Travel
Things to do in Branson, Missouri
Discover the best things to do in Branson, Missouri. Whether you’re looking for entertainment, fine dining, family attractions or cozy accommodations, these activities belong on your Branson bucket list.
By Jordan Blomquist
Aug 01 2024 at 10 a.m.
Branson, Missouri, has entertainment for all ages, stunning scenery, delicious dining options and so much fun waiting for you this fall.
Having grown up in 417-land, it was always a treat to make it to Branson for a day of shopping at the Tanger Outlets, enjoying the thrills of Silver Dollar City or grabbing dinner at one of my go-to spots, Thai Thai Cuisine.
Ready to plan your trip to Branson? Read on for a closer look at some of the highlights and hidden gems the city has to offer.
Branson is known as the "Live Entertainment Capital Of The World."
A Little Bit of Everything in Branson, Missouri: From Silver Dollar City to Dolly Parton’s Stampede
Branson Convention & Visitors Bureau
4100 Gretna Rd, Branson, 417-334-4084, explorebranson.com
Experience the fall getaway of your dreams in Branson! Discover exciting new attractions like the Social Birdy, featuring pickleball courts, a putting course, golf simulators, and a full bar. Be mesmerized by the latest shows including MJ the Illusion and Dustin Tavella, promising unforgettable performances. No matter your preference, from The Haygoods and Hughes Brothers to Reza Live and Legends in Concert, there is something for everyone on a Branson stage.
Don’t miss: Celebrate with crafts, music, food and more at one of Branson’s fall festivals. Visit Silver Dollar City’s Harvest Festival and Pumpkins in the City where you can see artisans at work and thousands of glowing pumpkins! Check out Shepherd’s PumpkinFest to enjoy fall activities such as a petting zoo, hayrides, bounce houses, and more!
Satisfy your adventurous spirit by soaring through the fall foliage on one of Branson’s many ziplines, the Snowflex Tubing Park or the Runaway Mountain Coaster. Get a bird’s-eye view of surrounding leaves on the Skycoaster or Skyscraper thrill ride at Track Family Fun Parks.
Savor a delicious breakfast at Steamy Joe’s Cafe with a beautiful overlook of fall foliage. Experience home-style cooking at Local Flavor in the heart of Branson. Dine at the Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks, known for its exquisite menu and student-made goodies. Grab a sweet treat at The Pie Safe, known for homemade pies bursting with autumn flavors.
What to see: Take advantage of the cooler weather and enjoy Branson’s hiking, biking and horseback riding trails. Explore one of our three pristine lakes for endless fall scenery, with rental boats at State Park Marina and Indian Point Marina.
My recommendation: Dolly Parton’s Stampede is one Branson show that holds a special place in my heart. The dinner show brings back special memories of annual visits with my entire family, where we’d enjoy dinner and the show and pick out souvenirs from the gift shop.
When to go: Whether you’re seeking outdoor excitement, world-class entertainment or simply a place to unwind surrounded by breathtaking fall scenery, Branson has everything you need for an unforgettable autumn escape. Plan your visit now at explorebranson.com/seasons/fall.
Guests have the opportunity to relax in Birch & Willow’s lounge before and after their service.
Rent the Spa for a Day
Birch and Willow Spa
4524 Gretna Rd., Branson, 417-544-0247, birchandwillowspa.com
Birch & Willow Spa, Branson’s premier luxury day spa, invites you to sit back and relax. The mother-daughter owner duo, Jodi Lilly and Jami Kysar, have a combined 34 years of licensed massage therapy expertise.
What to try: Perfect for girls’ weekends, family getaways, bachelorette parties and more, Birch & Willow offers a spa rental package that allows groups to rent out the entire spa. Guests can choose between a four-hour package with five 60-minute services or an eight-hour package with 10 60-minute services. During their stay, groups can enjoy private access to the locker room, lounge and treatment rooms. Clients can select any facial, massage or body treatment for their personalized service. While salon services are not included in the package, they are available at a discounted rate. Interested parties should call for pricing and to book their private spa day.
Don’t miss: Birch & Willow partners with local businesses to help you customize your day. Enjoy individual charcuterie boxes or share a board at the spa. Add a bouquet of flowers for that special someone.
Tip: “Come early and stay late,” Kysar encourages. Guests can arrive before their appointment to enjoy the sauna and lounge, unwinding in robes and slippers before and after their service.
My recommendation: During my visit, I enjoyed two specials: a 60-minute massage with hot shells and a 60-minute facial with eye and lip treatments. Before the massage, we discussed the areas to focus on so the massage therapist could give those areas some much-needed extra attention. The hot shells—used to relax the muscles—were my favorite part! After the massage, I received a facial that started with steam to prep my skin. The expert gave me skincare tips based on my skin type, performed extractions and applied several products to ensure deep hydration, and my skin has never felt better. I highly recommend starting with a massage and finishing with a facial for a well-rounded experience. They definitely don’t understate luxury at Birch & Willow! A visit to their sauna before and after the service really set the tone for a relaxing day.
