Silver Dollar City Archives - Globetrotting Mommy

Thrilling roller coasters, 1880’s themed crafts, shows and concerts, festivals, family-friendly activities galore and delicious meals and treats await travelers of all ages at Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, Missouri.

I’ve been to a lot of theme parks but I was blown away by the wide range of activities and adventures offered up at this award-winning park. Read on to find my Top 10 Tips for Visiting Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

Top 10 Tips for Visiting Silver Dollar City

1. Download the Silver Dollar City App which has an interactive map, daily schedules, special event offerings, showtimes and wait times for the more popular rides. If you’re the plan ahead type, you can map out the things you want to do and personalize your schedule. First-time visitors can find specific recommendations in four categories (Families With Young Children, Ozarks History Buffs, Casual Explorers and Thrill-Seekers).

2. Arrive early to make the most of your day. Parking is FREE and there are shuttles to transport you and your family directly to the entrance. The turnstiles open an hour before park opening so guests can grab a quick breakfast treat at Eva & Delilah’s Bakery or dine at Molly’s Mill and enjoy the Main Street activities.

Read on to find my Top 10 Tips for visiting Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

3. Bring the whole family! Silver Dollar City makes a great option for a multi-generational family visit with a range of family-friendly shows, rides everyone in the family can enjoy, and a slew of attractions (petting zoos, cooking classes, cave tours and more) for visitors of all ages. Be sure to check the website as there are festivals and special events throughout the year.

Read on to find my Top 10 Tips for visiting Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Read on to find my Top 10 Tips for visiting Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri.

4. Make a plan and divide and conquer. If you’ve got children with different ride or activity preferences, you might want to separate into groups for some of the day. There are more than 40 rides and attractions, as well as 40 shows a day so there is a LOT to enjoy. For younger kids, The Grand Exposition area is a must-visit. Thrill seekers will LOVE Time Traveler, Thunderation, and WildFire. Family favorites include the Frisco Silver Dollar Steam Train, McHaffie’s Homestead and Marvel Cave.

5. Explore the timeless appeal of crafts and a dedication to preserving 1880s Ozarks culture. There are 100 craftsmen on park demonstrating glass blowing, blacksmithing, pottery, candy making, candle making, and many other disciplines. The shops are beautiful with one-of-a-kind gifts and souvenirs so be sure to check them out. Visiting the artisans and watching them in action was one of my favorite things during my visit.

6. Get ready to chow down! You’ll find the typical theme park fare like ice cream, funnel cakes and burgers but what sets Silver Dollar City apart is the quality of their food offerings. From sit down dining to quick meals and snacks, the culinary options are made fresh with healthy options available. I especially loved the bakery items, skillet meals, and Festival of Wonder specialty items like Bang Bang Shrimp Loaded Waffle Cones. I was also impressed with their allergy free food offerings.

7. Take advantage of the affordable lockers. When your kids outgrow their strollers, you suddenly find yourselves carrying around a lot of stuff. Lighten your load and keep your extra items safely stored for just $5 a day. Best of all, you can move your items from lockers around the park at no extra charge.

8. Relax with a cooking class at Silver Dollar City’s Culinary & Craft School. No kitchen experience necessary for these fun and engaging lessons taught in a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen. Sit back and learn how to make a range of dishes and specialty menu items and then enjoy your goodies. This was such a nice way to spend an hour after running around on the rides and everything we made was delicious. Kids are welcome making this a great choice for grandparents, parents and children.

9. Visit Marvel Cave. Last but not least, my absolute favorite part of visiting Siver Dollar City was going down (and down…) on a tour of Marvel Cave with Ranger Bill. I’ve never done anything like this and it was so much fun for adults and kids alike. This famed wet limestone cave has formations that are still alive and growing. Kids are allowed but the hour tour is quite strenuous so I wouldn’t recommend it for kids under 5ish. Visitors climb down many stairs (some twisty and narrow) and passages to get 500 feet below the surface and then travel back up on a cable car. Along the way, the guide explains the cave’s history and answers questions. Tours are free and a 90-minute lantern tour is offered for $14. A don’t-miss experience!

10. My final tips for visiting Silver Dollar City…don’t forget to wear sunscreen and comfortable shoes and bring along phone chargers, sunglasses, hats and any other must-haves.

Want to learn more about Branson’s family-friendly attractions? Check out Family Fun Awaits in Branson, Missouri.

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Top 10 Tips for Visiting Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri

Thank you to Explore Branson for hosting my trip and providing a super fun day at Silver Dollar City. As always, all opinions are my own.

You may not have Branson, Missouri on your family travel radar but read on to find out why you should. I visited several family-friendly attractions in the Show-Me state and I was blown away by all the fun adventures. If your family likes theme parks, outdoor adventures, delicious food, live entertainment and museums, Branson, Missouri is a must-visit.

Top 10 Family Friendly Things to do in Branson, MO

Ride the Branson Ferris Wheel

Get your bearings with a ride on the Branson Ferris Wheel, which was relocated from Chicago’s Navy Pier. This 15-story Ferris wheel is centrally located in the entertainment district near several other attractions and restaurants.

