{"id":46721,"date":"2016-08-20T17:06:45","date_gmt":"2016-08-20T22:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=46721"},"modified":"2017-07-24T09:30:50","modified_gmt":"2017-07-24T14:30:50","slug":"branson-kitschiest-city-visit-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/branson-kitschiest-city-visit-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Branson is the kitschiest city you should visit now"},"content":{"rendered":"

Branson has been called \u201cThe Las Vegas of the Midwest.\u201d But let\u2019s get real: It\u2019s the G-rated<\/em> version of Sin City<\/a> because there is absolutely no sin here. (Not the kind you find in Vegas, anyway.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cradled by Missouri\u2019s Ozark Mountains, Branson<\/a> is a family-friendly entertainment destination where cheesy humor and squeaky-clean fun are grounded in religious (read: Christian)values.<\/p>\n

For this solo traveler, who spent a few days here on a detour off Route 66, I felt guilty each time a swear left my lips. I also felt slightly out of place not having children at my hips or being able to seize a senior citizen\u2019s discount. But, only slightly.<\/p>\n

I transcended my single and thirty-something city-slicker judgment by staying open to the charm and kitsch that Branson offers. After all, there\u2019s a reason that this small town (population 10,000) welcomed 8.5 million travelers last year.<\/p>\n

Even Sir Richard Branson, the self-made billionaire and founder of Virgin Group, gave this Midwestern mecca some high-profile love in the form of a coordinated April Fool\u2019s joke in 2015. One where Branson, the town, was in on the joke.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what is f\u2014ing cool about Branson \u2026 oops, I mean, here\u2019s what makes this destination worth a visit:<\/p>\n

Also<\/strong>: You should watch this video now. There are pigs. And there’s swimming.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Chateau

Photo courtesy of Chateau on the Lake Resort<\/p><\/div>\n

Accommodations<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s no shortage of lodging options in Branson. From hotels and motels, to resorts and vacation homes, to camping and RV sites\u2014take your pick. The Branson Lakes area boasts more than 18,000 rooms, many of them hugging \u201cThe Strip,\u201d a.k.a. Highway 76. With all of these options vying for your tourism business, deals abound. Chateau on the Lake Resort and Spa<\/a>\u00a0is among the fancier digs in town.<\/p>\n

\"Legends

Legends in Concert | Flickr CC: Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Shows, shows, shows<\/h3>\n

Branson loves to brag that it has more theater seats than Broadway, boasting more than 60,000 seats across 47 theaters. Just don\u2019t expect to find mega-hits from the Great White Way such as \u201cHamilton.\u201d Instead, expect\u00a0homegrown, family-friendly shows with \u201cjamboree\u201d and \u201cjubilee\u201d and \u201cstampede\u201d in the title. I enjoyed a bit of Vegas (again, G-rated) at Legends in Concert<\/a> at Dick Clark\u2019s American Bandstand Theater, where \u201cTaylor Swift\u201d and \u201cElvis\u201d currently share the stage together.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Titanic

Titanic Museum | Flickr CC: Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Attractions<\/h3>\n

\u201cThe Strip\u201d is loaded with a menagerie ofattractions, some colorful, some cheesy and some just plain gaudy. The attraction sure to catch everyone\u2019s eye: The Titanic Museum. The exterior is a giant replica of the doomed ship hitting an iceberg. While the exterior may raise an eyebrow, the museum itself is an educational and interactive walk through life aboard the vessel as one of its registered passengers\u00a0and includes\u00a0more than 400 artifacts from the original ship on display. At the end of the tour, you learn the fate of your assigned passenger.<\/p>\n

\"Zip

Zip lining | Flickr CC: Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Aerial adventures<\/h3>\n

Soar over the Ozark forests on a zip line at up to speeds of 50 miles per hour. Several companies operate tours in the Branson area: Branson Zipline Excursion<\/a>, Adventure Ziplines of Branson, Indian Point Zipline, Branson Zipline & Canopy Tour and Zip Line USA. Want to soar a different way? Head to the Track Family Fun Parks, which recently acquired the iconic Ferris wheel from Chicago\u2019s Navy Pier. At 15 stories high, it will wow you with bird-eye views of Branson\u2019s entertainment district and the Ozark Mountains.<\/p>\n

\"Dick's

Dick’s 5 and 10 | Flickr CC: Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Shopping<\/h3>\n

While Tanger Outlets is a popular stop for the shopaholics who adore the standard factory outlet fare, the quirkier place to explore is Dick\u2019s 5 & 10. This old-fashioned store in downtown Branson hosts aisles and aisles of bizarrely wonderful things you didn\u2019t know you needed: nostalgic candy, Marilyn Monroe cookie jars, John Deere oven mitts, pig-shaped drain covers, \u201cWelcome\u201d signs made from deer antlers \u2026 and much more. Allocate at least 30 minutes to browse and potentially make a few purchases that\u2019ll inspire a laugh back home.<\/p>\n

\"Lake

Lake Taneycomo | Flickr CC: Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Scenic drives<\/h3>\n

Beyond Highway 76 is an incredible natural setting, especially in summer and autumn. In fall, specifically, the foliage surrounding Branson erupts into a cornucopia of color. Wind along Highway 160 and 165 to coast past lakes, ridge-tops and river valleys. Head to College of the Ozarks to Point Lookout for sweeping views of Lake Taneycomo and Branson. Definitely bring your camera.<\/p>\n

\"Table

Table Rock Lake State Park | Flickr CC: Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

The great outdoors<\/h3>\n

Hello, Mother Nature! A visit to Branson offers\u00a0a springboard to three pristine lakes and more than 100,000 acres of wilderness to explore. A favorite is Table Rock Lake State Park, where you\u2019ll find ample camping, hiking, fishing, boat rentals\u2014even SCUBA diving excursions.<\/p>\n

Also:<\/strong> Don’t forget to earn deep discounts by signing up for Orbitz Rewards<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Branson is the tacky, touristy destination of your dreams.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":180,"featured_media":47763,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[287],"class_list":["post-46721","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-family"],"acf":{"api_active":null,"api_title":null,"api_excerpt":null,"api_featured_image":null,"api_lob":null},"posts_api_cpm_point":"","yoast_head":"\nBranson is the kitschiest city you should visit now | Orbitz<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2016\/08\/branson-kitschiest-city-visit-now\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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