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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Branson Vacation - Travel Tips To The Best Kept Secret In The Midwest


I take into consideration myself to be a expert Branson traveler. I could as well pay taxes in the town because I am there so significantly. As a child, my family traveled to this exciting destination pretty much every single year. I did go on a Branson quickly for a couple of years in the course of college, but for the last seven years I have indulged in a Branson Buffet.

From memory, I can recite the names of virtually each and every show in town. I can direct you to any theatre, regardless of its\' location. And you had superior believe I have a powerful opinion on every show and attraction in town. Yes, I am a 28-year old Branson fanatic.

Simple Facts

If you have in no way traveled to Branson you may well be asking your self what it is that makes Branson, Missouri so special. It is in the middle of nowhere and however it is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country.

Basically Branson is special for many factors. Although Branson might seem to be in the middle of nowhere, it is actually in the middle of everywhere. Branson is 1 of America\'s most common driving destinations. Given that it is in virtually the geographic center of the United States it is a convenient location for most of the country. Though there are a couple of individuals who fly into the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport, most of the millions of visitors will drive to town.

That truly sets up 1 of the most frustrating situations in Branson. Traffic can be a nightmare. Branson was not designed for main traffic. The town had a main growth spurt in the 1980\'s and literally outgrew its road program. At least 75% of the tourist sites are directly connected to HWY 76. This is the key artery that runs, or must I say crawls, via town. The city has tried to alleviate some of the traffic by way of well-marked alternative routes. Most of the traffic still uses 76 exclusively. If it is your first time in Branson, I would encourage you to drive the \"strip\" (HWY 76) a couple times to usually understand the region, then get a No cost map from any brochure display and find out the alternate routes. You will save time and it might be the only way to get to a show on time.

It is almost impossible to believe until you have experienced it, but the traffic congestion in Branson starting in the mid-afternoon is worse than rush hour in any city in the country. Movement is measured in inches rather than feet.

To give you a superior concept, I would like to share 1 experience I had in July of 2004. My wife and I had been staying in Old Downtown Branson, which is on the far east end of HWY 76, near the intersection of HWY 65 and HWY 76. We had plans to see Spirit of the Dance at the Branson Range Theatre. The BV Theatre is ideal in the heart of the strip, but was less than four miles from our hotel. The show began at 8:00 p.m. We decided to leave at 5:00 p.m. so we would have time to grab dinner along the way and still get to the show on time. At 7:15 p.m. we had not eaten dinner and we were still at least a mile from the theatre. Visitors was not moving. To make a incredibly lengthy story short, at 8:05 p.m. we finally pulled into the theatre parking lot and entered the show immediately after it had already began. We had to eat immediately after the show, no time just before.

The next evening we saw Cirque at the Remington Theatre, which is completely across town. We still left at five:00 p.m. for this 8:00 p.m. show, but this time we utilized the alternate routes and arrived at the theatre well prior to 6:00 p.m. We had plenty time to walk around to the neighboring shops and have dinner just before the show.

Tip #1: Don't waste useful vacation time - Use the alternate routes!

Don't let the visitors keep you away from Branson although. Honestly, it is just part of the enjoyable. There are still a lot factors to come to Branson.

The Ozark Hills and Mountains are an additional reason to go to Branson. No, you will not see the height and grandeur of the Rockies, but you are still surrounded by breathtaking scenery. The Ozarks is pride of its country charm and slower pace. You can come to Branson expecting the shows and attractions and end up enjoying the nature trails of Mark Twain National Forest or playing in the waters of one of the two pristine lakes that surround the city. The Ozarks are a nature lover\'s dream.

Tip #2: Take time to get pleasure from the Ozarks - they are the No cost attraction!

There is honestly something for everybody in Branson. Lots of cities will say that, but Branson can back up that claim. The adults and seniors are specific to discover various shows they will like. With over 100 shows to pick from there will be 1 for each and every person in the group. But there are numerous of high-energy music, magic and comedy shows in town that keep the kids and teens hooked. There are also a number of amusement parks and water parks including Silver Dollar City and White Water. I will get more into the actual attractions in the next part of the column, so look for even more information in the other parts of the column.

Branson Shows, Theatre & Tickets

Lets take a look at what produced Branson renowned--shows and theatres
You will arrive in Branson to an overload of media. There are additional than 50 various theatres in Branson. Most theatres have numerous distinct shows performing throughout the day. The biggest entertainers will perform the 8:00 p.m. shows, but that does not mean that the morning and afternoon shows are second rate. They are just as great in most circumstances. Whether you are searching for a headliner or not, there are far more than 100 shows to keep you busy although in town.
The whole Branson craze began with just a couple shows. The Presley\'s Country Jubilee and the Baldknobbers Jamboree. Both of these country selection and comedy shows are still going powerful right now, 40-50 years later. They are amongst the most popular shows in town for beneficial reason. They put on a good quality show every single night and their fans return year right after year.

