and House and Caesar salad dressings. Hook & Ladder Pizza Co. This firehouse-themed pizzeria in nearby Hollister serves hand-tossed pies made to your specifications. The Hook & Ladder Pizza Co. makes all of its crusts and sauces from scratch every day. It has calzones, subs, spaghetti, soups, salads, and daily specials, which are also available. Moreover, they offer takeout as well as online ordering through Uber Eats. They make all of the crusts and sauces from scratch each morning using their secret recipes. The shop uses only the highest quality ingredients to provide an unforgettable pizza experience. The staff is also volunteer firefighters, and they would like to encourage everyone to find out how they can help their local fire department. Pizza by the Chef Just a few miles from Branson, Pizza by the Chef in Branson West serves gourmet pizza, salads, and sandwiches (or a phone call if you prefer delivery). Since 1992, Pizza by the Chef has been serving high-quality pizzas baked in a classic brick-lined deck oven with fresh dough and sauce every day. Hand-tossed pizzas, sandwiches, and salads are made with only the finest ingredients. Pizza dough and sauce are made on-site every day. Each dough is thrown by hand, and the sub rolls are made from scratch every day. The vegetables are never frozen and are always prepared from scratch. Ozark Mountain Pizza Ozark Mountain Pizza will deliver some of Branson's best Italian food right to your door! The Branson West pizzeria specializes in delectable pasta and pizza dishes, both traditional and unique. To tempt your taste buds, salads, sandwiches, meats, and seafood specials are also available at Ozark Mountain Pizza. Ozark Mountain Pizza is your premium pizza destination, offering fresh ingredients, classic recipes, and exceptional service. Traditional pizza toppings are available and a more upscale gourmet menu. With various bargains to choose from, you can treat the entire family to a tasty, cheap, and easy lunch at home or out on the town. After an exciting ride adventure on the Branson mo roller coaster, these top pizza restaurants are some of the best dining spots to hang out with the entire family.
By Neil Sawford April 11, 2025
Seasonal Splendor: Experiencing Branson's Year Round Charm
By Neil Sawford April 4, 2025
Best Branson Outdoor Activities Not only is Branson well-known for its top-notch live performances, but it is also well-known for its abundance of outdoor activities. Summer fun activities on land and in the water are always popular among visitors enjoying a fantastic vacation in the Ozarks. An exciting adventure ride on the mountain coaster in Branson is another beautiful way to experience outdoor activities. The following lists are some of the best outdoor activities in Branson that are waiting to be explored. Adventure ride on a mountain coaster. Riders can experience uphill and downhill gravity rides on this exhilarating adventure ride with the mountain coaster in Branson. Every coaster aficionado enjoys riding the Mountain Coaster at Branson Mountain Adventure Park. Each rider is seated separately in a different cart to ensure a safe journey. Like traditional roller coasters, a chain raises the carts to the top. At the mountain's peak, carts are let loose to begin their descent as they weave in and out of the hills for an exhilarating and one-of-a-kind ride excursion. Take a thrilling water ride with the Branson Jet Boat. Anyone will undoubtedly adore a terrific Branson Jet Boat trip on Lake Taneycomo's clean waters. After an exciting adventure ride on the Branson mountain coaster, a thrilling river ride on a jet boat is the ideal outdoor activity. On a fascinating jet boat tour on Lake Taneycomo, you may see the famed Ozark forests and cliffs, the lake's beautiful waters, and the local fauna. As the jet boat cruises along the lake, you can take in the stunning view and water splashes as it navigates the crystal-clear waters. Take a boating adventure at State Park Marina. If you want a beautiful park and love various outdoor activities, head to the State Park Marina in Branson. You may rent a boat at State Park Marina for wave runners, water skiing, tubing, parasailing, scuba diving, and even guided fishing expeditions on Table Rock Lake. Everything you need for a day on the lake, including fuel, bait and tackle, clothing, refreshments, and even sunscreen, is available at the boathouse at the marina. At State Park Marina, you may hire slide boats, ski boats, wake boats, pontoons, and even bass boats. In Table Rock Lake's gorgeous waters, those feeling daring can engage a WaveRunner or go scuba diving. You may also go parasailing and lake cruising on the sailing catamaran Spirit of America. Swim at Moonshine Beach. If you want to immerse yourself in the crystal-clear waters of Table Rock Lake following a boating adventure at State Park Marina, go to Moonshine Beach. The entire family will enjoy swimming, picnicking, and camping at the beach. A great place to take in breathtaking views of the stunning surroundings on the lakeside is this sandy beach, which is found at the northern end of Table Rock Lake. Shepherd of the Hills and the Dewey Short Visitors Center are in Branson, each less than five minutes drive from the beach. Explore golf courses. One of the most fantastic golf venues in America is Branson. View the brand-new, just-opened courses that feature designs by Ben Crenshaw, Gary Player, Bill Coore, and Tiger Woods. You can choose from various top-notch golf courses in Branson, such as Mountain Top Course, Branson Hills Golf Club, Holiday Hills Golf Resort, and more. As you tee off, take in the expansive views of the Ozark Mountains, valleys, and undulating hills. Take a hike. There are many ways to get the whole family to enjoy outdoor activities in Branson, as it offers more than 200 miles of publicly accessible trails. All that's left to do is choose which of the several trails of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty is best for you and your team. Here in Branson, you'll find some of the most breathtaking locations to enjoy nature. View Dogwood Canyon, Ruth, Paul Henning Conservation Area, Lakeside Forrest Wilderness Area, and many more places here. Branson's Promised Land Zoo is the "#1 Animal Adventure" in Branson and a fantastic place to get up close and personal with animals from all over the world. The 75 acres of the natural Ozarks scenery can be explored in various ways, including the 2-mile drive-through safari, guided tram tour, VIP animal encounters, bottle feeding, and more! Some of the best outdoor activities, including exciting water adventures and a thrilling ride on the mountain coaster in Branson , abound during the summer season, and many vacationers come to this vacation paradise to enjoy them.
More Posts