Top Attractions You Can’t Miss

Giddy up and go to the Horse Walk before the start of Dolly Parton’s Stampede^® Dinner & Show. You can get up close with the quarter horses, palominos, appaloosas, and paints that steal the show. If you miss them, you can still meet the 32 four-legged stars in person alongside some of the best trick riders in the world after the show. Best of all, this pre- and after-show experience is entirely free.

Up your game at Dice and Dine, officially known as the Branson Board Game Café, and score a bonus round of fun. The menu here features more than 1,300 games. Grab a game or puzzle for any age, order a latte or quick snack, and find a table. You can connect with your crew over a game of Scrabble^®, Scattergories, or Clue.

Nostalgic Highlights

Wondering where to head next? Drive over to Pasghetti’s to see the world’s largest meatball—measuring 15 feet wide—speared with a fork that stands more than 41 feet tall. Grab a family selfie and send a virtual postcard from one of Middle America’s favorite vacation spots.

Catch a vintage vibe at Dick’s 5 & 10. Crammed to the rafters with more than 250,000 items, you have to see this old-fashioned general store to believe it. Tucked among the thousands of sweets, snacks, and sodas are historic collections of arrowheads, Barbie dolls, and vintage washing machines. You’ll find trains running overhead, a “Fun Aisle” filled with silly novelties, and a massive toy department. Everywhere you look, you’ll see things that spark a smile or a childhood memory.

Right around the corner, you’ll find another retro wonderland: the Simply Irresistible Old-Fashioned Candy Shop. This hidden gem features candy jars lining the counters, barrels brimming with hard candy, and an old bathtub filled to the top with homemade taffy. You can choose from 120 mouthwatering flavors, ranging from lime and watermelon to chicken and waffles. Introduce the kids to penny candies of decades past, like Teaberry gum, BB Bats, Sugar Daddy pops, and candy dots.

More Branson Fun

The Branson Coaster belongs on your to-do list. Named one of the top 10 mountain roller coasters in the world, this double Alpine loop takes you on a two-person sled down a winding mountain track at up to 30 miles per hour. With 360-degree loops, twists, rolling hills, banked turns, an underground tunnel, and breathtaking drops, this ride is sure to get your heart racing. You can also use the adjustable speed controls to slow things down or go full throttle.

Find your wingman and head to the Butterfly Palace. This two-story aviary is filled with thousands of exotic butterflies. You can walk among them, coax them closer with vials of sweet flower nectar, let them land on you, and even release a butterfly from the nursery. Your ticket also includes access to the Living Rainforest and Emerald Forest Mirror Maze right next door. Remember to bring a camera and wear red, as butterflies love bright colors. Admission is free for children aged three and under.

Grab your crew and go Underwater Bowling at Fun Mountain. With 16 lanes designed as ocean docks, this attraction features schools of sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays circling above. Rent a lane for your group of six or fewer to join the fun. You can walk in for a round or book a reservation 24 hours in advance.

After exploring the town, head back to Holiday Hills Resort to relax at the mini-movie theater and catch a kid-friendly flick on the big screen. Big family fun doesn't have to come with a big price tag.

Which of these attractions sounds like the best fit for your next family day out?