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We traveled to Branson, Missouri this past June for our annual summer road trip. It was the first time our two youngest daughters had been outside Texas. The drive took about seven and a half hours, so we left early in the morning and stopped for lunch in Oklahoma at the halfway point.
Before we left, my husband joked that we were headed to the “old people capital of the world” since Branson has a reputation as a popular destination for seniors. We spent a week there and were surprised to see so many young families. Every attraction we visited seemed full of kids and parents enjoying the same activities we were.
Grand Country Resort
I picked Branson after finding an excellent deal on Groupon for the Grand Country Resort. The package included hotel accommodations, access to the indoor waterpark, pizza, popcorn, and admission to a show. Because the deal allowed stacking packages, we were able to stay four nights and five days by combining two offers.
The resort is ideal for families. It features an indoor waterpark and multiple pools that were open around the clock. Families were enjoying the pools late into the evening, and the atmosphere remained friendly and family-oriented even at midnight.
Onsite you’ll find a fun center with arcade games, laser tag, go-karts, and mini golf. Each night after the waterpark closed at 10 p.m., the fun center hosted a kids’ party with free cake slices, popcorn, and giveaways.
The resort also houses three dining options: a buffet serving breakfast and comfort food, a grill near the waterpark with burgers and concession-style items, and a pizza buffet in the fun center. We ate pizza several times — individual pizzas were about $10 and easy to take back to the room.
Rooms are configured for families, generally sleeping four but accommodating up to six. Options include rooms with two queen beds, rooms with a king bed plus bunks, and rooms with one queen plus bunks. We had a room with two queens; my husband and I shared one bed with our baby, our two younger daughters shared the other, and our 14-year-old used a comfortable air mattress we brought. The inflatable was plush and supportive, and it made traveling with an extra guest much easier.
Amazing Pet Show
The resort’s music hall hosts several family shows. With small children, we chose the morning Amazing Pet Show, which was included in our package along with drinks and popcorn. The show featured dogs, cats, and birds performing tricks and stunts, and it offered multiple chances for kids to join on stage. My 8-year-old loved participating in singalongs and volunteering twice.
Highlights included Bat Dog, a canine dressed as Batman who walked on his hind legs. The show’s pacing and volume made it forgiving for families with babies, and there’s a well-timed intermission to let little ones burn off energy. After the show and during intermission, guests could pose for photos with some of the animals, and show tickets sometimes provided discounts at the resort buffet.
Titanic Museum
I was particularly excited to visit the Titanic Museum and found a Groupon deal that saved us money on family admission. Photography inside the exhibits is not allowed, but the museum offers an engaging, self-guided audio tour. Each visitor receives a boarding pass with the name of an actual Titanic passenger, and as you move through the two levels you can listen to narrated stories and look for mentions of your assigned passenger.
The museum includes recreations such as the grand staircase and interactive displays. A stroller-friendly elevator made exploring easier with our toddler. The upper exhibits offer hands-on experiences like walking a sloped deck that simulates the ship’s tilt and stepping out into a simulated night sky. You can easily spend several hours examining the displays, though we moved a bit faster due to our younger child’s impatience.
Before leaving, staff takes a staged photo on the grand staircase that you can view and purchase in the gift shop as you exit.
Dick’s 5 & 10
Branson’s downtown area is full of small shops and family attractions. We visited Dick’s 5 & 10, a large, nostalgic store packed with a wide variety of items. It’s the kind of place where everyone in the family found a few souvenirs to take home.
Water Fountain
A short walk past the railroad leads to a mall area with a large musical water fountain that performs hourly shows through 8 p.m. We returned one evening specifically for the 7 p.m. performance, hoping for an extended set, but enjoyed the patriotic display and lights. The fountain’s lighting and occasional pyrotechnics are most impressive after dark, so plan to visit at night if you can.
Hurt’s Donuts
After spending time at Dolly Parton’s Stampede dinner show, we stopped at Hurt’s Donuts across the street. Open 24 hours, the shop had a wide selection even late at night. We bought a “Dirty Dozen” so everyone could pick two favorites — a perfect late-night treat after a busy day of sightseeing.
Branson, Missouri
This road trip was a hit with the whole family. Our children range from 18 down to 1 year old, and all of them enjoyed the activities Branson offers. Even our teens called it the best road trip we’ve taken. Standout moments included the indoor waterpark at Grand Country Resort and the Dolly Parton’s Stampede dinner show. Overall, Branson proved to be a versatile, family-friendly destination with plenty to do for all ages.