Beginner's Guide to Missouri http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/ Missouri en Copyright 2007 Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:07:01 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.35 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Other Things to Consider and Know About Many of the entertainment options of Branson require advance reservations, and not all of them are available on all days. You need to call ahead or do some internet research to determine which shows are available and at which times. Some show venues offer discounts if you purchase tickets to more than one show from them, as do many of the lodging locations.
 
The website: www.bransonmissouri.com/shows/index.asp allows you to enter your travel dates into their calendar and they do a computer search to determine which shows are playing during the time of your visit and lists the times they run. This could be a fabulous time saving option for you as you plan your trip to Branson, Missouri.
 
Sources:
www.bransonchamber.com
www.bransonshows.com
www.silverdollarcity.com
www.bransonmissouri.com
]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-missouri-vacations-a-1-to-3-day-itinerary/other-things-to-consider-and-know-about.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-missouri-vacations-a-1-to-3-day-itinerary/other-things-to-consider-and-know-about.php Branson, Missouri Vacations - A 1 to 3 Day Itinerary Thu, 04 May 2006 21:45:39 +0000 Branson Real Estate Introduction Branson, Missouri—The Live Music Capital of the World—brings in an estimated 7 million visitors each year, but the actual residents of the town only number in the lower 6,000s. Many travelers love the Branson area so much that after visiting, decide to relocate or purchase vacation housing in the area. And Branson makes a great relocation or second home spot because it has many values: the cost of living is moderate, the location is prime, and the weather is temperate, not to mention the easy access to the musical entertainment. Whether you are interested in making a permanent move, or needing a vacation condo, Branson has just the place for you.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/branson-real-estate-introduction.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/branson-real-estate-introduction.php Branson Real Estate Tue, 23 May 2006 16:27:15 +0000 Neighborhoods Branson is a bit tougher to describe by way of neighborhoods, though there are distinct sections of the area by which you can refer. And when thinking of real estate in the heart of Branson, there is probably going to be more commercial available rather than residential. You might have better luck finding residential property to purchase in the surrounding areas of Branson. The following are some of the sections of Branson—

• Downtown—
The downtown area of Branson, just across the shores of Lake Taneycomo, hosts a variety of parks, public fishing docks, shops, restaurants, and campgrounds. Being in the heart of Branson means being minutes from many of the attractions that make Branson great.
• Indian Point
This area is also called West Branson and offers a number of lakeside resorts and the Silver Dollar City amusement park, in addition to Marvel Cave.
• Shepherd of the Hills
This area is the second most popular traveling road and it runs parallel to The Strip. What once was called Missouri State Highway 248 is now referred to as Shepherd of the Hills Expressway and is similar to The Strip in what it offers by way of shops, hotels, theaters, and attractions, and similar to the Downtown area with its parks and stately trees.
• Taneycomo South
This area of Branson hosts resorts and other tourist lodging locations and is noted for wooded hills and golfing areas.
• The Falls
The Falls District is marked by fabulous scenery and geographic features including The Falls, Compton Ridge, and Cooper Creek. The area hosts a number of camping spots, hotels, and resorts, nice fishing areas, and the historic College of the Ozarks.
• The Strip
This seven mile stretch of road on Missouri State Highway 76 hosts a plethora of restaurants, hotels, theaters, shops, and amusement parks. This is a main tourist pass through and a heavily congested area, particularly during peak traveling times.

• Other Surrounding Areas of Branson—
Blue Eye
Branson West
Hollister
Kimberling City
Lampe
North Branson
Reeds Spring
Ridgedale
Table Rock Lake

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/neighborhoods.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/neighborhoods.php Branson Real Estate Tue, 23 May 2006 16:28:30 +0000 Neighboring City Demographics • Largest Nearby Cities--
o Nearest city with a population of 50,000+ is Springfield, MO, which is 38.6 miles away and has a population of 151,580.
o Nearest city with a population of 200,000+ is Tulsa, OK, which is 187.6 miles away and has a population of 393,049.
o Nearest city with a population of 1,000,000+ is Dallas, TX which is 359.7 miles away and has a population of 1,188,580.

• Nearest Towns—
o Hollister, MO is 2.8 miles away
o Table Rock, MO is 2.7 miles away
o Indian Point, MO is 6.3 miles away
o Bull Creek, MO is 6.4 miles away
o Rockaway Beach, MO is 7.8 miles away
o Merriam Woods, MO is 8 miles away
o Branson West, MO is 9.2 miles away
o Coney Island, MO is 10.2 miles away

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/neighboring-city-demographics.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/neighboring-city-demographics.php Branson Real Estate Tue, 23 May 2006 16:29:28 +0000 Types of Housing Available and Price Ranges • Condos
Condos are a popular choice in the Branson area as they make great low maintenance housing, which is a high value for many folks, particularly those interested in a vacation house. Branson hosts quite a few condominium developments and they range in price from $30,000 to the $200,000s with an average condo being 3 bedrooms for around $150,000. You can find condos with a lakefront view, golf views, and other scenic places in the Branson and Tri-Lakes Area.

