Family Fun in Branson

This post brought to you by Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.

We don’t take many family vacations. But the one place that we do enjoy for a weekend getaway that’s close to home in Branson, MO.

So when I got the news that I had the opportunity to take my family to Branson for a few days, I was beyond excited! We LOVE Branson! –**warning- this post is going to be a little long……..I have SO much I want to share!

We jumped in the Jeep for a quick 3-1/2 car ride. Our bags were filled with tank tops and swimsuits as the temps were well into the ’90s that weekend.

On the way down, we HAD to make a quick stop in Springfield to see the largest Bass Pro Shop! They even have a restaurant inside the store! We had dinner at Hemingway’s inside Bass Pro…what a great way to kick off our trip! The unique atmosphere was just as enjoyable as the delicious meal!

We arrived in Branson around 9 pm and were immediately treated like royalty. The staff at The Hilton Promenade were extremely, friendly and helpful. Our room was so nice and roomy! Not only did we have 2 big queen size beds, but the room also had a microwave, sink, and mini-fridge with an ice maker right in our room!! – SCORE!! that was perfect for keeping our drinks and snacks in our room!

The room had a balcony that overlooked “every girl’s dream”……..waterfront shopping with 100 specialty stores and restaurants!

We dropped our bags and had about an hour before the shops closed……..so of course we had to hit a few shops and check the area out. We walked across the street to Starbucks then back over to the lading for some shopping.

Allison got the cutest bracelet from one of the specialty shops.

Day one: we spent doing a few things we always enjoy in Branson. We rented wave runners at State Park Marina -we forgot to call ahead and make reservations, so we had about a 2-hour wait, but it was SOOO worth it! I don’t know what it is about being out on the open water with the sun beating down on you riding 35 miles an hour on a little boat for an hour……..but it was the most fun we had all weekend!

Of course, the 2-hour wait in 100° heat index was bearable, thanks to this great little shaved ice stand at the marina.

After our one hour boat ride turned into an all-day event, we had just enough time to head back to our room for showers before we headed to The Dixie Stampede for dinner and a show!………you can NOT visit Branson and not go to the Dixie Stampede! We’ve gone every time we’ve been there…….and it gets better every time!

Day two: We had a fabulous breakfast buffet at Level 2 Steakhouse over at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel (across the street) -After that……Bring on the shopping! That’s right, you can’t send a few girls to Branson and not expect them to hit the Tanger Outlet Mall! We may have spent most of our money time in the Coach Factory store. This may have been a close contender to the wave runners……..after all, you can’t take a wave runner home, but you CAN bring a Coach purse home! {wink}

We then headed back the shopping at the Landing and enjoyed self serve yogurt at Orange Leaf! – I wish we had one of these by us. – you pay by the ounce so you can get as little or as much frozen yogurt as you want and pick your own toppings. —oh, and BEST plastic spoons EVER! I’m a big plastic spoon freak, so many cut my mouth, these were wonderfully smooth and shaped like no other! – I even brought my spoon home with me! lol

That evening we had dinner in the landing at Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse – one word……Chips and Queso! ok, so maybe that’s three words…but yeah, the BEST I’ve ever had! I dreamt about those chips and queso!….oh and our salads and steaks were pretty awesome as well! After dinner, we saw the breathtaking Kung Fu show at the White House Theater. It’s pretty unreal what those performers can do with their bodies! Amazing show!

Day Three: We got up early, and hated to pack up and leave our room – it was so nice enjoying a HUGE bathroom and not bothering with normal household duties…..like making the beds or cleaning up after everyone. After an easy check out we headed to Silver Dollar City for a few hours. We thought about going to White Water (Silver Dollar City’s water park) since it was SO hot out, but a 3.5-hour car ride in wet hair and clothes didn’t sound so fun, but next time, we will plan that a little differently! Silver Dollar City is such a great place…exciting rides, fun shows, unique craft shops, and demonstrations- we love the fudge shop! {wink}

Branson is known for a wide variety of activities and events for the whole family. From shopping and dining to a plethora of entertainment…..and let’s don’t forget Table Rock Lake. Exploring the Ozark Mountains in Branson will surely create memories to last forever.

Our last-minute trip required little planning on my part thanks to Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel- they each offer 2 tempting packages:

The Legend of Kung Fu Package includes 4 tickets and exclusive Hilton Family Preshow Access 30 minutes prior to Legend of Kung Fu Show, $25 to the Legend of Kung Fu gift shop, and a 1-night deluxe accommodations stay at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel for 2 Adults and 2 Children for as low as $244

Branson’s Best Value Package – if you are looking for a little more adventure the Branson’s Best Value Package is ideal. This 3-night package for a family of 2 adults and 2 children with deluxe accommodations includes 2-day passes to Silver Dollar City and 4 tickets to the Legends of Kung Fu show, a $25 gift card for shopping, and a $25 food credit for Level 2 Steakhouse for as low as $600.00! – That’s a HUGE savings!!

Hilton sure makes family fun even more affordable. I love that these packages include everything you need to have a great time in Branson and didn’t require any extra work…..and the memories, well that was the easy part!!