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Though you may long for warm summer days spent lying by sandy shores, winter is also a wonderful time to escape to new destinations, explore exciting sites, and embark on thrilling adventures.

Among the many must-see locations across the nation is an under-the-radar spot in the Show-Me State: Branson, Missouri. Stunning all year round but especially in winter, Branson beckons visitors to explore its historic streets and discover new sites around every corner.

A whimsical wonderland

Missouri may not be the first place that comes to mind when pondering vacation destinations, but Branson proves more than worthy of consideration. As it’s less than a day’s drive away for one-third of the American population, the city makes for a perfect getaway for couples, families, and friends alike. It’s home to an award-winning amusement park and contains numerous museums, attractions, restaurants, wineries, and breweries, all just waiting to be explored.

Don’t hold off on visiting until temperatures warm up, however. Winter unveils a different kind of charm in this vibrant city that you won’t experience at other points of the year. The historic downtown area and various attractions are decked in holiday cheer through December, but even beyond the new year, the city has a charm to it, with the nearby Ozark Mountains standing sentinel over a landscape adorned with glistening frost and twinkling lights. So bundle up and prepare to be enchanted as you explore the magic of Branson in the colder months.

Branson’s top attractions

A stay in Branson is guaranteed to ignite the inner child in you, especially after a stop at Silver Dollar City, an 1880s-themed amusement park. If you’re visiting in December, you can revel in the festive decorations and more than 6.5 million lights adorning seemingly every inch of the park as well as catch Broadway-style performances of A Dickens’ Christmas Carol and Coming Home for Christmas. But the fun doesn’t end there! Though the park closes for January and February, if you visit later in the year, you’re not going to want to miss the dozens of rides and attractions, including the WildFire roller coaster, which reaches speeds up to 66 miles per hour and features a vertical drop of fifteen stories. Or take a journey on the newly opened Fire in the Hole, an indoor family roller coaster that is the largest of its kind in America’s heartland. Just be sure to keep an eye on the weather during your visit since some attractions may not operate in lower temperatures.

Additionally, the city offers a variety of family-friendly activities, including indoor water parks, museums, and arcades, ensuring that boredom is never on the itinerary. If you’re after something a little less thrill-inducing, consider visiting Branson’s Titanic Museum, the world’s largest Titanic-themed attraction. Here visitors have the chance to walk an exact replica of the luxury liner’s grand staircase while viewing more than four hundred artifacts from the ship’s wreckage. You can also spend all day at Beyond the Lens! thanks to its over 150 interactive, technologybased exhibits, including FlyRide, a virtual experience that takes you high above some of the nation’s most aweinspiring landmarks.

No visit to Branson is complete without a stroll through the historic downtown area. Get a slice of authentic Chicago-style pizza at Mr. G’s before making your way to the Branson Board Game Cafe, where you can select from over 1,300 games to play solo or with family and friends. Consider taking the free trolley, which travels throughout downtown Branson and offers one of the best ways to visit the numerous shops and sites located here. Along the trolley route, stop and shop at Branson Landing, home to over one hundred shops and restaurants and a 1.5-mile boardwalk along the Taneycomo lakefront. Branson Landing’s main attraction, however, is its dazzling water fountains. Merging water, fire, light, and music, the choreographed spectacle was created by Wet Design, the same team responsible for the world-renowned Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas. It’s an enchanting experience you won’t want to miss.

Escape to the Ozarks

Winter in Branson doesn’t just mean cozy indoor activities—it’s also the perfect time for outdoor adventures. The Ozark Mountains offer a picturesque backdrop for activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, and even zip-lining. There’s something truly magical about exploring the snowy trails and witnessing the serene beauty of nature in its winter attire.

For some of the best views of Branson and the Ozarks, make a trek up to Inspiration Tower at the Shepherd of the Hills. The 230-foot tower is situated on the highest point in southwest Missouri and provides a jaw-dropping view of the surrounding areas. The structure is also the launching point for the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider, which flies you over the area at 50 miles per hour. Operations of the zip line are weather dependent, though, with rides only taking place when temperatures are over 50 degrees. (Please note: Inspiration Tower and Zipline Canopy Tours are the only attractions open in January and February.) For other stunning views of the mountains, be sure to check out Highway 165’s scenic overlook or the one at Big Cedar Lodge. Both are a short ten-minute drive south of Branson and offer picture-perfect vantage points of the often snow-covered hills.

Another must-see destination is Table Rock Lake, a serene spot nestled in the Ozarks and that boasts more than 43,000 acres of water and 800 miles of shoreline. The lake doesn’t freeze in winter, and though you may not want to go for a swim, it still offers a prime bass-fishing spot during the cooler months. For a beginner-friendly hike by the shore, consider embarking on the 2.2-mile trek along Table Rock Lakeshore Trail. And just west of Branson lies the Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area, where you can encounter 1,534 acres of forest and hills. With over 5.6 miles of hiking trails, a scenic overlook, and a lookout tower, it’s a great place to experience the beauty of the area and the magic of winter.

Whether you choose to explore the various shops, restaurants, and attractions that make the city so great or spend your trip in the great outdoors, a winter vacation to Branson is guaranteed to be one that you’ll never forget. So pack your bags and cold-weather gear and get ready to explore a new destination this season.