Kiddos love Branson, but Branson loves kiddos even more! If you’re looking for somewhere to take your kids on vacation that will have enough entertainment to keep them busy, Branson truly is the perfect place.
We’ve tapped into our inner child and have developed the perfect list for a vacation in Branson that’ll have your kiddos smiling, jumping, and laughing all day long – and sleeping all the way home! (And don’t worry – it’s okay for parents to enjoy some of the fun, too!)
1. Fritz’s Adventure
You can’t bring your kiddos to Branson without stopping by Fritz’s Adventure. This could be the only place you need to go! Fritz’s brought the challenges of outdoor adventure inside to give you 80,000 square feet (air-conditioned, might I add) to explore, climb, slide and zip-line! Plus, there’s no way you can make it in the parking lot without wanting to fly in the Aerodium. With absolutely no previous experience, your kids (and you!) are ready to fly to new heights in the outdoor wind tunnel – one of Aerodium’s only two locations in the United States!
2. White Water
White Water is the perfect place to take your kids when you need to cool down from the summer heat. I mean, who doesn’t love water parks? Explore the 13-acre water park and experience ocean paradise in the Midwest! The perfect mixture of relaxation and adventure (and hot dogs!) awaits you.
3. Beyond the Lens
Suppose you’re looking for a fun-filled family activity; head over to Beyond The Lens! This pop culture museum has rides and interactive exhibits that will highlight your Branson vacation. You’ll find lots to love about this attraction, with bumper cars, Bigfoot, escape rooms, and selfies.
Beyond The Lens opens daily at 10 a.m. Depending on the day of the week, the closing time maybe 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. You can purchase combo tickets for entrance to the museum and FlyRide, one of the museum’s newest attractions. If you don’t have time to tour the whole museum, purchase a single valid ticket for FlyRide only.
You’ll find Beyond The Lens across from the Hollywood Wax Museum in the Branson Theater District. It’s very close to the Titanic Museum and Dolly Parton’s Stampede. Beyond The Lens, Branson has free parking for guests.
4. The Branson Ferris Wheel
There’s nothing more iconic in Branson than the Branson Ferris Wheel. Hop in a gondola and ride up to 150 feet tall! Whether during the day or at night, you’ll experience the beauty of the Ozarks atop what was once Chicago’s Navy Pier Ferris Wheel!
5. Andy’s Frozen Custard
Okay, maybe there’s one thing a little more iconic than (and right next door to!) the Branson Ferris Wheel – Andy’s Frozen Custard! The good news is they’re beside each other, so you don’t have to choose which one to visit. With a year-round menu, you won’t be able to pick from their unique concoctions. And even better, you can build your creation from vanilla or chocolate custard and a list of 25+ toppings! (The James Brownie Funky Jackhammer is our recommendation.)
6. The Butterfly Palace
The Butterfly Palace is perfect for learning, adventuring, and exploring! Your kiddos can run in a Mirror Maze, dig through the trees, and then walk around the butterflies! They do a butterfly release every so often to let a butterfly go flying for the first time. How could your kids not love it?
7. Shepherd of the Hills Lil’ Pete’s Playland
Are your kiddos the adventurous type? Want to wear them out quickly? (We hear the resounding yes’s all over.) At Lil’ Pete’s Playland, your kids will be adventuring, exploring, and cultivating their imagination and creativity all day! With an American Ninja Warrior Course, rope-bridge linked treehouses, a custom putt-putt course, a petting zoo, gem sifting, and more; you might be spending all day here!
8. Amazing Pets
Amazing Pets is a spectacular show for animal lovers of all ages. You’ll see trained cats, dogs, and birds performing solo and group acts during the performance. Wearing colorful costumes and frilly collars, the animals will delight you by dancing to music, driving scooters, and soaring through hoops. Look up to see the parrots flying above you during the show!
Many of the animals in the performance were rescued from shelters. You may take a photo with some of the pets after the performance if you wish. You can take non-flash photos during the show, too.
