I kept remembering every detail of the American romantic comedy film “Sleepless in Seattle” on the way to Branson (Missouri) as I tried to decode the question: Why do I have to come back here for the fifth time in my life?
What's fun about "Little Las Vegas"?
Branson, a small city in the state of Missouri in the midwestern United States, is famous throughout the United States for its family-friendly tourism and entertainment services, so it is called "Little Las Vegas".
In 2016, Branson ranked 18th out of 25 cities that are famous destinations in the US for 5 consecutive years voted by Tripadvisor and ranked first in 20 cities worth "money" voted by Trivago. That proves that Branson is always the first choice destination in the summer for couples and families with children.
We slowly made our way along the legendary West 76 Country Road, winding through the winding curves of the windy hills. It took us almost an hour to reach the Bavarian resort with its wooden houses nestled in the pine forest.
This place is so beautiful, just like Da Lat city 50 years ago, when the forests were still green. Looking down, the cool blue Table Rock lake is embracing the canoes as if still sleepy, above the head are birds singing happily in the summer.
A summer family vacation in Branson can start at the two indoor water parks at Castle Rock and Grand Country. If those are a little too much for everyone, Branson’s only large outdoor water park, White Water, offers aquatic adventures, including water slides that are not for the faint of heart and a lazy river that meanders around the area.
The biggest attraction about six miles from downtown Branson is the “Silver Dollar City” amusement park, named for giving away silver coins to visitors starting in 1960.
Of course, this place is ideal for children of all ages with theme parks, modeled after an 1880s Ozarks village, a train ride that takes visitors around a circuit of more than 30 attractions to choose from depending on the age of the kids in the house.
For younger kids, the American Plunge, Electro Spin, and Firehouse Play Place are top priorities. Older kids should try the Outlaw Run, one of the world's scariest wooden coasters, with a 50-meter drop and a top speed of 110 km/h; or the PowderKeg, which will take them from 0 to 85 km/h in just 2.8 seconds!
Plus, over 40 daily shows, six special festivals throughout the year, and 60 different shops and restaurants will make it hard for families to leave while it's still light out.
Unique shows
Branson has dozens of theaters that offer more than 100 live circus, art, comedy shows... every day. So choosing a show that satisfies all the needs of the whole family is not easy, sometimes you have to "split the group" to balance it!
We chose the Dolly Parton Stampede show and snack program because although there are 3 shows at 3pm, 5pm, and 8pm on the weekend, we were late so we only had the afternoon show. The meal was special with four delicious dishes and dessert and a spectacular performance by gorgeous horses driven by brave riders. Of course, if you have never seen a show with the appearance of domestic cows and bison, pig racing or dog racing, do not miss this place.
After eating until our eyes were full, we decided to split into two groups to “run the show” properly. My husband and I went to see “ABBA Tribute - Thank You for the Music” with two pairs of young artists singing famous songs from the 80s of the last century such as: Chiquitita, Does Your Mother Know, Fernando, I Have a Dream, Mamma Mia... The old men and women who were fans of this band kept clapping their hands to the beat or even stood up to dance when the song “Thank you for the music” ended the show. As for the children, listening to them chatter about the acrobatics, contortion, and flag dancing of the Shanghai Circus (Acrobat of Shanghai), I understood the excitement in their eyes.
As the sun sets over Table Rock Lake, the whole family “reunites” to board the luxury cruise ship to enjoy the “Showboat Branson Belle”, a “specialty” that must be tried when coming here.
The dinner was served professionally with delicious dishes, we also could not take our eyes off the comedy juggling and magic tricks of Christopher James, who won the award for best comedian in the Eastern United States, the vibrant dance moves of the dance troupe and 5 famous singers, including one who was a finalist in the American Idols in 2015. The most special was the performance of 26 songs while changing costumes in just 9 minutes, which made the singers run out of breath and the audience clap… crazy!
It's late at night...
We leave Branson tomorrow, our hearts are so full we have to make a date to return the following Friday.
More information
Transportation:To get to Branson, visitors will fly to Kansas City and St. Louis (Missouri, USA) and then rent a car to drive for about 4-5 hours. Some cities in the US have flights to local airports but still limited.
Accommodation:Depending on your financial ability, you can choose a motel, hotel or resort.
Cuisine:For American-style food, you should visit the “Great American Steak & Chicken House” restaurant at 2421 W 76 Country Blvd, easily recognizable by the 13-meter-tall rooster statue, the tallest in America. Diners who love Thai and Chinese food should choose Thai Thai Cuisine and Hong Kong Buffet.
Skin:The weather in Branson in July and August is hot and humid, so bring only light, sweat-absorbent clothes and an umbrella and sun hat. Remember to apply sunscreen and moisturizer.
Note:The main road has only one lane so it is easy to get stuck in traffic. You have to calculate the time to get to the shows early or choose a slightly longer but time-saving detour.
Entertainment:
Silver Dollar City Theme Park
Address: 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway Open 9:30 AM to 6 PM.
