With more than 100 live shows, a dozen golf courses, a theme park and a historic downtown, Branson is the type of well-rounded destination that can host 8 million visitors a year.
Called the “Live Music Show Capital of America,” there are no casinos. Rather, Branson, Missouri is show time-meets-national park with resident headliners like Andy Williams, the Osmonds, The Platters and Shoji Tabuchi.
Branson tilts Western, but there’s something for all tastes. In addition to live shows, there’s fishing on Lake Taneycomo, hiking and rock-climbing. Hungry yet? Head to Billy Gails Cafe for hubcap-sized pancakes.
Golf in Branson is quite a draw, with a diverse roster of courses.
The Payne Stewart Golf Club sweeps downhill and tucks into a small green, while the finishing par 4 features a huge swale and a scary bunker complex. Tom Fazio’s Branson Creek is characterized by exceptional par 3s and elevated tees; and at Ledgestone, trouble comes with challenging putts on large, fast, roller-coaster greens. John Daly’s Murder Rock is fairly benign and on the short side, considering it’s named for the big boomer.
Stay here
Branson has condo rentals and hotels like the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, Big Cedar Lodge, Chateau on the Lake Resort and the Keeter Center’s Mabee Lodge. Also, each golf course has stay-and-play packages ranging from hotels to condos and villas.
