3 Best Sights in Branson, Missouri

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.

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.