The Showboat Branson Belle cruising on Table Rock Lake combines the natural beauty of the Ozarks with great dining and entertainment.

“Over 7 million people a year get to experience firsthand what a great vacation destination Branson, Missouri is in terms of excitement, value and the number of things to do,” said Stephanie Milton, Director of Marketing for Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services. “Thanks to the willingness of many of them to share their opinion about what a great Branson experience they had with TripAdvisor®, Branson was recently named a winner of its inaugural “Travelers’ Choice® Family Award-winning Great U.S. Destinations to Discover.”

The award was announced in a recent TripAdvisor press release stating it was based on millions of reviews and opinions. The award went to those destinations receiving “the greatest number of recommendations from reviewers who traveled with family” and Branson was one of only ten named in the category of “Great U.S. Destinations to Discover.”

The narrative with the listing explains that “Branson is called the Live Music Show Capital of the World.” It explained the breadth of the entertainment offered by Branson shows pointing out that its 50 plus theatres offer “almost 90 music, magic and comedy shows on any given day.” The narrative also summed up some of the other great activities that Branson has to offer its natural native Ozark’s beauty and outdoor activities such as water sports, fishing, hiking and biking. Milton points out that Branson has the same quality and choice in its other attractions and activities as it does for live shows and outdoor activities.

She believes that with Branson attractions like Silver Dollar City, The Shepherd of the Hills, White Water Titanic Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not to the Butterfly Palace, The World’s Largest Toy Museum or one of Branson’s championship golf courses there are attractions and activities that will provide families with a constant stream of exciting ways to have fun together. “When Branson’s great shopping and all the other things that Branson has to offer are factored in, it’s easy to appreciate what a great destination city Branson is for families,” Milton added.

Milton points out that this most recent recognition follows Branson being recognized as “A Top Ten Family Destination for 2010” on Fodor’s Travel Blog, being selected by the “American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA)” as one of the most budget friendly destinations for travelers in 2009 and others. “The recognition from organizations such as TripAdvisor, ASTA and others is wonderful, but from a personal perspective, the real joy comes from seeing the smiles and excited looks on the faces of families as they experience the entertainment, fun, excitement and adventure that is Branson as they create memories they will remember for a lifetime.”

The exciting and spectacular view of the natural beauty of the Ozarks from "Wildfire," Silver Dollar city's world class coaster.

Within a few short weeks, the signs of another Spring in Branson will begin to manifest itself. The first blush of Spring offers the opportunity to escape from the inside confines of winter to the freedom of the outdoors and the promise of the fun, recreation and excitement that lies just ahead. Spring in Branson, Missouri, especially during Spring Break, is a great way to start the fulfillment of that promise.

The natural beauty of Spring in the Ozarks will start blossoming forth during Spring Break as the Dogwood and Redbud trees bloom and the excitement and adventure of Branson’s 2011 season bursts forth. The opening of Silver Dollar City along with more of its live shows, outdoor attractions and other activities provide a great reason to escape to Branson to share and enjoy the excitement, fun and adventure of Spring.

Even as the snow is flying there are thoughts of “Spring Break” and the fun it will be. In fact, many of those within a day’s drive of Branson are probably wondering if Spring Break will be shortened to make up for the “snow days” that have been taken. One of the neat things about Branson is that all its fun, excitement, entertainment and natural beauty are just a short drive away for so many, making it an ideal family Spring Break escape to something that is fresh, exciting and different, whether it’s for a day or two, a week or more.

The majority of Branson’s major attractions such as the Titanic Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Veterans Memorial Museum, Dinosaur Museum and many others are open year round. Spring brings the excitement of the reopening of many of Branson’s other exciting attractions such as the Branson Scenic Railway, Branson Landing Cruises, Ride the Ducks, Branson’s many outdoor mini golf courses such as “Shoot for the Stars Mini Golf” and of course, its biggest and most popular attraction, Silver Dollar City.

Silver Dollar City, an internationally recognized 1880’s theme park, will open its 51st season in conjunction with the celebration of Spring Break. It is built to blend in with the beauty of the Ozark Hills that surround it and is one of the most unique theme parks in the world.

Silver Dollar City has over 30 rides including its high-flying multi-looping world class roller coaster “WildFire” reaching speeds of up to 66 miles per hour; some of the best live shows in Branson; demonstrating craftsmen working at crafts that have been passed down from generation to generation; unique shopping and food and a series of six world class festivals starting with World-Fest, the country’s largest international festival, running from April 7 through May 8.

Branson’s fantastic line-up of live shows will be bursting out with their new shows for 2011 during the Spring Break offering a variety of live entertainment that is unrivaled in any destination city of its size anywhere. Shows as varied as the Acrobats of China, The Baldknobbers Jamboree, Presleys’ Country Jubilee, Haygoods, Hughes Brothers, George Dyer, Grand Country, Comedy Jubilee, Shoji Tabuchi, Pierce Arrow, Jim Stafford, Doug Gabriel, Legends in Concert and Amazing Pets, to mention just a few, will provide a “live show escape” for just about everyone.

