Visiting Branson with Kids

Hannah Scott:  The Branson Landing is home to a wide array of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment options for the family. Check out the schedule of special events for info on festivals, musical appearances, races, farmer's markets, parades, and other fun attractions. Weekend concerts are free during the summer! Another family favorite is the giant fountain show choreographed to music, every hour on the hour from noon until 10 PM (9PM on Sundays).

Hannah Scott:  The Ralph Foster Museum (located on the campus of the College of the Ozarks) may seem like an unlikely recommendation, but it's a local favorite! The museum features antiques, artifacts, taxidermy, and memorabilia with ties to the Ozark area -- perhaps most notably, the original car from the Beverly Hillbillies television series. Dedicated to education, the Ralph Foster Museum also has a Discovery Room for children to explore and interact with hands-on exhibits. And you can't beat the price!

Cost: $6 (adults), FREE (high school age and under)

Hannah Scott:  Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede takes "dinner and a show" to the next level. While Dolly herself will likely not be present, she's helped create a truly memorable experience for your family! You'll see 32 horses along with trick riders, special effects, horse riding stunts, and music and comedy performances. Each seat includes a 4-course meal with vegetarian and gluten-free options available.

Note: Children ages 3 and under may sit on a parent's lap and eat from their plate for free if desired.

Cost: from $29.99 (child), from $49.99 (adult)

Hannah Scott:  Sight & Sound Theatres bring Bible stories to life in an epic way, featuring a panoramic stage, fantastic special effects, stunning orchestral scores, and live animals. Performances are intentionally designed to combine the feel of a stage show with the experience of a movie theater. Even if you don't have previous exposure to the Bible, the experience is something to wow the entire family.

Cost: from $23 (age 12 and under), from $49 (age 13+)

Hannah Scott:  If you want to enjoy the best of Branson in one location, consider staying at the Grand Country Resort. Your room reservation includes passes to the indoor waterpark (a fail-proof option in case of inclement weather), discounts to area entertainment, and special kids events. You'll also be within walking distance of some of Branson's top-billed live shows and a variety of family-friendly attractions: laser tag, mini golf, go-karts, bumper cars, and more. Check out the resort's packages and deals for extra savings!

Cost: $111.54 (average cost per night for a Standard Room with 2 Queen beds)

Hannah Scott:  If you're looking for a fantastic deal (especially during holiday or Black Friday sales), Tanger Outlets is the place to be. Pop into some of your favorite kid spots (Disney, Carter's, The Children's Place, UnderArmour Youth, etc.) for unbeatable prices on the clothes those growing kiddos always need. Find a full list of stores here.

Hannah Scott:  Mel's Hard Luck Diner is a 50's-Themed restaurant serving up delicious burgers, fries, and soda fountain treats. The even bigger treat? The singing waitstaff! Many of the waiters and waitresses are professional performers in local shows or aspiring musicians, so the talent is top-notch. Each has a genre preference, so you'll hear a wide variety of musical styles during your meal -- from Broadway hits, to country classics, to current Top 40 radio favorites. Their entire menu is posted online here, so you can plan ahead and work it into your vacation budget.

Hannah Scott:  The Haygoods are a group of siblings who have been singing, playing, and performing together their entire lives. Now adults, they combine their stunning musicianship (they play over 20 instruments in every show!) with striking special effects to create an unforgettable experience the entire family will love. Each performance includes a wide variety of musical genres, since The Haygoods is the only musical act in Branson to create an entirely new show each season. It's fun, it's fresh, and it's an absolute must-see.

Cost: Tickets from $17.76 (kids 4-12), from $37.30 (adult)

Hannah Scott:  If your child is old enough to understand or appreciate the historical significance, the Titanic Museum is educational, interactive, and thought-provoking all at once. Each person is given the boarding pass of an actual passenger upon entering, and you find out at the end of the self-guided tour whether that passenger survived. Along the way, you'll have the chance to see millions of dollars worth of artifacts, sit in a lifeboat, feel water the same temperature as the night the Titanic sank, learn how to send an SOS distress signal, and more.

Cost: $13 (ages 5-11), $26 (ages 12+)

Kelly R:  Surround yourself with thousands of butterflies from all over the world on a stroll through The Butterfly Palace's aviary, and carry a complimentary nectar flower to feed the butterflies by hand! Admission also includes access to a forest-themed mirror maze, bungee adventure course, and a science center where kids can get an up-close look at rainforest animals like frogs, salamanders and geckos.

Hannah Scott:  Silver Dollar City is an 1880's Themed Amusement Park, with over 40 rides and attractions, shops selling handmade goods, delicious food (try kettle corn!), live shows, and 100+ craftsmen doing live demonstrations. Oh, and Silver Dollar City is actually built on top of a cave! You can take a tour underground for free with your admission.

Insider Tip: The park is very hilly (and tiring for little legs), so check out this guide to visiting with little kids for specific activity and dining recommendations that will give everyone a needed rest.

Cost: $54 (Child 4-11), $65 (Adult)