Search for Big Foot

Branson’s Bigfoot Fun Park, is the only entertainment center in the world that pays tribute to Bigfoot. For an Ozarks experience, their Bigfoot Discovery Expedition Tours, offer rugged (and not so rugged) options in custom 4×4 vehicles. Animal lovers will love the Scottish Highland Farm Tour where you feed the cutest Scottish Highland cattle.

Explore the Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure

Not your typical butterfly garden, the Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure has butterflies and so much more. You’ll find thousands of tropical butterflies, a mirror maze, Great Banyan Tree Adventure, educational videos as well as a Living Rainforest Science Center (lizards, turtles and geckos, oh my). All tickets are good for a 3-day visit and include a complimentary nectar flower to feed the butterflies. Check the events schedule for butterfly release times (you may get chosen!) and wear bright colors for the best photos.

Relive History at the Titanic Museum

Who isn’t fascinated by the Titanic? Branson’s interactive Titanic Museum Attraction captivates adults and kids alike with its lifelike displays, photos and knowledgeable tour guides. Everyone receives a passenger card upon entering and at the end, guests see if they survived or not. Kids will love the interactive area where they can test how it feels to stand on sinking ship decks and see how long they can keep their fingers in freezing water. A special exhibit this year includes the largest collection of Titanic life jackets.

Take in a Show or Two or Three

From country music and Elvis impersonators to acrobats and comedians, the live performances in Branson will wow guests of all ages. We combined a live show with dinner and a Table Rock Lake cruise aboard Showboat Branson Belle and it was great. For families with younger kids, I recommend looking into their Princess & Pirate and Santa’s Pancakes & PJS cruises.

Spend a Day at Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City is pretty much the best theme park I never knew about. This award-winning 1880s themed amusement park has plenty of rides, old school attractions, festivals, yummy treats, shows galore plus a family-friendly cave tour that will make your day. I love that there are plenty of things to do for the whole family so nobody will feel left out. For more information, read my tips for visiting Silver Dollar City.

Be a Daredevil

Big thrills await daredevil adults and kids in Branson! From go-carts, ropes course and bumper spin cars (and much more) at Fun Mountain at Big Cedar Lodge to the Gravity Bomb and Super Sling rides at Bigfoot Fun Park, there are just some of the many options. For taller thrill seekers (over 52 inches), don’t miss the Skyscraper and if you’ve ever dreamed of sky diving, check out Fritz’s Adventure where the nations first Aerodium, a vertical outdoor wind tunnel is opening this summer.

Savor the Flavors of Branson

Branson Landing features several shops, restaurants and activities in a pedestrian-friendly waterfront setting (don’t miss the fountain light show). Landshark Bar & Grill (of Margaritaville fame) is a great option for casual fare and while Black Oak Grill offers locale fare (the trout was amazing!) and handcrafted cocktails in a cozy lodge setting. For the ultimate family fun dinner, head to Andy B’s Bowl Social where you can enjoy upscale snacks, classic burgers, salads and sandwiches, pizzas and stick-to-your-rib meals as well as specialty cocktails (and mocktails) and beer and wine. The main attraction here is bowling but families can also enjoy escape rooms, karaoke and several table games.

For icy treats, visit Andy’s Frozen Custard Stand where you can customize “concretes” or try their candy-laden signature creations.

For a unique dining option, visit The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks for a farm-to-fork experience. Students work in culinary staff positions and prepare innovative meals under the direction of Chef Robert Stricklin as part of their class load. Much of the produce is farm fresh and our meal here was one of the highlights of my trip. I love that kids are welcomed with mini chef hats and special menus. There is a homemade ice cream shop in the lobby so be sure to stop by before you head home. You’re welcome!

For fine dining with amazing water views, Chateau Grill at Chateau on the Lake is a great choice. The elegant space offers award-winning dining and top service. If you’re in the mood for surf and turf, look no further.

Explore the Great Outdoors

Minutes away from Branson’s attraction district, a slew of outdoor activities await. Families will enjoy hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, bass and trout fishing, hunting, trap and skeet shooting, spelunking, rock climbing and other recreational activities in the Ozarks. If time allows, plan to visit public parks, resorts, campgrounds, forests or one of Branson’s three crystal clear lakes. Water lovers can go water skiing, boating, bass fishing, kayaking and trout fishing.

Go Back in Time at Dicks 5 & 10

If you love picking up one-of-a-kind souvenirs, you’ll love Dick’s 5 & 10, Branson’s famed landmark. For the last 50 years, family owned and operated Dick’s has been selling a little bit of everything, seven days a week. The shop features more than 75,000 different items, including old-time candies and toys, unique Branson souvenirs, quirky gifts, collectibles, craft items, clothing, housewares and so much more. Be sure to notice the decorative collections including White River Arrowheads, WWII Prints and a baseball “Wall of Fame.”

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