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The foundation of Branson's billion-dollar economy is entertainment. This city of 5,000 or so residents greets more than 7,000,000 visitors annually—visitors who come in search of serenity on one of the area's three lakes, quality family time at Silver Dollar City or non-stop excitement at one of the world-famous Branson strip's star-studded theaters.
Music
"Phenomenal" is the word most often used to describe the incredible boom in entertainment venues in the Branson area. Over the last 20 years, more than 40 show palaces have sprung up, together capable of accommodating nearly 60,000 people. And on any given night of the summer, there are very few empty seats in any house along Highway 76.
The Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet Theatre is a 1,600-seat, European-style complex. Here, Vinton entertains the audience with renditions of his number-one hits, backed up by none other than the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Blue Velvet, always a crowd favorite, shares time on stage, rendering popular polkas inspired by Vinton's Polish heritage. If you need a little more romantic crooning, walk across the Branson Strip to Andy Williams' Moon River Theater, where the eternally popular singer delights audiences with his ballads, snappy dancing and wry comedy.
Pushing the combined comedy/music envelope into realms of sidesplitting laughter is Jim Stafford, who built a grand palace along the west part of The Strip, where his music and comedy variety show has drawn rave reviews from even the chilliest critics. The musical entertainment offerings in Branson are in fact endless, with more than 80 different shows offered on any given day.
Showboating
You can avoid the crowds of a packed house and take in a gourmet meal while enjoying a quality show such as Cirque Fantastic aboard the Showboat Branson Belle. Plying the crystal-clear waters of Table Rock Lake, this stern-wheeled paddleboat returns guests to the era of the floating palaces and brings a little touch of Dixieland to the Ozarks. To escape to a culture half-a-globe away, board the Polynesian Princess. On this ship, you can take in a Polynesian-style dinner and show as you gracefully cruise Table Rock, meanwhile learning about the lake and the towns that disappeared beneath its waters.
Theater
Harold Bell Wright fell in love with the Ozarks at the turn of the century and used the area as the setting for the nation's first million-selling novel, Shepherd of the Hills. Now, a massive outdoor amphitheater sits atop Inspiration Point and looks down into Mutton Hollow, where more than 80 actors and actresses, 40 horses, cattle and a flock of sheep bring the pages of this great American novel to life. Romance, dance, action and non-stop drama will rivet you in the very setting where Wright penned his masterpiece.
Family
Revisit the pioneering spirit of the old days at Branson's Silver Dollar City. This theme park encompasses a gallery of artisans who offer demonstrations of furniture making, glass blowing, candle making and other arts that were once a way of life for Ozark homesteaders. Young and old thrill-seekers alike will find myriad adrenaline-generating rides. Roller coasters, flume rides and the world's first flume/coaster hybrid combine to make your visit to this Ozark Mountain play land worthwhile.
Scattered along The Strip are a series of small parks known as The Tracks. They include racing, bumper boats, miniature golf and thrill rides such as the sky coaster. Tickets purchased at one location are valid at any Tracks location.
Branson also knows that kids need something just for them. The Gotcha! Laser Tag compound and Thunder Road go-cart racing provide outlets for releasing the energy that gets pent up after a few hours on the road. Finally, if you and the family need to cool off after a day in the hot sun, visit one of the many water parks, with wave pools and slides that plummet down the steep hillsides.
Sports and Outdoors
Tucked between two of the most pristine lakes in the Midwest, Branson has gained a reputation as a sportsman's paradise. Table Rock Lake harbors some of the finest bass and crappie fishing in Missouri, and there are a plethora of boat rental agencies and fishing guides available. The numerous coves created by the rolling terrain make Table Rock a water skier's Eden; you can usually find glass-smooth water somewhere on the lake at any time during the day. Watercraft rentals are also available from a number of vendors.
Just below Table Rock Lake is Lake Taneycomo. The water that feeds this lake comes off the bottom of Table Rock Lake and is a constant 40-50 degrees. A large trout hatchery sits at the headwaters of Taneycomo, and record-class brown trout are pulled from the clear waters regularly.
Branson is quickly becoming known for its golf links, and the area boasts more than a dozen public and private courses. Championship courses such as Pointe Royale and Thousand Hills Golf Resort offer as many as five tee boxes per hole and are meticulously manicured. All the courses share one quality: a beautiful Ozark Mountain setting.
Museums
What would a tourist destination be without museums? Branson has a full compliment of entertaining and informative museums. The glitz and glamour of The Strip is not lost at the Hollywood Wax Museum, where facsimiles of your favorite stars stand in settings made famous by Tinsel Town films. Historical museums also abound, including the Shepherd of the Hills, which features a restored homestead that gives visitors a glimpse at a simpler way of life. With films running hourly throughout the summer, the IMAX Theater is a high-tech venue where guests are treated to visually stunning documentaries made by some of the world's most renowned filmmakers.
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