It's Showtime in Branson

Can't make up your mind which shows to see in Branson this trip? Here are three that get top votes from critics and audiences alike.

Shake Rattle & Roll—The Best Hits of the '50s
Celebrate the early days of pop, from "Rock Around the Clock," to "Good Golly Miss Molly." It's a party in poodle skirts and letterman's jackets, rockin' out several times weekly at Branson Variety Theater through December 2010.

Acrobats of China featuring the New Shanghai Circus
Okay, so it's a bit exotic for Branson, but that's what makes this show special. The soaring, flipping, superhumanly flexible feats you'll see here are the Far East's gift to American performing arts. They've been in Branson since the '90s, dazzling audiences and giving a glimpse into Chinese theater traditions.

Family-Friendly Branson

Branson is often associated with an older generation of people—if we close our eyes we can almost imagine our mothers saying, “I just love that place!” But the lively town nestled deep in the Ozark Mountains can be a haven of good times for young and old. As Vegas claims “Sin City,” Branson happily caters to families that prefer a getaway in nature rather than a sea of artificial lights. Broadway-type shows are performed almost every night here, and roller coasters, zip lines, and golf courses are open daily.

Photo Credit: Lake at the Ozarks, Branson, Missouri (Missouri Division of Tourism)

Kansas City Trip Idea: On the Barbecue Trail

Barbecue’s been a mealtime staple in Kansas City since the 1920s. The sauce recipe varies from one joint to another, but the meat’s always slow-smoked—you got it, nice and slooow—over wood, creating that distinctive rich flavor and fall-off-the-bone texture.

You can find great ‘cue all over KC, but you can't go wrong with Oklahoma Joe's, the joint that tops Zagat's survey of the country's best BBQ, not to mention that gets the locals' nod in the Kansas City Star reader poll. It’s no-frills spare ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, sausage or chicken, smoked over Missouri white oak and served with “the best sauce on the planet.” (Apparently someone figured out that modesty gets you nowhere.)

St. Louis Trip Idea: Visit Mark Twain's Boyhood Home

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain, spent his boyhood on the shores of the Mississippi River in Hannibal, Missouri. The town and its people inspired many of the characters in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and other beloved Twain writings. Today, Mark Twain's boyhood home and birthplace (Florida, MO) are preserved as a state historic site. Hannibal lies about 115 miles northwest of St. Louis, Missouri.

Photo credit: Missouri Division of Tourism

Midwest Outdoor Escapes: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Opened to the public on May 31, 1931, the Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri was the largest man-made lake in the world. Stretching 92 miles end to end, the lake's 1,150 miles of shoreline are lined by flowering dogwood, Missouri's state flower. Six of the 17 dogwood species in North America grow naturally in the "Show-Me State."

Photo credit: Missouri:Missouri Division of Tourism

Cheap Family-Friendly Cities

Check out these four great destinations to get the best bang for your family travel buck.

Salt Lake City
Nestled at the base of a stunning mountain range, near miles and miles of shimmering salt flats and the Great Salt Lake, not to mention some of the country's best skiing. Cultural attractions include the Family History Center and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Stay in one of the city’s many hotels, or venture out to a nearby resort or campground.

Springfield, Missouri, Escapes: Outdoors in the Ozarks

The largest range between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Rockies, the Ozarks offer unexpected delights, particularly for spelunkers. Cave explorers may encounter the endangered Ozark blind salamander, a peculiar creature that has lost its pigmentation from dwelling in darkness for so long.

Photo credit: Ozarks: Photodisc/Getty