Branson is home to countless attractions, from excellent theatre performances held daily, to fascinating museums and natural beauty. One of those great attractions is the Branson Scenic Railway, an exciting train ride that will take you back in time as you travel through the Ozarks. Dubbed “Branson’s Most Classic Attraction,” the Branson Scenic Railway is an exciting adventure for passengers of all ages. If you want to experience the stunning scenery of the Ozarks, while travelling in a beautiful, vintage train, then take a ride on the Branson Scenic Railway!
The Branson Scenic Railway
Covering 40 miles of railway in the Ozark mountains of Missouri, a ride on Branson Scenic Railway is not only the best way to see the local area, but an unforgettable experience. In a day and age where flashy attractions, hand-held devices, and computer screens rule entertainment, the simplicity of a train ride through one of the of nation’s most scenic regions is a breath of fresh air! Passengers will receive food and a history lesson of the area one the round trip ride, all while enjoying incredible views of the mountains and rivers from the windows of their passenger car.
According to the railway’s website, the train cars themselves are a collection from different railways, including a 1939 observation car, and 48-seat diner car from 1956! The train cars themselves add to the excitement of the ride, affording passengers a glimpse into the past of train travel.
Christmas is one of the most exciting seasons on the Branson Scenic Railway, because that means it’s time for The Polar Express Train Ride! Inspired by the movie of the same name, The Polar Express Train Ride takes its guests on a snowy, winter trip, where Santa, hot cocoa and cookies are all part of the fun. It’s the perfect holiday family event!
More information on rides, tickets and the history of the Branson Scenic Railway can be found online, or by calling (800) 287-2462. You can also follow the Branson Scenic Railway on Facebook!
The Branson Scenic Railway depot is located at 206 E. Main St. in Branson, MO.
Other Great Branson, MO Attractions
Table Rock Lake
Fishing, jet-skiing, and the Showboat Branson Belle – enjoy all of this and much more at Table Rock Lake!
Silver Dollar City
Featuring rides, games, shops, and festivals, Silver Dollar City is Branson’s family-friendly theme park.
The Titanic Museum
The story of one of history’s most ships lives on at the fascinating Titanic Museum, featuring interactive exhibits, real artifacts, and much more.
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Every week in Branson, actors take to the stage and perform hundreds of live shows, wowing audiences, while regional and national musical acts perform for crowds. Among all of the excitement, it’s easy to forget that humans aren’t the only attraction in Branson! The Promised Land Zoo in Branson is an exciting, family friendly attraction, and the only zoo in Branson. Featuring live animal shows, and a wide range of creatures, and more, the Promised Land Zoo is one of the best Branson attractions!
4 Reasons Why Promised Land Zoo Promises an Amazing Time
1. Exciting Animal Encounters!
There’s nothing quite as exciting as getting up close and personal with a creature that you would otherwise only see on a screen. With the Promised Land Zoo’s Exclusive Encounters, you can experience wildlife like never before! Hang out with two-toed sloths, lemurs, baby kangaroos, or a Caracal kitten, and more. VIP and VIP PLUS admission will get you access to this unforgettable feature of the Promised Land Zoo.
2. Experience the Safari
The Foot Safari is reason enough by itself to visit the Promised Land Zoo. Iconic African animals like lions, zebra, and lemurs, as well as creatures from around the world, including prairie dogs and capybaras can be seen at the Foot Safari!
3. Hands-On Animal Fun
The Promised Land Zoo features Live Animal Shows every day, allowing you to not only learn about some of the zoo’s coolest creatures, but pet and hold them as well! The trained staff hosts show daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. Enjoy an exciting, interactive animal presentation at no additional cost.
4. Feed Baby Animals!
This is easily one of the zoo’s best features – where else are you going to be able to feed baby camels and zebra? Feedings are held daily, and if you want an amazing experience helping the zoo’s animals grow, then don’t miss a Bottle Feeding Babies event!
Visiting The Promised Land Zoo in Branson
The Promised Land Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and ticket prices can be found on the zoo’s website. General admission does not include the VIP or VIP PLUS admission, so keep that in mind while planning a trip. For more information, visit the Promised Land Zoo online, or by calling (417) 337-9453. You can also follow the Promised Land Zoo on Facebook for fun photos, videos and updates.
The Promised Land Zoo also has a second location in Eagle Rock, MO that features some of the same attractions as the Branson location, as well as a Drive Thru Park and Petting Zoo!
The Promised Land Zoo in Branson is located at 2751 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, Branson, MO 65616.
See What Makes Branson Amazing When You Stay in an Amazing Branson Vacation Cabin
Whether you’re here for week of great theater performances, a trip to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, or a weekend on Table Rock Lake, Amazing Branson Rentals is your choice for the best accommodations in Branson. Our spacious vacation cabins are the perfect blend of rustic appeal and modern comforts, combining beautiful wooden interiors and exteriors with amenities like hot tubs, flat-screen TVs, Wifi, fully-equipped kitchens and more. Our cabins can house everyone from couples looking for a romantic getaway, to groups of a dozen or more! We’d love to host you while you enjoy Branson – contact us today, online or at (972) 849-6363 and start planning your Branson vacation with us.
