A Branson family vacation is filled with endless possibilities thanks to the destination’s many theme parks, natural areas and live entertainment options — all topped off with a heaping helping of Southern hospitality.
Gear up for an active vacation that takes you through a full sampling of all the city has to offer by creating a scavenger hunt of the best things to do in Branson, Missouri, with the whole family.
Branson Scavenger Hunt Suggestions
The below activity guide is an easy way to fill up an afternoon or space out a few fun events over your week-long Branson vacation. Compete to see which family member (or team) can rack up the most points!
1. Hug a frog at The Suites at Fall Creek
10 points
There’s no better place to start your scavenger hunt than right on-site at The Suites at Fall Creek by Diamond Resorts. Head to the miniature golf course to find an over-sized frog and several other wild animals to pose with for a family vacation photo. Take your time exploring the property, which is peppered with amenities including a kids’ park, beach volleyball court and multiple pools that offer kid-friendly things to do in Branson without even leaving the property.
2. Grip the rails of one of the world’s steepest wooden roller coasters
20 points
Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City isn’t your grandmother’s wooden coaster. Built in 2013, it offers an 81-degree drop of more than 160 feet at speeds of up to 68 mph. It’ll twist you upside down three times, serving up a 720-degree double barrel roll for good measure. Hold onto your ticket stub or catch a mid-coaster selfie to score big for this one.
3. Win best three out of five at the Branson Board Game Cafe
15 points
You don’t have to wait for a rainy afternoon to while away a few hours playing your favorite board games. Branson Board Game Cafe’s This cafe’s extensive game menu includes more than 800 selections, all categorized by number of players and level of difficulty. There are video instructions and in-house tablets to clarify rules, and you can create your own snack mix to nosh on while you play.
4. Make your best fish face at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery
10 points
Wriggle like a fish out of water for a silly selfie (or better yet, Boomerang!) at the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, where thousands of brown and rainbow trout begin life. Learn about Missouri’s cold-water fishing culture in 48-degree Lake Taneycomo, where many of the hatchery’s grown fish spend their adulthood.
5. Take a team selfie at Branson’s original music show
5 points
A Branson family vacation wouldn’t be complete without live entertainment. Enjoy some Branson fun with the Baldknobbers, a three-generation family act that’s been performing since 1959. Comedy, country music and a variety show will have your whole family in stitches.
6. Strike a fierce pose at Branson’s Wild World
5 points
“Hands-on experience” takes on a whole new meaning at Branson’s Wild World, where you can let “doctor fish” (Garra rufa) nibble at your hand, hold a snake and feed a shark. Go nose-to-nose with large British Columbian wolves, and enjoy up-close encounters with more than 180 different species at the wildlife adventure park.
7. Pet a long-haired cow at Bigfoot Fun Park
5 points
Find your way to the fold of Scottish Highland Cattle, where you’ll be able to feed the gentle beasts while you stroke their fluffy, long hair. There will be plenty to distract you from your quest at the park, including mazes and underground tunnels at the Yeti Fun Zone & Monkey Jump and breathtaking views atop the 200-foot Gravity Bomb free-fall.
8. Eat a pancake you could wrap around your head
10 points for a bite, 20 if you eat the whole thing!
Tucked in a log cabin that once served as a gas station, the BillyGail’s Cafe is famous for hearty breakfasts that serve up 14-inch hubcap pancakes. Top the large-but-light confection with toppings like bacon, peanut butter, chocolate chips or other delights. Sip coffee from a novelty cup while soaking up the rustic, red-checkered-tablecloth ambiance, and browse through the antique store for souvenirs to take back home.
9. Upload multiple Insta-worthy oddities
5 points each
Branson is a city of superlatives and quirky public art, so clinch the win by uploading the most selfies at peculiar eye-catchersz around the city. Rock it with a pic in a 15-foot rocking chair across the street from Grand Country Music Hall, and snap a shot with a huge walk-through meatball on a fork at Pasghetti’s. Find more oddities online at sites like Roadside America, and you might even wipe the competition with a shot showcasing the world’s largest roll of toilet paper.
10. Test your fishing skills on a guided tour
10 points, 15 if you catch the “big one”
With a marina located on property at The Suites at Fall Creek, even the most beginner fisherman or fisherwoman can test their trout-catching skills on Lake Taneycomo. Stop by the Fall Creek Marina to a rent a pontoon boat, or book a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed fishing guide.
Finish the hunt? Be sure to share your vacation photos with #StayVacationed.
Diamond Resorts International Marketing, Inc., its parents, sister companies, and subsidiaries, make no warranty, express or implied, as to the condition, capacity, performance or any other aspect of the activities, events, or service providers listed herein. No inquiry has been made into the activities or events, or the qualifications or the quality of services offered by the providers. Do not consider this an endorsement of or recommendation for any of the activities, events, or providers.
