Archive for the ‘Ozark Mountains’ Category

While Branson’s popular Silver Dollar City theme park remains closed for the winter season, it’s never too early to start dreaming about opening day on March 15, 2012.

The internationally award-winning theme park may have a vintage 1880’s look and feel, but there’s nothing old about the exciting, state of the art roller coasters that thrill park guests.

The park offers more than 30 fun rides and attractions, including four exciting roller coasters - “Fire-in-the-Hole,” “Wild Fire,” “Powder Keg” and “Thunderation.”

“Fire-in-the-Hole” is Silver Dollar City’s oldest coaster and a park favorite for decades. This indoor coaster takes guests on a nighttime trip through an Ozarks town set on fire by the infamous “Baldknobbers.” The adventure offers everything from high-speed drops to an exciting ending that explains the ride’s name.  

“WildFire®” is Silver Dollar City’s iconic coaster, a truly world class experience and offering a fantastic view of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake. Traveling at speeds up to 66 mph, the cobra-rolling coaster incorporates a high-speed spiral, a full loop with five inversions, a vertical drop of 15 stories and corkscrew into one of the most exciting coaster rides anywhere.

“PowderKeg®” is a compressed air-launch coaster that accelerates from the “Powder House” exploding from 0 to 53 MPH in a scant 2.8 seconds. An initial 110 foot drop sends riders through spiraling turns and trees at speeds up to 64 mph while creating negative “G” forces during an exciting 3,500 foot journey back to the Powder House.

Like a runaway mine train, “Thunderation” is a high-speed coaster that takes riders 121 feet into the air for a scenic view of the Ozarks at speeds up to 48 MPH before a spiraling drop and a trip through an underground tunnel.

Of course, the coasters are just a small part of the Silver Dollar City experience. For additional information on the park’s six world class festivals, dozens of demonstrating craftsmen, exceptional live shows and entertainment, visit www.silverdollarcity.com. Or for discount Branson theme park tickets and resort accommodations, go to www.westgatereservations.com.

 

 

 

As one might expect, off season in Branson, MO is like off season in most popular vacation destinations. Yet the winter season still offers plenty of fun and excitement for the entire family. And you can still enjoy a great Branson experience.

Although many of the town’s famed live shows are closed during January and many through February, you’ll still find a variety of great shows to choose from, including the Grand Jubilee, the Hughes Brothers and others.

And while the Ozarks biggest attraction, Silver Dollar City theme park, is closed til March 15, 2012, the Branson area remains filled with year round options such as Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, the Castle of Chaos and Hollywood Wax Museum. 2012 is also a big year for the Titanic Museum attraction as it honors the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the legendary ship. The museum will host a number of special events throughout the year.

Even in the winter, Branson offers plenty of opportunity to get outside. On February 4-5, 2012, visitors can enjoy the National Ice Carving Association’s U.S. Nationals. And you can also test your skills fishing for trout on Lake Taneycomo or bass on Table Rock Lake. Or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Branson Landing Boardwalk.

Any season is shopping season in Branson. From the Tanger Outlets and Branson Landing to a wide range of boutique and specialty shops, Branson offers an unparalleled shopping experience and great values, year round.

Off season also means fewer people and a lot less traffic around Branson and the surrounding Ozark Mountains. Plus you can take advantage of off season value and savings at area accommodations such as Westgate Branson Woods Resort. For discount Branson vacation packages and tickets, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

 

 

In a town known for its amazing Christmas celebrations and live shows, the term “white Christmas” takes on a whole new meaning in Branson, Missouri. The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure attraction presents one of the most unique and beautiful displays in the Ozark Mountains.

“White Flight” features thousands of white butterflies representing about 20 different species of tropical white butterflies, including the most common - the Paper Kite Butterfly. The exhibit, now in its fifth year, runs through January 15, 2012.

In addition to thousands of beautiful butterflies floating through a rain forest sparkling with holiday lights, the exhibit features living angel statues and the sounds of delightful holiday music.

The butterflies in the exhibit are shipped by air express in their chrysalis (cocoon) stage from tropical rain forests. They are released into the exhibit after emerging from the cocoon. The butterflies are then able to live out their average three-week life span in a predator-free, rain forest environment.

The exhibit also includes a 15-minute movie documenting the rain forest butterfly.

The aviary is filled with poinsettias and flowers and includes a large poinsettia Christmas tree.

If you can’t visit the exhibit during “White Flight,” the rainforest remains filled with butterflies throughout the year, featuring 50-60 species of brightly colored butterflies.

