Branson, Missouri: Fill Me in on All You Know

[MIGrandma]

DH and I are considering going to Branson for a few days (maybe a week) at the end of March. If you've been there, tell me where you stayed and if you liked it. I'd prefer a condo, or at least a 2-room suite (so we have a bedroom with a door) in a hotel. The bed and breakfast places look nice, but pretty pricy. Tell me what shows you saw, what other fun things you did. Any great restaurants? I've been doing some research on the internet, but would like some suggestions from those who have been there too. Thanks!

 

[Microcell]

Hello! I have been to Branson several times, and we usually stay at cheap motels on the strip, so you may not be looking for that!

I did have a talk with a travel agent about a cruise for my inlaws and determined that because my FIL refuses to fly perhaps a trip to Branson would be better for them.

That travel agent suggested Big Cedar Lodge. It is bigcedar dot com! Looks beautiful! Might be a little expensive.. not sure.

We usually just stay at a Best Western on Shepherd's Parkway (I think is the street) and it is fine for us, clean enough and has an indoor pool. It is not a suite sort of hotel though.

You may want to look at vbro dot com (vacation rentals by owner). They might have something too!

Have fun whatever you choose!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The newest hotel is in Branson Landing. I have not stayed there however I would not hesitate to stay there. Branson is old and most of the places are old.
http://www.bransonlanding.com/current_leases.html

We stay in cabins on Indian Point, which is next to Silver Dollar City. We go in the summer and go boating on the lake.

We don't really go to shows however I have been to some. Just pick which ones you want and go.

Big Cedar sounds cool. It is 10 miles out of Branson and really a "lake" thing for people with boats.

 

[MIGrandma]

Hello! I have been to Branson several times, and we usually stay at cheap motels on the strip, so you may not be looking for that!

I did have a talk with a travel agent about a cruise for my inlaws and determined that because my FIL refuses to fly perhaps a trip to Branson would be better for them.

That travel agent suggested Big Cedar Lodge. It is bigcedar dot com! Looks beautiful! Might be a little expensive.. not sure.

We usually just stay at a Best Western on Shepherd's Parkway (I think is the street) and it is fine for us, clean enough and has an indoor pool. It is not a suite sort of hotel though.

You may want to look at vbro dot com (vacation rentals by owner). They might have something too!

Have fun whatever you choose!

I wouldn't mind a cheap hotel, if DH didn't snore like a freight train and keep me awake most of the night.

Do you go see shows then you're there? What fun things do you do? Any favorite restaurants?

Is the traffic really as bad as I've heard?

 

[happygirl]

Must do's
SDC
Dixie Stampede
ShowBoat Branson Bell

The Landing. great shopping

A lot of people like Andy Williams I'm not crazy about him. There are tons of outlet malls.

The falls has really nice Condo's

This is a great message board for Branson. If you have any ? feel free to Pm me

http://www.1branson.com/forum/

 

[happygirl]

I wouldn't mind a cheap hotel, if DH didn't snore like a freight train and keep me awake most of the night.

Do you go see shows then you're there? What fun things do you do? Any favorite restaurants?

Is the traffic really as bad as I've heard?

Traffic can be bad but if you do your homework you can find back roads. The time you are going Traffic won't be an issue

 

[Microcell]

Oh.. restaurants and shows.. this deserves another entry altogether..

One word.. Lamberts!

Home of the throwed rolls! It is in Ozark, MO, 30 min from Branson near Springfield. They usually have a 2 hour wait and it is worth it! It is down home type cooking, gigantic portions, no possible way for anyone to eat it all and might justify having a kitchen where you stay so you can have leftovers the next day. They have a dot com as well and are not bad as far as price is concerned especially if you consider the leftovers! If you are in Springfield Bass Pro Shops is a huge store, hunting, fishing, camping etc..

We traditionally go to Grand Country Inn for breakfast in Branson proper.. your typical breakfast fare in buffet style. Reasonable, clean.

Those are our two must do's for each trip, and there are tons of other choices there in Branson!