Christopher & Banks has stylish options for fall out now.
Find High-Quality, Affordable Outfits for Fall
Christopher & Banks
300 Tanger Blvd. Suite 304, Branson, 417-527-8493, christopherandbanks.com
Christopher & Banks has been outfitting women in comfort and style since 1956. The brand strives to create high-quality and affordable clothing designed in the United States and brought to customers by a team with over 150 years of combined experience.
Don’t miss: Exclusive prints and patterns, a consistent and accurate fit in sizes 4-24 and great quality at a competitive price are what keep customers returning.
Want to try: Customers have to try Christopher & Banks’ Signature Slimming Pant Collection. Available in a variety of fabrics and styles, all are designed with a flexible tummy-smoothing panel for a sleek silhouette and great fit. Customers love the denim so much they call them “magic jeans.”
What’s new: From colored denim and sweaters in pointelle and cable stitches to quilted jackets and vests, Christopher & Banks will be the destination for great fit and function this fall.
Tip: Visit their location in the Tanger Outlets Branson, or shop anytime online at christopherandbanks.com.
Prepared to be wowed by the fountain show at the Branson Landing.
Stroll the Branson Landing or Practice Your Swing at Branson Hills Golf Club
HCW Management Company
100 Branson Landing Blvd., Branson, 417-332-3400, hcwdevelopment.com
What’s new: Branson Landing welcomes four new establishments: Flaming Margarita American Kitchen, Crepes N’ Cream, Southern Living Store and Elysium—a toy and gaming store.
Swing into summer at Branson Hills Golf Club. The club introduces its new Club Car Fleet, featuring plush seats and GPS navigation. Tee times can be booked at bransonhillsgolfclub.com. Don’t forget to check out Magnolia Grille before or after golfing.
Don’t miss: The fountain shows at the Branson Landing. Guests will be amazed by the dazzling interplay of water fountains shooting 120-foot geysers and fire cannons blasting, all choreographed to light and music.
My recommendation: Don’t miss out on a fun photo op! The fountain shows are impressive to watch but also make the perfect backdrop for snapping a photo.
Additionally, Level 2 Bar, located just outside Level 2 Steakhouse, offers an exceptional selection of drinks along with the full menu from the steakhouse.
What to see: Everything at the Branson Landing—from anchor stores like Bass Pro to Belk, is complemented by 17 restaurants and over 80 retail and attractions. Plus, don’t miss the scenic boardwalk stretching along the 1.5-mile Taneycomo Lakefront.
The Mansion Theatre is an iconic destination in Branson, Missouri.
Experience a Show in Branson
The Mansion Theatre
189 Expressway Ln, Branson, 417-335-2000, themansiontheatre.com
The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts is Branson, Missouri’s destination for world-class concerts, award-winning Broadway productions and cultural theatre experiences. It is also the premier performing arts center for the Midwest United States. Since its opening in 1993, The Mansion Theatre has showcased talent from all over the world, including Hall of Fame artists like Johnny Cash, Dennis Quaid, Michael Bolton and more.
What’s new: The Mansion Theatre continues to offer an exciting line up of legendary favorites. This year, they’ve added Tracy Byrd, Lee Greenwood and Lorrie Morgan. Don’t worry, favorites like Jimmy Fortune, Gene Watson, The Bellamy Brothers, Daniel O’Donnell and The Gatlin Brothers are still on the schedule as well.
When to go: October through early December is The Mansion Theatre’s prime concert season.
What to see: This year, Tracy Byrd will be the exciting new addition to the lineup. With years of entertainment experience, he brings beloved songs like “Watermelon Crawl” to the stage.
Tip: Shows fill up fast, so it is best to reserve tickets in advance. The Mansion Theatre offers insurance on tickets, allowing patrons to receive a refund if plans change and they are unable to attend. Visit themansiontheatre.com for tickets.
Don’t miss: Praisefest is a must-attend Gospel Festival showcasing multiple Dove Award-winning artists over three days. This year’s Fall Praisefest will be held from October 28-30.
The Comfort Inn is one of many properties owned by Myer Hospitality in Branson, Missouri.
Sit Back and Relax
Myer Hospitality
417-335-4727, myerhospitality.com
Myer Hospitality’s four Branson hotels: Best Western Center Pointe Inn, Comfort Inn at Thousand Hills, Comfort Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express Green Mtn. Drive promise quality service tailored to their guests’ needs, regardless of their chosen accommodation in town. All hotels offer relaxing indoor pool and hot tubs.
