If you live in the Midwest, one of the best places to visit for the whole family is Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. Even if you’re not in the Midwest, it’s a fun destination to visit (especially since they have an airport now!).
My husband and I have been visiting Silver Dollar City ourselves for about 10 years now. That’s right, we went all the time even before we had Hayden! Now that we have Hayden, it’s one of the best places to go as a family!
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Silver Dollar City
Festivals
We visited during the last weekend of National Kids Fest, a favorite of ours now that we have Hayden. During Kids Fest, there are a ton of fun shows geared directly toward children, in addition to some of your favorite characters walking around! Hayden loved seeing Sccoby-Doo and Shaggy!
But Kids Fest isn’t the only Festival we love at Silver Dollar City! Another one of our favorites is the Bluegrass & BBQ Festival, where they have great music to enjoy and delicious food to EAT!
There really is a Festival for everyone to enjoy – from Southern Gospel Picnic and World Fest to National Harvest Festival and Old Time Christmas! My family and I can’t wait to visit during the Old Time Christmas Festival one year to see all of the lights.
Rides
There are fun rides for everyone in the family! For adults, there is WildFire, a roller coaster where you drop 15 stories and travel at 66 miles per hour and Powder Keg, where you launch from 0 to 53 miles per hour in just 2.8 seconds! My husband and I both absolutely love these rides.
My husband and his friend Dave on WildFire!
There are also rides that are fun for the whole family like Fire-in-the-Hole and the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train. Visit The Grand Exposition where there are 10 fun rides for families or Half Dollar Holler, a play area designed just for children ages 3-7!
Heath and Hayden on The Elephant March
Food
One of my favorite things about Silver Dollar City is the FOOD! We always make sure to visit the park with an empty belly so we can fill up on all of the deliciousness there is to offer.
We usually always come early so we can eat from the Breakfast Buffet at Molly’s Mill Restaurant, which includes items like ham, sausage, biscuits and gravy, grits, fresh fruit and so much more!
Throughout the park you’ll be treated to usual theme park favorites like popcorn and pretzels but there are also treats like turkey legs, BBQ, fried chicken, fried potatoes and homemade ice cream! I’m hungry just thinking about it all!
Skillet Meals – Photo Courtesy of Silver Dollar City
Shopping and Crafts
Silver Dollar City offers an amazing shopping experience. From home-made apple butter to hand-carved baseball bats and walking sticks, you’ll find something for everyone!
There’s shops where you’ll be able to see a blacksmith in action and a glassblower making gorgeous cut glass items. Quilts, jewelry, homemade jerky, fudge…you’ll love looking at all of the shops!
Glass Blowing
Marvel Cave
One of our favorite things to do in Missouri is to visit caves, since one of Missouri’s unofficial nicknames is “The Cave State”. One of the most fascinating things I find about Silver Dollar City is that it’s built on top of a cave called Marvel Cave.
Tours of Marvel Cave depart every half hour, weather permitting. Travel 300 feet below the surface and enter the breathtakingly beautiful Cathedral Room, which is the largest cave entrance room in the United States. The trail consists of stairs and ramps and the tour lasts approximately 60 minutes, with most of that time spent climbing nearly 600 stairs. A trained cave guide hosts your journey and provides interesting and entertaining anecdotes of historical or geographical importance. To get back up to the surface, you ride a cable train for the 1070 foot climb back to the surface!
Marvel Cave
There are way more reasons that you should visit Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri but those are just a few of my favorites! It’s a wonderful place to go to spend time with your whole family!
Have you ever visited Silver Dollar City?
Disclosure: We received complimentary park tickets to Silver Dollar City. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
Our family LOVES Branson, and Silver Dollar City!! I love watching the craftsmen as they make beautiful things! The art of handmade items is a dying art, and I love that Silver Dollar City encourages and holds on to skills of the past! We really miss the MidWest, and can not wait to take the boys on a family vacation in the near future.
I live in St. Louis as well and have never been to Branson! We are planning on taking our two girls there next summer though!
Yes! And a had a great time!
I live so close to Branson/Silver Dollar City and have never been to SDC. I’ve been to Branson though!
I have never visited Silver Dollar City but went to Branson as a child. I remember thinking it was a fun place with tons to do. If we ever go again we will have to check out Silver Dollar City.
Wow, I had no idea this was in Branson! I’ve always wanted to plan a trip up there, now I have one more reason to!
Thanks for sharing your travels. We’ve been talking about Branson being our next years summer vacation. I’ll have to pin this one so I can remember when its planning time.
That looks so fun! I’ve never been to Branson but everyone I talk to who has been seems to absolutely love it! It’s on our must visit someday list.
WOW! That looks like so much fun. I want to eat everything in that giant skillet. If we’re ever in the area, I will make sure we visit.
I have always wanted to go to Silver Dollar City – I’ve heard about it all my life! If I ever get there, I’m totally going to Molly’s Mill Restaurant – sounds tasty!
I visited Silver Dollar City once and that was about 15 years ago. I had an awesome time and would love to go back someday.
What great photos! Looks like a place I need to keep on my to do list.
Fun! That food looks delish right now =P
I’ve never been before. The food sounds amazing and I would love to browse the shops!
I haven’t been in such a long time but remember going as a child and so vividly remember the outdoor concerts and being totally in love with the glass blowers.
We are planning a trip with our two children after our 3.0 arrives at the end of summer.
Looks like a great place!
really love to visit someday
The things that would draw me here is surely the food for one, and then the awesome crafts. I love going to craft shows and art shows, so anything with that i am in.
I’ve never been, and in fact, never heard of it! But now I want to go!! So many great things, and the crafts look wonderful !!