• Log Cabins
Log cabins are not what they once were, the rustic, hastily put together home of frontier life. Log cabin living can certainly have that rustic charm to its appearance, but when it comes to the amenities of home owning, cabins have not been left in the dust. Log cabins run in a square foot range of 1200 to 2500 and can have from 1 to 4 bedrooms. Some cabins come with Jacuzzi tubs, most come with all major appliances, and other special fixtures are available if desired. A 2 bedroom log cabin close to town costs around $115,000.

• Single Family Homes
Surprisingly enough there are homes available in Branson for under $20,000. Homes in this range are between 800 and 1,000 square feet with 2 to 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. In the $55,000 range are smaller homes than above clocking in at an average of 600 square feet with 1 or 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Nicer homes are to be had as you inch your way up the price scale and a surprising number of nice homes are available for under $100,000. Of course, as is true everywhere, location is key, so the better areas of town, and those sporting the most land will be higher in price. There are some very nice homes in great areas available for under $300,000, and extremely spacious, luxurious 9,000 square foot homes with 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms available for $1,500,000.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/types-of-housing-available-and-price-ranges.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/types-of-housing-available-and-price-ranges.php Branson Real Estate Tue, 23 May 2006 16:30:19 +0000 Crime Statistics As of the 2001-2002 crime statistics report, the total population of Branson, MO was about 6,134 people. That year Branson had 72 violent crimes reported and 721 property crimes, which when divided out in comparison with other communities, comes to 11.7 violent crimes for every 1,000 people and 117.5 property crimes for every 1000 people.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/crime-statistics.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/crime-statistics.php Branson Real Estate Tue, 23 May 2006 16:31:12 +0000 Schools • Branson Public School System—
According to the 2000 US Census, the Branson School district covers 111.47 square miles and a population of 17,851. It is divided into three campuses: Cedar Ridge, which has three schools for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. The Jr. High School educates students in seventh and eighth grades, and about one mile north of the Jr. High campus is the High School for the remainder of the grades. They see about 3,400 students who are educated by 241 teachers.

• Private and Parochial Schools—
Branson and the Branson Area are also home to several other schooling options including some private and parochial schools. Among these are Faith Christian Academy in Branson, New Life Academy in Hollister, Berean Liberty Christian Academy in Branson, Appleseed Christian Academy in Branson, and Faith Christian School in Spokane.

• Colleges and Universities with more than 2,000 students closest to Branson—
o Southwest Missouri State University, 36 miles away in Springfield, MO
o Drury University, 40 miles away in Springfield, MO
o Ozarks Technical Community College, 44 miles away in Springfield, MO
o Southwest Baptist University, 69 miles way in Bolivar, MO
o Northwest Arkansas Community College, 71 miles away in Bentonville, AR
o University of Arkansas Main Campus, 74 miles away in Fayetteville, AR
o Missouri Southern State College, 92 miles away in Joplin, MO

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/schools.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/schools.php Branson Real Estate Tue, 23 May 2006 16:32:05 +0000 Hospitals and Airports Closest to Branson • Hospitals/Health Centers—
o Skaggs Community Health Center; Business Highway 65 and Skaggs Road
o Carroll Regional Medical Center; 30 miles away in Berryville, AR
o North Arkansas Medical Center; 30 miles away in Harrison, AR
o St. Johns Regional Health Center; 36 miles away in Springfield, MO

• Airports—
o Springfield-Branson Regional; 42 miles away in Springfield, MO
o Northwest Arkansas Regional; 77 miles away in Fayetteville/Springdale, AR
o Drake Field; 77 miles away in Fayetteville, AR
o M. Graham Clark; 4 miles away in Point Lookout, MO
o Boone County; 28 miles away in Harrison, AR
o Air Park South; 29 miles away in Ozark, MO

Sources:
www.vacationsmadeeasy.com
http://travel.yahoo.com
www.realtor.com
http://local.yahoo.com
www.branson.k12.mo.us
www.city-data.com

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/hospitals-and-airports-closest-to-branson.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-real-estate/hospitals-and-airports-closest-to-branson.php Branson Real Estate Tue, 23 May 2006 16:33:08 +0000 Branson, Missouri Vacations - A One Week Itinerary Overview 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.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-missouri-vacations-a-one-week-itinerary/branson-missouri-vacations-a-one-week-itinerary-overview.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-missouri-vacations-a-one-week-itinerary/branson-missouri-vacations-a-one-week-itinerary-overview.php Branson, Missouri Vacations - A One Week Itinerary Tue, 23 May 2006 16:33:59 +0000 Alternate Options Some of the days listed in the one-week itinerary are better suited to one age group than another. Depending upon the age of your children, if you are bringing them on the trip, some of the options may not hold their interest for very long. On the other hand, if you aren’t bringing children at all, the Silver Dollar City day and the trip to Mystic Caverns just might not be your cup of tea either. Here are some alternate ideas for you:

