Branson Missouri - the must do's

As far as sightseeing you have to go to the "look out" which in across Tabel Rock Dam which is also a must see! While there stop at the trout hatchery. Take a ride on the ducks and they will take you to both along with great views of Table Rock Lake from their private mountain.

For a nice dinner go at sunset to Top of The Rock - reservations require but well worth it! As far as shows, see Dixie Stampede, Shoji, and Acrobats of China. If you have kids you can't go wrong with ANY of the great magic shows. Plus there are three, yes three, malls in the area. All of which have GREAT shopping with GREAT deals. This is a must stop desination in the November and December months because Branson is VERY CHRISTMASY!!! Millions of lights... have to see it to take in the beauty!

Quick Tips:

Get a MAP of the area. Learning the back roads are a key to saving lots of time while on vacation to the area. You can truly get to anything you want with these roads in under 15 minutes. If you don't learn the back roads and want to sit on 76 hwy "The Strip" go for it, but there is a reason they call it the world's longest parking lot.

Best Way To Get Around:

You MUST have a car to get around. If you are flying into the area, there isn't a public transportation system and very few cab companies, most of which own very low quality vehicles. If you want to enjoy the strip on a nice day, park and take a walk, but the strip is several miles long (8 miles).

Best Things Nearby:
The resort is on the southwest side of the town and is very close to Table Rock Dam, Lawrence Welk, Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake, and the Butteryfly Palace. It’s a short drive to the main action of the strip (5 minutes) but is still far enough away that you don't hear all the people and traffic!

Best Things About the Resort:
Fairfield is top notch. They have LOTS of onsite activities and you can do lots without leaving the resort. They also have discounted show tickets and specials for guests. The staff will all go above and beyond. The member services staff are great at helping you plan your entire vacation, from dining to shows. Most resorts in Branson don't offer the services that Fairfield provides to their guests.

Resort Experience:
If you come and stay at Fairfield Branson, they have four phases of condos. The Falls, Meadows One and Two, and then Mountain Vista.

If you have a choice, Mountain Vista is my favorite resort in all of Fairfield. They were built in late 2003, early 2004. They painted the rooms bright colors that make you feel happy all over.

If you happen to stay at the Meadows, they have more of a lodgy feel to the room with dark browns and fish wallpaper. The falls is also very nice, but doesn't have a recreation building. You would have to get in the car or take the shuttel to Mt. Vista to use theirs. Also, the Falls doesn't have elevators, so, unless you get a first floor unit, you would have to take the stairs. I DO NOT RECOMEND THE STUDIO UNITS. They are too small and you would be better off staying at a different resort. However, their one bedroom or larger are all GREAT!

The recreation center has a pool table, ping-pong table, darts, and a great game room. There is also a massage and workout room!

• Unit Type: Other
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Best Things Nearby:
Holiday Hill golf course is really the only things thats close. As stated below it can take you a while to get to all the action Branson has to offer.

Best Things About the Resort:
Its in the middle of no where so you can really kick back and relax. If you like to golf they have a decent course with discounts to those who are staying there. They also have picnic areas with tables and BBQ grills, along with several pools and playgrounds.

Resort Experience:
I would have to say that if you are coming to Branson to relax it’s great. If you’re coming for shows and to experience Branson, pick a different resort as it’s a ways out of town (though a Branson address). It will take you at least 15 minutes on a good traffic day to get to the resort and back to Branson. On a normal day, it’ll be 30 minutes. There are too many other resorts that are right in the middle of all the action!

Silverleaf has two types of condos - the regal units and the "Presidential" units. Most RCI exchanges are the regular units that are very lodge-y feeling. They don't have private washer and dryers and are just average units, but are VERY clean and perfect if you’re not spending a lot of time in the room. On site activities are average, as they don't offer as many as some other local resorts. They do have tennis courts, basketball court, several play grounds, and shuffleboard all on site. Also they do have a restaurant called Grille on the Greens so you don't have to drive far to eat when you get hungry.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Fair
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Best Things Nearby:
Everything Branson has to offer. For a Branson campground, it's one of the best locations! If you want to rent a car, they have a few that offer discounts and will pick you up at the camp groud, so you don't have to tow a car. Renting a car to get around in Branson is a must, as the roads aren't camper-friendly.

Best Things About the Resort:
FISHING and Location. If you want to make a trip to fish, this is the spot! They are located on one of the best areas of the river to catch trout, and you don't even have to rent a boat because you can fish right from the dock. They have a ramp and rentals available if you wish to rent though.

