Once can almost feel the cooling wet relief that will come as these riders hit the water at the end of Silver Dollar City’s “American Plunge.”

It seems that everywhere one turns this summer they are faced with near record breaking heat. Branson, Missouri is a “hot” vacation destination because, from its live shows to attractions, shopping, outdoor activities and so much more, there is just so much to do. Yet, one of the “hottest” things in Branson this summer is the myriad of fun ways there are to beat the heat and stay cool.

Here are ten of this writers favorite ways to beat the heat and his reasons why:

1. Seeing any of Branson’s over 100 live shows – The shows are “cool” in terms of their quality, variety and ability to entertain just about everyone in your family and are presented inside a cool air conditioned climate controlled theatre.

2. Spending a day at White Water Branson’s only outdoor water park. From the new “Aloha River at Hula Hula Bay” to its iconic seven story multi slide thrill ride “Kalani” and much more, White Water is millions of gallons of cool tropically themed relief from the heat.

3. Swimming at Moonshine Beach – The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers operated Moonshine Beach on Table Rock Lake, near the north end of Table Rock Dam on State Highways 265 and 165, is a public access beach  with many amenities. It is conveniently located within minutes of the famed Branson Strip.

4. A “voyage” back in time aboard Branson’s Titanic Museum Attraction – Sure the whole experience is “cool,” and is in an air conditioned environment, but how much cooler can it get than “touching the surface of an iceberg” or feeling the icy cold temperature of the water into which the mighty “Titanic” sank over 99 years ago?

5. Table Rock Lake – The 43,000 surface acre lake provides “wet” and cooling relief from the summer heat through a variety of activities from boating, fishing and swimming to just about any water activity or sport most people would want to enjoy.

6. Silver Dollar City – From the cooling shade of its tree lined streets to the depths of “Marvel Cave” and its guaranteed to get wet water rides such as “American Plunge,” “Lost River of the Ozarks” and “RiverBlast” to exhilarating, exciting and cooling rides on coasters such a “PowderKeg” and “Wildfire,” the fun filled 1880’s theme park has to be one of the “coolest” theme parks in America.

7. Visiting one of the many indoor attractions in Branson – The vast majority of Branson’s indoor attractions are air conditioned and climate controlled providing hours of entertaining fun and enjoyment free from the scorching summer heat outside.

8. Take a cruise or boat ride on Lake Taneycomo – Lake Taneycomo, flowing 22 miles from the foot of “Table Rock Dam” to the “Power Site Dam” averages a temperature of about 48 degrees year round near its source at the Table Rock Dam. Its cold waters provide cooling relief for those boating, fishing or cruising on the Lake. A variety of cruises including a dinner cruise are available through Branson Landing Cruises and pontoon and other boats are available through Scotty’s Trout Dock, located on the south end of the city of Branson’s “Lake Side RV Park” in downtown Branson or “Lilly’s Landing” located off of Fall Creek Road.

9. Track Family Fun Parks – Known for their great selection of go kart tracks and other exciting fun filled family entertainment options, the Track Family Fun Parks operate four parks in Branson. All have go carts; Tracks 3, 4, & 5 have air conditioned climate controlled arcades, with Park 5 also offering laser tag and Park 4 offers Water Bumper Boats that are guaranteed to get you wet. It’s not hard to imagine how cooling it would be to take a refreshing wet ride on the Water Bumper Boats followed by an exhilarating ride on their new “Heavy Metal High Rise,” or other go kart ride.

10. Stay at a resort with an indoor water attraction feature such as the Welk Resort with its “Splash-A-Torium,” Castle Rock Resort with its huge indoor water attraction or the Grand Country Inn with its “Splash Country” water attraction.

The folks at the Branson Tourism Center (BTC), one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services would love the opportunity to help you plan a “cool” vacation to one of the “hottest” destination cities in America, Branson, Missouri. BTC can be reached by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

The Wallendas performing a three person pyramid. It gets even more exciting as Delilah comes to the full standing position on the chair.

BRANSON, Mo. The famous Wallenda family is performing their “Fabulous Wallendas! Famous Family Circus” as part of Silver Dollar City’s KidsFest. After their July 8 performance Nik Wallenda and his mother Delilah, the family’s beautiful and talented matriarch, were kind enough to share a bit about the Wallenda’s and their passion for the High Wire.

Nik Wallenda, a seventh generation Wallenda, has been walking the wire since his mother, Delilah, helped him get started at age two. He has been walking by himself on the wire since four and has been performing on the High Wire since age 13. He says that performing on the High Wire is simply a way of life and a passion that has been in his family for generations. His great grandfather, the famous Karl Wallenda said, “Life is being on the wire; everything else is just waiting.”

Well no one can accuse Nik or the Wallendas of just waiting. The day prior to the opening of their current show at Silver Dollar City’s KidsFest, the “Fabulous Wallendas! Famous Family Circus,” Nik set yet another “Guinness World Record” while hanging from a trapeze suspended from a helicopter 265 feet above Silver Dollar City. After performing some tricks on the trapeze he hung suspended by only his jaw for 30 seconds setting the Guinness World Record for the highest “Iron Jaw Hang.” Wallenda holds world records for the “Longest Distance Traveled on a High Wire on a Bicycle,” at 235 feet; “Highest Bicycle Ride on a High Wire,” at 267 feet; “Highest Wheel of Death,” at 270 feet and as a participant in the “World Record Eight Person Pyramid on A High Wire.”