• Alternate One—
Eureka Springs, Arkansas is another popular Ozark destination that could offer a week’s worth of activity all by itself, but would also make a great option for a day trip in the middle of your Branson adventure. Eureka Springs is about 50 miles away and takes just over an hour to drive. This quaint 19th century Victorian village is nestled in between two lakes and two rivers and offers shopping and entertainment year round. They offer many historic sites as well as beautiful Victorian architecture. The Great Passion Play has been an important part of the region for many years as have the Thorncrown Chapel, and the old fashioned shopping district. If you need something extra to add to your trip to Branson, an excursion to Eureka Springs could be just the thing!

• Alternate Two—
If one day at Silver Dollar City was not enough, you might enjoy a second day. The pricing structure is set up so that purchasing a season pass costs less than two separate days worth of tickets. They also offer special pricing on their sister amusement parks if purchased in conjunction with your Silver Dollar City tickets. These extra parks include Celebration City which is a night-time adventure with fireworks, lasers, and 150-foot fire towers and White Water, Branson’s premiere water park.

• Alternate Three—
Branson offers more for its visitors than just the musical scene. Your group might enjoy one of the many museums or additional tours Branson has to offer. Among these are the American Presidential Museum, the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum, the Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, the Veteran’s Memorial Museum, The Butterfly Place, and the World’s Largest Toy Museum.

Other interesting tours include the Branson Scenic Railway on which you not only get to tour the old time form of transportation, you get to ride on it also! Another option to consider is the Sammy Lane Boat Line’s Pirate Cruise which is a 70 minute tour of Lake Taneycomo with an excursion to the Boston Ridge Gold Mine.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-missouri-vacations-a-one-week-itinerary/alternate-options.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-missouri-vacations-a-one-week-itinerary/alternate-options.php Branson, Missouri Vacations - A One Week Itinerary Tue, 23 May 2006 16:36:13 +0000 Other Things to Consider and Know About As mentioned in the One to Three Day Itinerary of Branson, many of Branson’s entertainment options require advance reservations, and not all of them are available on all days. You need to call ahead or do some internet research to determine which shows are available and at which times. Some show venues offer discounts if you purchase tickets to more than one show from them, as do many of the lodging locations.

The website: www.bransonmissouri.com/shows/index.asp allows you to enter your travel dates into their calendar and they do a computer search to determine which shows are playing during the time of your visit and lists the times they run. This could be a fabulous time saving option for you as you plan your trip to Branson, Missouri.


Sources:
www.bransonchamber.com
www.bransonshows.com
www.silverdollarcity.com
www.bransonmissouri.com
www.eurekasprings.org

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-missouri-vacations-a-one-week-itinerary/other-things-to-consider-and-know-about.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/branson-missouri-vacations-a-one-week-itinerary/other-things-to-consider-and-know-about.php Branson, Missouri Vacations - A One Week Itinerary Tue, 23 May 2006 16:36:58 +0000 Branson Restaurants and Entertainment branrest.jpg

Branson Restaurants and Entertainment Overview

What kinds of restaurants can I find in Branson?

Branson Restaurants: American Continental, Asian, Barbeque

Branson Restaurants: Breakfast/Brunch, Buffet, Chinese, Contemporary

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/newbies-picks/branson-restaurants-and-entertainment.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/newbies-picks/branson-restaurants-and-entertainment.php Newbie's Picks Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:58:36 +0000 Branson, Missouri Vacations - A 1 to 3 Day Itinerary braniten.jpg

Branson, Missouri Vacations--A 1 to 3 Day Itinerary Overview

One Day Trip to Branson: Tours

One Day trip to Branson: Other Options

Three Day Trip to Branson

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/newbies-picks/branson-missouri-vacations-a-1-to-3-day-itinerary.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/newbies-picks/branson-missouri-vacations-a-1-to-3-day-itinerary.php Newbie's Picks Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:00:10 +0000 Kansas City Hotels and Accommodations kcrest.jpg

Kansas City Hotels and Accommodations Overview

Hotels by General Location

Kansas City International Airport

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/newbies-picks/kansas-city-hotels-and-accommodations.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/newbies-picks/kansas-city-hotels-and-accommodations.php Newbie's Picks Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:04:52 +0000 Kansas City - Three Day Itinerary kciten.jpg

Kansas City - Three Day Itinerary Overview

Trip One - The Shopping Spree

Trip Two - Family Fun

Trip Three - Western Heritage

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/newbies-picks/kansas-city-three-day-itinerary.php http://beginnersguide.com/missouri/newbies-picks/kansas-city-three-day-itinerary.php Newbie's Picks Tue, 01 Aug 2006 21:07:01 +0000