In Branson, ride, ride, ride!

I got to ride, ride, ride in Branson, I’m a lucky girl. I recently returned from a trip to Branson, I went with Sara Broers, of Travel with Sara. She was on a press trip, and I got to tag along, and we stayed at the amazing Chateau on the Lake Resort Spa! While there I learned all about riding in Branson, riding on a tram, a shuttle, a coaster, a Pink Jeep, a people mover, a paddle boat, and a 3D movie seat!

Read about our Branson riding adventure and all we saw and did while we rode along!

The tram ride at Dogwood Canyon

My first ride experience was a tram ride at the beautiful Dogwood Canyon. The canyon covers 10,000 acres of the pristine Ozark Mountain landscape and was purchased by Johnny Morris in 1990. Johnny Morris is the CEO founder of Bass Pro Shops and while he purchased the land, today it is run by the Dogwood Canyon Foundation, a non-profit organization that protects the plant life and natural environment. Visitors can come to this private park and for a fee can walk, bike or tour. Sara and I took the wonderful tram tour. While it was a bit cool for our comfort, we loved the scenic tour.

Tours last two hours and wind through the canyon floor.  During our tour we saw towering bluffs and waterfalls, and toured the beautiful chapel where many weddings take place.  Open year round, the tram tour takes visitors from Missouri on across the Arkansas border where the tour may mingle, like ours did with herds of American bison, elk, and Texas longhorn.

There is also a restaurant, museum area and grist mill to enjoy as well!

Shuttle to Top of The Rock Missouri

My mom had mentioned the beauty of Top of The Rock, outside of Branson, and Sara’s brother had as well. When we had a few minutes of downtime, we thought we would visit. My husband Keith and I have been to Top of The Rock in Tennessee and knew the food was delectable. We were ready for lunch, and another astounding view, and the Top of the Rock offered both!

You pay an admission fee to enter the area, then we parked and boarded a shuttle! There are lots of things to do on Top of the Rock, we chose dining at Arnie’s Barn. The view was lovely, and our shared fajitas were the bomb!

Some of the other activities are outlined on the website, “Located on a bluff overlooking the Ozark Mountains and Table Rock Lake, Top of the Rock preserves Missouri’s rich history and intrinsic beauty. Top of the Rock features world-class activities and attractions, including Top of the Rock Golf Course, Top of the Rock Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, and the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum.”

Both my mom and sister have taken their golf cart tour and said it was amazing! If looking to stay at the “top” there is Big Cedar Lodge

No! No! A roller coaster!

Before we left for the trip, I told Sara, “I am down for most anything except a roller coaster.” Famous last words, we had tickets to ride the Copperhead Mountain Coaster. They advertise “Our downhill ride is over 3,350ft long! This is the longest downhill ride in Branson. The uphill is 1,450 ft making the total coaster nearly a mile long!”

The saving grace is each coaster ride has brakes! Spaced long distances apart, I could slowly cruise down the hill! Seeing little kids mounting the coaster gave me courage. The only advice they gave was don’t STOP! Oh my! It turned out to be great fun. Riding down the mountain, my hair didn’t all fall out from fright, and I saw an amazing view when I unclenched my hands from the brake!

Hip hurray for the pink jeep tour!

What could be cooler than a ride on the Pink Jeep Tour at sunset? Billy, our guide shared that although Pink Jeep Tours has been around since 1960, that they have only been in Branson for a little over a year. Billy, an experienced guide took us to see beautiful views, and on a fun offroad adventure! The tour lasted two hours and was one of my favorite things we did! The tours offer a great chance to view Branson’s natural and man-made wonders!

In the picture above, Sara is pointing to the area we had just climbed out of. Lots of fun, traveling on the Pink Jeep Tours!

People mover into Silver Dollar City!

After parking, we loaded up from Stop 2 and rode the people mover into beautiful Silver Dollar City. The mover got us right to the front door just in time for our quick visit. We were searching for artisan finds, and I was looking for farm views and to see what’s new!

I love the views and barnlike areas in Silver Dollar City. When we were there, they were just starting a Street Fest I tried out some fun caramel popcorn that was sugar free, yippee! Sara got some potatoes on a stick which is also a popular item.

My favorite sighting of the day was the Living Garden with moving plants! Girls dressed in flower costumes swirled throughout the garden filling it with color. We also saw the first mill established in the Ozark and met a cute donkey which fit my farm fill!

Ride on the Branson Belle

The Showboat Branson Belle offers a cruise, dinner and meal all for one price. I loved the peaceful view during the paddleboat ride. Food and the show were wonderful. I love that at all the shows in Branson, they honor the veterans in the crowd.

Our server Fred was celebrating his birthday that day, and he still took great care of us. The boat was a wonderful way to relax after a morning of touring and hiking the hills of Silver Dollar City. The Branson Belle is beautiful and peaceful!

Ride at Branson Aquarium at the Boardwalk

I wasn’t sure how much I would enjoy the Branson Aquarium, but I was blown away. The brightly colored fish, the interactive aspect, made this a wonderful experience.

When we entered, the first thing we did was strap in to ride in a 3D movie seat. It has been a longtime since I have participated in a 3D movie. I forgot how real the entire experience feels. We flew through the ocean to see the “gathering place” with several fun experiences on the way. What a fun way to begin the aquarium journey.

They offer great interactive opportunities like a chance to touch a stingray. Like the kid at heart, I am, I took advantage of it and could not believe how silky the skin was! What fun!

Celebrity Car Museum

While we didn’t ride on anything at the Celebrity Car Museum, we saw some amazing cars I would love to take a drive in! This museum is a Hollywood A-list stop. Below is a replica of the Bat Mobile!

Ride, ride, ride in Branson. You have a lot of rides to choose from. I just shared a few of many choices in this beautiful city full of entertainment, nature and more! For ideas on what to do in Branson, check in with Explore Branson.