Resort Experience:
Cooper Creek Resort and Campground in Branson is on 14 wooded acres and offers campsites and cabins. The site is just 2 miles from the Branson shows and shops. The campground is right on Lake Taneycomo, which has the BEST trout fishing in the state! The have a boat ramp and dock for fishing!

They don't have areas for tents, but there are 75 full hook-up sites that are best for pop-ups and RV/5th Wheel. The roads are paved and the sites are all pull-thrus. They even have cable hookups.

They have two small pools, along with a small bait and tackle shop, on site.

• Campground Type: Private
• Campsite Type: RV
• Price Range: $20 - $30
• Cleanliness: Excellent
• Campground Facilities: Excellent
• Recreational Facilities: Very Good
• Campsite Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Best Things Nearby:
The condo complex is located a few miles south of the Branson area on hwy 165. If you don't mind a short drive you can reach all the action in less than 5 min. The resort has units that are on Lake Taneycomo so if your planning a trout fishing trip this is a GREAT location as they have their own dock with slips.

Best Things About the Resort:
The best thing about The Sunterra Resort in Branson is the location, that is if your a fisherman. If your not you may want to choose a higher quality resort or closer location to all the Branson action. If you like to play putt-putt they have a newly resurfaced course that's free and onsite. Also tennis courses and fishing dock, with boat rentals. If your on a relaxing family or fishing vacation is this is the one you want to stay at!

Resort Experience:
The resort complex is quite large. They have a campground, private owned condos, and a converted vacation home / trailer park area. The units that I have seen there area all a bit dated. If you are staying at this resort I recommend calling and seeing if they will let you stay in a newly remodeled unit. The old one show their age and won't make for a great vacation experience, especially with all the "new" high end resorts in town like Fairfield, Blue Green, World Mark, and Westgate. I would plan to drive if you want to use a swimming pool or activates because everything is spread out. All in all the condos and resort experience here is a 5 all the way as long as you get a newer unit. Branson is known for its friendly people and several of them work for this resort as they all seem willing to help plan shows, give directions, or even suggestions for dinner. Employees here are top notch.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Well, since I have become accustomed to a resort/condo type accommodation the hotel rooms here seems just like another room. However, I realize that it’s unfair of me to compare a hotel to an actual resort. Rating this hotel on the merits of hotel lodging it’s the single BEST hotel in the Branson (South West Missouri) area! They offer valet parking and incredible lobby and lounge. The lounge has nice over stuffed chairs with a fireplace, and piano, not to mention the views of the lake. The hotel is truly full service with two dining rooms, the "atrium" and the regular dining. John Q. Hammond designed the hotel and they do invite non-guests to visit. It’s worth your time just to go in a look. There is even an old style ice-cream parlor where you can have a scoop or two and sit out on the deck looking over one of the best views of Table Rock Lake. For the price, even though more than most hotels in Branson, it’s worth the extra money for the service, experience, and view of the lake. Sunsets here will take your breath away!

If you’re looking for "HOME TOWN COOKIN’," this is the place. They have the BEST burgers probably anywhere in the entire State of Missouri and is VERY affordable. If you’re looking for lunch and not sure where to go do yourself a favor and go here! It’s a smaller place but when you walk in you are usually greeted by the owner, not just another employee, so it makes a BIG difference. You can place you order at the counter or have a set on a table inside, or they even have a few picnic tables outside with shade. They also have hand-dipped ice cream and homemade milkshakes that are a mus- try. This place also won't break the bank. You can feed a family of four for under $25. If you like hometown, friendly, and an upbeat environment, you have to eat here!

If you're looking for good home-cooked Mexican food, this is the spot! As you walk in, there are only a hand-full of tables, with several sombreros hanging off the wall and ceiling. They have pictures and banners that make you feel like you were in a real ma-and-pa Mexican resturant.

They are low-priced and make an awesome Margarita! The chips and salsa are free when dining in and are great. I will order the chips and salsa to go all the time! If you dine here, make sure to try their cheese dip and Margaritas!

They have a sign out front that has their daily specials on it, some days they have all-you-can-eat tacos and, other days, shrimp fajitas. If you have a craving for some great Mexican food, check this place out.

Most people don't know this, but Denny's is the largest full-service family restaurant chain in the United States. The Denny's restaurant in Branson offers a casual dining atmosphere and moderately priced meals served 24 hours a day. Denny's is well-known for its breakfasts served around the clock. Denny's menu also features a variety of appetizers, hamburgers, sandwiches, salads, chicken, steak and seafood entrees as well as desserts.

