View the beauty of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake from the top of "Wildfire." SDC's world class coaster.

BRANSON, Mo. From a temperature perspective, it seems as if the Winter of 2011-2012 forgot to come to a large part of the country including Branson, except in name. The unseasonably mild weather since Fall almost mutes the fact that the official first day of Spring begins at 12:14 (CDT) on March 20. Temperatures and weather aside however, as the other harbingers of Spring begin to manifest themselves, Branson’s Ozark Hills come to life, not only with their natural beauty, but with the sounds and sights of people simply having fun and enjoying themselves as they bask in the first natural blush of Spring.

The first wave of those celebrating Spring Break in Branson are just in time to experience the explosive natural beauty of the Ozarks with a spectacular display including the Bradford Pears, Dogwoods and Redbuds along with the opening of Branson’s great live shows, activities, shopping and attractions, including the opening of “Silver Dollar City.” The majority of Branson’s major attractions such as the Titanic Museum Attraction, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum,” “Hollywood Wax Museum,” “Veterans Memorial Museum” and many others are open year round, but Spring brings the excitement of the reopening of many of Branson’s other exciting seasonal attractions such as “Ride the Ducks,” “Branson Scenic Railway,” Branson’s many outdoor mini golf courses including “Shoot for the Stars Mini Golf” and of course, its biggest and most popular attraction, Silver Dollar City.

Silver Dollar City, Branson’s largest and most popular paid attraction, is an internationally recognized 1880′s style theme park that opened its 2012 season on March 15. The park features over 30 rides and attractions including its high-flying multi-looping world class roller coaster “WildFire” reaching speeds of up to 66 miles per hour; demonstrating craftsmen working at crafts that have been passed down from generation to generation; some of the best live shows in Branson; unique shopping and food and a series of world class festivals starting with “World-Fest,” the country’s largest international festival, running from April 12 through May 6

Spring brings freshness and  renewal to most of Branson’s live shows as they present their new 2012 shows. From the addition of “Rumble in the Tree Tops” at “Dixie Stampede,” the spectacular new production of Joseph and shows as varied as the Acrobats of China, “The Baldknobbers Jamboree,” Presleys’ Country Jubilee, Haygoods, “it presented by the Hughes Brothers,” “the Duttons,” SIX, “George Dyer,” “Grand Jubilee,” Shoji Tabuchi, Pierce Arrow, “Jim Stafford,” “Doug Gabriel,” “Legends in Concert” and “Amazing Pets,” just to mention a few, Branson’s offers a variety of live entertainment that is unrivaled in any destination city of its size anywhere.

Branson is almost as famous for its shopping as it is for its live shows, attractions and other activities. “Branson Landing,” with its lakeside location, fire and water show, restaurants, “Bass Pro Shop” and 100 other retail shops, two factory discount malls, countless specialty shops in historic downtown Branson and throughout Branson provide a unique and unparalleled shopping opportunity.

Spring activities for a lot of people include golf. The mild winter and excellent course maintenance has Branson’s world class golf courses, including the Payne Stewart Golf Course at Branson Hills, Thousand Hills, Pointe Royale and Branson Creek, among others, ready to provide a great golfing experience for the seasoned champion tournament player and challenge for the beginner as well as.

Stephanie Milton, Director of Marketing for the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, also reminds potential visitors that the Spring of 2012 will be very special in Branson. The city of Branson is celebrating its Centennial with special activities on April 1 and 15 and the Titanic Museum Attraction is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic during 2012, including a Night to Remember on April 14 and other events. For additional information on any of the shows, attractions, events or activities mentioned in this article please feel free to contact the Branson Tourism Center by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Silver Dollar City's world class coaster, "Wildfire" and its spectacular view of the Ozark Hills and Table Rock Lake.*

BRANSON, Mo. “There is an infinite choice of things to see and do in Branson, Missouri and one of the questions we are asked the most often by first time visitors is, ‘What are the “must” things to see and do?’” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. “Obviously that will change with the particular needs or desires of the person asking the question, the season of the year and other factors, but on average, the following three things should certainly be at the top of anyone’s ‘must see and do’ Branson itinerary’”

Silver Dollar City
See a Show
Branson Landing

Silver Dollar City is an 1880s styled theme park that is Branson’s oldest and most popular paid attraction. It has six world class festivals a year, 30 thrilling attractions and rides including its new kids area – “Half Dollar Holler,” 60 unique craft shops craftsmen demonstrating skills in pioneer crafts, great food and much more.

