Branson Things to Do

The first thing anyone should know about getting around Branson is the following
1. First thing one should do when arriving in Branson is pick up a free tourist map at any quick stop or gas station.
2. Unless your willing to spend about an hour traveling down route 76 at 5 to 10 miles an hour to see all the sights, use the alternate routes, ie... the red, blue, green or yellow route to get to your destination.

There are some good wines in the area, and have been here for over 100 years. Germanic people started the vineyards in the area, and they thrive today. One example here, and closer to Branson is this winery.

This entertainment park is pretty large, and has a lot of variety things to see and do. Besides rides and roller coasters, there are places to stop and see how the old time culture in 1800's lived with people demonstrating the every day life and jobs to eke out a living. They also feature a lot of shows and entertainments to keep your interest. The entry price can be steep at about $20+ depending on the type and length you want.

They have a fair number of boats that ride the waves of Lake Taneycomo and Table Rock Lake. YOu can ride around and take in the scenery of the shoreline, of have a lunch or dinner, some with entertainment as part of the packages.

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These are brand name people and performers. Even Dolly Parton comes into town now and then to promote here show display. The Titanic is a show to take in for the adventure of like being there. A ship of 1/2 original size was constructed and housed in a building. They have some actual artifacts from the sunken ship and also display events and stories of the passengers like they may have felt going down.

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Visitors to Branson can find the downtown area a little commercial - and maybe a little tacky - and it is. BUT there is tremendous talent there. More than that, though, is the beauty surrounding the Branson area. We live in Kimberling City, on Table Rock Lake. TR Lake is a beautiful - and very clean - lake, with over 700 miles of shoreline - and we drink in the beauty of the area every day. There are a couple of spots you really don't want to miss if you visit the Branson area. One is Dogwood Canyon (you can look up their website) in nearby Lampe, MO. Truly a lovely place to spend several hours...whether hiking, biking, horseback riding - or just touring it on a tram. The other place I love is Big Cedar Lodge - just south of Branson, in Ridgedale. It's a gorgeous place to stay. If that's not in your budget, at least take some time to visit it. The grounds are beautiful and it's a great site to take marvelous photographs.

I had seen Yakov Smirnoff a few times doing short comedy bits on television, and he was funny. Nothing prepared me for the Yakov Smirnoff Show. He had me laughing so hard I was crying! Then, at one point when he talked about what America meant to him, he had me crying, without the laughter. He makes himself available to his audiences, staying around afterwards for photos, autographs, and questions as long as any one in the audience stays. It was by far one of the most enjoyable couple of hours I have ever spent. I would recommend that anyone visiting the area take the time to see this show.

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It seems that three talented ladies from the Branson entertainment area, decided to break away from the norm and form their own show. They call themselves the Branson Divas. From the name, one would think that this is a sort of "tribute or impersonator" show. To the contrary. These ladies never try to impersonate anyone, but themselves. While they perform all styles of music, they do them all in their own style and voice. The three ladies, Janice Copeland (who has performed with many big name stars, including Ray Stevens), Cindi Barr (who has been in Branson shows for 20 years) and Michele Sevryn (who has also been on the Branson scene for many years) all have great voices in their own right and can carry a solo just as well as any big name Diva. But when they perform together in harmony, the show and the songs take on an almost magical feeling. They are wonderful! But not only are the three "Divas" great singers, they are also just plain great entertainers, dancing, doing comedy, and not really acting like "Divas" at all. But rather, like three genuinely humble and lovable characters that you can't help but feel a kinship with. The Branson Divas show has an underlying message of love, fellowship and inspiration. And you can tell that they are really friends who truly enjoy what they are doing. They encourage you to always follow your dream and tell you that everyone is beautiful, no matter what your size, color, age, etc. While I think this is a great show for a ladies or Red Hat group, the guys will love it too. There is enough variety and comedy to keep their attention and, even though this is an all female cast, this is no man bashing going on. I highly recommend this show for all genders and ages. You will leave the show inspired and uplifted. It is definitely the must-see break out show in Branson. Don't miss it. There is a light lunch that is also offered before the show that you can add to the price of your admission. The tickets are very reasonable and even with the lunch, the price was under $30 person