America’s romance with the vintage passenger train lives on through excursions on the Branson Scenic Railway.

The railway offers an exceptional collection of unique passenger cars that travel through the beautiful foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The one hour 45 minute trip winds through tunnels, over trestles, and through either the southwest Missouri or northwest Arkansas wilderness. Along the route you’re likely to see wildlife as well as the ghost towns of abandoned mountain communities now named only on railroad maps.

The Saturday 5 pm Dinner Train offers a delicious entree choice of Prime Rib, 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken, or Baked Fish. The meal also includes mashed potatoes & vegetable medley, caesar salad, crudites, black and white cake and water, ice tea, hot tea or coffee. (Items subject to change.)

The rapidly approaching fall color season offers a special opportunity to ride the train and enjoy the spectacular hues of the trees throughout the Ozarks. And from November 6 to December 4, the Branson Scenic Railway Presents “The Polar Express.”

Read along with the story as the train makes its magical round trip journey to the North Pole. Meet Santa and enjoy caroling, hot cocoa, a treat and a special gift for each child. Kids are encouraged to wear their pajamas!

For more information on Branson tickets, discount resort accommodations and more, visit www.ticket2branson.com.

Southern gospel music has long resounded throughout the beautiful hills of the Missouri Ozarks, be it from country churches and county fairs or grand stages and theaters. Yet some of the best southern gospel music in the area also resonates annually from Branson’s most popular theme park, Silver Dollar City.

It’s all part of the vibrant and energetic Southern Gospel Picnic - a yearly celebration of music that runs from August 26 to September 6, 2010.

Visitors can enjoy hundreds of performances from the top names in southern gospel music including The Isaacs, Triumphant Quartet, The Inspirations, Legacy Five, Squire Parsons and others. In addition, the park’s Echo Hollow Amphitheatre will be serenaded with music from the famed Southern Gospel Nights concert series each evening during the festival.

Once again, Sunday morning worship services will also be held in Silver Dollar City’s Red Gold Heritage Hall during the festival. Speakers include the inspirational David Ring on Aug. 29 and “America’s minister of encouragement,” and noted humorist and evangelist Dennis Swanberg on Sept. 5.

For more information on Silver Dollar City and the Southern Gospel Picnic, go to http://www.ticket2branson.com/. Or visit http://www.westgatereservations/ for details on discount tickets and accommodations in Branson, including Westgate Branson Woods Resort.

Now’s the time to enjoy a little extra fun at Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson. The park  is celebrating the last blast of summer with Moonlight Madness hours in effect from July 24 through August 8.Guests are invited to stay late during Moonlight Madness, which offers expanded nighttime hours until 10 pm.  There’s also a special Moonlight Madness reduced price ticket option. The evening ticket costs just $25 for admission after 5 pm and all rides and attractions will stay open until 10 pm.

The summer fun includes Silver Dollar City’s new Street Dance that kicks off at 9 pm each evening throughout Moonlight Madness. Select shops and restaurants will also stay open late with specials

Of course, for those who want a full day of fun and adventure, the regular admission price allows guests to stay come early and stay late to enjoy more than 12 hours of Silver Dollar City thrills.

Throughout the day, Silver Dollar City is featuring its annual KidsFest activities, including an all-new Stunt Dog Experience with performing dogs and the mystifying magic and illusions of Peter Gossamer, now in its final season at the park. And don’t forget the rides and attractions like the 15-story drop on Wildfire or the epic water battles on the all-new RiverBlast.

For more information on Silver Dollar City or accommodations in Branson, please visit http://www.ticket2branson.com/ or http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

It’s showtime!In fact, it’s always showtime in Branson, Missouri, the self-proclaimed live entertainment capital of the world.

Today, close to seven million annual visitors to Branson can find a virtually never-ending list of live performances from Country, Rock n’ Roll, Magic, Comedy, Musical Theatre and Gospel. Whether you prefer a small intimate show or a major world-class production, chances are you’ll find it gracing one of the more than 40 stages in Branson.

For those looking for big name entertainment, there’s plenty to choose from, including Cathy Rigby as Peter Pan, the Oak Ridge Boys singing their classic country tunes, the Osmond Brothers and former Righteous Brother and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Medley, to name a few.

Of course there’s also dozens of Branson style shows, featuring amazing singing, high energy dancing, laugh out loud comedy and mystifying magic. It’s all part of the fun and adventure of Branson. Better yet, it’s all great family entertainment. Every show is suitable for the entire family, young and old.

For additional information on shows, theme parks and discount hotels and resorts in Branson, visit http://www.ticket2branson.com/.

Silver Dollar City remains one of the most popular destinations in Branson, MO. The fun-filled theme park is celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2010 with an all new attraction, RiverBlast - America’s Biggest Water Battle.The new $7 million super-soaking ride is great for all ages. Hop aboard and get ready to take aim at the water-armed adversaries that surround your river raft. With 8 eight passenger river rafts, 80 water blasting guns, 150 targets and over 560 feet of river channel to explore, RiverBlast in nothing short of waterlogged chaos.

There’s also plenty of other high energy action at Silver Dollar City including the swooping GIANT Swing, the multi-looping WildFire roller coaster, the corkscrew turns of thunderation, and PowderKeg, an explosive coaster that launches riders from zero to breathless in 2.8 seconds.

For all the details on Silver Dollar City and Branson adventure vacation packages, visit http://www.ticket2branson.com/.

Nestled amidst the lakeside beauty of the Ozark Mountains, beautiful Branson, Missouri remains one of America’s most affordable, fun-filled and wholesome family vacation destinations. Located in the heart of our nation, the Branson area emphasizes fun and family while mixing it with plenty of excitement and adventure.