Amazing Pets performances are held at the Grand Country Music Hall in Branson, and the show dates vary throughout the year. The venue includes a restaurant and a gift shop. Special seating is available for guests with disabilities, and the show runs for around two hours.
9. Snowflex Tubing at Wolfe Mountain!
Ever gone snow tubing in the summer? We didn’t think so. But you’re in Branson, and you need to! Allowing six tubes to go down the hill simultaneously, the entire family can spin and ride down the 400-foot-long slope. Plus, tickets cover an hour of Snowflex Tubing so that you can ride over and over! Keep on zooming downhill at…
10. The Track Family Fun Parks
At the Track Family Fun Parks, your kiddos will always want to stay. Across four locations in Branson, every family member will find something for them! With multiple thrilling go-kart tracks, the Laser Maze Challenge, arcade games, batting cages, mini-golf, and the new 100-foot-tall Skycoaster, how will you ever choose what to do?! (Psst… you don’t have to choose!)
11. Dolly Parton’s Stampede
Ready to keep your kids fed – all at the same time? Dolly Parton’s Stampede is the perfect family destination for both a four-course feast! See the Stampede of the Buffalo, Canine Capers, and more at the World’s Most Visited Dinner Attraction. Not only that but come 50-minutes early to watch the pre-show of The White River Wranglers in the Carriage Room and hear some fantastic acoustics and melodies!
12. Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City is unlike any other theme park you’ve visited before. Silver Dollar City takes you back to the 1880s with 40 thrilling rides and attractions, world-class festivals, unique dining, and artisans all around the park! Events and entertainment are showcased throughout the park from spring through Christmas when the park is lit with over 6.5 million lights! Plus…you can buy a 3-day pass to Silver Dollar City and free access to White Water!
13. Reza Edge of Illusion
If your kids love thrills and mind-blowing magic tricks, this is the perfect place for them. Reza’s Edge of Illusion show will boggle your mind the entire time, and you’ll leave the theatre with your jaw on the floor. You’ll also laugh at Reza’s witty jokes the whole show!
See – there’s nothing to fear in bringing your kids to Branson! It might just be the best decision you’ve ever made! Now, I’ll be honest. You might need to stay a few days to enjoy the most out of all these adventures. A longer vacation? What a bummer, right? (Just kidding!)
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Are there a lot of things to do in Branson?
YES! SO many attractions and hundreds of shows to choose from. Family Friendly entertainment at it’s finest!
Are there magic shows in Branson, MO?
YES
Reza and Rick Thomas are two favorite magic and illusion shows in Branson, MO.
Best Go Karts in Branson, MO
The Track Family Fun Park
Extreme Racing Center of Branson
Heavy Metal High Rise
Are there animal shows in Branson?
Yes, Amazing Pets is a favorite show for kids!
Is there a waterpark in Branson, MO?
Yes, White Water
One of the best, ever-popular attractions in Branson is the exciting White Water park. Branson’s White Water is loaded with water-logged laughter at every turn! Rides, slides, and landlubbers’ high tides can be found in a variety of exotic, island-themed areas in this 13-acre, 2 million gallons of water, wet wonderland. White Water brings all the excitement, color, and even a bit of sand—for a little beach volleyball—of the ocean to the Midwest! Your smaller water fun seekers, even your toddlers, will enjoy Coconut Grove, and family fun is waiting to be had at Splashaway Cay. The ultimate thrills await you at KaPau Plummet, Kalani Towers, Pipeline Plunge, and Raging River Rapids where daring drops and breathtaking speed are simply irresistible. If exciting, but not quite as daring, is more your style, Ohana Falls is perfect for your whole gang. Maybe a mixture of relaxing and surprising is right up your alley, Aloha River at Hula Hula Bay carries you through an island paradise, and gives you twists, turns, and water sprays along the way. Nobody can resist waves, and the enormous Surf’s Up Wave Pool delivers 4 ft. of fantastic tube and body surfing. Spend some relaxing time in the sun, or reserve a cabana for a bit of shade!
