If you haven't made your trip to Branson this summer you need to get it scheduled. Labor day is just a couple of weeks away and it's just about time for school to start back. We made a short visit to Branson a couple of weeks ago and stayed 3 nights. We had some relatives down from Washington state and they enjoy Branson and wanted to make a return visit. One of the things everyone wanted to do was to see NOAH The Musical.
I will have to admit I didn't have extremely high expectations for the show. It did start off a little slow but it built up steam after the first 15 or 20 minutes and just continued upward after that. I don't want to put any spoilers in here but after intermission the stage setting that opens the last half of the play is unbelieveable. This is a very good show!
The Sight and Sound Theater, where the show is performed, is very nice. There is plenty of parking, the climate control in the theater is good, the seating is good, and there are plenty of refreshments to purchase in the lobby before the show and during intermission. The only thing I thought could have been better was the capacity of the restrooms. Both the men's and women's restrooms had long lines during itnermission.
Overall I would recommend attending this show. The ticket prices are comparable to other shows in the area and the 2nd half of the show really makes it worthwhile. Prices, including taxes, range from $53 for and adult, $25 for teens up to 18, and $16 for children ages 2 through 12. You can follow this link to get your NOAH The Musical tickets.
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Well, we have covered a lot of ground on our Branson vacation. We visited Silver Dollar City where we had a really good day. We watched live shows there as well as enjoyed the local craftsman showing us how to do everything from blow glass to blacksmith.
We spent a day shopping Branson visiting the both the local crafts and antique stores as well as the Outlet Malls and Branson Landing on Lake Taneycomo.
Let's not forget the food you can find in Branson. There are numerous restaraunts, cafes, and buffets to insure that you do not go hungry.
We also took a look at some of the exciting upcoming events. Things that will give a reason to go or to go back! Just a side note here, I believe the 1st annual Branson Air Show is going to be a great success. If you love aircraft or enjoy being entertained for an entire day without spending a ton of money you need to get to Branson for this event.
These last several posts on Branson will hopefully give you an idea of the myriad of things to do at Branson Missouri if you have never been. If you have been, I hope these posts will make you want to go back. Not only is Branson a place you can vacation but it is a place where you can spend time with your family in a laid back environment. Slow down a little and enjoy yourself! See you in Branson Missouri!
Oh, by the way. Do yourself a favor and stop by the Panera Bread Company on the way out of town and pick a loaf of fresh baked bread. And, if you happen to be driving south on Hwy 65 on your way home make a stop at Coursey's Meat Market just outside of St. Joe, Arkansas. They have the best smoked ham and turkey you can find. And if you like Beef Jerky don't leave there without some of their's. You will be glad you did!
You can find great savings on your Branson Vacation by clicking on the small banner below.
If you like to fish then the lakes located in and around Branson, Missouri are just another reason for you to make the journey to the southwest Missouri destination. Fishing in the Branson area runs from the elusive rainbow trout down to the "lowly" but exceptionally good eating catfish. And of course there bream, crappie, and bass as well.
You will likely need a fishing license and or a trout stamp to pursue your quarry in the Branson area. I have summarized the fishing regulations for you below:
FISHING REGULATIONS:
DAILY FISHING PERMIT: $7.00
May be purchased by residents and nonresidents for multiple days.
RESIDENT YEARLY FISHING PERMIT: $12
RESIDENT HUNTING AND FISHING PERMIT: $19
For fish, frogs, mussels, clams, turtles, crayfish and live bait, birds except turkey, mammals except deer, and to sell furbearers taken by hunting.
NONRESIDENT FISHING PERMIT: $40
TROUT STAMP: $7
You must also have a fishing permit. A trout permit is not needed where a daily trout tag is required.
If you are between the age of 16 and 65, you need a Missouri fishing license before you can legally catch fish. A license is also required for non-residents of Missouri over 65 years of age.
For more information on fishing in Missouri and the Branson area check out the Missouri Department of Conservations Fishing page.
The three closest lakes to Branson Missouri for fishing are Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo and Bull Shoals.
On Table Rock Lake you will find a large variety of fish to pursue:
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
White Bass
Kentuck (Spotted) Bass
Rock Bass (Goggle Eye)
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Bluegill
Crappie
On Lake Taneycomo you will find the local trout fishing:
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Bull Shoals contains the same same species as Table Rock Lake. However, please be aware when fishing Bull Shoals that part of the lake is in Missouri and part of the lake is in Arkansas. On the Arkansas side of the lake the Arkansas fishing laws apply, including the necessary licensing.
