Branson, MO

Branson in Missouri is a small town which is located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains in Missouri. Characterized by much scenic beauty which also includes a man-made lake, Lake Taneycomo, Branson is visited by hordes of visitors every year. These vacationers come to Branson not only for its quaint small town ambiance and its excellent fishing and golfing opportunities; they also come to Branson for its thriving entertainment scene which is made up of more than forty theaters which present performances of every kind from gospel, rock, and pop to comedy, drama, and variety shows.

These shows are held throughout the day at the various theaters which are located on Branson's main entertainment drag known as 'the Strip'. Estimates indicate that Branson's theaters which offer 60,317 seats in more than 50 venues outstrip the world renowned Broadway theaters of New York in terms of capacity. Apart from theaters and shows, Branson also offers much myriad entertainment for all the family in the form of three theme parks including the famous Silver Dollar City theme park, many restaurants and eateries, three lakes, ten golf courses and shopping options that range from the outlet malls to upscale boutique stores.

A Little History

How did such a small town grow to become such an important hub on the entertainment map? Branson was initially settled by the Osage people, after which it figured on the map of European fur traders in the 1600s. The Louisiana Purchase rendered Branson and Missouri a part of the US in 1803 and subsequently the region saw much action during the Civil War. However the tourist boom in Branson can be attributed to a novel called The Shepherd of the Hills which was written by a traveling minister Harold Bell Wright in 1907. The book describes the many charms of life in Ozarks which sparked the interest of its readers who then ventured out to the area to discover its many delights themselves.

To entertain these summer visitors family variety shows began to be staged for their entertainment in the 1950's which gradually evolved into more diverse shows as big name entertainers realized they had a captive audience in these summer visitors who came to vacation in the Ozarks. In the 1980's and 1990's many theaters, restaurants, theme parks, golf courses were constructed in and around Branson which helped to make it the vibrant entertainment hub that it is today.

Things To Do

Branson can actually provide you with a comprehensive vacation experience as it has much to offer for all kinds of vacationers. Booking a vacation rental in Branson makes for sound economic sense as well as with a vacation rental you can eliminate many expenses which are associated with a hotel stay and thus you can have much more to splurge on the many attractions of Branson. Moreover depending on whether you are fishing enthusiast or a golf nut or even a theater buff you can choose the location of your vacation rental accordingly from a wide variety of options that are available to you.

Some popular sights that you should try and take in on your vacation to Branson include:-

The Music City Center
This Center is one of the key locations in Branson which stages many thoroughly entertaining acts that feature acrobatic displays as well as dance and music. Popular shows that have been staged here include "The Haygoods," "Tony Roi's Elvis Experience" and "Red, Hot...and Blue!"

The Starlite Theater
This 1950's theater which is spread over 11000 square feet and can comfortably accommodate 900 guests has held popular shows over the ages like the Platters, Liverpool legends etc.

The Stockstill Park
The 62 acre verdant paradise known as Stockstill Park has the pretty Roark Ceek located within its environs. It also has many open meadows, playgrounds, sports facilities and picnic tables making it an ideal location to spend a lazy summer day with all the family.

The Silver Dollar City Theme Park
This 1960's constructed theme park which is built around an 1880's theme is extremely popular with families who choose to vacation in Branson as it has a wide array of rides and local attractions . This theme park is located between Branson and Branson West on Highway 76.