With 45 theaters and over 80 shows being performed in Branson, as well as museums, arts and crafts and outlet malls, finding things to do is the easy part. Deciding what to do will prove to be the hard part. Planning ahead is a great idea as many shows sell out quickly, but also leave a little free time in case you come across something fun you want to try.

The top pick shows that will entertain you are, Broadway - The Star-Spangled Celebration, Country Tonite Show, Legends in Concert, Lost in the Fifties, The Haygoods, The Paul Harris Show, The Rat Pack-Live from Las Vegas, and Tony Kenny's Ireland. All of these shows offer fast-paced entertainment that will have you wanting to dance and sing in your seats as the talented performers offer up their best for you every day and night.

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, try Kirby VanBurch's The Prince of Magic show, The Acrobats of China, Gregory Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre or the IMAX Theater. All of these set themselves apart as they entertain you with something different. Museums in the area will also provide you with a new perspective on the world. The World's Largest Toy Museum is for young and old alike, Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum, Hollywood Wax Museum, the Butterfly Place, and The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum will all leave you with amusing and fascinating facts.

Dinner shows are a big hit in Branson and Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede Dinner and Show tops the list. The Tall Timber Lumberjack Show will also get you pumped up and fed at the same time. Breakfast with Mark Twain and Norman Rockwell offers up a hearty breakfast and a monologue with some remarkable personalities that serve up with and charm to follow.

With the holidays in mind, Branson will entertain you through the end of the year with special Christmas shows like Branson Area Festival of Lights, Ozark Mountain Christmas and the 56^th Annual Adoration Parade and Lighting Ceremony. Christmas on the Trail will get you in the spirit of the season as you enjoy a chuck wagon holiday dinner. Planning a vacation during the holidays is just as exciting as the rest of the year and finding special presents for those you love is an added bonus with so many craftsman and artisans in the Ozark area.

If shopping is something you live for, three outlet malls and the many shops that are run by area craftsmen will delight you with what they have to offer. Stop in at Engler Block or Silver Dollar City for a look at local crafts. Don't forget that Branson is set in the Ozark Mountains and has two beautiful lakes nearby. Table Rock State Park and Lake as well as Lake Taneycomo right in the city of Branson provide many outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. The Mark Twain National Forest is a great place for mountain biking and 4-wheeling.

If you are looking for some serious fun in Branson, Silver Dollar City, Celebration City and White Water offers fun for the family and offers something for everyone. No matter what you find to do in Branson, this will be a vacation that you will enjoy whole-heartedly and promises to be a vacation destination that you will come back to in the future.

September 14, 2007