Branson, Missouri, is a charming place to spend some time, especially during the summer months. The famed Branson Strip features all kinds of shows and venues that your whole family will surely enjoy. If you couldn’t go on vacation last year because of the pandemic, you should consider Branson as a premier 2024 travel destination.
There are decidedly different ways you can enjoy Branson, though, depending on your preferences. Maybe you want your stay to be more on the luxurious side of things, or perhaps you’d prefer roughing it. Either way, there are plenty of options for you, so let’s look at a few of them now.
1. Hotels
If you do decide that Branson is the place for your family to go this year, you might want to check out the bransonshows.com website before you do. As the site says, “your peace of mind is our top priority,” and they’ve collected several of the best places to stay that you can peruse, all in the same place.
Many Branson visitors find hotels to be the most obvious choice. There are several good ones, including the Radisson, the Grand Plaza, and the Clarion Hotel at the Palace.
If you get a hotel, you can book separate rooms for yourself and your kids, assuming they’re old enough to care for themselves for a few nights. That way, you and your spouse or partner can have some privacy.
The hotels have room service, so if you get back from a show and your family is hungry, you can get the kitchen to bring you something without needing to go out again. That’s convenient. Several of the hotels also have swimming pools, which your kids are sure to enjoy.
Some people shy away from hotels, though, because they want something a little more rugged. If an outdoor adventure appeals to you more, a hotel is likely not for you.
2. Cabins
You can check out some of the cabins that are available in Branson. There are popular ones like the Cabins at Grand Mountain or The Wild Rose.
Cabins might be more your speed if your family likes a vacation with a rustic edge, but you’re not ready to set up a tent and brave the elements. Renting a cabin strikes a nice balance between modern amenities and camping.
You can find some that allow pets, so if you want to bring your beloved family dog along, that’s definitely possible. You can find some that are very close to the 76 Strip, where you’ll find most of Branson’s more famous entertainment venues.
Unless you rent two cabins, though, one for you, and one for the kids, you’re not going to get the privacy a hotel room provides. You should keep that in mind if you’re trying to secure a more intimate setting for yourself and your spouse or partner.
3. Motels
Some people aren’t completely clear on the difference between a hotel and a motel. Generally, hotels are large, enclosed buildings. They often have hundreds of rooms across multiple floors.
Motels, by contrast, typically have one or more floors, and they also have outdoor room entrances. On average, motels are also cheaper than hotels, and you’ll find some in Branson that are no exception. The Classic Motor Inn is a popular option if you want to go that route.
You can probably pay a little bit less if you want to stay at one of the available Branson motels. You can also get multiple rooms if you’re going to split up the family into groups.
You’re likely not going to get as many amenities with a motel, though. Many of them do not feature the concierge services hotels provide. You might at least be able to get a continental breakfast in the morning, but don’t expect anything too lavish.
4. Camping
If you want to camp in Branson, that’s certainly possible as well. Some families are very much into camping, while others don’t care for it at all. You’ll have to consider whether your family has done it before and whether they enjoyed it when they did.
The America’s Best Campground might be your best bet if you decide to pack the tent and sleep under the stars. The Branson View Campground is another good one.
If you decide that camping appeals to you and the family members who will share your vacation, you might enjoy hiking during the days. Many of the campsites are woods-adjacent, and you can check out some of the local wildlife. You can marvel at the local fauna and flora.
Some of the campsites allow you to have fires, where you can roast marshmallows and tell scary stories. The bad news concerning camping is that you might have mosquitoes to contend with, not to mention raccoons and other nocturnal critters.
You’ll definitely save money over the more high-end hotels, though. If you’re visiting Branson on a budget, that might be the determining factor that points you in this direction.
Once you have decided which accommodations work best for your family, you can look into the best restaurants. You might take the whole crew miniature golfing, and Branson offers many great shopping opportunities as well. You can get souvenirs for all your relatives back home.
Branson is probably best known for its shows, though, so you’ll need to look into the best reviewed ones and score some tickets. The Pierce Arrow Gold Show is a consistently popular one, as is the Reza Edge of Illusion Magic Show.
The Yakov “Make America Laugh Again” Show is another standout. If your kids love horses, the Dolly Parton’s Stampede Branson show is the best option.
Whichever ones you choose, you can be sure that your Branson vacation will leave you with pleasant memories you will cherish for years to come. Be sure to take lots of pictures you can post on social media to show your friends and family what you did during the summer.
