Autumn in the Ozarks is one of our four favorite seasons! And Branson has some of the prettiest fall drives in the Ozarks. It’s hard to go anywhere without catching a glimpse of the beautiful foliage tucked inside of the Ozark Mountains. And sometimes, a pretty drive is exactly what you need to relax. Luckily, Branson is full of beautiful roads to drive- especially in the fall.

You can find both long and short scenic driving routes in the Ozarks! We have gathered a few of our tried and true favorite routes for you to travel on your next Sunday drive! Here are a few of the prettiest fall drives in the Ozarks!

• Ozark Mountain Highroad, otherwise known as Hwy 465, is a short, eight-mile ride overlooking Branson’s Hills. The Highroad not only provides great access to many of Branson’s activities, it is a stunning example of fall beauty in the Ozarks.
• Highway 165– a winding road with incredible views, and many great scenic overlooks. Don’t forget to stop at the Dewey Visitor Center and Table Rock State Park along the way!
• Sugar Camp National Forest Scenic Byway is a 28 mile highway, providing travelers views of Table Rock Lake and Roaring River State Park. The stunning vistas and wooded valleys and hills make an amazing experience you shouldn’t miss.

Make us your home base for your next trip to the Ozarks!
We know you will love it as much as we do!

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Thanksgiving is around the corner and we could not be more excited! This is one of our favorite holidays and we love spending it with friends and family. Each year we end up having both a Thanksgiving meal with family and a Friendsgiving meal with friends. {There is still time for you to book a pre-Thanksgiving or post-Thanksgiving getaway with family or friends} In an attempt to help you elongate the holiday, we are sharing a few of our favorite easy Thanksgiving recipes and treats!

What are some of your go-to holiday meals?

It’s officially October, which means it’s safe for you to start eating and drinking all things pumpkin! We’ve already shared our favorite homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe and now we are sharing the best pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe! We’ve tried over 10 recipes (literally) and found this one was the team favorite! Trust us, you and your family and friends will love it too!

You’ve officially figured out the basics for your family’s spring break & have completed the planning! Yay! Now it’s time to start packing for your family’s perfect spring break! So where do you start?

1. Check the weather. If you are packing, you are likely near your departure date. Check for rain, heat, etc.
2. Think about your activities. Does anything require special equipment? Ski clothes, hiking gear, swim suits {hot tubs require swim suits too}, etc.
3. Toiletries. Think medicines, bug sprays, sunscreens, makeup, razors, toothbrush/toothpaste, etc.
4. Paperwork. We like to pack confirmation emails, arrival details, directions, and contact numbers. It’s always easier to over-print than it is to dig through emails last minute.
5. Clothing. Think about each day and pack accordingly. Many vacation rentals {like ours} have washing machines so you can do laundry during your stay too!
6. Other. Phone/Phone chargers, camera/camera charger, computers/computer chargers, sunglasses, etc.

If you are staying with us at Amazing Branson Rentals, we have a detailed packing list for you here! We are here for you and want to help you “Make memories and start traditions!”

So you’ve officially figured out the basics for your family’s spring break! Congratulations! Now the fun planning begins. We’ve not only planned our own family’s spring break trips for years, but we also have years of experience helping others plan their family trips! So what is needed to plan the perfect spring break? We’re here to help you set your itinerary!

1. Check the weather. You might have to save this until closer to your departure date, but check to see if there is rain in the forecast- this might impact your itinerary.
2. Decide what is important to your family. Think about these questions- do you all need down time to relax, do you want a full itinerary with options of what to do each day, how active do you want to be, etc. Think about each member of the family. You may even want to sit down and ask each person what they want. Let each member of the family choose one item one their must-do list! Then create a list of options in your chosen destination {and keep weather in mind!}. We like to plan downtime during our trip, but always have a list of adventurous options for every day of the trip as well- just in case. Plan on booking a few items in advance- think about items that might sell out in advance.
3. Think about food. Do you want to cook at home or eat out? Make a list of restaurants you might want to visit as well as a list of meals you might want to make. We are big fans of making breakfast and dinner at home and eating out at lunch.

Yay! The trip is getting real! Now all that is left is packing! Stay tuned, we will be sharing tour tips on what to pack soon. You won’t want to miss these tips! We are here for you and want to help you “Make memories and start traditions!”