 

For discount Branson attraction tickets and details regarding discount Branson vacation packages, including resort accommodations, visit www.westgatereservations.com.

 

Fall is in the air and it won’t be long before Mother Nature begins her annual fall color display throughout the Ozark Mountains in and around Branson, Missouri.

Branson is widely known for its wealth of live concerts, stage shows and performances. Yet the colorful autumn foliage offers up one of nature’s greatest shows. Wherever you are in the Branson Lakes area, you’re sure to witness a fall show that is simply full of magnificent glory with its many hues of red, yellow and orange.

One of the best ways to catch the color change is by taking a drive around the Branson area. One scenic drive that offers exceptional views is the Ozarks Mountain Highroad (State Hwy 465) from its junction with Hwy 65 to its end at Hwy. 76.  You’ll travel over Table Rock Dam and experience beautiful vistas and millions of leaves in virtually every stage of color, vibrancy and hue.

Another scenic panorama during fall color season is The Overlook on Hwy 165. From there, you can see Table Rock Lake, Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Dam, along with all the surrounding foliage.

If you prefer, you can also experience one of Branson’s many tourist attractions while viewing the fall colors.  Hop aboard the Showboat Branson Belle riverboat on Table Rock Lake or the Lake Queen on Lake Taneycomo. Either boat ride offers up a 360-degree view of the spectacular colors.

Another option is the Branson Scenic Railway, a vintage train that offers railroad cars from the ‘40s and ‘50s. You’ll experience memories of a bygone era while viewing the colors during a special trip through the Ozarks.

If you prefer a little more excitement with your color tour, try out the Wildfire roller coaster at Silver Dollar City theme park. You’ll view the colors from above as your coaster car climbs high in the sky before dropping down 135 feet and looping upside down five times.

For more information on Branson attraction tickets and discount vacation packages, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

The Ozark hills surrounding Branson, Missouri have long resonated with beautiful Southern gospel music. The vibrant music can be heard from county fairs and country churches to grand stages and family backyards. Yet the biggest stage of all features the spectacular Southern Gospel Picnic at Silver Dollar City theme park.

The Southern Gospel Picnic is actually an annual festival at Silver Dollar City running from August 25 through Sept. 5, 2011. This year’s festival features hundreds of performances from the most famous names in southern gospel music.

Of course, as the name implies, the Picnic is also a delicious feast, with savory southern cooking at The House of Chicken & Fixin’s on the City’s square! You’ll find a variety of styles of chicken, all the extras. Choose from Apple-Glazed Chicken, Hickory-Smoked Chicken or Southern Fried Chicken.

You can also learn new recipes at Silver Dollar City’s Culinary & Craft School where a Master Craftsman of Culinary Arts demonstrates favorite recipes and cooking tips and tricks in a state-of-the-art kitchen. A small fee applies for all classes.

A Full Lineup of Southern Gospel Greats!  

The Southern Gospel Picnic features a daily musical celebration filled with great gospel harmonies and soul-stirring melodies from a variety of artists:

HisSong - August 25

The Pfeifers - August 25

Blackwood Brothers Quartet - August 25 - 26

Chuck Wagon Gang - August 25 - 26

Soul’d Out Quartet - August 25 - 26

Tribute Quartet - August 25 - 27

The Harper Family - August 25 - 28

Booth Brothers - August 26

Albert E Brumley Jr. - August 26 - 27

The Browders - August 27

Legacy Five - August 27

The Freemans - August 27 - 28

Gold City - August 27 - 28

Hosea Bilyeu & Family - August 28

Brian Free & Assurance - August 28 - 29

Tim Lovelace - August 28 - 29

The Whisnants - August 28 - 29

Bowling Family - August 29 - 30

The Perrys - August 29 - 30

2nd Generation - August 29 - September 1

The Downing Family - August 29 - September 1

Dixie Echoes - August 29 - September 2

The Hoppers - August 30 - 31

New Horizons - August 31

The Lesters - August 30 - September 1

Mark Trammell Quartet - August 31 - September 1

Reggie & Bridgette Saddler - August 31 - September 1

Down East Boys - September 1 - 2

Karen Peck & New River - September 1 - 2

The Williamsons - September 1 - 3

The Collingsworth Family - September 2 - 3

The Morace Family - September 2 - 3

Cody Shuler & Pine Mountain RR - September 2 - 5

Spoken 4 Quartet - September 2 - 5

Dr. Dennis Swanberg - September 3 - 4

Triumphant Quartet - September 3 - 4

The Diplomats - September 3 - 5

Jeff & Sheri Easter - September 4

Ninth Hour - September 4 - 5

The Isaacs - September 5

The Petersen Family - September 5

Southern Sound - September 5

The Taylors - September 5

Southern Gospel Nights

Let your spirit sing during the Southern Gospel Nights concert series each evening at park closing. Hear your favorite artists as they perform an unforgettable concert at Silver Dollar City’s 4,000-seat Echo Hollow Amphitheater. The show begins at 6 pm each evening during the festival, 7 pm on September 4 & 5. Seating in Echo Hollow Amphitheatre® will begin two hours prior to show time, weather permitting.

