What to do in Branson MO while house and pet sitting

Do you feel like taking a trip to one of America’s favorite vacation destinations? Then your next pet sit may take you to Branson, Missouri. If you find yourself wondering what to do in Branson MO then don’t panic, we’ve got a variety of different activities for you to experience. 

Located in the Taney and Stone Counties in Missouri, the city of Branson was named after Reuben Branson, the postmaster of a general store in the 1880s. Today, it’s home to exciting attractions like amusement parks as well as theaters and live music events (it’s known as the Live Music Capital of the World for reasons we’ll explore later). In the meantime, here’s a list of our top favourite things to do:

Branson MO attractions

What to do in Branson MO? There’s endless possibilities. From educational museums and interactive experiences to outdoor adventures and hiking trails, there’s something for every visitor. 

Let’s dive right into it with the top 5 must-see attractions you won’t want to miss while you’re there: 

1. College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private Christian college in Point Lookout, Missouri. It’s open to the public and has many different sights to see including the Point Lookout, with panoramic views of the Ozark Hills and the breathtaking Lake Taney. There’s the Patriots Park dedicated to the Missouri Vietnam Veterans, Scripture Gardens and the Ralph Foster museum among plenty of others too. 

2. Titanic Museum

The Titanic Museum offers a lot more than just your generic museum — it’s an interactive experience, too. Once you step inside the ship you will climb the grand staircase, meet the crew and become a passenger of the Titanic. There’s lots of artifacts and displays to interact with, and you can even hear stories and sounds from real passengers.

3. Caves and Caverns

Underneath all the entertainment of Branson lies an incredible underground landscape of caves and caverns. Known as “the Cave State,” Missouri has over 6,000 caves to explore with some of the most accessible ones in the Branson area. There’s a variety of different tours you can do including ‘The Marvel Cave’ with fascinating formations five hundred feet beneath the surface. 

4. WonderWorks

WonderWorks, located in the heart of Branson's Entertainment District, is a huge upside-down house with four stories of interactive and intriguing activities, experiments and mysteries to entertain and educate. 

5. Track Family Fun Parks 

Love fairground rides? The Tracks offer three different high-rise tracks including the Wild Woody, The Lumberjack and Heavy Metal High Rise, bumper boats, mini golf, laser tag, the Sky Coaster, the iconic Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, the Branson Skyscraper and lots more.

Free things to do in Branson MO

Looking for free stuff to do in Branson while you pet sit? If you’re on a tight budget or pet sitting as a family, Branson has a wide variety of activities that don’t cost a penny. From free outdoor excursions to indoor museums, there’s plenty to experience in Branson.

1. Table Rock Lake

Table Rock Lake is an artificial lake or reservoir in the Ozarks. The lake has miles of shoreline as well as zip lining and paddle boarding and even moonshine tasting. Explore the lake paddling or get out in a kayak around the beautiful Kimberling City bridge.  

2. Branson Landing

One of Branson's most popular landmarks and hot spots, Branson Landing has shops, restaurants, attractions and lots more to enjoy. There’s hot air balloon rides, jet boats and an amazing water show that’s fully choreographed to music. 

3. Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery

Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery is open throughout the year and free of charge for everyone to visit. The center produces between 350,000 and 400,000 pounds of trout each year and includes a conservation center, where you can learn about trout culture, aquatic life and fishing.

4. Historic Downtown 

Explore the picturesque home of Mom & Pop shops, restaurants & downtown’s Sparky, the free downtown trolley. You can walk around the area to discover quaint breakfast cafes, antique shops, novelty stores, as well as lots of international food options and the photo savvy wall murals.

5. Walk down 76

Park along 76 and walk down the famous Branson Strip to see a collection of architecture, attractions and theaters. You can take plenty of pictures of the larger-than-life camera at Beyond the Lens Family Fun get a glimpse of Branson’s Giant Spinning Ferris Wheel with over 16,000 Led lights.

