Is the Branson area worth it for a short summer trip?

Been there several times when my daughters were 10 or younger. I’d say 3 days...4 is pushing it. You can spend a day at Silver Dollar City(I assume it’s open), another day at The Landing and downtown. There’s plenty of things to do at Big Cedar without going on the water.

The stigma of Branson and old people is way overdone.

have you looked at eureka springs, AR?

much cooler than hot springs.
if your girls are artsy in any way they will love eureka springs

Living up this way it’s always been just a short weekend trip. We never do shows anymore but when we did the one most enjoyable for family was Dolly’s Dixie Stampede, though now she has changed the name. Ticket covers dinner and the show.

I have Big Cedar as part of our family timeshare but I actually enjoy staying at Holiday Hills Inn Resort when we go for a few nights here and there. Property has a golf course and 3-4 pools the kids enjoy. It’s not very far from Branson Landing.

My opinion is Branson Landing is a bit overrated. The water and fire show is cool at night, but once you’ve seen it then that’s about it. Quite a few of the stores have closed there as well during the last year.

Our favorite food spots...Billy Gail’s for breakfast or a late lunch. Pickin’ Porch Grill probably has one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. Its a hidden gem, as it’s actually in the back of an indoor flea market. Also like Farmhouse Restaurant that’s in old downtown. The Cantina Laredo Mexican joint on the landing is decent. All of the other restaurants are tourist traps with mediocre food, including Paula Deans.

Our kids enjoy Silver Dollar City. It will eat up an entire day and is a pretty solid theme park with a good roster of coasters now. You mentioned Hot Springs and Magic Springs there...Silver Dollar blows it out of the water. Night and day. Silver Dollar is more on the Six Flags level, just in the middle of the Ozarks. Silver Dollar also has a water park, Whitewater there. So that eats up possibly a 2nd day.

1 day at silver dollar city easy. Place is great. Could spend a while at Whitewater. Big cedar is great. Top of the rock golf cart tour is fun for kids and parents(have a drive through cave bar). Dogwood canyon is pretty neat. I’d say you can easily spend 3 days in Branson with kids. Don’t expect Michelin star restaurants by any means but quite a bit to do for kids and parents. I was at the landing this past Saturday snd couldn’t believe how much they added to it for kids.

Ha. Trust me I get it with the food. This is family trip, so I stick to the basics and as long as their happy we are good.

Wife and I are doing Tahoe in June, so I’ll get mine then.

Also just an idea...Look into Bentonville AR maybe instead of swinging south to Hot Springs.

If you have kiddos, spend one day at Amazeum or go check out where the Red Ryder BB guns are made and where it started at Daisy Museum

Could also check out the original 5 and dime where Walmart started. This museum also has something for everyone Crystal Bridges

May not be your cup of tea, but just giving options other than Hot Springs that our kids enjoyed.

Branson sucks a big one, the landing is a joke. there are some really good golf courses tho. Big cedar is cool but damn it's expensive for what it is, i would only go there for christmas or a snowy weekend. never been to take you dollar city.

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You will spend the better part of a day at SDC, then several museum/touristy places like the aquarium, Titanic, zip lines, Whitewater and Branson Landing. I'm not a shopper but I like Branson Landing, any food choice you could possible need to satisfy your fam. I don't do shows so I can't vouch for any of those.

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there is paula deans, guy fiera, a crappy mexican resturant and mellow mushroom. it's terrible down there, and there are literally no stores worth buying anything at.

Yes, SDC probably has the best food in Branson.