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There are several upcoming events in Branson that you may be interested in participating in or attending.
Currently underway is the WorldFest at Silver Dollar City. This began on April 4 and runs through May 3. So you still have a couple of weeks to catch this. This is on Wednesday through Sunday's only. International performers and craftsman from around the world gather at Silver Dollar City to peform and share their craftsmanship.
Coming up this weekend is the Missouri Wine Festival. It is April 25 and April 26. It is held at Chateau on the Lake resort. If you can't make it this year then mark it on your calendar for next year.
If you like motorcycles then you will have plenty to entetain you in Branson. The Goldwing Motorcycle Riders gathering is April 30 - May 3. This is sponsored by Area 57 events. In addition the following weekend is the 8th annual Branson Motorcycle Rally. This will be held near the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater complex.
Something new for Branson, and always a big draw at the local air force base, is the 1st annual Branson Air Show. As usual Branson does events like this first class. They will have the USAF Thunderbirds as well as USArmy Golden Knights parchute team. Additional high performance military aircraft will be performing as well as on static display. This event will be held at the new Branson airport and will be held May 8 - May 10.
Finally if you are an adventurous soul and a have a desire to be on television the Wheel of Fortune will be holding audtions May 9 - May 10 in Branson at the Welk Resort. Go early and get in line if you want a chance to audition for the show.
The original shows of Branson, The Presley's and The Baldknobbers, are still in production today. The Baldknobbers have been performing now for 50 years. Both of these shows are country music (both old country and new country hits) as well as slapstick country comedy. You will leave either of these shows laughing and feeling entertained.
If your prefer dinner AND a show then I would encourage you to check out either the Dixie Stampede or the Branson Belle. The Dixie Stampede is Dolly Parton's showcase. You will be served a 4-course meal and then entertained by a mock battle of the North and South. The audience gets to participate and it is a fun time. The Branson Belle is a dinner cruise on Table Rock Lake followed by an entertaining show featuring ventriloquist Todd Oliver and his talking dogs!
If you prefer something a little different in the musical category try Shoji Tabuchi. He is a world renowned fiddle player that will absolutely amaze you with his ability play the fiddle. Many times his wife and daughter perform with him. These tickets always go fast.
Do you prefer to be impressed by magic? If so check out Kirby and Bambi VanBurch. Their show is quite good. They incorporate the use of tigers. They also usually have one really big illusion like making a car or helicopter disappear from the stage before your very eyes.
There is literally a show for everyone in Branson (prefer a dance show..check out Spirit of the Dance). The ticket prices will vary but you can put categorize most of them into the $30 - $50 range per ticket for adults. Most shows have a teenager price that is about $10 cheaper and a children's price that is anywhere from free to $10 depending on the show.
Everyone wants to know if you can get discounts on the show tickets or get free tickets. Well, if you want to go to a 2 or 3 hour condo tour/sales presentation you can often get a free ticket or two. But is this how you really want to spend your vacation? You can also pick up coupon sheet and coupon books all over Branson that will save you a couple of dollars on each ticket.
The best way to get you tickets and the best price is to buy them in advance. You can do this by clicking on the banner in the upper right corner of this blog or click Branson Missouri Shows. Be sure and select the tab for Branson Shows to get the best prices on your tickets.
You have found your hotel or condo and gotten properly settled. You spent a day at Silver Dollar City enjoying the rides, watching the craftsmen, taking in shows, and of course enjoying the good home cooking there.
Now, for your next adventure, if you so choose, I suggest spending a few hours enjoying the shops and shopping malls. Branson originally had a few local crafts stores and the normal grocery and shopping stores you find in most small towns. Once Branson began to catch on as a tourist destination one of the first things to go Big in Branson was outlet mall shopping.
The first of the outlet malls to be developed was the Factory Merchants Mall. This is known to Branson regulars as the red-top mall. (Three guesses as to why it's called the red-top mall). The Factory Merchants Mall is still open in Branson. It's a nice very open and spread out mall. There are a couple of different levels since it's built onto a hill-side. If you want to see a detail list of stores click the link provided in the previous sentence.
The second outlet mall is the Tanger Outlet Center. The Tanger Center is known by Branson regulars as the blue-top mall. Yes, it has a blue-top. This mall is newer than the red-top mall and tends to be preferred by the younger crowd because of the store line-up. You can find a Nike store, Bannana Republic, Reebok, Aeropostale, American Eagle and Old Navy just to name a few. They have some really good prices especially if you catch them at season change (back to school and spring).
