Resort at a Glance: White Wing Resort

The White Wing Resort is set right on the banks of Table Rock Lake, a premier Missouri fishing destination. Each of the resort’s rustic-looking yet modern cabins and lodges is steps from the water, so you can cast out for freshwater bass and then cook your catch on a charcoal grill or in your cabin’s fully equipped kitchen.

• See a show: You’ll be 10 minutes from the bright lights of Branson’s entertainment strip and close to the rides and arcade games of Silver Dollar City.
• Year-round fun: Ideal for both families and couples, White Wing Resort features a picnic area and playground and welcomes pets.
• In warmer weather you can jump off the swim dock into the lake, go boating, or dive into the outdoor swimming pool.
• Home away from home: You’ll have access to a recreation room, laundry, and all the linens and furnishings you’ll need.

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.

Branson is a popular destination during any season. The changing colors of the leaves in autumn provide a beautiful backdrop to the season’s fall and harvest festivals. Then, starting on November 1st, all shows in Branson switch to their Christmas lineup, and the Christmas lights are lit.

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. Taneycomo is stocked with trout and both lakes have 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.

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