When you are thinking about a romantic vacation spot, does Branson, Missouri come to mind? It should! Set amid the lush beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Branson offers a wealth of activities and accommodations just right for a honeymoon or romantic getaway.
You may know Branson for its theaters, and the town does indeed have a lot of them. More than 50, in fact, with an impressive 60,000 theater seats. That’s more than all of New York City’s Broadway theaters put together! But Branson offers much more than shows.
Take in a dinner show on the Showboat Branson Belle
One unique way to enjoy Branson’s live entertainment is by having dinner with a show onboard the Showboat Branson Belle, an 1880’s style paddle wheeler that cruises Table Rock Lake. The evening is fun, and you can enjoy the breeze on deck as you stroll beneath the stars.
Get married or renew your vows on Titanic’s Grand Staircase
Okay, so, this isn’t the real Titanic, and the Grand Staircase is a replica. But imagine how moving it would be to renew your vows or get married on the Ship of Dreams?
Branson’s Titanic Museum has four different wedding packages, and the Ordained Captain looks amazingly like Titanic’s Captain Edward Smith.
You’ll want to explore the museum as well, which tells the story of the passengers and crew who sailed on this great liner. As you walk through life-size recreations of passenger first and third-class cabins and climb Titanic’s elegant Grand Staircase, you’ll learn about the passengers who were on board, and you’ll see more than 400 artifacts from Titanic’s debris field.
New here for 2015 is an exhibit that pays tribute to the musicians on board RMS Titanic, with artifacts, such as a letter written by Wallace Hartley, the Band Leader, and facts, such as how many Steinway pianos were onboard (five). It’s a fitting exhibit in a town known for its music and live entertainment.
Pretend you’re a kid again at Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City, Branson’s most famous attraction, is an amusement park themed to re-create an 1880’s Ozarks town. Whether you choose to experience the thrilling rides, such as Silver Dollar City’s Outlaw Run, a ground-breaking wooden coaster that sends riders soaring through the Ozark Mountains, or to simply stroll the park’s shady lanes, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Numerous artisans here produce and sell one-of-a-kind items. You’ll chat with potters, woodworkers, candle makers, weavers, glassblowers, and leather makers, among others, as you watch them work in their studios.
Along the tree-lined pathways, you’ll also find a one-room schoolhouse, once common in rural areas during the 1800s, and a real Homestead, where you may catch an old-time pickin’ party on the porch. The park also has an authentic Water Mill and a Wilderness Church offering serene mountain vistas.
And of course, there’s entertainment. We visited during World-Fest, the largest international festival in the United States, showcasing acts from countries as diverse as Ireland, Slovenia, Trinidad, Ecuador, and the South Pacific.
Take a cooking class
You can also take a cooking class at Silver Dollar City’s Midwest Living® Culinary & Craft School. Located in a timber-framed farmhouse that showcases decorative and functional crafts made by Silver Dollar City master craftsmen, you’ll learn to cook traditional Midwest Living recipes directly from the test kitchens of Midwest Living Magazine. When I visited, we learned to perfect the art of a flaky Rhubarb pie crust. I can’t wait to try it at home! The state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen has tiered seating and large plasma TVs. A memorable experience for the Foodie couple.
Hold hands as you descend into Marvel Cave
History buffs will enjoy Silver Dollar City’s Marvel Cave, discovered around 1500 AD when Osage Indians heard strange noises coming from deep inside the entrance. They named it “The Devil’s Den.” The cave became a tourist attraction, with visitors teetering down an 80-foot ladder in full late-1800s dress.
Today you can descend 300 feet below the surface to enter the Cathedral Room, the largest cave entrance room in the country, to explore limestone formations.
Spend some time in nature together at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park
This 10,000-acre expanse of rugged unspoiled Ozarks landscape is a wonderful place for nature-lovers to get outside and explore. Try your hand at trout fishing, or walking and biking on the canyon floor. Tram tours meander through the hilltop prairies and may include chuckwagon meals. You can also choose to go horseback riding, and cabin rentals are available.
Book a suite at the College of the Ozarks’ Keeter Center
Rustic elegance awaits visitors to the school’s Keeter Center, modeled after Dobyns Hall, a 1904 Maine Lodge. Here, students serve exquisite meals made from ingredients grown or raised on campus at Dobyns Dining Room. Fifteen romantic suites await those who want to stay overnight at the Keeter Center’s Mabee Lodge, all with a fireplace and private balcony.
Have a romantic dinner at Level 2 Steakhouse
The Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, located on Lake Taneycomo in historic downtown Branson, is a great place to stay. Located right at Branson Landing, which offers more than 100 specialty shops, restaurants, and bars as well as a $7.5 million Bellagio-style state-of-the-art water fountain show which combines water, music, fire, and light, the Hilton is home to the Level 2 Steakhouse, known for its tender Midwest Beef.
Perfect evening? Relax with an elegant dinner at Level 2, savor some wine, then stroll through Branson Landing.
Take in a show, or two… or three…
And when it comes to entertainment, Branson lives up to its reputation of offering something for every taste. In addition to having dinner and a show on board the Showboat Branson Belle, you can take in shows such as The Duttons, a family of talented fiddlers; Spirit of the Dance, spotlighting traditional Scottish and Irish dance and fiery flamenco; and the extravagant production of Jonah at the Sight and Sound Theater, complete with live animals, lavish sets, and an enormous whale that sweeps over the audience.
Experience Big Cedar Lodge or drive to Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Spend a few days in the rustic elegance of a by-gone era at Big Cedar Lodge, just 10 miles south of Branson, where rustic log cabins nestle among the trees.
Or drive an hour and fifteen minutes to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a Victorian village often called “the Wedding Capital of the South.” With over 100 unique shops and galleries, numerous spas, and a 100-acre wildlife refuge, there’s plenty to do. Visit as a day trip from Branson, or stay overnight; your options include everything from romantic B&B’s and cottages to cabins in the woods.
Definitely romantic. Serene. The ideal destination for a romantic honeymoon, getaway, or Destination Wedding.