The other outlet mall is The Shoppes at Branson Meadows, which also has a movie theater attached. This is located a little off the beaten path on the northside of Branson. If you can see the big white water tower on the hill to the north of Hwy 76 then The Shoppes is just below the water tower. The last time I was in Branson this particular mall had only a few shops open. There were many vacant stores. So, I'm not sure if it is to be closed or the owners are going to try and obtain new tenants. The one store that I really liked at The Shoppes was the VF Factory outlet. There was also a nice little bookstore that had mostly books that were not new releases.
Now, the newest shopping establishment in Branson is Branson Landing. Branson Landing is much more upscale and is not an outlet mall. It is has first run merchandise and many of the newest stores. Please click the link to see a complete list. One of the nice things about Branson Landing is that it's on Lake Taneycomo and there seems to always be a nice breeze into this open air shopping facility. There is also a Bass Pro Shop on one end that can keep most men entertained for at least an hour or so. The other big plus with Branson Landing is that there are real restaraunts and other places to get a coffee or ice cream. The other outlet malls are really lacking in this area. I would suggest you either go early and finish up with lunch at Joe's Crab Shack or maybe end your day at Branson Landing and have dinner at Garfields or Macaroni Grill.
If you prefer to shop for something a little more "crafty" I would suggest the Engler Block or the Branson Craft Mall. Either of these will let you get a feel for the local craftsmanship and provides and opportunity to purchase unique items.
Don't forget. Before you head out on your trip to Branson you will want to Create your own vacation package at ReserveBranson.com !
- What is your budget for lodging for the trip?
- How much time do you plan to spend in your room?
- How long are you going to be in Branson?
If your trip is short and you are going to be busy shopping, going to shows, and taking in the sites of Branson I suggest you pick a clean, moderately priced hotel. Basically you are going to be there to shower, sleep, and maybe take a nap. Try the Branson Towers Hotel. You can usually get a room there with 2 queen size beds for between $65 and $100 per night depending on the time of year you are going. I have stayed there many times and I probably averaged around $58-$65 per night. Now, for this you get a clean room, 2 queen beds, indoor swimming pool, indoor hot tub, continental breakfast, on-site restaraunt (Whispers), and the opportunity to participate in the ice cream social that usually starts around 9 or 10 pm in the evening. The picture shown above is the Branson Towers Hotel.
If you are going to be in Branson for a longer period of time, say a week, and you want to spend a little more time in your room and have a little more space I would suggest a condo. Someplace like Indian Point Resort on Table Rock Lake. Indian Point is located near Branson on Table Rock Lake and it is away from the hustle and bustle. But only a few minutes by car to Silver Dollar City and the shows of Branson. Your room here will run from $99 to $150 per night depending on the number of bedrooms, the day of the week, and the time of year you are traveling.
You can book both the Indian Point Resort and Branson Towers or Create your own vacation packages at ReserveBranson.com by clicking the link.
What better way to begin a stay in Branson than with a trip to Silver Dollar City. Silver Dollar City is located just a few minutes west of the Branson Strip on Highway 76. At Silver Dollar city you will find many rides and shows for the entire family. They now have the Giant Swing, which is literally a giant swing. The Powder Keg which is a roller coaster that will take your from 0 to 53mph in 2.8 seconds, wow! You can see a short video of the powder keg here. For those a little more laid back you can ride the Silver Dollar Line Steam Train and the kids can enjoy Geyser Gulch (warning somebody will get wet)!
If you have never been to Silver Dollar City you need to plan to spend the entire day there. Go early and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Have a pastry or cinnamon roll at Eva and Delilah's bakery. Then take a stroll around the park and enjoy the many demonstrations of craftsmanship. Then when you are ready take on some of the rides. Surely by now you need a bite of lunch. Try Big Jack's Sandwich Shop or one of the many other eateries inside of Silver Dollar City. A few more rides and you will want to sit down and rest a bit. There is plenty of shade and plenty of places to sit in Silver Dollar City. Why not take in a show while you are resting? There are over 49 live shows daily! Everything from comedy to bluegrass to Chinese Acrobats. After the show(s) take in a some more rides or just walk and enjoy the shops and the craftsman that are demononstrating their skills.
You are certainly welcome to head back to town for dinner but I would encourage you to check out Molly's Mill restaraunt or Aunt Polly's Fried Chicken. You will be glad you did.
Before you head out on your trip to Branson you will want to Create your own vacation package at ReserveBranson.com !