The show scene in Branson during Spring Break gets even more exciting when some of the limited engagement performances are considered. Stars like Neal McCoy, the Oakridge Boys, Charlie Daniel’s Band and Sawyer Brown just add to the variety of exciting entertainment choices available in Branson during the Spring Break.

Not only does Branson provide an escape to great shows, attractions and entertainment, but to a great shopping experience as well. Its three factory discount malls, countless specialty shops in historic downtown Branson and throughout Branson and Branson Landing, with its lakeside location, fire and water show, restaurants, Bass Pro Shop and 100 other retail shops, provide a unique and unparalleled shopping opportunity.

Branson’s world class golf courses will be open for your Spring Break enjoyment. Courses including the Payne Stewart Golf Course at Branson Hills, Thousand Hills, Pointe Royale and Branson Creek, among others, will provide a golfing challenge for the beginner as well as the seasoned champion tournament player.

Spring in Branson provides an excellent opportunity to experience the natural wonder and beauty of the Ozarks. Whether its fishing for largemouth bass or crappie on Table Rock Lake or Rainbow Trout on Lake Taneycomo; a dinner cruise on the Show Boat Branson Belle; a tour of the Shepherd of the Hills Trout Hatchery or just a walk or hike on one of Branson’s many accessible trails or walk ways such as the Branson Landing Boardwalk, you will be surrounded and amazed by the natural wonder of an Ozark’s Spring in Branson.

“If you are like most people your first Spring Break escape to Branson will more than likely lead you to come back to that special place visitors call ‘Branson’ and we call ‘home,'” said Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center, Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning service.

Glass blowing is just one of the many crafts demonstrated at Silver Dollar City.

People coming to Branson for the first time might wonder, “If I do nothing else, what is the one thing I must see or do while I am in Branson?” When the question was recently posed to Tammy Johnson, the Director of Operations for the Branson Tourism Center she said, “With so much to see and do in Branson live shows of every kind, attractions, museums, shopping, water fun and recreation on its thousands of acres of lakes and the natural beauty of the Ozark Mountains that’s an easy question to answer, have fun!” she continued with a twinkle in her eye.

Johnson explained that she knows that when most people ask that question they are looking for a specific thing to see or do, but that the answer for each individual or family is different. There are many who would say that the “one must do thing in Branson” is to spend a day at its most popular and biggest attraction, the 1880’s theme park, Silver Dollar City. Even within this group there are those who time their Branson visit to coincide with one of its six annual major world class festivals World-Fest, Bluegrass & BBQ, Kids Fest, Southern Gospel Picnic, National Harvest Festival and Old Time Christmas.

Others believe that the “one must do thing in Branson is” to see one of its live shows; after all Branson is referred to as the “Live music show capital of the world.” There are those who have been coming to Branson for decades who would not think that a trip to Branson was complete unless they saw the Baldknobbers Jamboree, the show that started it all or Presleys’ Country Jubilee, Branson’s first show on the “strip.” Others would say, their “one must do thing in Branson is” to see their favorite show which could come from a list as diverse as the Grand Jubilee, Comedy Jamboree, Amazing Pets, Duttons, Haygoods, Yakov, Clay Cooper, NOAH the Musical, Hamner Barber, Bill Medley, Paul Revere and the Raiders or George Dyer, Pierce Arrow, Liver Pool Legends, the Oakridge Boys or one of Branson’s many other shows.

Now everyone is going to eat, but there are groups, families and individuals who come to Branson and to whom the trip would not be complete without sharing a meal together, at least one time, at a particular restaurant. Some would say the “one must do thing in Branson is” to visit historic downtown Branson and Dick’s 5 & 10, Branson’s most unique shopping experience.

Still others might say that the “one must do thing in Branson is” trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo or bass fishing on Table Rock Lake. To others it could be boating, water skiing swimming or perhaps a dinner cruise on the fabulous Showboat Branson Belle. Some families do not consider their trip to Branson complete without splashing into Table Rock Lake on Ride the Ducks or making a trip down to Branson Landing.

“Just remember the ‘one must do thing in Branson,’ have fun and when you return, as the majority of the people who visit Branson do, you’ll have your own ‘one must do thing in Branson,'”Johnson said. “The neat thing about Branson is that with all there is to do the ‘one must do thing in Branson’ will change from visit to visit or grow into the ‘two or more must do things in Branson,'” she continued. Johnson suggests contacting the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services for information on any of the attractions or shows mentioned in this article or any of Branson’s other shows and attractions or for lodging arrangements. BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.