Fun things to do in Branson MO

1. Silver Dollar City

Silver Dollar City is an internationally awarded 1880s-style theme park with over forty different rides & attractions, live shows & concerts, as well as a hundred resident craftsmen showcasing their heritage crafts. There’s also some amazing restaurants to dine at and a wide variety of unique shops to discover. Pet sitting at Christmas? The park is illuminated with over 6.5 million lights during the festive period. 

2. White Water Branson

Love the water?  If you’re looking for something to do in Branson from May through to September, White Water Branson is a 13-acre commercial recreational water park with a wave pool for swimming, water rides, private poolside cabana rentals, lots of dining options and plenty of shopping.

3. Branson Scenic Railway 

The Branson Scenic Railway is a heritage railroad in Branson, Missouri. The trains depart from a historic depot in downtown Branson and take you on an incredible forty-mile round trip in the scenic Ozark Mountains.

What to do in Branson, MO with pets?

Branson, MO is a great destination to visit with your pet sit. Dogs are welcomed in a number of places around the area. Here’s a list of our top favourite pet-friendly locations to visit during your sit: 

1. Elmo & Rosalea Marrs Memorial Dog Park

Located at Stockstill Park, the Elmo & Rosalea Marrs Memorial Dog Park allows dogs to run freely on one and a half acres without the restriction of a leash. If you’re sitting a large or small dog there’s special areas in the park for both to play on as well as picnic tables and a pavilion in the park to enjoy. 

2. Table Rock State Park

If you love nature and want to escape for a bit with your dog sit then Table Rock State Park is a great option. Most of the trails allow dogs and the park’s campground is also free for dogs to roam on leash. 

3. Cold Stone Creamery 

Dog-friendly shop Cold Stone Creamery offers outdoor tables available to dog owners (or sitters). The menu is made up of ice cream, yoghurt and sorbet as well as cookie sandwiches and shakes – all made fresh in-store. 

4. Danna’s BBQ & Burger Shop 

Danna's BBQ & Burger Shop offers traditional BBQ smoked over fresh hickory wood in a relaxed setting that welcomes dogs at outside tables.

5. Mochas and Meows

Want to get your cat fix? This full service cafe serves smoothies, tea, hot chocolate as well as coffee and espresso-based drinks. The best part? Their 1100+ square foot free-roaming cat lounge has adoptable cats for you to relax with. (It probably goes without saying, but this isn’t one to visit with your dog sit in tow!) 

Best restaurants in Branson, MO

Looking for the best restaurants in Branson, MO? Here’s our top picks for great places to chow down: 

1. BillyGail’s Cafe 

If you're looking for a unique dining experience, BillyGail’s Cafe is the perfect destination for a good breakfast or lunch. The service station-turned-restaurant serves Hubcap-size pancakes in a variety of flavors, including chocolate chip, blueberry, pecan and more. Extra thick biscuits and gravy, a variety of omelettes and stuffed french toast are also popular breakfast options at this Ozark cafe. 

2. Draft Sports Grill

Looking for a laid-back eatery for lunch or dinner? Drafts Sports Grill is well known for its wide variety of draft and bottled beers, specialty microbrews, mature wines, and cocktails. It’s an ultra-modern sports bar with inside and outside tables – perfect for you and your pup sit. 

3. Paddle Wheel 

One of the most picturesque options for dining in Branson is the Paddle Wheel restaurant. Dining at the Paddle Wheel comes with stunning views of Lake Taneycomo, eclipsed only by the picturesque Ozark Mountains. The place has a great laid-back vibe with generous servings of food favorites like chicken sandwiches, Angus Beef Cheeseburgers, Pub Fish & Chips, Baja Fish Tacos and French Dip.

So, as you can see there’s nothing short of fun experiences to be had when you visit Branson, MO. From amazing restaurants and pet-friendly cafes, to state parks to enjoy, you'll never be short of stuff to do in Branson during your next sit.

Now that you’ve got all the insides on what to do while in Branson, MO during your house or pet sitting trip, all that’s left for you to do is figure out how to fit all those amazing adventures into your single stay. Or just go ahead and book your next one right away for even more time in this incredible city!