Blackwood Brothers Quartet and Chuck Wagon Gang - August 25

Booth Brothers - August 26

Gold City - August 27

Brian Free & Assurance and The Whisnants - August 28

The Bowling Family and The Perrys - August 29

The Hoppers - August 30

Mark Trammell Quartet and Reggie & Bridgette Saddler - August 31

Down East Boys and Karen Peck & New River - September 1

The Collingsworth Family - September 2

Triumphant Quartet - September 3

Jeff & Sheri Easter - September 4

The Isaacs - September 5

 

Known for its family friendly hospitality, Branson has plenty to offer everyone in the family, including the kids.

From theme parks and water parks to fun family shows, Branson has enough to keep the kids busy for days on end. 

Branson offers two indoor water parks in Castle Rock and Grand Country’s Splash Country. The largest and only outdoor water park, White Water, provides a wide selection of water adventures from thrilling water slides to a lazy river.

Branson’s biggest attraction, Silver Dollar City, is ideal for kids of all ages. The theme park, modeled after an 1880’s Ozarks village, Silver Dollar Citiy offers more than 30 thrill rides and attractions, more than 40 daily shows, and 60 unique shops and restaurants. There are also six special festivals throughout the year including National KidsFest.

Kids will also love Dixie Stampede, a family dinner show highlighted by 32 magnificent horses, trick riders, racing pigs, a stampede of longhorn steer and a delicious four course feast.

For a little slower pace, try one of Branson’s many miniature golf courses where kids can enjoy themes ranging from pirates to dinosaurs.

The live entertainment capital of the world, Branson is full of family shows, including many that will thrill the kids. Noah the Musical offers animatronics and live animals. Acrobats of China thrill with their amazing feats of grace. The Hamner Barber Show is filled with magic and ventriloquism.

And for the ultimate kid adventure, you can Ride the Ducks! The Branson sightseeing tour provides a land and water trip around town in one amazing vehicle. You’ll tour through the heart of Branson and the Ozarks before splashing into Table Rock Lake for a tranquil cruise.

For additional Branson activities, discount tickets and discount resort accommodations at Westgate Branson Woods Resort, you can visit www.westgatereservations.com.

 

A visit to Branson, Missouri brings with it a wealth of  choices for fun and adventure the whole family can enjoy and appreciate. As live entertainment capital of the world, Branson offers up more than 100 shows ranging from concerts and magic to comedy and Vegas style revues.

Outdoor enthusiasts will want to take full advantage of Branson’s three extraordinary lakes which provide opportunities for a variety of water sports, including some of the world’s best trout and bass fishing. You could also hike or bike the many miles of trails throughout the surrounding Ozark Mountains.

You could “ride the ducks” to experience a land and water tour of the Branson area aboard one of the city’s unique amphibious vehicles. Or you could just spend a leisurely and relaxing time along Branson Landing, the area’s waterfront shopping and entertainment complex.

Located just a short walk from the Branson tourism district, Branson Landing occupies 95 acres including 1.5 miles of picturesque waterfront along Lake Taneycomo.  There you’ll find 450,000 square feet of shopping and dining, as well as the Branson Convention Center, a 4-star 260-room convention hotel, a 100-room boutique hotel, 140 waterfront luxury condominiums and penthouses, and a marina.

The highlight of Branson Landing is a scenic 1.5-mile boardwalk along the shores of Lake Taneycomo. Yet the centerpiece is a vibrant town square that terraces down to Branson Landing Fountain, a spectacular water attraction.

The $7.5 million Branson Landing Fountain merges water, fire, light and music in a dazzling sequence of choreographed events. From fire cannons blasting to fountains shooting 120-foot geysers and synchronized lights and music, the attraction is a must see show for all Branson visitors. The shows are scheduled hourly starting at noon and running through 10 pm Sunday-Thursday and until 11 pm on Friday and Saturday.

