Branson not only has shows to see, shopping, and lots of fun activities, but it also has several museums. If you like combining learning with fun on your vacation or need something to do on a rainy day, consider visiting some of the museums listed below. If you click on the name of the museum, you will go to that museum's web site. Right click on the name and select "open in new tab" or "open in new window" so you don't leave this page. (I sure wouldn't want you to do that! :) )
Bonniebrook - Do you remember Kewpie dolls? Bonniebrook is the home of the Kewpies' creator, Rose O'Neill. Rose O'Neill also wrote novels and drew illustrations and cartoons. Bonniebrook is north of Branson off Hwy. 65.
Branson Auto Museum - If you love old automobiles, this is the place for you. If you're interested (and have the money), most of the vehicles are for sale. This museum has a family pass for 2 adults and up to 4 kids 18 and under.
Hollywood Wax Museum - There are lots of wax figures inside, including Mark McGwire, the Last Supper, and the Wizard of Oz. It's a great place to take photos and shop at the gift shop.
Ralph Foster Museum - This museum is located at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, just south of Branson. It has three stories of goodies to view, including the original car from the Beverly Hillbillies TV show. If you enjoy looking at taxidermy animals in natural looking settings, you will love it here. The admission price is very reasonable as well.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium -The outside of the building looks like the New Madrid Fault has finally quaked the big one. The inside of the building has a collection of very intriguing items from Robert Ripley's extensive collection.
Titanic - You can't miss this museum - it sits at the corner of Gretna Road and Hwy. 76. The building looks like the front half of a big boat. The big staircase that you see in the movie has been replicated and you can your photo taken with it (for a fee, of course). There are several interactive exhibits, such as a jar of water the temperature of the Atlantic on that fateful night.
Veterans' Memorial Museum - If you're a military buff, you will enjoy this museum. All the conflicts of the 20th century are depicted here. There are sculptures, murals, and authentic memorabilia. Take the kids and show them that freedom isn't really free.
World's Largest Toy Museum and Harold Bell Wright Museum - If you're a toy lover or a toy collector, this is the place for you. There are toys here from the 1800's to the present. This is also the home of the Harold Bell Wright Museum. Harold Bell Wright was the author of The Shepherd of the Hills, which started tourism in the Branson area in the early 1900's.
That's all for now! Until next time -
Happy travels!
Diane
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
I get around
Branson is notorious for the traffic jams that occur on Hwy. 76, a/k/a Country Music Boulevard, or known in local parlance as the Strip. The Strip is the main thoroughfare in Branson and many theaters and lodging places are located on the Strip. Traffic jams before and after 8 PM shows can go on for miles, so if you get a bad case of road rage when you're stuck in a traffic jam, you definitely don't want to be driving on the Strip during these times.
There are alternate routes to ease the traffic congestion. There are three roads known as Time Saver Routes that bypass the Strip to make it easier for you to get around. The three routes are called the Red Route, the Blue Route and the Yellow Route. All of these routes are clearly marked with road signs.
The Red Route and the Blue Route are located north of the Strip. The Red Route (a/k/a Hwy. 248 or Shepherd of the Hills Expressway) starts at Hwy. 65 and ends next to the RFD Theater. The Blue Route is south of the Red Route and starts on the Strip as you turn right onto Roark Valley Road, then left on Gretna Road. The Blue Route ends at the Strip next to the Titanic museum.
The Yellow Route is located south of the Strip. It starts at the Strip when you turn left on Fall Creek Road, turn right on Wildwood Drive, and then left on Green Mountain Drive. The Yellow Route ends at Hwy. 376. Since you end up on Green Mountain Drive anyway, in my mind, it's better just to go down the Strip and turn left on Green Mountain Drive. Several of the theaters on the south side of the Strip have parking lots that can be accessed from Green Mountain Drive, so you can avoid the traffic on the Strip that way as well.
There are some other roads that will help you get around Branson. Gretna Road (which is also part of the Blue Route) starts at Hwy. 248, goes west and south to the Strip, where it turns into Hwy. 165. The Ozark Mountain Highroad starts at Hwy. 65 north of Branson. It bypasses Branson all together. It ends at Hwy. 76 a couple of miles east of Indian Point Road. If you're lodging on Indian Point or points west and you''re traveling to Branson from the north on Hwy. 65, the Highroad will help you avoid all the Branson traffic. It is also a lovely scenic route, since there are no billboards on the Highroad. If you travel to Branson on MO Hwy. 44, you can always tell when you're getting close to the Hwy. 65 exit when you see all the billboards for Branson and Springfield attractions.
On your first trip to Branson, you will want to bring a couple of Branson maps with you to help you get your bearings. Rand McNally published a very nice map of Branson with all the streets and roads on it that also includes other local cities such as Kimberling City, Branson West, etc. However, this map is no longer published and it isn't updated as to theaters and restaurants, so you may not want to depend on it to find your destination. Branson Tourism Center has a very nice full color map of Branson on their website. Click here to find the map. I would recommend printing this in color so you can see where the Time Saver routes are. If you have a GPS, you don't need a map. If you have a smartphone, map apps can be downloaded to help you find your way.
That's all for today! Thanks for reading and until next time -
Happy travels!
Diane
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