Insider Spring Break Tips Straight from Branson Locals!
Spring break is here, and you’ve made an excellent choice to visit Branson, MO. You’ve probably already scoped out the roller coasters at Silver Dollar City, read the reviews about the great food & entertainment at the Dolly Parton Stampede, and considered watching one of the many shows that are lighting up Hwy 76. There are so many wonderful things to do in Branson, and we’re here to share tips from our own insider team.
Free Entry at Fritz for Kids in Foster Care
The folks at Fritz’s Adventure are huge supporters of adoption and foster care families. In fact, any children under 17 that have been adopted or are in foster care get in free every day! Fritz offers over 80,000 square feet of adventure including zip lines, extreme slides, warped walls, shipping containers to climb, underground tunnels, and huge obstacle courses. Not only could you spend hours here and not get bored, but the food court is also excellent! This destination is great for all ages, whether you want to buckle up and parkour across cityscape walls or you just watch the fun from the upper level.
Time Travel on a Budget
If you’re looking to travel back in time, you already know you can visit Silver Dollar City. This isn’t the only option for a nostalgic rush, though. Dick’s 5 & 10 in downtown Branson still looks much like it did when it opened in 1961… except with over 250,000 items! You’ll find over 1,100 types of snacks including retro candy like candy cigarettes, wax pop bottles, and Cherry Mash. If taffy is your thing, they have over 60 flavors! There is a huge selection of Cardinals, Cubs, and Royals memorabilia, clothing and crafts, and all kinds of fun trinkets you no longer see in stores today. Have you played Farkle or Racko in a while? You’re going to want to grab those while you’re there. Be patient with the parking. It’s worth it, and you’ll probably end up walking to a lot of other stores downtown, too!
For Thrill Seekers & Action Hungry Folks
If more action is on your mind, you’re going to want to take a ride on the Branson Helicopter Tours. Yes – a real helicopter ride that’s surprisingly affordable! You’ll fly over Highway 76, Branson Landing, and Table Rock Lake to see views that showcase this tourist area like you’ve never seen it. You can take a quick trip that gives you an aerial view over the strip and the Branson Ferris Wheel, but the deluxe tour is by far the best option. You’ll hover over boats cruising down Table Rock Lake and see the Showboat Branson Belle as it seems to majestically own the water with its 1800’s themed design. One of the most breathtaking views is seeing over 6,400 feet of rushing water as it spills over the dam.
Once you’ve landed, you might just decide you could get used to doing that more often. Lucky for you, this place is also a professional flight training facility! If you’re close to the Branson area and want to become a pilot, you’ll want to remember this place.
If a LOT more action is on your mind, try the Runaway Mountain Coaster, the first of its kind thrill ride in the area. This is a gravity-powered downhill roller coaster where you control the brakes and the natural landscape controls the rest. You’re not going to find this at your local fair! To give you an indication of the steepness of this mountainside, it was previously the location of a waterslide that existed for decades. It was fast then with rushing water, and it’s even faster going down a track on wheels!
Indoor Excitement + Nature Boost
Branson offers things to do that are inspiring, entertaining, and both visually and mentally stimulating. For one, you’ll notice a giant stainless-steel octopus right at the center of the Hwy 76 Entertainment District. That’s Aquarium at the Boardwalk! If visiting under the sea is your cup of tea, you won’t want to miss all the fish & fun here! You’ll see sharks, jellyfish, stingrays, seahorses, and a huge variety of tropical aquatic creatures from around the world. Plus, become a mermaid, climb through a kelp forest, touch a sea anemone, and more.
Across the way, check out that upside down building. It’s the new WonderWorks, filled with immersive educational activities from meteorology exhibits to physics fun. You can feel the wind from a tornado, feel how cold the water was during the Titanic shipwreck, blow bubbles the size of basketballs, touch 100,000 volts of electricity (safely of course), and so much more.
Wait… the Hollywood Wax Museum has a Virtual Insanity Ride and Mini-Golf?
That’s right! The Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center doesn’t only have incredible life-like celebrity figures that make great Instagram posts.
Get the best value All Access Pass so you can visit four attractions for one ticket price. Have a blast at the Castle of Chaos where you’ll buckle in for a 5D shoot-em-up adventure that’s suitable for everyone ages 4 and up! You’ll feel like you’re speeding, crashing, bumping, and right in the middle of it all with your 3D goggles on and your laser blaster in hand. Then, head upstairs for Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors. Rescue Princess Hannah and become a hero!
There are several options for mini golf in Branson, but none are quite as fun and original as “Shoot for the Stars” mini golf. The palm trees are the first indication that you’ve stepped off of the 76 strip and onto the Sunset Strip. You’ll find hilarious adventures as you take the 18 steps to becoming a star. Plus, there are photo ops and laughs with every putt as your agent, Marty McBooster, gives you his wisecracking advice at each hole. Aim that putter right in the center of the landmarks of Hollywood, including Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Capitol Records and the Hollywood Bowl. With your final stroke, find out from the Star-O-Meter, if you’ve earned just 15 minutes of fame or legendary star status. So fun!
Last Tips from the Locals
While you’re checking out all the best things to do in Branson, here are a few more tips from our local team:
- Go to Cakes-N-Creams. The 50’s diner is adorable, the food is delicious, and the desserts are even better (if that’s possible).
- If you want to pamper yourself, get a manicure, pedicure, or acrylic nails at Color Nails near the Branson Landing. Choose Tom if you aren’t a big talker, or Toi if you want all the latest gossip.
- The best seafood is at Landry’s. Get the fried zucchini as an appetizer and dunk it in ranch. Don’t worry, we won’t tell your mama this is the best you’ve ever had!
- Clay Cooper’s show has 3 stages of action happening all at once during the show, plus one of the best drummers in the entire region, Robbie Blackwood.
- Buckets and Boards is one of the most unique and fun shows in the area. Trust us, you’ve never had so much fun watching guys smack buckets and stomp boards.
- The Marriott’s Willow Ridge is just incredible all the way around – hotel pricing but resort amenities. There is an indoor and outdoor pool, hot tub, shuffle board, tennis courts, basketball goals, areas to grill, firepits, horseshoes, a game room (with unlimited free air hockey, foosball, and pool), board games to play, and 2 bedroom suites with a kitchen stocked with all the necessities.
Make this spring break one that will have you begging for summer just so you can visit again! There is so much more to do than we can fit here, but this is a great start to the best things to do in Branson according to the locals the folks who know it best.