From a long list of dazzling live shows and theaters to thrilling theme parks and amazing attractions, Branson welcomes visitors with a warm and inviting atmosphere and a spirit of patriotism, faith and generosity. There’s also a wide variety of outdoor recreation and adventure to be had throughout the Branson Lakes Area.

2010 represents a special year in Branson as the area celebrates 50 years of entertainment. The popular Silver Dollar City theme park celebrates its 50^th anniversary with the opening of a new $7 million ride, Tom and Huck’s RiverBlast. Meanwhile, the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama also celebrates its 50 year of telling the history of Branson.

Branson offers up more than 22,000 affordable and comfortable hotel and resort rooms, including the luxurious Westgate Branson Woods Resort. For details and reservations, visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/. If you would like additional information on discount Branson tickets and discount Branson family vacation packages, please go to http://www.ticket2branson.com/.

The best of Broadway is waiting for you in Branson, Missouri.

Nestled in the heart of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, Branson is the self proclaimed live entertainment capital of the world. And for good reason, as Branson offers more live show seating than New York’s Broadway district.

Now you can get the best of both worlds with the Branson show, Broadway! A Star Spangled Celebration.

The glamorous, high-energy show takes you on a fast paced musical journey to New York City to experience Broadway’s most popular musicals of all time. With powerful dance numbers and a dazzling cast of singers and dancers in glittering costumes, the show features nearly forty musical arrangements from more than 25 different Broadway classics. Enjoy highlights from 42nd Street, Cats, Guys and Dolls, Cabaret, Grease, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, Chicago, Mame and The Music Man, and others.

With more than 40 theatres and over 100 live shows, there’s never a lack of fun, quality and family-friendly entertainment in Branson. For discount show tickets, visit http://www.ticket2branson.com/. Or for Branson hotel and resort accommodations and discount Branson vacation packages, go to http://www.westgatereservations.com/.

Branson is a quaint little town nestled in the heart of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. But what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in entertainment and adventure.The Branson/Lakes Area offers vacationers an all-encompassing opportunity to experience the finest in family entertainment. From neon to nature, there’s something for everyone. You can hike or bike around sparkling Table Rock Lake, fish a secluded cove in search of trophy bass, tee off at a championship golf course, scream with delight on an exhilarating roller coaster, splash around at the area’s largest water park, or simply sing along with one of the many stars who make live entertainment a fixture in Branson.

Wherever you go in Branson, you can expect good, clean fun.  Branson’s unique commitment to family values ensures that every member of the family can enjoy virtually every activity in town. Branson offers a special opportunity for kids, parents and grandparents to all vacation together.

For information on Branson lodging and discount Branson vacation packages and show tickets, please visit www.Ticket2Branson.com.

Branson may be best known for reeling in visitors to Silver Dollar City theme park and the area’s many theatres and live entertainment venues. Yet it’s the Branson area’s spectacular lakes that continue to capture outdoor enthusiasts by hook, line and sinker. In fact, the Branson Lakes provide some of the very best trout fishing in the world.The popular Branson Landing shopping and dining attraction in historic Branson sits on the lakefront of scenic Lake Taneycomo. You’ll also find lake excursions and boat rentals along a mile-long lighted boardwalk. But get away from the boardwalk and you’ll also find more than 2,000 acres of lake surface and over 40 miles of shoreline.

The lake is actually a section of the White River. The lake was formed back in 1913 with the completion of the Powersite Dam. But when the Table Rock Dam was completed at Taneycomo’s headwaters in 1958, the entire nature of the lake changed.  The lake’s water now comes directly from the bottom of Table Rock Lake, making it a cold water lake, perfect for trout anglers.

The cold, clear water offers an average water temperature of 58 degrees and is stocked each year with 750,000 10″-12″ rainbow and brown trout. The upper portion of the lake is reserved for artificial lures only and the area is perfect for fly fishing. Flies that imitate freshwater shrimp as well as drifting salmon eggs or angleworms offer the best options for catching the trout.

Lower Lake Taneycomo, on the other hand, offers a downstream area closer to Powersite that has considerably warmer water and different species of fish.

For more information on Branson’s lakes and outdoor recreation or the theme parks and shows, go to http://www.ticket2branson.com/. Or visit http://www.westgatereservations.com/ if you’d like information on discount Branson family vacation packages and lodging, including the Westgate Branson Woods Resort.

Branson, Missouri is the self-proclaimed Live Entertainment Capital of the World. And rightly so, with more than 40 theatres and nearly 100 different shows. Yet there’s one show that continues to stand alone.  Based on actual events surrounding the complicated lives of the early Ozark pioneers, The Shepherd of the Hills remains Missouri’s number one historical attraction and a show to be remembered by the entire family.  Hosted at the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre, the show is based on author Harold Bell Wright’s epic story of love, loss, power, hardship, and the true meaning of life. The amazing performance includes more than 80 actors, 40 horses, a flock of sheep, several guns and rifles, an actual burning log cabin, and a vintage 1908 DeWitt automobile.   Originally published in 1907, the book is one of the first million-selling publications in the U.S. and the work truly sparked the beginning of tourism in the Branson area and the beautiful Ozark Mountains. The book has been translated into 7 languages and made into 4 movies.  You can visit www.Ticket2Branson.com for more information on discount Branson show tickets and discount Branson family vacation packages. Or you can go to www.WestgateReservations.com/sweepstakes.cfm for details on discount Branson hotel and resorts accommodations.