Hotel at a Glance: Barrington Hotel & Suites

Walk through the doors of the newly renovated Barrington Hotel & Suites, and you’ll find yourself in a homey lobby with hardwood floors, plush furniture, and a large stone fireplace. The spacious guest rooms are just as comfy—king suites even have their own marble whirlpool tubs.

• Complimentary continental breakfast with waffles, doughnuts, biscuits and gravy, and more
• Relax in the hot tub or indoor pool.
• See some live music at the theaters and venues lining the city’s main strip, or go shopping at the nearby Branson Landing outdoor mall.
• Take a hike in the sprawling Henning Conservation Area.
• Notable accolades: This hotel was awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in both 2013 and 2014.

Branson, Missouri: Family-Friendly Theaters and Concert Halls in the Ozarks

If you take a drive through the Ozarks in Missouri, it might seem like an unlikely place to find glittering lights and stage shows—for the most part, it’s a rolling plateau of wooded hills, snaking rivers, and limestone bluffs. But follow down Route 76 and you’ll find Branson, which looks like a miniature, more family-friendly version of Las Vegas.

Dozens of stages and music halls line Branson’s main strip, some of which are owned by stars such as Dolly Parton. On any given night you can watch anything from country music performances to circus acrobatics to magic shows.

If you’re traveling with kids, Silver Dollar City is a safe bet; it’s located about 5 miles west of the strip. The popular theme park is built around Marvel Cave and modeled after an 18th-century frontier town. Here you can hop on a mine-car roller coaster, take a tour by lantern through limestone caverns, or watch as blacksmiths hand-forge mailboxes for the mayor’s private collection.

If you want to duck away from the lights, it’s worth it to explore the surrounding countryside. Within about 30 miles, there are two large lakes—Table Rock and Taneycomo. Each is stocked with trout and has boats available for rent. Or head to Ruth and Paul Henning Conservation Area, where you can bike or hike along Roark Creek and through dense oak forests. Paul Henning, who was inspired to create the Beverly Hillbillies after a Boy Scout trip to the Ozarks, donated the 1,534-acre reserve.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.