From diving deep into the history of the Titanic to soaring high above the trees on the Branson Ferris Wheel – Branson, Missouri is jam-packed with family fun.
Branson Family Fun
As a Blogging Branson Ambassador, I was invited to experience an Ozark Mountain Christmas as part of a media trip. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
We have a relatively large age gap between our kids, almost 10 years! And because of that, it can be a struggle to find something to do they all agree on. So I love it when media trips introduce me to a new family destination. Here are just two attractions that will lead to a vacation full of Branson family fun.
The Track Family Fun Parks
Opening with just one track in 1981, the Track Family Fun Parks continually grows and adds more to their parks, which are known as Tracks. And that first track – it can be found at “Track 3”!
The Track Family Fun Parks are more than your average small town amusement park. They have three locations – Track 3, Track 4 and Track 5 and have 14 different go-kart tracks including three high-rise tracks! There are all family-friendly, but they do have kiddie tracks for the little ones.
But there is so much more beyond the go-karts – bumper boats, arcades and the Branson Ferris Wheel at Track 4.
Branson Ferris Wheel
Once the star of Chicago’s Navy Pier, the Branson Ferris Wheel was brought to Branson piece by piece in 2016. Standing at 150 feet tall the Branson Ferris Wheel is a stunning sight. And each night the 16,000 LED fixtures with 144,000 individual lights light up the night sky with a musical light show – Electrify. Here’s a look at the 2017 Christmas Electrify show!
Fun Branson Ferris Wheel Facts
- It stood on the Chicago’s Navy Pier for 20 years
- It was removed on September 27, 2015, to make room for a bigger wheel!
- Nearly 17 million people rode the Ferris Wheel at the Navy Pier
- 40 gondolas that seat up to 6 people
- The foundation was constructed using over 4 million pounds of concrete, over 6 million pounds of gravel and 80,000 pounds of steel, and piers that go down as far as 23 ft. into the solid rock beneath you!
Track 4 is located at – 3345 W 76 Country Blvd, Branson, MO 65616
For more information go to BransonTracks.com
Titanic Museum Branson
I love the Titanic Museum! And they have an excellent way of keeping kids engaged and entertained. Before you go I suggest you print out the Scavenger Hunt that can be found online – HERE.
As you’re welcomed aboard, each guest is handed a boarding pass with the name of an actual passenger or crew member that was on board the Titanic in 1912. It will list their class – first, second, third or crew, and give you some information about who they were at the time of boarding. As you tour the museum, keep an eye out for the little details that tie to your boarding pass.
There are over 400 artifacts at the Titanic Museum and the collection is valued at more than $4 million! Two of the last remaining deck chairs, silverware and dishes and personal artifacts are all included.
The recreation of the Grand Staircase is from the original Harland and Wolff plans and is breathtaking! And it’s funny to hear what the floor was made out of! Hard to imagine it was once considered “upper class”.
But want to know my favorite part? Challenging others to climb the sloping decks and see who can last 3 minutes with their hand in the 28-degree water! And yes, I sound like a kid, but at least I know my kids would get a kick out of it too.
Fun to be had at Titanic Museum
- Shovel coal in the boiler room
- Send an SOS distress signal
- Touch an iceberg
- Sit in a lifeboat and hear passenger stories
- Step outside on the deck and feel how cold it was on that fateful night
- Walk the halls of “third class” passengers and see where they slept
And remember that boarding pass you received? In the Titanic Memorial Room where 2,208 names line the walls, you will learn their fate. Did they survive and if so, what did they do after the sinking of the RMS Titanic? I love to research more once I’m home and try to glean all the information I can about their lives.
The Titanic Museum is a self-guided tour, so go slow and take your time. It is truly a new experience each time you visit as your boarding pass changes and so do the exhibits.
For hours and tickets head to TitanicBranson.com
From soaring high to diving deep, there is Branson family fun around every corner! And Tracks Family Fun Parks and the Titanic museum are just a taste of the entertainment that awaits the entire family.
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