What’s new: The Comfort Inn & Suites owned by Myer Hospitality stands as the most decorated Comfort Inn in the brand’s history, ranking among the top 1% nationwide. Additionally, renovations are underway at the Best Western Center Pointe Inn, with plans to introduce new features in their A building.
What to try: Myer Hospitality’s hotels offer a variety of room types based on each person’s and family’s needs. All hotels have rooms that can sleep up to six people, as well as suites for a romantic getaway.
Tip: Myer Hospitality offers vacation planning and ticket services without service fees, making vacations easier and more economical. Guests can also access dining publications at all their hotels for added convenience.
My recommendation: Myer Hospitality leaves its hotel pools and hot tubs open until midnight so take advantage and relax after a day of adventure or a night out on the town.
The homemade pizza at Pier 28 is sure to satisfy everyone in your group after a long day on Table Rock Lake.
Enjoy Some ‘Za!
Pier 28 Pizza & Grill
344 Nautical Cir, Kimberling City, 417-527-1580, pier28pizzagrill.com
Pier 28 Pizza & Grill is Table Rock Lake’s most fun and tastiest boat-up restaurant! This friendly, laid-back restaurant combines old favorites with new lake-loving menu items including Pier 28’s award-winning homemade pizza, featuring their proprietary dough and sauce recipes, with only premium ingredients. Pier 28 also features top-notch lake grill items such as appetizers, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pasta and gourmet dessert.
Know before you go: Located at Port of Kimberling Marina & Resort, Pier 28 Pizza & Grill is in the same cove as What’s Up Dock, near the Kimberlling City Bridge. For customers who want to maximize their time on the water, to-go ordering is available on the website.
Tip: With 30 courtesy boat slips at the same dock as the restaurant, no one needs to take a shuttle or climb a hill. There’s ample car parking, too! By car, access Pier 28 Pizza & Grill through the Port of Kimberling Resort.
My recommendation: I am team pineapple belongs on pizza, so I love the Carribean Breeze pizza, which is topped with chicken, green pepper, pineapple, red onion, mozzarella and Jerk sauce. I like it spicy, so I add jalapenos, too!
Don’t miss: Come and enjoy live music most evenings! Visit pier28pizzagrill.com for the updated schedule.
Silver Dollar City, an 1880s theme park, is home to 12 stages, over 40 rides and attractions, 18 award-winning restaurants, 60 shops and 100 resident craftsmen.
Thrills in the City
Silver Dollar City
399 Silver Dollar City Pkwy, Branson, 417-336-7100, silverdollarcity.com
See ya this fall, Pumpkin! Silver Dollar City’s Harvest Festival gets glowing on September 13.
When to go: It’s glow time! Silver Dollar City gives folks “pumpkin to talk about” as one of its brightest festivals of the year gets ready to shine! The gourd times get going at Harvest Festival from September 13 through October 26.
What to see: Thousands of pumpkins are aglow throughout The City by night with no-scare family fun around every corner of the 1880s theme park, including an all-ages dance party and character meet and greet in the Pumpkin Plaza. There’s a pumpkin-perfect picture opportunity everywhere you look, starting with a stroll beneath the two-story, lantern-filled Canopy Sky or a walk through Foggy Hollow. Before the nighttime fun, The City features a Harvest Festival all day with visiting craftsmen who demonstrate pioneer leatherworks, cooper art, jewelry, artistic pumpkin carving, hand-painted décor and so much more!
Don’t miss: Meanwhile, cowboys return to the park’s Carousel Barn at the Cowboy Emporium, featuring Western-inspired crafts and Yellowstone and Gunsmoke star Buck Taylor, showcasing his acclaimed artwork. Across the street, cookies demonstrate their cowboy recipes each day of the festival, with a chuck wagon cook-off to end each afternoon!
What’s new: The autumn food offerings pumpkin spice things up! From pumpkin funnel cakes and lattes to warm apple dumplings with cinnamon ice cream, there’s a Fall flavor for every festival foodie! A Tasting Passport offers five samples of those special autumnal flavors for only $35 plus tax.
My recommendation: I love the nostalgia that comes with a visit to Silver Dollar City. Don’t underestimate the shows at the amusement park—they’re some of the best in town! I am a big fan of comedy shows, so Frontier Follies is at the top of my list. As for rides, you might have to stand in line, but it’s worth it for Powder Keg. End the day with a Tater Twist and Clara Belle’s Cinnamon Bread, and you’ve hit all the marks!
Tip: Sounds of the season fill The City’s streets. Get your hands clappin’ and feet tappin’ with folk, country and bluegrass performances by Arbour Season, Horsecreek, Eastern Heights, Spoken 4 and many other acts throughout the park’s indoor and outdoor venues. For hours, dates and more information on Harvest Festival, visit silverdollarcity.com or call 417- 336-7100.