Home to over 1,000 different species of butterflies from all around the world, the Branson Butterfly Palace and Rainforest Adventure is one of the area’s favorite attractions. Located in the heart of Branson, Missouri, the Branson Butterfly Palace attracts an audience as diverse as the creatures it is home to, and is the perfect outing for the whole family! It offers everything from an educational experience, to awe-inspiring entertainment, and everything in between. Guests have the opportunity to simply enjoy the beauty of these botanic gardens and the creatures within them, or get into the nitty-gritty biology behind their existence. On your next trip to Missouri, don’t miss the Branson Butterfly Palace!
About the Branson Butterfly Palace
The Branson Butterfly Palace purchases over 500 butterflies in the Chrysalis stage (still in the pupa) per week! That’s a lot of butterflies! The average lifespan of a butterfly is only two or three weeks long, so the entomologists keep busy making sure the garden remains a butterfly paradise, purchasing from farms all over the world, from South and Central America to Malaysia. Not only do the many visitors get to enjoy the beauty of the Branson Butterfly Palace, but their visits mean that the Palace can spend roughly $80,000 annually on butterflies purchased from farms whose livelihoods depend on their butterfly business. A successful butterfly farm also needs a healthy rainforest surrounding it, meaning that the Branson Butterfly Palace’s purchases also work to keep these sought after woodlands safe from harm.
A Day at the Branson Butterfly Palace
The Branson Butterfly Palace is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., seven days a week, with lots of great things to explore and experience. To start, check out the Living Rainforest Science Center where you can learn all about the inner workings of these mystical ecosystems. Critter Encounters talks occur at both 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., with guides giving short informational speeches about different species. Try your hand at finding your way through the Emerald Forest Mirror Maze. Truly the highlight of your trip, the Butterfly Aviary is the place to be at the Branson Butterfly Palace, with live releases daily at both 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Don’t miss this magical moment! The great Banyan Tree Adventure is another great spot, always open to explore.
Educational Videos
There are two educational videos rotating throughout each day to help you learn more about the different species. The “Costa Rica Butterfly Farm” film shares the experience of visiting the butterfly farm there from which the Branson Butterfly Palace sources some of its most beautiful species. This farm is working wonders to help save the gorgeous Costa Rican rainforest. The second film is the “3D Butterfly Lifecycle,” showing the full life of a butterfly through all its stages and transformation.
Don’t miss this stunning attraction in Missouri on your next visit. The Branson Butterfly Palace is going to be one of the highlights of your trip! Head to www.thebutterflypalace.com for more information.
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What goes together better than the sweet sound of bluegrass and mouthwatering barbecue? Nothing, and if you disagree, then a trip to this year’s Bluegrass and BBQ Festival in Branson, MO will change your mind! Branson’s Silver Dollar City comes alive with the sounds and smells of southern culture for three and a half weeks in May, featuring the biggest names in bluegrass and some of the best bbq you can find. Here’s a preview of what you can expect, and why you don’t want to miss out on the best bluegrass and barbecue festival around!
Bluegrass and BBQ Festival Musicians
Starting on the first day of the festival, May 5, Silver Dollar City will host bluegrass musicians from Missouri and around the country. But these aren’t just any musicians – these are some of the best in the bluegrass business! Multiple performances on several stages every day by highly-talented fiddlers, banjo players and guitarists might actually distract you from the BBQ itself. 2016’s schedule is highlighted by artists like Grammy-winning Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The Gibson Brothers and many, many more! Musicians travelling from as far as New Mexico and as close as Galena, MO are slated to perform. The KSMU Youth in Bluegrass Band Contest will be held on May 28, an exciting competition of the nation’s up and coming bluegrass artists. Click here for a full list of this year’s artists and dates.
Bluegrass and BBQ Festival Food
A bluegrass and barbecue festival that doesn’t feature food as good as its music wouldn’t be worth attending, right? Fear not, hungry festival-goers, because that’s a problem you won’t have to worry about here. BBQ enthusiasts know that Missouri is one of the nation’s most famous regions for the southern dish, and with good reason. From Kansas City to St. Louis, the Show-Me State will show and serve you some of the best barbecue you’ll taste. Silver Dollar City’s Reunion Hall and House of BBQ (better known as the Red Gold Heritage Hall not during the festival) will be the epicenters of festival food. House of BBQ is featuring the all-new Rib Extravaganza (featuring four different styles of rubs and finishes), in addition to barbecue sandwiches, full dinners (including hickory smoked beef brisket!) and savory sides. Head to Reunion Hall for the rib feast, an all-you-can-eat barbecue smorgasbord featuring St. Louis style ribs, hickory smoked chicken and sausage, and more! Included in this feast is a salad bar, sides and dessert and a drink.
If you know anything about Kansas City BBQ, you know that the sauce is no bench player – it’s a key ingredient. Located in Silver Dollar City is Bottle Neck Bros. Sauce Shack, your one-stop shop for all things barbecue sauce. Be sure to stop by and shop their impressive sauce stock!
More Information
Aside from being home to the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival, Silver Dollar City is one of Branson’s most exciting attractions! Plenty of rides, shops, craftsmen and more make this one of the best things to do in Branson, whether you’re here for a festival or not. Tickets for the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival, which will also grant you access to park’s attractions, can be purchased here. The festival runs from May 5-30.
Amazing Branson Vacation Rentals
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