A family friendly vacation to the Ozark Mountains

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We found Branson, Missouri in the Ozark Mountains, as one of the must do location for fun with family, if you are looking for Las Vegas style shows and Orlando kind of rides. This was our second time having vacation in Branson. It took us more than 8 hours with coffee breaks while driving from Chicago, passing through Springfield, IL and Arch of Saint Louis, scenic hilly views of Ozark mountains. This time we wanted to cover some new attractions.

The Ozark Mountains is a physiographic region in the U.S. States of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. There are two mountain ranges within the Ozarks, the Boston Mountains of Arkansas and the St. Francois Mountains of Missouri. One possible derivations include aux arcs meaning “[land]of the arches” in reference to the dozens of natural bridges formed by erosion and collapsed caves in the Ozark region. These include Clifty Hollow Natural Bridge (actually a series of arches) in Missouri, and Alum Cove in the Ozark – St. Francis National Forest. Branson is an Ozark town in southwest Missouri known as a family vacation destination.

We had a pleasant stay at the heart of the theater district and Central location just off the strip at Radisson Hotel, Branson with majestic views of Ozark mountains.

On the day we arrived, we went to see amazing show of acrobats of Shanghai.

Very talented team of acrobats, nice costumes, music and it was absolutely incredible.

More than 40 Chinese acrobats deliver two hours of agility, strength and dedicated performance.

Next day early morning we went for adventure fun for Branson Zipline Canopy tour in Ozark and legend of wolf mountain jungle and experienced zipping at 50 mph souring through trees with multiple zipline and skywalks.

My whole family like to zipline. That afternoon we went for a showboat Branson Belle. About 700 passenger paddle-wheeler carries new show of “Country on the Lake” with different genre of music designed as a concert cruise. Favorite classic rock to country backed by live band and dinner made our day very memorable. That evening we went to next door from our hotel to Andy Williams Moon River Theater to get amazed with Illusionist Rick Thomas. After 15 years in Las Vegas, Magician of the year – Rick Thomas made Branson as home. His down to earth personality, action-packed stunts and seamless magic production with dance and music was really mesmerizing and breathtaking.

Branson has something for everyone. Very next day we enjoyed at Silver Dollar City. Along with many rides and fun activities, we had a wonderful time at splash zone and water rides. We also took Scenic Railway and walked in the historic setup. Among other stage performances attractions, watch any performance in Sight & Sound Theater where with spectacular stage performance, Biblical stories come to Life. That evening, we experienced whole new level of theater watching MOSES featuring a 300-foot wraparound stage, hundreds of live and animatronics animals – the Musical, we’ll never forget! One of the best production we ever have witnessed. The sound system, the 3-story stage, panoramic artifacts, just unbelievable.

Next day we were at Bigfoot on the Strip. Kids really enjoyed adventure golf, arcade, yeti play zone, monkey jump and a centerpiece attraction, 200-foot free fall tower. The saddle sling and gravity bomb a free fall rides were great thrilling and breath stealing experience. We will need to come back as they said they are now starting Bigfoot discovery expedition tour in Ozark jungle. We also had very good pizza and drinks at Bigfoot’s truck dining park, before we started driving back for Chicago.

The family will appreciate nothing more than to sit back and enjoy some of Branson’s finest stage entertainment. Whether it is a romantic gateway or golfing, dining and nice spring break during Ozark Mountain Spring festival, or for summer family fun like go-karts, high-tech magical illusions, variety of high-energy live musical shows, wakeboarding, water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, or bird-watching, hiking, biking, boating in fall for the Ozarks or spectacular lighting and shows in Christmas, this vacation place is very enjoyable in all five seasons of the year.

About the Author:
Lina Shah is a Freelance writer, Editor, Teacher, Social worker, a multi-talented suburban Chicagoland wife and a mother of two also enjoys cooking and event planning.