What All To Do In Branson Area ?

[Hunter53]

Wife and I are going to Table Rock the first week of June for our 10th anniversary. We honeymooned on Table Rock and are staying on the lake again and doing a lot of fishing. We have a guide hired for the first day to help point us in the right direction on the fishing. We are going to the Dixie Stampede for sure one night. We will be fishing most of the day all week so we are looking for things to do mostly in the evenings. We would not be totally against taking one day off from fishing to sight see though.

With that said; what all else would you recommend seeing/doing in and around the Branson area?

What are the better steak houses in or around Branson/Kimberling City?

When it gets closer any tips on the fishing in the Kimberling City area would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks for any and all ideas guys!!

[bluebasser86]

IMO, Branson is a big, overpriced tourist trap for the most part. There's a couple shows that might be alright but last time my wife and I went neither one of us was impressed with anything we did or saw and probably won't be going back to any of it anytime soon.

The lake on the other hand is beautiful and well worth the drive. We spend most of the time fishing, my wife reads and tans a bit too. If the fish aren't biting or if we get hot we get as much away from the other boats as we can. I'll drop the anchor and we jump in and just float around. I get my snorkle gear and swim around and look at the cover and the fish a little bit.

For a really cool experience try staying at one of the nice little cabins down there or try big Cedar Lodge. We've stayed at Big Cedar once before and will be staying there again for our anniversary this weekend. Lots of stuff to do there and some of the resturants have really great food.

[Hunter53]

We are planning on mostly fishing but wanted some things to do at night. We are staying in a cabin on the lake around Kimberling City.

[Grappling Coach]

The best steak I have had in Branson was at the Outback Steakhouse. Danna’s has good BBQ, especially their loaded baked potatos and Memphis rolls. Sugar Leaf Treats has great sandwiches and wonderful deserts. We don’t go to shows, but people have told us that six is a good one. Other than Shows, the Titanic Museum is worth seeing.

[Bill Babler]

i cannot believe anyone would say Branson is over priced then reccommend a cabin at Big Cedar? BC cabins are very pricy, but not overly so and they are very nice. That was not the question, as he has lodging. There is a ton of stuff to do and in my opinion, nothing is over priced one little bit.

The drives around the lake are wonderful and you can visit small communities. Around Branson, evenings in addition to the Show's in which SIX is one of the best and a must see, there is the Branson Landing for its night life. There is an IMAX, and there is one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world to walk around at College of the Ozarks. The new Dewey Short Visitors Center at the dam is something else and from there you have one of the largest Trout Hatcheries in the world to look at, at Shepard of the hill.

For Hiking and just a wonderful evening walk there is a 5 mile trail along Table Rock Lake near the Dam and visitors center. Better yet, visit Dogwood Canyon Nature park. 10,000 acres of magnificent scenery and animals with waterfalls, covered bridges and nature tours.

On your day of non-fishing, there is the Branson Zipline, or a tour of Shepard of the Hill, or better yet a hop over to the eclectic mountain town of Eureka Springs Ark. About a 40 minute drive from Kimberling City.

For your Steak take the drive from Kimberling City to Shell Knob and wonderful little Lake Community nestled on the West End of the Lake, about a 40 minute drive from Kimberling City and have one of the best Steaks of your life at the Steak INN. It is an Ozark treasure.

There are so many things I have not touched it is unreal.

Come enjoy the magnificence of the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks.

Good Luck

[CaptainJoe]

And, don't overlook Silver Dollar City.....

[Feathers and Fins]

Branson is a Jewel with no questiosn. The shows are ok certainly not Broadway but patriotic and country which makes up for a-lot. Dinning there are so many places I couldnt even start to tell you where to go. But the shops are all great places to walk around in, The Christmas Village as my wife calls it will take you several hours at minimum and worth it. The landing is great at night, combined with Taneycomo and Tablerock lakes there is so much to do.

We all know on vacations we will spend money and are suppose to be having fun. The Ozarks offer more things to do then many places. Sure go to California and see Hollywierd and the Beachs. The beach gets old quick, Hollywierd attractions are for more expensive and traffic will cut into people vacation time and add frustrations. A traffic jam in the ozarks is a cow on the road which makes you laugh.

Enjoy your vacation time and have fun its a great place to visit.

[vacation]

I beg to differ a little on the quality of shows, I have seen Joseph at Sight and Sound and it was Broadway quality...simply put, AWESOME. Also, Grand Country square and the New South Show was great, as was Finalists LIVE at the Andy Williams Moon River Theater. Branson has plenty to do on a moderate budget. Have fun!

[dtrs5kprs]

Our family's to do's around Kimberling (after 16 years of staying there):

1) Don't miss Ma's for breakfast. Sit on the smoking side where the entertaining folks are and the food tastes better.

2) Drive down to Lampe and eat at The Filling Station. Thursday night is burnt ends night. Good Kansas City BBQ. Good desserts. Nice people.

3) Steak = Harter House and a grill. No better way to get it at the lake.

4) Everything Bill referenced. Eureka Springs back to the west and lots of fun to be had in the downtown Springfield area for couples. Trendy restaurants and classic dining options. Eureka is a good place to pick up some Arkansas wines and run them back across the line. Just don't let Jesus see on the way out of town.

Others:

1) Hollywood Wax Museum in Branson is fun if you have fun with it. Only place in the Ozarks to get a picture in bed with Hef while wearing bunny ears. That I know of...

2) Take a drive back up 65HWY and hit Lamberts for some rolls.

3) Cave tours. Several to pick from with various levels of effort.

4) If you are into history you have two civil war battlefields within an hour that are National Parks. Wilson's Creek just outside Springfield and Pea Ridge in Arkansas over towards Rogers.

5) Turpentine Creek wild animal rescue/sanctuary at Eureka. Lots of big critters, mostly saved from bad ownership.

Anyone know the current status of the old Predator World?

[Hunter53]

Thank you all very much!! Looks like there are some great ideas here. Trying to find time to do them all is going to be tuff with fishing most of the day first. We may have to make it a habit to get down that way more often.