Things to Do in Missouri

Downtown Branson, Missouri is the historic heart of the city and truly a destination in its own right. Streets lined with brick façades and Victorian lampposts provide a constant reminder of the city’s 125-year history. This is where you will find Branson’s first theater, its oldest commercial building and the spot of Branson’s first show, the Baldknobbers Jamboree. With more than 130 unique shops, galleries, theaters and restaurants, Downtown Branson will keep you busy for at least a day.

A variety of unique “mom and pop” shops are scattered among the flea markets and fine arts shops, including Dick’s Old-time Five & Dime, one of the most popular downtown attractions. Locals sometimes say if you can find something at Dick’s, you don’t need it. If you need a break from shopping, stop by the Branson Centennial Museum to learn more about the city’s storied past or catch a ride on the Branson Scenic Railway, which departs from the Depot on Main Street.

Downtown Branson also hosts a number of festivals throughout the year, including Plumb Nellie Days, the Fiddle Festival, Autumn Daze, the Piccadilly Women’s Event and an annual Veteran’s Day Parade.

Featuring a lively boardwalk along the shores of Lake Taneycomo, Branson Landing is the only lifestyle retail, entertainment and waterfront entertainment district in the region. At its heart is a town square that terraces down to a unique water attraction that mixes water, fire, lights and music. The spectacular show features 120 foot high water geysers and booming fire cannons, choreographed to music and light.

Covering 95 acres, Branson Landing attracts more than 4 million visitors annually. It boasts a 450,000 square foot retail complex anchored by Bass Pro Shop and Belk Department Store and features both casual and fine dining options along the waterfront. A 1500 seat amphitheater often hosts concerts while the Town Square is home to a variety of other special events throughout the year. Branson Landing is also the jumping off point for scenic cruises and sightseeing tours around Lake Taneycomo, including a “Riding the Ducks” adventure that takes you through downtown and into the lake.

The Dutton Family Theater is home to nightly shows featuring three generation of Dutton family performers. As finalists in the popular television show America’s Got Talent, they showcased their musical talents on stage ranging from rock and roll to Opera to Country and Bluegrass. Consisting of the mother, father, and seven children, combined the family has over 31 years of gracing the stage. Multitalented family members play instruments ranging from harmonica and fiddle to violin, piano, bass, cello, banjo, keyboard and drums. Family members have frequently won international competitions for their musical talents.

It was after touring the globe that the Dutton Family began to put on on this entertaining show, and it has been received with rave reviews. Together the family members bring a level of professionalism, talent, and camaraderie to the stage. Their two-hour shows feature a variety of music, dance, and comedy with a masterful range that suits the entire family. They perform over 300 shows a year at this location alone.

Tap into Branson's famous entertainment with a family-friendly performance at Hamners' Variety Theater. Expect to find multiple acts gracing the stage, from magic performances to variety shows and country music tribute acts—all under one roof. The shows run throughout the year.

The College of the Ozarks is a private Christian school near Branson, Missouri, that has long been famous for its policy of not charging admission to its full-time students. Founded in 1906, the school has never charged admission. Instead, students work on campus 15 hours a week during the school year and also work two 40-hour weeks during each break between semesters. The motto of the school is “Hard Work U.”

Enrollment at the College of the Ozarks is roughly 1,500 students, and there are work opportunities on campus in every academic and administrative department. With more than 40 possible majors to choose from, that means students get an education as well as potentially valuable work experience in a related field. Not only that, students graduate from C of O with no debt.

The 76 Strip (also known as Country 76 or the Branson Strip) is the center of activity in Branson, Missouri. It sprung to life in the late 1960s, when the Presley Family first established a permanent show and were soon joined by the Baldknobbers, a musical group named after outlaws who once frequented the Ozarks. The Strip’s transformation to become a major tourist destination began in the 1980s when the Roy Clark Celebrity Theater opened and started to lure major country music stars to Branson. By the 1990s, it had gained a reputation as the “live music capital of the entire universe.”

The 76 Strip now features a variety of theme restaurants, amusement parks, shopping areas, hotels and more than 100 theaters, including ones owned by major stars such as Andy Williams, Dick Clark and Dolly Parton. Theaters and attractions worth checking out include Andy Williams’ Moon River Theater, Spirit of the Dance, the Twelve Irish Tenors, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Grill and Theater, the Titanic Museum, the Jim Stafford Theater, the Grand Palace Theater and Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Staying at a hotel along the Strip will provide you easy access to some of the best entertainment that Branson has to offer.

The Branson Scenic Railway is a unique vintage-train experience that takes passengers through the Ozark foothills beginning at the historic 1906 depot in downtown Branson, Missouri. The narrated ride brings the area’s past to life, and also details local wildlife and the railroad’s role in the history of the Ozarks.

