Branson is a great place to spend your week of vacation. There are so many things to do whether you are a retired couple looking to relax and enjoy the music scene, or an active family ready to see everything there is. With a full week in the Branson area, you are sure to experience everything you expect to, and do so at an enjoyable pace. Send away for your travel planners, book your hotel, and get ready for a memorable week in the Ozarks!
• Day One—
Your first day in Branson is the perfect day to gain your bearings of the area. You can start this by taking the “Slice of the Ozarks Sightseeing Tour” in the morning, which is a 3-hour tour of Branson and the Tri Lakes Area. After lunch, your group might enjoy a trek through Marvel Cave to enjoy some of the outdoor adventure Branson has to offer by exploring this underground cave made of solid marble. Then, to kick start your week visiting the “Live Music Capital of the World,” enjoy a lively dinner at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show that evening.
• Day Two—
Silver Dollar City is the perfect way to introduce your group or family to the best the Ozark area has to offer. Silver Dollar City is a late 19th century theme park filled with rides and attractions, specialty shops in period themes, as well as skilled craftsmen offering live demonstrations of their crafts and skills. They have restaurants that offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner and perform over 40 shows of live entertainment everyday. Between April and December they have six family festivals that might be running during your time in Branson. Put on your comfy shoes and sunscreen and get ready for a great time!
• Day Three—
You deserve to sit back and relax today. It’s time to take in another of Branson’s famous shows. Begin early by having your breakfast at the Buck Trent’s Breakfast Show in the morning. Most of Branson’s shows offer morning, afternoon, and evening performances, so in keeping with your goal for today, choose another venue with an afternoon showing and continue to enjoy! Round your musical day out with the Showboat Branson Belle riverboat cruise, which offers dinner, leisurely cruise, and evening entertainment all wrapped up into one.
• Day Four—
Time for some more exploration of Branson today. Riding the “ducks” is certainly a unique experience in Branson and a nice way to see the area. The “duck” is a land and water vehicle, and the tour lasts 80 minutes on both the dry ground of Branson as well as Table Rock Lake. After that your group might enjoy another cave excursion to the Mystic Caverns. This tour actually takes you through two underground caves: Mystic Cave and Crystal Dome. Mystic Caverns is about 47 miles south of Branson in Harrison, Arkansas. After your tour, enjoy dinner in one of Branson’s many fine casual dining restaurants and make your way to another fabulous night of live musical entertainment.
• Day Five—
Branson doesn’t have to be all about going, going, going. You may wish to partake in the lovely outdoor recreational activities the Tri Lakes area of Branson provides. With three lakes to choose from, you are bound to find the perfect spot for swimming, boating, fishing, jet skiing, and more. Perhaps a round or two of golf is in order for your day as well. You can make the day completely serene by enjoying a leisurely terrace dinner, or as always, you can choose to end your evening with a show. The choice is up to you!
• Day Six—
Do you enjoy a good shopping expedition? If so, you are in luck! Branson offers not only three large shopping outlet malls, but hundreds of other shops too, including specialty stores, boutiques shops, craft shops, flea markets, and much more. Whatever you have your heart set on shopping for you are bound to find today in Branson. During the evening you might enjoy another dinner cruise, this time on the American Star which takes you around Table Rock Lake while you dine, or perhaps you would enjoy another lively show.
• Day Seven—
No trip to Branson would be complete without experiencing Harold Bell Wright’s “The Shepherd of the Hills.” He wrote the novel in 1907 based on real people in the Ozark area and his work became so popular, people began flocking to Branson to see it in person. This was the beginning of Branson tourism. You can spend the day exploring the homestead of “The Shepherd of the Hills” characters and then enjoy the excellent outdoor theatrical production later on that evening. The play combines drama, music, and comedy and is appropriate for all ages.