7 Best Sights in Branson, Missouri

Attending a live musical performance is the highlight of many a visitor’s trip to Branson, and while there are dozens to choose from, a few stand apart as being among the city’s most innovative. One of these is Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, a lively dinner show that features live horseback stunts, pyrotechnic feats, and a four-course meal of Southern finger food (vegetarian options are also available). If you get here early, you can catch free preshow performances in the lobby.

Just off Branson's famous Route 76, the local branch of the Hollywood Wax Museum offers visitors the chance to get their photos snapped with eerily realistic replicas of their favorite film stars of yesterday and today, from Charlie Chaplin to Johnny Depp. You can even climb into the fist of a giant King Kong figure, but you’ll have to pay extra if you want to take the photo home. The gift shop in this recently renovated museum is chock-full of Hollywood memorabilia.

The first thing you’ll notice when visiting Branson’s branch of Ripley’s Believe it or Not is the museum’s unusual facade, with long fissures designed to look as though the whole place has been cracked in an earthquake. This unusual design is a nod to the 1812 earthquake, which supposedly caused the Mississippi to reverse its flow. From there, things only get weirder. Inside, you’ll witness a number of unbelievable oddities, ranging from a two-headed taxidermied calf to so-called shrunken heads. The replica of Rome’s Colosseum made entirely of playing cards isn’t really an oddity, but is certainly a display of some serious talent.

One of Branson's biggest draws for families, Silver Dollar City boasts 30 rides and attractions, ranging the mild Happy Frogs kiddie ride to some pretty intense roller coasters. Those looking to maximize the fear factor won't want to miss the chance to take a ride on the WildFire, a loopy coaster that reaches speeds of up to 66 mph. Other popular rides include the American Plunge, a five-story splash ride, and the recently added Outlaw Run, the world's steepest wooden roller coaster. Off-season visitors should note that most of the rides close when temperatures drop below 35°F.

A short drive from Branson will take you to this gorgeous natural expanse on the banks of Table Rock Lake, a popular camping spot with facilities for boating, fishing, and even scuba diving. There are also hiking trails, mountain-biking trails, and picnic areas. At the marina you can rent boats and purchase tackle and snacks. The flora and fauna in the park include oak and hickory trees, glade plants, wildflowers, wild turkeys, and foxes, as well as tarantulas.

Butterflies are everywhere at Branson’s Butterfly Palace, an interactive attraction dedicated to the world’s most beautiful insect. The palace includes a tropical aviary that contains not only butterflies of all colors and sizes, but also tropical birds and plants. There's also a theater that screens a documentary on monarch migration, a mirror maze, and a bungee obstacle course. At the museum’s science center you can check out a variety of rain-forest butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, and even cockroaches under a microscope.

Showcasing some of the world's greatest classic toys, as well as a few modern ones, this museum is fun not only for children, but also for adults wanting to get nostalgic about their childhood. There are more than a million toys here, and collections include vintage toy trains, old school lunchboxes, tin toys, toddler pull toys, and many decades' worth of Barbie dolls and action figures. The gift shop is well stocked with classic toys to take home, including plenty of Mr. Potato Head figurines.