East Coast Girl Explores the Midwest
As a history enthusiast, I’ve always envied the life of an explorer. So, for the past year, I’ve been on an endeavor to expand my horizons from the East Coast to the Midwest. I had never visited Missouri, nor really comprehended where exactly it fell inside the U.S. map. Even further, before my trek to Missouri, I had not even heard of the Ozark Mountains.
I did know a bit about Branson. You see, for years, I’ve read social media posts from family and friends visiting Branson, and how it is a popular destination for musical entertainment. However, I now understand that Branson is so much more than music, especially set within the natural beauty of the Ozark mountains.
Planning My Trip to Branson, Missouri
After further research, I knew that Branson, known as the most fun vacation destination in the Midwest, would make for an exciting vacation.
Here’s how I came to my decision:
:: I love music.
:: I love theater.
:: I love history.
:: I love visiting lakes.
:: I love theme parks.
There were so many Branson highlights that caught my attention, a nice blend of exploring historical places, lake activities, theme park attractions, musical concerts, and theater shows.
Where to Stay in Branson? Discovering Lodge of the Ozarks!
There were so many different types of accommodations in Branson, from extravagant, high priced hotels to vacation home rentals, bed and breakfast inns, budget motels, and everything in between. Well, my budget was located more in the “in between” moderately priced hotels. I wanted to reserve a decent amount of my travel budget for the primary reason I was visiting Branson, the entertainment.
As soon as I saw photos of the Lodge of the Ozarks, the rustic lodge look captured my interest. My decision was made when I read all the high star reviews, along with when I noticed its reasonable rates. The Lodge of the Ozarks was described as being nestled in the heart of Branson; that turned out to be an accurate, perfect description. The Lodge of the Ozarks is surrounded by picturesque mountain scenery along with a main street feel along the famous “76 Strip” that boasts top-notch entertainment, dining, and shopping nearby.
Lodge of the Ozarks Amenities
This amazing hotel features charming, rustic lodge décor mixed with comfort, and convenience. We appreciated the cleanliness and the amenities. And while Branson is the type of city that kept us non-stop busy outside of the lodge, it turned out to be the nicest place to sleep comfortably, enjoy a delicious breakfast, and take an afternoon swim.
Amenities include:
:: Free parking
:: Free deluxe hot breakfast, served buffet style
:: Free WIFI
:: Fitness Center – 24-hour gym, with workout machines and free-weights
:: Indoor Pool – Ideal for all ages, maximum water depth of 4 feet, plenty of seating and towels
:: Self-service laundry
We loved the free breakfast buffet that featured items like coffee, scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, cereal, fruit, and more. Although, the buffet begins at 7am, you can avoid a long entrance line by visiting the buffet a bit later.
Lodge of the Ozarks Rooms
The Lodge of the Ozarks offers like-home comfort and convenience for travelers. We selected a spacious Standard King room. The bed was soft like I like it and the fluffiest large pillows. The bathroom appeared to have been renovated offering a large countertop and huge walk-in shower. After enjoying Branson’s music scene, it was nice to relax in a quiet room. Not only was the room very comfortable and clean, but the rustic decor added to the charm.
Room types:
:: Balcony Jetted Tub King
:: Balcony Jetted Tub Double Queen
:: Jetted Tub King
:: Jetted Tub Double Queen
:: Standard King
:: Double Queen
Room amenities:
:: 55-inch flat screen television with cable channels
:: Free WIFI
:: Mini refrigerator
:: Microwave
:: Coffee maker
:: Hairdryer
:: Iron/Ironing board
Notes: Pets are not allowed, and guest rooms are cleaned by request only. We just asked for a simple exchange of towels.
Branson Music and Theatres: Customizing My Itinerary
Branson, Missouri is known for playing a big part in the entertainment industry, known as “the live show capital of the world.” Guests have the option of enjoying hundreds of live stage productions, outdoor concerts, theaters, theme parks, and other attractions. We planned to spend five days in Branson, so I strategically created a detailed itinerary and timeline to coordinate music, theater, activities and other attractions.
My favorite attractions from our trip:
:: Branson Belle Showboat Dinner Cruise – enjoyed a delicious dinner and amazing show aboard the Branson Belle as we cruised along on Table Rock Lake.
