Branson Family Friendly Adventure

You're probably hungry by now, so head over to the Grand Country Buffet, only six minutes away. The buffet has more than 125 items to choose from. There is something for everyone. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; you can select from several scatter bars featuring meats, salads, soup and potatoes, fruits, vegetables, bakery breads and desserts, ice cream sundae bar and more.

Stay put and check in at your Branson family adventure headquarters: the Grand Country Inn. It’s so much more than a place to sleep, with indoor and outdoor pools and an interactive water park that is free for guests; three live shows daily; 36-hole indoor mini-golf; and Fun Spot for kids. Grand Country is one of the top must-see family vacations in the Midwest.

Time to burn off some energy at Splash Country Indoor Waterpark, right there in the hotel! No matter what the temperature is outside, visitors can enjoy a vast array of activities and aquatic family fun. The 20,000 square foot indoor water park can treat you to a luxurious float ride on the 250-foot lazy river, or careen you down two giant tube slides. With a three-level tree house, a 1,000 gallon tipping bucket and a 2,000 square foot toddler pool, this a great place for everyone and one of the best Midwest water parks! There’s even the Melting Pot Spa for mom and dad so they can relax and still keep an eye on the kids.

Only a half-mile from the hotel, families are treated to a live and up-close experience at the Dixie Stampede: 32 magnificent horses, a stampede of Buffalo, stunts and special effects. A four-course meal is included, complete with a dessert. In November and December, Dixie Stampede transforms into a holiday celebration, including “Toys Come to Life,” a spectacular live Nativity with three kings, camels, and holiday music; and a visit from Santa.

Less than 2 miles from the hotel, you'll find one of the most unusual examples of architecture you will see in Branson. What's inside is even more peculiar: genuine shrunken heads; an aircraft carrier made from matchsticks; an authentic Vampire Killing Kit from the mid-1800s. The Branson Odditorium is dedicated to offering guests a unique and unusual entertainment experience they won't find anywhere else in Branson… or on any other family vacations in the Midwest!

Less than a mile down the road will find you at the Track Family Fun Parks, where you're expected to NOT act your age! The go-karts and other rides and activities at the four Branson locations make kids feel like grown-ups, and grown-ups act like kids! Choose from 14 different go-kart tracks, including three unique high-rise tracks, for family-style racing for every age level. Experience elevating, spiraling, twisting and turning on the four-story steel and concrete track called Heavy Metal Rise, or on the two wooden tracks, Wild Woody and The Lumber Jack. Each Track location has several other attractions and activities ranging from rides to cool you off on hot days to rides for thrill seekers to arcade games.

Only a quarter-mile and 60 years away, stop to enjoy a great 1950s-style meal at Mel's Hard Luck Diner, home of Branson's original singing servers. The diner’s servers, hosts, cooks and cashiers are professional singers, song writers, and musicians. They offer you a great dining experience seasoned with a song. The servers must audition for their job. All are professional singers, many having performed on stage in Branson; two have appeared on American Idol. The menu includes our popular burgers and sandwiches, great salads, blue plate specials, and some of the largest and tastiest desserts to be found anywhere. It’s fun for all ages at Mel's, where we sing for your supper (and lunch and breakfast too). Located in the Grand Village Shops, next to the Grand Palace.

Just over a half-mile away but an additional 40 years back in time from Mel's, board the Titanic Museum Attraction for a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Experience life on board Titanic, just as it was on her maiden (and only) voyage, April 1912. Walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase while surrounded by more than 400 rare artifacts. Touch an iceberg; steer the ship; sit in a Titanic lifeboat; listen to the voices of actual survivors, telling their stories. Of the passengers and crew members who set sail, only 705 Titanic passengers survived.

Less than nine miles away, bring yourselves back to the future before you head home, with some of the best barbecue in the area. Danna's is known for its hickory-smoked pork, beer, chicken, ribs and sausage and selection of fresh, never frozen, hamburgers. Catfish also is a customer favorite; it's deep-fried and served with sides such as beans, coleslaw, fries and a roll. Great for a couple people to share (or one big appetite), try the Smoked Pit Plate, which offers pulled beef, half a chicken, pulled pork, smoked sausage, ribs, beans, coleslaw, fries, and a roll.