Starting to plan your family’s spring break and feeling a bit overwhelmed? After years of planning our own family spring breaks and now years of helping YOU all plan the perfect vacation, we have come up with a few tips on how to plan the perfect spring break for your family!

Since planning a big vacation can be overwhelming, we’ve broken down our tips into a few different parts. So where do you start? Let’s start with the basics!

1. Confirm your family’s dates. Work and school schedules may very- especially if you have kids at different schools. Make sure you have specific dates set that work for everyone!
2. Decide on your budget. Once the budget is set, decide where you want to spend most of the money. Is it more important for you to have a cozy home for your family to spend time in or would you prefer a small space so you can spend more money on activities?
3. Decide your priorities. What is important to your family? Do you need to have a full kitchen because you all want to cook at home? Do you want to be in the hustle-and-bustle or do you want a quiet retreat?
4. Location. Now that you’ve got a start, what kind of getaway do you want? Beach, log cabin, ski, etc.
5. Make sure your family agrees.  Once you’ve set the basics, sit down with your family and make sure everyone agrees on the basics.

Congratulations! You’ve gotten through the least fun part of planning a trip! Stay tuned, we will be sharing the next steps to planning the perfect spring break for your family over the next couple of weeks. You won’t want to miss these tips! We are here for you and want to help you “Make memories and start traditions!”

Looking for an adrenaline rush? How about climbing the new ropes course at Big Cedar Lodge? 40 feet below the course you will find live alligators and pythons! Don’t worry, it is completely safe! The course will have more than 60 different elements- from rolling logs to swaying ladders! This four-story Big Cedar Lodge Sky Trail is definitely something you want to experience!

The ropes course will be located on the back for the Fun Mountain and is expected to open this summer. Have kids who are too small for the adult size rope course? No problem! Big Cedar already has a Sky Tykes for kids 2-7 years old!

Intrigued? We certainly are! Grab your family or friends and book a home with us so you can be one of the first to experience the new ropes course! But hurry, we are booking up quickly!

Branson is full of fun things to do- from the lake and rivers to the shows and museums. And of course, you can’t miss Silver Dollar City! We love summer at Silver Dollar City! They have a plethora of fun events set up for you to enjoy- from both daytime activities to evening activities! And they have a special “Star Spangled Summer” from June 9- July 22 that you won’t want to miss! It’s going to be an All-American Summer full of fun and excitement! Be prepared to enjoy over 40 thrilling rides & attractions, meet your favorite cartoon characters in person and more!

Need a place to call home while visiting Silver Dollar City? We have you covered! Check out our many homes!

Famous BBQ, a lively blues music scene, and two professional sports teams – those are just a few of things that have helped put St. Louis on the map. But sooner or later, despite all the excitement that takes place in the city under the arch, you’ll want an escape. So where do you go when you need a break from a busy metropolis, but still want plenty of great things to do? The answer is simple: Branson, MO, one of the best weekend getaways from St. Louis. Less than four hours away from St. Louis, Branson offers fun for visitors of any age, surrounded by the beauty of Ozarks. Here are a few of the reasons why Branson is one of the best weekend getaways in the midwest.

World-Class Entertainment

Branson is commonly referred to as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World, a title it rightly holds. Pick any day of the week, and you can choose from dozens of live shows. Dinner shows, captivating theatre performances and concerts from some of the biggest names in the music industry. There’s the Showboat Branson Belle, which takes its passengers on a cruise around beautiful Table Rock Lake while featuring a great live show and dinner. Or, for an incredible live production of biblical stories (complete with live animals and impressive stages sets), there’s the Sight and Sound Theatre. You don’t want to miss an evening at Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, either! Add to the mix concerts from the Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels Band, and more, and you won’t have any trouble finding an exciting show or concert. Amazing live entertainment is just one of the many things that make Branson one of the best weekend getaways from St. Louis.

Amazing Attractions

Revisit your childhood at The World’s Largest Toy Museum, explore the fate of history’s most well-known cruise ship at The Titanic Museum, and witness the weird and wild at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Branson. Or, head to Silver Dollar City, Branson’s premier theme park! Roller coasters, annual festivals, the White Water water park, live craftsmen, and much more are part of the excitement at Silver Dollar City. Fascinating museums and family fun at Silver Dollar City should put Branson at the top of your list of weekend vacations near St. Louis.