:: Dolly Parton’s Stampede – Equestrian stars on horseback performed in a 35,000 square-foot arena, plus watched other amazing animals perform, all while enjoying a four-course dinner served at our seats.
:: The Haygoods – Features amazing, high-energy act with state-of-the-art special effects.
:: Shanghai Circus – Impressive performances by acrobats doing aerial acts, stunts, and tricks.
:: Legends in Concert – We enjoyed the incredibly talented celebrity impersonators more than we expected. Note that the schedule of impersonations changes regularly.
:: David at Sight & Sound Theatre – We watched a fantastic live production of David’s (of Goliath fame) story featuring eye-catching special effects, impressive acting, and great music.
Popular attractions we will see during our next trip to Branson:
:: Reza Branson Edge of Illusion Magic Show
:: Redneck Comedy Bus Tour Branson, MO
:: Rick Thomas’ Mansion of Dreams
:: Motown Downtown
:: Re-Vibe at The Hughes Brothers Theatre
:: The Petersens at The Little Opry Theatre
Branson features just about every genre of music so be sure to see which performers are scheduled. You may get lucky and see that a famous singer or musical group is making a stop in Branson while you visit. I can’t stress enough the importance of selecting shows, creating an itinerary, and ordering tickets online ahead of your Branson visit.
Other Nearby Activities
Since Branson is recognized as one of the Midwest’s most fun vacation destinations, you can do more than listen to music or watch stage productions.
If you like museums, there are museums galore: The Titanic Museum Attraction, Ozarks Ancient History Museum, Veterans Memorial Museum, and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not are just a few of the interesting visits that you should make in Branson.
If you like sports, you can play miniature golf or visit the Ballparks of America to see replicas of iconic stadiums. If you’re looking for some fun activities, consider Branson’s Big Foot Fun Park or the Silver Dollar City Theme Park. Visit Table Rock Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, or Lake Taneycomo for fishing, boating, swimming, and other water activities. There are also arcades, movie theaters, adventure parks, miniature golf, ATV riding, zip lining, horseback riding, hiking, and endless sightseeing opportunities around Branson.
Dining and Shopping in Branson
The dining in Branson was the “icing on the cake” as we enjoyed some of the most delicious meals we ever ate! The restaurants are amazing.
It was a special treat to go to the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede dinner show that offered outstanding entertainment while we ate. It was a four-course meal including a creamy vegetable soup, biscuit, a whole rotisserie chicken, hickory smoked pulled pork, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and an apple turnover for dessert.
Branson Belle Showboat Dinner Cruise was a 3-course meal with a delicious beef pot roast and grilled chicken breast entrée, with garlic mashed potatoes and green beans. The dessert was a yummy Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, that apparently is a Missouri tradition.
At the suggestion of a fellow guest at the Lodge of the Ozarks, we enjoyed a mouthwatering lunch at Billy Bob’s Dairyland, an old-fashioned diner. Huge burgers, onion rings, sweet potato fries, and chocolate shakes rounded out our delicious meal!
Branson Landing is a popular dining, shopping, housing, lodging, and entertainment area spanning 95 acres and includes 15+ restaurants. We ate a few lunches and dinners at Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, Mellow Mushroom for pizza, Waxy O’Shea’s Irish Pub, Cantina Laredo, and Magnolia Bistro & Italian Ice. Branson Landing also features shopping and especially fun stores to browse.
And speaking of Branson shopping, we also squeezed in some shopping at the Tanger Outlets, grabbing a few great deals at our favorite brand name stores in addition to shopping for local crafts.
The Lodge of the Ozarks in Branson, MO: A Great Discovery
Branson was a whirlwind of activities, non-stop action, and there is still so much to see. A return trip is a must for us. The Lodge of the Ozarks was the perfect place to stay as it was well-maintained, clean, quiet, comfortable, rustically charming, and offered a delicious FREE breakfast buffet. Plus the outstandingly helpful and friendly staff made us feel welcome. Of course, staying in the perfect location among the Ozark Mountains and in the heart of the theater district, made for a great Midwestern adventure. This Midwest explorer is tired, needing to “hit the hay” and get some shut eye.