More Affordable Adventures After Your Runaway Coaster

Neil Sawford • February 28, 2023

When planning your next vacation in Branson, try any free things to do in this popular Missouri vacation destination.

This popular tourist destination is full of family-friendly hot spots and attractions, such as the Branson Landing shopping area, outdoor picnic and hiking areas by the lake, and free trolley rides around Branson's Historic Downtown. After you've seen all of the exciting attractions in Branson, including a thrilling ride on the Branson roller coaster, don't forget to stop by these free places in Branson.


Grand Village

When you window shop at the Grand Village, you are not required to buy anything, though you may be tempted. Try browsing the fantastic displays of pottery and jewelry designs at Peter Engler Wood, Lori's Soap Market, the Thomas Kinkade Art Gallery, Sunrise Leather Works, fudge, and souvenirs at Dickens Gift Shoppe, and free samples of select food and drinks at Mulberry Mill.

As you walk down cobblestone streets surrounded by picture-perfect shops, outdoor pavilions, water fountains, and cute park benches, you might feel like you're in a Disney movie. There are also unique photo opportunities, such as the supersized wooden chair pictured below! Grand Village is undoubtedly one of the best free things to do in Branson!


Branson's Historic Downtown

While you're having a great time in Branson's Historic Downtown, try to explore the picturesque home of Mom & Pop shops and many other outdoor events. Enjoy a fantastic ride on Sparky, the FREE downtown trolley, or take a stroll around the area to discover quaint breakfast cafes, antique shops, novelty stores, international food options, Bed & Breakfast establishments, and photogenic murals.

Historic Downtown, located just minutes from the Branson Landing, Starbucks, the Hilton Hotel, and the Branson Scenic Railway, is the perfect place to spend time with family and friends after you have enjoyed a thrilling ride with the Branson roller coaster.


Donut Statue at Dunkin Donuts

If you are a donut connoisseur, you should pay a visit to Dunkin Donuts in Branson. Not to buy donuts, but to pose in front of the large scale, chocolate glazed, rainbow sprinkled cake donut in the middle of the outdoor seating area!

After you have enjoyed a fantastic ride with the Branson roller coaster, don't miss visiting Donut Statue and taking photos for the family vacation album. If you want to brag to your friends about it, this double-frosted donut will get a lot of attention on Facebook and Instagram.


Hiking Trails

Many hiking trails are available in Branson during the morning, day, and evening hours. Enjoy the natural beauty of the area at any time of year, with scenic spots, natural landscapes, and even caves. When you drive to any of the memorable hiking trails in the Ozark Mountains, bring your best boots and even your bike for the best routes.

Among the popular hiking trails that you can enjoy in Branson are:

●       Ruth & Paul Henning Conservation Area

●       Nature Trails, Waterfall Hiking Trail

●       White River Valley Trail System

●       Sunset Park, Chinquapin Trail

●       Lakeside Forest, Stockstill Park

●       Northbeach Park


Picnic Areas

Picnic areas are a great place to take your breakfast, lunch, or dinner to-go and enjoy your meal up close and personal with nature at any of the designated picnic areas in Branson, Missouri! You can eat at any of the parks' tables or, if you have a blanket, find a spot to sit in the grass. There are numerous pristine areas with expansive views of the lake and the Ozark hills. So, when you participate in this peaceful and enjoyable free activity, sit back, munch a lot, and enjoy the sound of chatty birds!

Picnic Areas in Branson can be found at Eiserman State Park, North Beach Park, Murphy Park, Indian Point Public Use Area, Caudill Park, Epps Park, Parnell Park & Alexander Park.


165 Scenic Overlook

The Scenic Overlook off of 165 is a quick pullover where people can see stunning views of the lake, the Ozark mountains, and the Table Rock Dam. Any time of day is an excellent time to visit, but sunrise and sunset are stunning! The overlook is another of the many FREE things to do in Branson and is a popular destination for visitors.

Branson Lakes


With three lakes all within a short drive from the city of Branson, Missouri, visitors will have three times the fun and entertainment! Enjoy a family-friendly vacation by participating in lake activities such as swimming, fishing, picnics, camping, hiking/walking, and more! Bring your kayaks, boats, fishing gear, and floaties if you're looking for a genuinely free experience before visiting Branson's Bull Shoals, Lake Taneycomo, or Table Rock Lake.

After you have enjoyed a great ride with the Branson roller coaster, don't miss to visit these popular spots. They are all free to see, and you will find it great to tour around with the whole family.

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