Outdoor Beauty

Live shows and theme park fun are great, but what makes Branson one of the best weekend getaways from St. Louis isn’t solely its entertainment value. Branson is surrounded by the Ozarks, and finding a part of the area that isn’t beautiful is a difficult task. If you need the peace and quiet that only the outdoors can afford, you’ve come to the right place. Branson is home to Table Rock Lake and Table Rock State Park, where you can enjoy the serenity of a hike on of the area’s many trails, or spend a day fishing on the lake. Anyone who finds their escape on the fairway will love the award-winning golf courses in Branson. They feature pro-worthy layouts and picturesque scenery! Take a breath of fresh air and enjoy nature when you visit Branson.

Enjoy Branson With the Best Accommodations in Town

The folks here at Amazing Branson Rentals want you to experience what makes our city one of the best weekend getaways from St. Louis. Stay in one of our vacation cabins, and enjoy the features and amenities of a vacation home, combined with the rustic appeal and surrounding scenery that only our Branson accommodations can offer. Fully equipped kitchens, WiFi, hot tubs, and TVs in every bedroom – what more do you want? How about a convenient location, only minutes aways from Branson theaters and Table Rock Lake. Call us today at (972) 849-6363 for availability, and book your vacation today.

Update! There is a new Duck Tour in town! Be sure the check out  BransonDuckTours, for the newest duck adventures in Branson!

The OLD ‘Ride the Ducks’ is no longer in Branson. Branson Duck Tours is not affiliated with them and operate Hydra-Terras. They ride in Taneycomo & offer group rates!
Check them out for new details!

Branson Duck tours. The phrase leaves a lot to be answered. Does Branson have a famous duck population? Are there giant waterfowl in the city that can be mounted and rode like horses? Are they something completely different? The answers in order are: No, No, and Yes. So what are they?

What’s A Duck Tour?

Branson Duck tours have nothing to do with ducks, actually. The name comes from a WWII-era amphibious military vehicle, the DUKW. For a visual reference, think of a cross between a boat and a truck. According to The Free Dictionary, “D means 1942, U means utility (amphibious), K means all-wheel drive, W means 2 powered rear axles.” Quite a mouthful, right? It’s easy to see why people call the GMC product a “Duck.” No longer used in combat, these swimming vehicles have found new lives as tour mobiles in waterfront cities like Boston and Seattle, as well as Branson. Ride the Ducks Branson offers tours in replicas of the famous crafts, pairing their iconic look with modern features. Thanks to the Duck’s ability to cruise both land and sea, you’ll learn and see much more than on a bus or boat tour.

What Makes Branson Duck Tours Fun?

What’s not to love about seeing downtown Branson, driving through the Ozarks, and splashing into the water, all without leaving your seat? Ride The Ducks offers Branson Duck Tours of Table Rock Lake and Branson Landing, and each one is a unique experience.

On the Table Rock Lake tour, passengers will see the famous Branson Entertainment District, enjoy stunning views from the top of Baird Mountain, ride the waters of Table Rock Lake and more. Or, head to Branson Landing and enjoy a tour of Lake Taneycomo, while also riding through downtown Branson and by the College of the Ozarks. Plus, passengers will have the chance to actually drive the vehicle while it’s in the water! Take either tour, and enjoy family fun, music, and beautiful scenery.

Not only is a Duck tour of Branson fun, but educational! According to Ride The Ducks’ website, Duck captains narrate the tours, offering fascinating facts about local history, the story of the DUKW, and more. Ride The Ducks also has options for field trips, birthday parties, and work outings!
Ride the Ducks!

Now you know not only what Branson Duck tours are, but also why you should go. See Branson with Ride The Ducks, and you’ll be hooked. Visit them online for tickets, group prices, tour details, and more, or call (877) 887-8225. Ride The Ducks is located at 2320 West Highway 76, Branson, MO.

See the Best of Branson and Stay With Amazing Branson Rentals

Hundreds of live theatre performances and concerts, the beauty of Table Rock Lake, Branson Landing, and family fun at Silver Dollar City – do we have your attention yet? Branson offers big time fun, without the crowds of a big city. The best way to experience the excitement of the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World” is to stay with Amazing Branson Rentals. We offerBranson vacation cabins that feature the perfect blend of rustic appeal, modern amenities, and comfort. Fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, hot tubs, WiFi, and more are what you can expect when you book a stay with us. Plus, you’ll be only minutes away from the best things to do in Branson. Contact us online or call us at (972)-849-6363 and start planning your Branson vacation today.