Shows: Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede.. it is dinner and a show! You need to make a reservation pretty soon as it usually sells out!

I have heard that Sohji Tabuchi has a good show, and the Presleys. THe Baldknobbers have been there forever. We have actually not been to a show there since Tony Orlando had one in the 90's! Just had babies when going and now the kids would rather just play at the water parks or mini golf etc..


We always "Ride The Ducks" when there.. a ride through Branson in an Amphibious Vehicle that takes you into the lake for a short ride!

Now I wanna go to Branson again! So many happy memories, but can cost as much as Disney!

 

[Microcell]

Traffic can be bad but if you do your homework you can find back roads. The time you are going Traffic won't be an issue

It won't be like Summer where it does take at least a half hour to get up one side of the strip to another (about a two mile strip). Keep in mind though that it is Spring Break for us in MO, and KS so the crowds might increase some. Shouldn't be horrible if you know it is much worse in the Summer.

They do have roads now that circle the town sort of that alleviate traffic, but you really have to study a map to figure out where to go to cut out the most time on the strip!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It won't be like Summer where it does take at least a half hour to get up one side of the strip to another (about a two mile strip). Keep in mind though that it is Spring Break for us in MO, and KS so the crowds might increase some. Shouldn't be horrible if you know it is much worse in the Summer.

They do have roads now that circle the town sort of that alleviate traffic, but you really have to study a map to figure out where to go to cut out the most time on the strip!

That is what I think too. March cannot be big with traffic. And yes they have the red, yellow and blue routes if you are looking to get around Branson. We also use the highways depending on where we are going. Download the maps before you head out.

Now I will say...I have been caught once in the traffic on a Sat. to go from one end to the other. We were headed to Branson West to get our dogs that we boarded there. OMG, it was 3hrs.

Since we stay at Indian Point Point we go to Branson West to shop.

And OP if you want a condo there are a TON of them if you want to go that route. There is no shortage of places to stay.

They are really working on the end with Branson Landing. The old main street area is looking pretty awesome.

Oh there is a train ride (Branson Scenic Railway) in Branson Landing that is fun if you like trains. It is a real train ride through the Ozarks. Not sure when it opens for the spring. They don't have their schedule up yet for 2010.

Have to "Ride The Ducks" and get out onto TableRock Lake. It is a very beautiful lake and it is our dream boating/jet skiing spot.

Branson Belle also goes onto the Lake. It is a dinner show onboard. I have not been on it in probably 16yrs.

 

[m&m's mom]

Ok- I am going to be vague but we stayed in the hills right about Branson in a large house (about 2500 sq ft) and it was not expensive but it has been a few years.
It was a resort - something like Pine Woods Resort- but they had a ton of full houses that you can rent. They were very nice and had a great location.

 

[-Hope-]

Agreeing with PP that Dixie Stampede is a must do.

We also loved Shoji Tabuchi and if you don't go to his show at least stop by his theater and check out the bathrooms. Seriously, it is something to behold. There used to be a high end pool table factory near us and the most expensive table (about $30k) they ever produced is in the men's room at the Shoji Tabuchi theater.

The Grand Country Inn has an indoor water park and indoor mini-golf that is included in your stay but can also be visited for a fee if you stay elsewhere.

The kids enjoy Ride the Ducks and if you've never been it is a nice way to get a tour of Branson and some history as well. Might be chilly in March though as they are open air.

Branson Scenic Railway is located all the way at the end of town in the residential area. It is a nice train ride that has a bubble observation area so you can see the drive. Again, no leaves on the trees in March so it wouldn't be ideal but still worth it IMO.

We enjoyed the Polynesian Princess dinner cruise as well.

Don't forget to make time for the outlet malls while your there!

 

[MIGrandma]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas!

I'm finding that some of the shows aren't running in March at all. Many of them don't really start up until April, and some even then are very limited and only have shows a few times a month.

I love the train ride suggestion, DH and I both love trains so that would be fun!