Ten Tips for Your First Visit to Branson

Neil Sawford • July 4, 2022

Since Branson has become known as the world's entertainment capital, many tourists have made their way to the most visited tourist destination in Missouri. A famous vacation paradise in the Midwest, Branson offers wholesome entertainment, breathtaking scenery, and enthralling outdoor activities for visitors of all ages.

Don't miss out on a thrilling adventure on the Branson Jet Boat or the Mountain Coaster in Branson before visiting many popular attractions. To fully enjoy Branson, we've compiled a list of 10 tips for making your first visit to this popular vacation spot memorable.


How To Get Here

Branson is near the southern border of Missouri and a short distance from northwest Arkansas. Branson has long been known as a top road trip vacation destination because one-third of the country can easily reach it in less than a day. Your trip to Branson can be more enjoyable with scenic, monumental, exciting, and historical stops.

Although road trips are the most popular way to get to Branson, they are not the only way! There are two national airports within 50 miles of the city. Branson Airport (BKG) offers year-round select flights from across the country, and Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF), is located just up the road in Springfield, Missouri.


What To Expect

Branson takes the best parts of a big city - entertainment, shopping, and restaurants - and makes them accessible, safe, wholesome, and fun for the entire family. When is the best time to visit Branson? It comes down to personal preference with pleasant springs, hot summers, colorful autumns, and mild winters.


Where To Stay

Branson, like other cities, has a wide range of hotels from which to choose. Unlike most cities, you don't have to leave Branson to find top-rated campgrounds and RV parks. All-inclusive, world-class resorts surround the city and line the beautiful Table Rock Lake shores.


Best Bites

A pancake the size of a car hubcap is being served at a popular cafe in Branson. Foodies are flocking to Branson's new restaurant scene. The city has a great mix of favorite chains, and Branson has them to satisfy your taste buds. Remember to try the cool, sweet homemade ice cream or the Branson fudge.

When it's time for a drink, visit a nearby winery or distillery. Take some home with you to remember the classic Ozarks taste. Coffee lovers will appreciate the unique brews and traditional cups served in an eclectic setting.


See A Live Show

As soon as you get there, you'll know why Branson is known as the Live Music Show Capital of the World! The city has over 150 productions to choose from, catering to a wide range of audiences.


Bring The Whole Family

One of the best ways to enjoy Branson is to visit the Silver Dollar City Attractions. This theme park in the style of the 1880s has jaw-dropping roller coasters, comfy train rides, play areas for kids, and splash-tastic water rides. Spending several days at Silver Dollar City will still give you more to discover, such as the mountain coaster in Branson.


Explore The Great Outdoors

The outdoor scene in Branson is thriving! Take on the great trails or ride on a wide variety of breathtaking water adventure rides on the Branson Jet Boat or a thrilling coaster ride on the Mountain Coaster in Branson.

Must-see sights

Although Branson has many unique attractions at every turn, you need to see a few significant spots.

Branson Landing Fountain Show is a spectacle of lights, water, fire, and music for all.

Dick's 5 & 10 is one of the oldest nickel and dime stores in the United States and has been a Branson icon for over 55 years. Dick's 5 & 10 offers more than 250,000 specialty items to guests of all ages.

The iconic Branson Ferris Wheel that once stood on the Chicago Navy Pier was brought to Branson's Entertainment District in 2016.

Come During The Christmas Season

Christmas time is truly the most wonderful time of year in Branson! This time of year, prepare to visit the place to see hundreds of unique Christmas trees scattered throughout America's Christmas Tree Capital.

Discounts & Deals

Many shopping malls in the area offer discounts all year, so we encourage you to follow social media channels and bookmark the websites of the businesses you wish to visit! You can also check out great deals for discounts on some of the area's top shows, hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions.


Want to know more? Check out our extensive list of things to do in this popular vacation destination, including a thrilling ride on the Mountain Coaster in Branson. With your first trip to Branson planned, you're off to a great start.


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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.
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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.
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