Specialty menus for health conscious guests feature low-carb and low-fat offerings. They also offer customers age 55 and over selections at special prices and children 10 and under a specially priced menu.

When you get hungry and start looking for a familiar place to eat stop in here. Also VERY FEW places are open 24 hours a day in Branson. So if you're hungry late, this is it. Remember this, because you will drive for hours looking aroud trying to find someplace to eat after 10 PM. Also, for a Denny's, this location has some of the friendliest employees and some of the best food and fastest service out there. Take a few quarters or a crisp dollar bill in to try and win a stuffed animal/toy out of the "claw" machine.

Stone Hill has a GREAT winery tour. It’s not like some wineries that just want you to taste and then buy the wine. They take you on a guided tour. They explain and even show you the process of making, storing, and drinking wine. At the very end they have several samples and they even let kids go on the tour and at the end they have grape juices for them to sample so they can also feel like they aren't left out. I can remember going as a kid and it did make a big enough difference that I still buy their grape juice. I would rate this winery in the TOP 3 in Missouri if not #1!

No need to tow the boat or rent one. Just find a nice public dock or stay right on the lake at a few local resorts. Fishing for trout is one of the easier types of fishing and can be VERY fun, even for the first-time fisherman. A record size brown trout was caught here a few years back, and I'm sure there is another one in there just as big, if not bigger. Maybe you can be lucky one to catch it!

You can fish with anything from Power Bait to worms and corn. Just make sure you are in the right part of the river to use the different types of bait. At Table Rock Dam, you can get a map from the hatchery that will give you pointers along with the do’s and don’ts.

Early morning is the best time to get out and about. Usually about two hours before sunrise, you will start catching them. If you don't start until 10 or 11, you might as well stay home, because I've not had good luck in the late morning. Come back and try again in the evening a few hours before dusk into the wee hours of the morning are great times! It requires a state license and trout stamp to fish in the state of Missouri. If you are under 16 or over 65 you don't need one. You can get your license/stamp at both K-Mart and Wal-Mart. A three-day pass is cheap and should work for the one-time trip.

Table Rock Dam is a great site to see especially when they are letting out water. I have attached some pictures that will do all the speaking it needs to do. I would say this is a must-see while you are in town. They offer tours and on both sides of the dam are service roads so you can get some great pictures along with a view of Tabel Rock Lake, Taneycomo Lake, and all of Branson. They have a great fish hatchery that is also worth the stop. Make sure that you have a few quarters so you can buy fish food for them. Even if you decided to be cheap and not spend the quarter hold your hand out above the holding tanks and the trout will go NUTS jumping and fighting thinking that they will miss out of the food if they don't. If you have kids TAKE THE QUARTERS becasue its a LOT of fun and they will remember it for years!

If you have time when you are in town you have to stop by the IMAX and at least see Ozark Legends! Its a great movie if you want to learn a little more about the area and also if you haven't seen an IMAX movie. They screen is HUGE. And the sound system is beyond explanation. If you get a chance they also usually have one of the top rated action movies playing there like Spiderman, Titanic, and many more...

The over all experience that you will have can't be explained until you have seen an IMAX movie. They do a display in the beginning before the movie starts to give you information about the theater. The show you what a normal movie screens size is in out lined lights on the bigger screen and it makes you realise what a difference it is.

When you show you traveling in the airplane, or on the rollercoasters, or the one that takes you into space you really FEEL it. You will sway your body to the left and right like you were really moving... but you aren't your in a normal seat... just like any movie theater... but your not...

The reason that I decided to post this is because several people always ask, "What’s the deal with Branson and gambling," so here’s the scoop.

The gambling issue went up for a local vote and passed by 87%. Then when it went to a statewide vote on August 3rd and failed. People were afraid that it would draw too much business to the casinos, away from "Branson" activities, and might raise crime rates.

With the help of a very rich man (owner of Silver Dollar City), the opposition was able to convince more than 50% of the state to vote against the amendment, allowing gambling in the region.

So, I’m sorry to say that you won't be able to gamble for awhile in the Branson area, unless the state lotto will do it for ya.

I haven’t given up hope, as I would like to see gambling in the Branson area. The group and most of Rockaway Beach are still putting up a fight, trying all avenues possible to get it back on the ballot.