Branson MO and Eureka Springs

Thanks everyone for the great information! Looking forward to planning this trip!

I had to register so I could correct littlemo about the Passion Play. It is most definitely open and you can go online right now and buy tickets for performances.

Branson and ES are two wildly different cities. I don't care for the tourist trap, crowds, chain restaurants, etc. of Branson. But we go there with the grandkids because they can do the amusement parks, mini golf, go karts, etc. They do enjoy ES too but most of them like the constant entertainment of Branson. The older girls like Eureka better. In Branson I prefer Branson View Campgrounds out of the way but the kids want to be in the middle of town so it's Musicland.

Eureka Springs typically attracts a higher class of guests. They have much better dining options, unique and different. I can only think of 2-3 chain restaurants and they're fast food we avoid. More art galleries than t-shirt and trinket stores. It's a MUCH more relaxing and laid back atmosphere and just unique from any place we've been (except Europe--it has a European feel). Stroll around, take your time, tour. Lots of interesting history, nature, beauty. There's a lot to do, I can't fathom a day trip to see it all. eurekasprings.org is their web site.

We have stayed at Wanderlust & Kettle at the edge of town. Again I prefer to be out at Beaver Lake or even Lake Leatherwood but if we don't tow a car we need to be at the 2 in town to get on the trolleys/transit system to get around.

If you have any interest in trout fishing, check out Roaring River State Park too.

We stayed at Table Rock State Park, 7 miles SW of Branson, this summer. It is a great park, lots of trees, quiet, and you can reserve specific sites many of which are 50-amp full hookups. We paid $22/night and will definately be going back.

flappy wrote:
I had to register so I could correct littlemo about the Passion Play. It is most definitely open and you can go online right now and buy tickets for performances.

Passion Play closing

I thank you for your correction because I love the Passion Play. I had heard that it closed and it really saddened me to hear that. We have taken many vacations here when our kids were small and several times since then just my husband and I and numerous times with the church.

Sharon

If you like bumper to bumper traffic
and tons of people, Branson is it.
Silver dollar city is ok,otherwise
mainly music theaters.

Eureka has the Passion play( story of Christ)
music theaters, great scenic areas,train rides, trolley,
to all downtown areas, cave, nearby Beaverlake,
plenty of kids things to do. Their prices are reasonable
and great food.

Table Rock SP is really nice, but we prefer Roaring River SP near Cassville Mo and not far from Eureka Springs, AR. A great trout fishing park. Between Roaring River and Branson is a bunch of things to see and do: Eagle Rock Corp park and Big M Corp park are in that area and very nice, but not commercial, nice & quiet, both on Table Rock Lake. Golden Pioneer museum is great and a true hidden treasure in Golden, MO. Coming from Eureka Springs, heading east, is the Office Pub. Best fried chicken ever, but only on Tuesdays. Down the road, eastward heading toward Branson, is Dogwood Canyon. Owned by the Bass Pro people and very much worth the seeing, if you like nature and the such. Even further east is Big Cedar Lodge, another BassPro entity. Worth seeing. No camping, at least when we were there last, but still worth the seeing, and even a pleasant meal. If nothing else, you can see how the other half lives.
As much as we like Eureka Springs, and seldom go there, it never fails that there is always a festival of one sort or another going on, be it a Corvette rally, quilting festival, or what have you, it's always crowded.
Enjoy, there's a tone to do and see in the part of the country.

If you go to Eureka Springs and go through Berryville be sure to stop at the gun museum. Hundreds of pistols and revolvers. Can't remember if there was a fee but if it was it was only a couple of bucks.

Some great restaurants in Eureka Springs. Walk up and down the hills and you'll get an appetite real quick. Interesting architecture and nice art galleries. Some great COE CG's on Beaver Lake. Day trip to Pea Ridge National Military Park with an important Civil War battlefield. Another day trip to Bentonville to see the (free!) Crystal Bridges Art Museum. See where all that money you've spend at Wal-Mart has gone! I've never been big on going to art museums, but this one is tops.

MVH1 wrote:
I am thinking of making a trip to both these places and wanted to get some feedback from those of you who have been. Any ideas on private and state parks in these areas is appreciated.

In Branson, I stayed at the city owned RV park right downtown on Lake Taneycomo. It's actually a river, but they call it a lake.

Be sure you see the Mickey Gilley Show. Mickey's 78 years old and still going strong!