Branson is called, by some, “The live music show capital of the world” and during the season offers a variety and quality of live entertainment that is unequaled in any other travel destination of its size, perhaps any size. With all the shows in Branson there is sure to be a show that will appeal to just about everyone. Johnson points out that the original show on the Branson Strip, “Presleys’ Country Jubilee” is iconic not only for that, but because two of its cast members, drummer Steve Presley and his brother Gary Presley, the show’s comedian, have been performing continuously since it opened on the what is now the “Branson Strip “in 1967 and set a new “record” every time they perform. She points out that it is also one of Branson’s most popular shows and its mixture of music and “action comedy” will entertain the entire family.

Constructed at a cost of about $400 million in 2006, Branson Landing is at the same time, one of Branson’s main attractions and a premier shopping destination. It is located immediately adjacent to historic downtown Branson and the Branson Convention Center, on the shores of beautiful Lake Taneycomo. With its unique promenade construction; 100 specialty retail stores, shops and restaurants; $7.5 million fire, water and light fountain show; board walk and attractions, Branson Landing is a unique part of the Branson experience.

Johnson says that Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, has a staff of over 100 people dedicated to just one thing, helping people plan and have a great Branson experience. BTC would be pleased to have one of their knowledgeable local Branson Vacation Planners assist anyone in planning their Branson vacation at absolutely no charge either by calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

* Photo courtesy of Silver Dollar City

Highway 76 entrance with Mel's Diner and, to the left, a glimpse of "interior" of Grand Village Shops.

Shopping is an integral part of the Branson experience for many people,” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center. She also points out that its availability, like the majority of Branson’s other attractions, is year round and not weather or seasonally dependent.”

The variety and quality of the shopping offered by Branson’s outlet malls, Branson Landing, its historic downtown shopping district and other specialty shops is well known. Perhaps not as well known, but providing one of the most unique, interesting and attractive shopping experiences in Branson, is the Grand Village Shops located in the middle of Branson’s entertainment district at 2800 W. Highway 76 on the famous Branson Strip.

Opened in 1993, the Grand Village Shops’ architecture and design is a not an attraction to be missed. Its beautiful fountains, plantings, brick walkways, flower beds and buildings were designed based on “the look of old town Charleston, South Carolina” and provide a charming relaxing shopping venue that is unique in Branson.

From apparel, gift, specialty, toy. book and jewelry stores the shopping experience provided at the Grand Village Shops is exceptional. The confluence of the gallery and fine arts of Helwig Art Glass, Peter Engler Woodcarving and Design, Thomas Kinkade Signature Art Gallery and Mark Karpinski Photography add to the  total shopping experience available at the Grand Village Shops.

The Grand Village Shops has two restaurants that are as unique as its design and shopping. “Sugar Leaf Treats” has some of the most delicious hand crafted treats, cookies, cakes and pies available in Branson to go with their specialty soups, salads, quiches, sandwiches and other items.

Mel’s Hard Luck Dinner, is noted for serving “the biggest banana split in Branson,” its “famous Root Beer Malts” and serving hearty portions of good home cooked food and one other thing, entertainment. As it serves up its delicious food, Mel’s staff of singing servers, interface with the customers in an up-close and personal one on one entertainment experience that the customers from kids on up just love. The singing servers come from varied backgrounds such as Broadway, cruise ships, shows and TV. Two of these servers, Jason Yeager and Matt Kester, appeared on the hit Fox Show “American Idol,” Yeager in 2008 and Kester in 2005.

The Grand Village Shops has great shopping, food, entertainment all presented within a unique and relaxing environment. “It’s another of those unique quality experiences that makes Branson so exciting and interesting,” Branson Tourism Center’s Johnson added. For additional information on the Grand Village Shops or Branson’s other shopping, shows, attractions, or lodging please feel free to contact the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.