10 Best Things to Do in Branson

The Branson Scenic Railway offers a trip that's both historic and an amazing photo opportunity through the foothills of the Ozarks and along the history of transportation. The main depot for the railway is located on the east side of the downtown Historic District. A trip on the train takes you over historic trestles and through tunnels, along the way showing off the beauty of the Ozark wilderness.

The 40-mile round trip journey takes 2 hours and includes narration regarding the attractions you'll see. The railway also offers special events all year long, including a popular holiday-themed Polar Express ride.

The Titanic Museum encompasses 2 stories of exhibits spread over 20 galleries that offer actual artifacts, photos, and documents tracing the fateful voyage of the ship. The museum is docked on the water and shaped like the Titanic (only about half the size of the real ship). When you enter, you'll receive a ticket with the name of an actual passenger on it, and you'll enter through an iceberg.

In addition to the exhibits themselves, you'll experience fun but educational programs that talk about issues like science, math, and geography, all of which played into that tragic night in 1912. It's located only a 10-minute drive west of central downtown Branson.

The Hollywood Wax Museum is one of the few places you can get your picture taken with celebrities from Michael Jackson to Bruce Lee, all lifelike but made of wax. The art of making wax figures is centuries old and time-honored, and it's the closest thing you'll ever get to coming face-to-face with hundreds of celebrities all in one place at the same time.

Not only can you see figures like Sandra Bullock and Woody Harrelson, but you'll also learn all about their quirks, favorite foods, charity work, lives, and interests. You can take all the photos you like, just don't touch. The museum is on Highway 76, just about 10 minutes west of downtown Branson.

Track Family Fun Park offers fun and excitement on attractions like high-rise go-kart tracks, laser maze challenges, arcade games, and even a Skycoaster. This family theme park offers a wide range of go-kart racing tracks like the Heavy Metal High Rise, the Road Course Track, and the Wild Woody where you can race the day away.

Other attractions include a laser tag arena, bumper cars, arcade games, and a Glow Golf mini-golf course. A single pass gets you 2 hours of unlimited rides at one of the 4 locations, all right in the heart of Branson, just a few minutes from central downtown.

Table Rock Lake offers 800 miles of shoreline for boating, fishing, camping, picnic areas, and waterfront fun for the entire family to enjoy. This human-made lake is popular among all outdoor adventurers whether they're looking for a campground, a resort trip, or just to use a boat launch to take a kayak out on the waters. You can also book a full-sized showboat tour of the lake for a fun evening out.

The lake is regularly stocked and offers great fishing for bluefish, catfish, and bass. If you own your own boat, you can dock at one of the many marinas. The lake is located in the Ozarks, just about a 20-minute drive from downtown Branson.

The Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery offers education, viewing decks, picnic areas, and a nature center devoted to the ecology and conservation of trout-rearing activities. At the conservation center and observation decks, you'll be able to learn all about fishing and the life cycle of trout. Other activities in this attraction offer hiking, trout fishing, bird-watching, and seasonal guided tours of the hatchery.

You can visit exhibits and displays inside or take 3 miles of hiking trails with wildlife viewing and more fishing areas. The hatchery can be found about 16 minutes southwest of downtown Branson.

The Runaway Mountain Coaster may start as a traditional coaster, but it allows for a user-controlled thrill ride through the natural topography of the Ozarks. Each car is individual, rather than a train like usual roller coasters, and you'll be pulled by chain up the mountain, then released. From there, you can use a braking system to shoot breakneck through the trees or take a slow, scenic ride down.

This experience makes the coaster a fun and enjoyable experience for thrill riders or those who want leisurely views of the Branson skyline. You can find the coaster on Branson's west side, about a 20-minute drive from the heart of downtown.