For information on discount Branson vacation packages and lodging, including the luxurious Westgate Branson Woods Resort, please visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

 

A quaint town in the heart of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, Branson is a world away from the Far East and China. Yet the member’s of New Shanghai Circus bring their jaw-dropping display of daring and acrobatics to Branson with their amazing Acrobats of China show.

This unique show has an amazing array of elegance, skill, grace and precision. It’s a show that goes far beyond the ordinary while offering elegant costuming, high intensity choreography and spectacular non-stop action and adventure. The entire family, young and old, will be enthralled by this two-hour extravaganza that includes everything from juggling, plate spinning, aerial unicycles, high wire performances and extreme acrobatics to hoop diving, dragons and colorful pageantry.

Acrobats of China is just one of dozens of family friendly shows that help make Branson the live entertainment capital of the world. For more information on discount show tickets or discount Branson family vacation packages, go to www.westgatereservations.com.

Branson, Missouri is known for its live shows. But while the city’s 40 theaters host more than 100 shows per day, one of the best shows around can be seen outside just a few miles away. Better yet, it’s a free show the whole family will enjoy.

The action takes place, not on a stage, but in water near the Table Rock Lake dam in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. It’s call the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery and it’s quite an amazing production put on by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The Shepherd of the Hills hatchery has been producing rainbow and brown trout for Branson area lakes for more than 50 years. It’s no wonder that the Branson lakes continue to provide anglers with some of the world’s best fishing year in and year out.

The hatchery typically produces about 1,125,000 catchable trout each year, weighing more than 300,000 pounds.

Branson’s popular Lake Taneycomo receives nearly 700,000 catchable trout per year from the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery and others such as the nearby Neosho National Fish Hatchery in Southwest Missouri.

This fun adventure is also a great learning experience for the kids who can see the various stages of development in different holding tanks. Be sure to bring a few quarters to purchase fish food, as well!

The facility offers all trout production phases. Egg incubation and early rearing is completed in the hatchery building in jar type incubation units, and aluminum/fiberglass tanks. There are also 12 outdoor concrete raceways or man-made canals, for intermediate rearing, and the final rearing is completed in 20 outdoor concrete raceways. Three earthen ponds are also used for fish production.

 The Shepherd of the Hills hatchery hosts more than 250,000 visitors annually. To find more information and suggestions on things to do in Branson, visit www.ticket2branson.com or www.westgatereservations.com.

Any time is a good time to bring kids to Branson, Missouri. The Ozarks Mountain town is family friendly, family focused and oh so full of family fun and entertainment.

Situated in the middle of Missouri’s beautiful Ozarks, Branson offers plenty of excitement for kids of all ages. From water parks to fun family shows, keeping the kids entertained in Branson is never a problem.

There is always plenty of outdoor recreation in Branson, from fishing and swimming in the spectacular Branson lakes to cooling off in one of the area’s outdoor or indoor water parks.

The biggest and only outdoor water park is White Water where you’ll find a variety of rides to please everybody from thrill seekers to those who want to relax in the Lazy River. For year round water park fun, Branson offers two indoor options: Castle Rock and Grand Country’s Splash Country.

Silver Dollar City theme park remains Branson’s biggest attraction for kids and adults alike. Sporting an 1880’s Ozarks look and feel, the park is home to more than 30 thrilling rides and attractions. There are also more than 40 daily shows, and 60 shops and restaurants in the park.

Another of Branson’s most popular attractions for kids is Dixie Stampede. The high energy dinner show features 32 magnificent horses, trick riders, racing pigs, a stampede of Longhorn steer, plenty of action and a four-course feast.

Of course, no trip to Branson is complete without taking in a few of the many live shows. While each and every show in Branson is family friendly, there are a number that are particularly attractive to kids. Noah the musical offers a wide variety of animatronics and live animals. The Acrobats of China shows includes extraordinary acrobatic feats that are sure to amaze the entire family. There are also a variety of comedy and magic shows that will delight kids of all ages.

Perhaps the best kid attraction in Branson is simply taking a look around Branson on the back of a DUCK. Ride the Ducks is a fun-filled Branson sightseeing tour aboard a vehicle that can travel over land and water! Tour the heart of the Ozarks by land prior to splashing into Table Rock Lake for a view from the lake’s tranquil waters.

Branson also offers plenty of kid-friendly shopping, dining and attractions such as miniature golf. So pack up the family and start planning a trip to the Ozarks. For information on Branson resorts and accommodations, go to www.Ticket2Branson.com or www.WestgateReservations.com.