A week prior to opening in Silver Dollar City, Nik, the great-grandson of Karl Wallenda, and his mother Delilah, Karl’s grandaughter, walked the same “wire” that Karl had attempted to walk over 33 years earlier and from which he fell to his death. At over 100 feet in the air, with no net, they passed each other in the middle of the 300 foot wire, Delilah sat down on the wire and Nik stepped over her. Delilah then got up and, along with Nik, walked along the wire to opposite towers. The walk was to honor Karl.

Nik Wallenda and his mother Delilah

He initially didn’t want his mother to make the “walk” with him because he was concerned that his focus, which is so critical when walking the wire, would be split between concern for his mother and the walk. He said that knowing her passion to do the walk and that it was a once in lifetime opportunity to duplicate her grandfather’s last walk without a net made it impossible to say “No.” Delilah said, “I told him I had the ability, that I had been practicing and that it was very important to me. It took a little bit because he and my husband were very concerned, but they knew I’m a little bit hard headed when it comes to performing.”

Delilah, had been semi-retired for around six years until about two years ago when Nik surprised her with an opportunity to “walk” with him. She had showed up to watch him perform and he said, “Come on mom, do this walk with me.” She told him that she had no pole, shoes or costume, but he had them for her. She said, “It was wonderful and pulled me out of my semi-retirement leading to the Puerto Rico walk and performing every day at Silver Dollar City in the “Fabulous Wallendas! Famous Family Circus” show. She said, “It feels absolutely fabulous to be able to perform every day with my family.”

Nik is preparing to walk the High Wire across Niagara Falls from the U.S. side to Canada and hopes to get the required permissions and make the walk by the end of September. Both countries have laws prohibiting stunts above the falls The New York Legislature has already passed legislation permitting the walk and Nik will be going to Canada to try and get their permission as soon as the Silver Dollar City show closes.

When asked the simple question, “Are you nuts?” he replied, “This is a life style for me. My family has been doing it for more than 200 years and I have been walking the wire since I was two years old. Of course there is risk to it, but there’s a risk to just crossing the street. Wire walking is an art, it cannot be perfected, but you can get pretty darn close.”

Delilah said that as a mother she is concerned about her son making the walk, but as a Wallenda walking the wire is their passion, way of life and something that they train and focus on everyday. She encourages their fans and others to keep an eye on Nik as he prepares to walk across Niagara Falls. She said, “He’s very much like my grandfather, he’s got that drive and passion. When he wants to do something he’s going to do it and I’m so proud of him.” One can almost picture Karl looking down from above and smiling as he says, “”Life is being on the wire; everything else is just waiting. Godspeed Nik.”

The Wallenda family is performing their “Fabulous Wallendas! Famous Family Circus” during KidsFest at Silver Dollar City though July 23 at 11:15, 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. For special “two day for one day pricing: on Silver Dollar City tickets or information on the “Fabulous Wallendas! Famous Family Circus” show please contact the Branson Tourism Center by either calling their toll free number 1-800-785-1550 or through their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.

Hooray for Hollywood is just one of the many shows participating in "Concierge Perks."

“Our latest enhancement to the ‘Branson Tourism Center Concierge Program’ is a great free value added feature that we, in conjunction with some of Branson’s most popular shows and attractions, are able to provide to our customers to help them get even more value as they have a great Branson experience,” said Mark Bryson, Director of Business Development, for the Branson Tourism Center. “Our new ‘Concierge Perks’ program is a win-win for everyone, BTC’s Concierge Program Members and our participating shows and attractions,” he continued.

All Branson Tourism Center customers automatically become members of its Concierge Program, aptly named because of the free personal “concierge” type Branson travel planning services that has become BTC’s hallmark. BTC’s service, value and dedication to providing each of its customers with a great Branson experience has enabled it to sell over 2.7 million Branson show and attraction tickets. The Concierge Program along with its new “Perks” enhancement is just another way of adding additional value for its customers while encouraging them to spend money inside each of the participating shows, attractions or businesses.

Each member of the Concierge Program receives a personal card and is immediately eligible for the appropriate benefits that BTC directly provides, depending on whether they are a Blue, Gold or Platinum level member. In addition, all Concierge Program members, regardless of their level, are eligible to participate in the new free “Concierge Perks” part of the program.

Simply by presenting their Concierge Card to any of the shows, attractions or other businesses participating in the program, Concierge Program members can get exclusive savings, extra discounts or even free souvenirs. From free “bobble head” with purchase of a Daniel O’Donnell DVD, to gift store and concession stand discounts and much more, the purpose of the program is to encourage the tens of thousands of Branson Tourism Center customers belonging to the program to not only visit the participating shows, attractions and other participating businesses, but to spend money while they are there.

The initial launch of the program is based on just the participation of BTC’s vendor shows and attractions, but, with this announcement, is now being expanded to other qualifying Branson businesses. Bryson points out that being a participant in the BTC Concierge Perks Program involves no out of pocket costs and will get your business listed on the “Concierge Perks” page of BTC’s website, on the list of “Concierge Program Perks Participants” that is personally handed to each Concierge Program member as they check in at the Branson Tourism Center for their Branson vacation and the potential to be mentioned in BTC Newsletters, web posting, and social media posts mentioning the program.

Click here for more information on the Branson Tourism Center Concierge Program and Concierge Perks. Program members should call 800-785-1550 to use their perks and those interested in more information on how to participate in the program should call Mark Bryson at 427-336-4402 Ext 193.