1. Step Into History at the Titanic Museum for a Moving Experience
I came to Branson on a day trip from Springfield, Missouri to see the Titanic Museum. Afterwards, I enjoyed discovering everything that the city had to offer.
My first stop was the Titanic Museum, a two-story museum shaped like the Titanic and anchored in water.
Opened in 2006, the museum was built to be half the size of the original ship and is one of the best things to do in Branson, Missouri.
You can enter the museum through an artificial iceberg and are given a ticket on which appears the name of an actual Titanic passenger.
Lasting one hour, the tour is self-guided and gives you the sensation of being a part of the 1912 voyage. There are 20 galleries and exhibits featuring many fascinating artifacts from the Titanic.
The museum also offers a variety of education programs in areas such as geography, math, and science.
3235 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, Missouri, 800-381-7670
If you are interested in learning about the details before your visit, watch this in-depth video about RMS Titanic.
2. Soak Up Scenic Beauty at Table Rock Lake
Next I drove 15 minutes out of the city to Table Rock Lake to enjoy the view. Created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1954 and 1958 on the White River, Table Rock Lake is a popular tourist attraction in the Ozarks.
The artificial lake was formed after the construction of Table Rock Dam, which was built in order to protect the area from flooding.
With 800 miles of shoreline, the lake draws boaters, fishermen, campers and day trippers looking for free things to do.
Some of the varieties of fish you can find in Table Rock Lake include bass, bluefish, and catfish.
There are marinas and more than 100 resorts around the lake. Campgrounds, picnic areas, and boat launch areas are some of the facilities you will find at the lake.
3. Explore Hidden Wonders Beneath the Earth at Marvel Cave
After enjoying a quick snack, I wanted to tour Marvel Cave!
Located on Silver Dollar City Parkway, Marvel Cave lies under the Silver Dollar City Theme Park.
Local Osage Indians discovered the cave sometime before 1500 AD, and Spanish explorers found it later on. In 1869, Henry T. Blow and other explorers entered the cave looking for minerals.
They thought they saw marble, so the cave was named Marble Cave, later to be changed to Marvel Cave. The cave opened for tours in 1894 and was the first major attraction in the Branson area.
Today, with one of the largest cave entry rooms in North America, Marvel Cave is a Registered Natural Landmark. Tours include a traditional one-hour tour and a lantern tour where you are given a lantern.
399 Silver Dollar City Parkway,800-831-4386
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
4. If You Love Close-Up Animal Encounters, Visit Branson's Promised Land Zoo
If you are traveling with kids, you will want to check out Branson's Promised Land Zoo.
In addition to caring for the animals, the zoo strives to educate visitors about wildlife and provide them with personalized and exclusive zoo encounters.
There are shows throughout the day, including Bottle Feeding Babies, Live Animal Show, and Tug-of-Roar. Some of the animals you will see include antelopes, big cats, kangaroos, zebras, and many more.
Foot Safari allows visitors to feed some of the animals on the nine-acre park, while Exclusive Encounters gives them the opportunity to feed and play with certain animals like kangaroos, lemurs, and sloths.
2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, 417-337-9453
5. Watch Dazzling Lights at the Branson Landing Fountain Show
At night, don't miss the the Branson Landing Fountain Show located along the Lake Taneycomo Lakefront. Enjoy thrilling displays of fire, light, music, and water.
The fountain sits at the foot of the dynamic town square and shoots water 120 feet up into the air combined with vertical blasts of the fire cannons.
The show is accompanied by musical favorites such as the Star Spangled Banner, Candle in the Wind, Living on a Prayer, and other popular music selections.
100 Branson Landing Boulevard, Branson, Missouri, 417-239-3002
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
6. Hike, Picnic, and Relax at Table Rock State Park for an Outdoor Escape
Next day, I went for a morning hike in Table Rock State Park, located on the eastern side of Table Rock Lake on the southern side of Branson.
The state park consists of a little over 356 acres of pleasant landscapes covered with hickory and oak trees. It is an especially popular place to camp because the campsites feature easy access to the lake.
Other park facilities include picnic areas, a marina, and a mountain bike trail.
The marina rents out equipment like fishing boats, ski boats, and WaveRunners. You can choose from scuba diving lessons and trips.
There is a paved ramp to launch boats. If you need fishing supplies, the marina store sells fishing equipment as well as other camping necessities.
5272 MO-165, Branson, Missouri, 417-334-47043
7. Wander Through The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure
As a nature lover, I had to check out The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure, a unique and popular destination located on Country Boulevard.
Housed in a white building sitting on a hill, it is a walk-through butterfly exhibit and the home of more than one thousand tropical butterflies.
The self-guided tour began with a short film about butterflies followed by a walk through the 7,000 square foot butterfly exhibit with its butterflies, birds, and tropical plants.
The attraction also includes the Great Banyan Tree Adventure and the Emerald Forest Mirror Maze. Live amphibians and reptiles from the rainforest can be seen in The Living Rainforest Science Center.
There are also interactive activities for children like feeding.
4106 W 76 Country Boulevard, Branson, MO, 417-332-2231
8. Tour the Ralph Foster Museum
The Ralph Foster Museum is located on Opportunity Avenue on the campus of the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout south of Branson.
It is a wing of the College of the Ozarks and focuses on the culture and history of the Ozarks area. Foster collected Native American and Western artifacts, and during the 1960s, he donated his large collection as well as necessary funds to help establish the museum.
Antiques, dolls, weapons, and many other objects are displayed in the museum. The hands-on Children’s Discovery Room is a popular education program, and the Brownell Research Library contains over 6,000 books and periodicals you can view.
100 Opportunity Avenue, Hollister, 417-334-6411
I've enjoyed exploring and writing about this part of Missouri. If you are looking for more vacation ideas, check out Joplin, Missouri 1 hour and 45 minutes from Branson.
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