Branson's Titanic Museum Attraction takes passengers on an exciting voyage no matter what the weather.
BRANSON, MO, March 14, 2013 — One of the most dreaded sounds most families with children can hear while on vacation is the sound of rain hitting the windows of their hotel, resort room or camper. Generally, as is the case for many families vacationing in Branson, if the days plans involve outdoor activities that sound signals that adjustments must be made. The good news about a vacation in Branson is that not only are those adjustments easy to make, but might be things that you would want to do anyway.
Although different families might prefer different things, the majority of Branson’s attractions, activities , shows and shopping are not weather dependent and are open regardless of the weather offering visitors a wide choice of things to do with something for everyone. Another thing to consider is that while rain might knock out a few outdoor activities for the whole day, generally the rain is sporadic permitting people access to the majority of those that are open with only minimal exposure to the elements.
The morning of a typical rainy day might start with a drive to historic downtown Branson and breakfast at one of its fabled cafes such as “The Farmhouse,” “Branson Café,” “Clockers” or “The Shack.” It’s only a short walk from any of them to one of the most unique and interesting attractions in Branson, “Dicks 5 & 10.” It is like walking back in time into the old time “5& 10” with an important difference.
Just browsing the 175,000 plus items in the store is an experience in itself. You will find things that you can’t find anywhere else. Locals say “If you can’t find it at Dicks you don’t need it.” The various collections throughout the store make a nostalgic shopping adventure into an exciting and unique experience that is not available anywhere else in the world. Among other things, the collections include the areas largest arrowhead collection, World War II aviation prints, large scale model airplanes hanging from the ceiling, a baseball ‘Wall of Fame’ containing 60 feet of original autographed pictures of players like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Cy Young, a suspended train track with a train that is actually running around the main part of the store plus much more.
Free Downtown Trolley is available rain or shine.
Stop #4 for the “Free Downtown Trolley” is just across the street. The 38 passenger “trolley” styled buses run about every 15 minutes, from 10 AM to 6 PM between Historic Downtown Branson and the Branson Landing. It is a wonderful free attraction providing an excellent overview and perspective of the historic downtown area, the Branson Convention Center, the Lake Taneycomo Lakefront and Branson Landing. Along the way you will pass Branson’s first theatre, the Owens Theatre; the spot where the “Baldknobbers” performed Branson’s first live music show; the grave of the man the city of Branson is named after, Ruben S. Branson, and other points of interest.
If you still have time before lunch and have younger children, a stop at Branson’s Official Duck Feeding Station provides fun and a photo opportunity. It is located by Scotty’s Trout Dock in the southern end of the City of Branson’s Camp Ground on Lake Taneycomo near the city’s boat launching ramp. Scotty’s has corn bagged to feed the ducks with or you can use bread etc. Either way kids just love it and you will get to see a variety of waterfowl up close. Even a slight break in the weather enables this activity because you are able to drive right up to the to the shoreline near the “ducks.”
After lunch there is a variety of Branson attractions to chose from offering a broad range of fun and excitement for just about every interest. Take a voyage aboard the Titanic Museum Attraction, visit the Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, or the Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure. There’s indoor miniature golf at Grand Country or Laser Tag, G-Force drag race simulator and arcades at The Track Family Fun Parks with the added advantage that should the weather permit, they have a variety of some of the coolest go-cart tracks around.
Branson shows offer another alternative. Shows such as Amazing Pets, Todd Oliver and his talking dogs who were finalists on the NBC’s Prime Time show “Americas Got Talent” in 2012, Cirque Montage and the Acrobats of China along with magic shows such as Kirby VanBurch or Taylor Reed all offer day time shows that will appeal to children and adults alike.
A visit to the Shepherd of the Hills Trout Hatchery at the foot of Table Rock Dam on State Route 165 is an excellent way to fill in time on either end of the day and is free. Its Visitor Center features an interesting nature display and a short video on the hatchery and the process involved with producing the trout that makes Lake Taneycomo such premier trout fishery. It also has a huge aquarium with some “lunker” Brown and Rainbow Trout showing the size of some of the trout that Lake Taneycomo is capable of producing. If there is a break in the weather it is interesting to walk through the outside hatchery area and see the cement “holding pools” filled with tens of thousands of trout of varying sizes.
The really neat thing about a family vacation in Branson is that fun, adventure and excitement “rains” on Branson every day whether the sun is out or not.