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Branson Missouri

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General Information
The following information is provided by Natalie Crumpton who is with the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau. Jim

Branson, Missouri is located within minutes of three beautiful Ozark Mountain lakes:  Lake Taneycomo, Bull Shoals Lake and Table Rock Lake. It is known for its more than 100 live music and production shows, but has a city population of only around 6,500, Branson lies 40 miles south of Missouri’s third largest city, Springfield, on U.S. Highway 65. With an estimated 7.235 million visitors each year, Branson has been called, by the Associated Press, one of the top 20 overnight leisure destinations in the country. Because of its world-class entertainment presented at 49 live performance theaters, Branson has been dubbed the “live music capital”.  A diverse variety of musical entertainment in Branson includes country, rock ‘n roll, Big Band, jazz, patriotic, bluegrass, pop, gospel, and classical. Comedy, magic, dancing and Broadway-style productions can also be seen.

Branson is home to two theme parks; Silver Dollar City, which received the theme park industry’s top award, the Applause Award, for 1999-2000 by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions; and Celebration City, which is owned by the same company as Silver Dollar City.

Multi-million dollar attractions such as White Water outdoor water park with its 500,000 gallon wave pool; the Branson Balloon, the country’s largest helium excursion balloon ride, Showboat Branson Belle, a 700-seat luxury sternwheeler on Table Rock Lake, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum; Titanic: The Legend Continues, and Branson Scenic Railway, offers guests of all ages opportunities for active fun.

Branson is home to several internationally-known performers like Andy Williams, whose Moon River Theatre, located across from the 4,000-seat $13 million Grand Palace on famous Highway 76, has been profiled in Architectural Digest for its outstanding design. Shoji Tabuchi, famous Japanese fiddler, presents a high-tech production show with a live orchestra, singers and dancers.

Presley’s Country Jubilee features four generations of family performers who perform to sold-out crowds many dates each year. In 2004, they were profiled by the Associated Press. The Baldknobbers, Branson’s first show, is still running strong after more than 40 years, a testament to the demand for their brand of comedy and music.

Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff owns his own theater in Branson as does Jim Stafford. Tickets for a two-hour show are fairly priced at around $28 for an adult ticket. Five distinct seasons offer guests enticing reasons to return to Branson throughout the year. Nearly 80 percent of Branson’s visitors are repeat customers. More families with children travel to Branson during the summer than during any other time of the year. Branson’s busiest time of year, however, is during Ozark Mountain Christmas in November and December, when sales tax receipts show the highest consumer spending of the year. Branson shows are appropriate for every member of the family. Shows like Neil Goldberg’s Cirque offer progressive avant-garde music, sets, special effects, and a cast of professional performers who display tremendous strength, athleticism and artistry.

The New Shanghai Circus, a long-running Branson show, performs Chinese interpretive dance in a brand new state-of-the-art theater in 2005.

Famous Highway 76, also called The Strip, where many theaters, attractions, accommodations, restaurants and shops are located, carried the vast majority of Branson’s millions of annual visitors through town before 1990.  Since 1991, the City of Branson has spent $40 million on 18 miles of new and improved city streets which now give visitors the choice of alternate streets, helping them avoid the sometimes congested Strip.

Branson is a city of approximately 18 square miles surrounded by natural lakes, forests, streams and hills. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, biking, camping, water skiing, scuba diving and world-class bass and trout fishing. The AAA four diamond Chateau on the Lake offers resort lodging on Table Rock Lake. Big Cedar Lodge, owned by Bass Pro Shops, also on Table Rock, offers deluxe resort accommodations with gourmet restaurants, spa facilities, a marina, tennis courts, horseback riding, private log cabins and banquet and conference facilities.

The new $420 million Branson Landing retail, dining, lodging, condo and convention center development broke ground in historic downtown Branson along the Taneycomo lakefront in 2005 with the first  phase to open in 2006.

For more information contact the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB at 1-800-Branson or visit www.explorebranson.com

Reserve Branson provides the most reliable and convenient way to book your next vacation to Branson, Missouri. By going to one site you can find Theater Shows,  Attractions, Hotels and other Lodging; along with a variety of  Discounts and Specials, including some great Vacation Packages! As Branson’s leading reservation service,  Reserve Branson offers direct, live availability for instant confirmations that save you time and money. And, after you make all of your reservations on line, they are still there to help you when you arrive in Branson. Perhaps you use Reserve Branson just to make your hotel reservations, and want to wait until you arrive to book shows and other entertainment or attractions. All you need to do is visit their Welcome Center during your stay in Branson and take advantage of all of the special services they offer. Located right on Highway 76, their friendly staff is available for additional reservations or free area information. Unlike other Branson reservation websites, you'll have the confidence knowing that Reserve Branson provides you local support after you arrive.

Click on Branson and on St. Louis for travel guides, brochures, and money savers to help you plan your visit to these cities in Missouri. Area Travel Packets was created to help travelers get the most out of popular destination and to help them plan their vacations ahead of time. 

 

Get fantastic savings when you use the Entertainment Book. Save on dining, travel, attractions and much more. Over $10,000 possible savings for the cost of a $25 to $45 book with books for over 150 major metropolitan areas. Do what I do, buy one for the city or area where you live, and for your vacation destinations this year. The Entertainment book saves you money on all your travel needs: hotels, car rentals, airfare and more! Jim.

If you have something you believe should be added to this page of Getting Away, please contact Jim at Getting Away.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
 

Date this page was last edited: Friday, January 02, 2009 18:10:39

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