With its astounding spectacles and its reverence for traditional Missouri culture, the Branson Theater District is a mesmerizing hub of country entertainment. Gracing the stages of its eclectic range of theaters is everything from gospel and bluegrass music to comedy shows and variety acts. Explore the many interactive museums and shopping outlets in this exhilarating part of Branson.

From afar, admire the dancing colors of the iconic Branson Ferris Wheel and tune your radio to 90.9 FM to hear the sound accompanying the light spectacle. Step closer to climb aboard the ride and enjoy the views of the rest of the district and the Ozark Mountains from the top. Next to the ride is the broken façade of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, where you can pose with the Vampire Woman and see a shrunken head.

Enjoy the nostalgic ambiance in the adjacent Presleys’ Country Jubilee. Built in the 1960s, this iconic venue hosts a range of bluegrass, gospel and country music acts as well as comedy shows.

Step back in time in the Tribute Theater, watching realistic impersonations of some of your favorite rock groups, from Journey to The Eagles. You’ll also find tribute acts and an exhibit full of memorabilia at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater.

Continue down the nostalgic path with a trip to the Celebrity Car Museum to see vehicles from your favorite movies. Temporary exhibits have included cars from movie franchises including Jurassic Park, Transformers and The Fast and the Furious.

The area is a little west of the downtown Branson zone, which is in the southwestern corner of Missouri. From the city center, walk west for 3 miles (5 kilometers) to get to the heart of the zone in about 1 hour. Explore the surroundings and visit the White River Balds Natural Area, Table Rock State Park and Moonshine Beach.