While it could be argued that the craft beer craze gained steam in the mid-2000s, Kansas City's Boulevard Brewing Company has been brewing batches of yeast and hops since 1989. As one of Missouri's most popular craft breweries and one of the largest craft breweries in the United States, Boulevard has served as an industry leader over the years.

Visiting guests can enjoy an informative tour following the entire brewing process and learn how the company went from delivering cases from the bed of a pickup truck to producing over 130,000 barrels of beer served in dozens of states. At the end of the tour, travelers can sip on samples of Bavarian classics such as the popular KC Pils, or crank up the hops with the Pop-Up Session or Heavy Lifting IPA. Don't have time for the entire tour? Stop in the tasting room for affordable $1 four-ounce pours.

As you pass by rare primates, towering giraffes, and striped zebras, you might forget that you’re in Missouri, when you visit Branson'sPromised Land Zoo. Perfect for a family outing or a chance to unplug, the zoo offers intimate animal encounters that are sure to please curious kids and animal-loving adults alike.

As a theme park that seems to have frozen in time, the family friendly Silver Dollar City has dozens of rides, live shows, and festivals for visitors to choose from. There’s everything from steam trains to wooden roller coasters, alongside a massive natural cave and historic log cabins. The park is inspired by 19th century Ozark life, and the historic details come to life.

The live shows also have range — visitors can see a Bluegrass concert, a horse show, theatrical dancing, and circus acrobatics in the same day. Other available activities include midwestern cooking classes, unique shopping and dining, and demonstrated crafts, along with seasonal celebrations such as the National Harvest and Cowboy Festival.

Over 100 craftsmen on site preserve traditions such as glass blowing, candle making, candy making, ceramics, wood carving, and blacksmithing that all date back to the 1880s. With so many activity options, there truly is something for everyone at the park.

Sight and Sound Theatre seeks to do exactly what its name suggests: bring the sights and sounds of the Bible to life for audiences. The Christian theater company originally opened in Pennsylvania before also expanding to the Branson area. Its live stage performances range from the stories of Moses and Samson to the Christmas and Easter stories with exceptional costumes, sets, and sound systems.

All shows have extensive production value and are immersive and entertaining, often including the use of animatronics and pyrotechnics. Some shows even make use of live animals; horses have been known to stand in the theater’s aisles.

The Sight and Sound Theatre is one of the Midwest’s most visited, with more than 2,000 seats and a 300-foot-long wraparound stage. The shows are celebrated for both the quality of the live performances and the audio and visual effects.

Travelers who want to brush elbows with the rich and famous don’t have to venture to LA, New York or Hollywood Hills. In fact, they can do so in the heart of America’s Midwest at Branson’s Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center. Jam-packed with hundreds of life-like wax figures of famous celebrities from the big screen, this destination is an ideal spot for families looking for a bit of fun and a taste of something different.

Visitors can learn what it takes to create one of these impressive figures (hint: three months and seven artists!), explore galleries filled with the rich and famous, and even have their pictures taken in some of the most iconic Hollywood film and tv sets around!

Travelers who are short on time but still want to see it all can opt for skip-the-line tickets options for a fast track to the life-like exhibits and displays.

Celebrating what is perhaps the most American form of music, the American Jazz Museum catalogs the sound and history of jazz from its origin. With interactive exhibits and media, a jazz club, theater, and rotating gallery, it is the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to jazz music.

Exhibits showcase the legacy of jazz music’s legendary artists. There are more than 100 recordings of what most consider to be the finest jazz music ever performed, so there is plenty to be heard. The permanent collection details the historical, cultural, and artistic evolution and impact of the music through memorabilia and storytelling. Objects on display include iconic instruments and stage costumes worn by the greatest. Rare photos, film screenings, and interactive touchscreens also bring the music to life.

The museum holds exceptional live performances and community educational programs. With the aim of encouraging the next generation of great jazz musicians, there are also a variety of programs for youth. Tours often include a further stop at the nearby Kansas City Juke House or the nearby Negro Leagues Museum.

This Kansas City museum celebrates African American athletes and their contribution to the sport of baseball. Dating back to as early as the 1800s, it examines the evolution of the sport through hundreds of archives, artifacts, and stories.

The exhibits tell the story of the formation of The Negro Leagues, an important but often overlooked period of sports history. Operating from 1920-1960, the Negro Leagues were of a period of time when baseball was still segregated. The museum preserves uniforms, statues, signed memorabilia, and more from this era. A short film takes visitors through the history of the league with video footage and personal stories. Another highlight is the collection of bronze statues, most of which are life-sized tributes to National Hall of Fame players.

Often combined with a visit to the nearby American Jazz Museum, it’s one of the largest specialized collections of its kind in the country.