If you enjoy country and gospel music served along side hilarious comedy, then you will come across your fill in Branson. Beside the two shows already mentioned there are a large number of far more of these genres all over town. Some of the other common ones consist of Pierce Arrow, Grand Jubilee, and the Braschlers.

Another significant category of shows in town can be grouped as family shows. That is not to say they are developed for the whole family to get pleasure from, because that would describe pretty much each and every show in Branson. By family show, I mean most of the cast and from time to time the crew comes from the same family. The Duttons, Haygoods, Lowes, Hughes, and the Brett Family, just to mention a few. All these families blend their remarkable harmonies to make some of the best and most touching shows in town.

The impersonators are but a different significant group of shows in town. Toni Roi is one of the most noted Elvis impersonators in the world. He has his own show and he also occasionally performs with The Legends Live in Concert, who also has a preferred show in town. You will also come across a Hank Williams and Patsy Cline show. One that I personally extremely suggest is a full comedy show referred to as A Tribute to Red Skelton.

There are a couple of Broadway style shows that prove Branson has it all. You can see Joseph and the Remarkable Technicolor Dreamcoat, Cirque, Spirit of the Dance and even off-Broadway shows like the touching and funny, Smoke On The Mountain.

Then Branson is also renowned for a broad category of shows that are developed with your family in mind. These shows are designed to mesmerize the youngsters and astonish the adults. This group includes every thing from comedians to magicians. Starting with magicians you will come across various tremendous shows with significant illusions at Grand Illusion, Darren Romeo and The Hamner Barber Selection Show. If magic is not your thing what about the Chinese Acrobats, Comedy Pet Theatre, Bounce the Basketball Show or even a live family game show known as Hot Seat.

If you bear in mind the 20\'s & 30\'s, 50\'s, 60\'s or 70\'s - genuinely any decade, you will be able to take a trip down memory lane. You can spend the 50\'s At The Hop or get Stuck In The 70\'s. You could possibly even opt for to drive to Motown.

By this time you are most likely acquiring hungry. We can\'t forget the dinner shows. Of course Dixie Stampede with it is horses and a stampede of buffalo is the greatest show in town, but you can also enjoy a ribeye steak although watching lumberjacks compete at the Tall Timber Lumberjack Show. If you would like to take a cruise on Table Rock Lake, the Prime Rib Dinner Show on the Showboat Branson Belle is unbeatable. You can also take pleasure in a delicious western BBQ meal at the Circle B Chuckwagon Dinner Show. If you like music even though you eat, try the White House Theatre or catch Bob Anderson\'s Show. You will not leave hungry, and you get a show to boot.

Last but not least, the headliners. In the mid 1980\'s there were lots of well-identified performers who moved to Branson and opened theatres. A few of them are still here and performing fantastic shows. If you remember Andy Williams, Ray Stevens, Jim Stafford, Mickey Gilley, Mel Tillis, The Gatlin Brothers, Pam Tillis or Roy Clark you will adore seeing them live in Branson. The Grand Palace brings in the hottest performers on tour today. It is not uncommon for Tim McGraw to be on stage 1 week and Jeff Foxworthy to be appearing the next week.

Branson has also produced it is own headliners. The fiddle-playing Shoji Tabuchi is one of the most well-known performers in Branson, and he, with out a doubt, has the most ornate theatre bathrooms in Branson. Other performers like Moe Bandy, Doug Gabriel and Paul Harris have created a name for themselves in this tough town.

I did not even try to mention all the shows in Branson. As a matter of reality, I did not even start to scratch the surface. The performers and venues change all the time, so some of the shows mentioned may be gone by the time this post is up.

I encourage you to use internet sites like Branson Critic and the Branson Lake Area Chamber of Commerce web site to come across the shows that your family will take pleasure in. Branson Critic has a lot reviews of area shows. Normal individuals like you write all the reviews. They saw the show and wrote a review. This is a terrific way to decide which shows to see.

Another wonderful way to discover a very good show though in town is to ask the front desk clerk at your hotel or the waitress that served your lunch. Locals know which shows are a should-see and which show to prevent. You may even strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you at a show. Uncover out what they have seen and what they thought. You might even make a friend.

Tip #three: Brochures do not tell the whole story - ask a locals for the truth about which shows are a should-see.

This would be a very good time to talk about ticket costs. Branson shows are not affordable. If you look extremely challenging you will uncover a couple shows with an admission cost under $15. There are a few even more in the $18-$22 range, but most show tickets are at least $25 per adult ticket. Dinner shows are even far more.

You will uncover coupons in cost-free magazines all over town. With these you are able to save a couple dollars per ticket. Check the brochure racks for the coupons.

You might even have a timeshare business offer you absolutely free tickets. That is an choice worth considering, but I will discuss in a latter post

There is still one more way to save on tickets. You can check on eBay for Branson show tickets. I have bought them there before. I paid less than half cost. This way takes a little much more effort, but can save you lots of revenue.

I hope that some of these simple guidelines on traveling to Branson Will benefit you and your family.