Missouri
Marvelous Missouri: Discover the Best of Branson & the Ozarks
Program No. 1615RJ
Discover Branson, the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World,” as you enjoy five public shows, one private show with a cast Q&A and opportunities to explore the beautiful Ozarks.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals (
5B, 3L, 5D
)
5 expert-led lectures
11 expert-led field trips
5 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Branson, MO
Meals:
D
Stay:
Thousand Hills Resort Hotel (formerly Radisson Hotel)
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration. 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.
Dinner:
At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner with coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.
Evening:
Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
City Tour, Workshop, Dutton Family Performance
Location:
Branson, MO
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Thousand Hills Resort Hotel (formerly Radisson Hotel)
Activity Note
Minimal walking; indoor classroom sessions throughout the day.
Breakfast:
At the hotel each morning, we’ll use vouchers to enjoy a buffet breakfast featuring hot and cold items including warm entrees, cereals, and toast, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.
Morning:
This morning we board the motorcoach with our Group Leader for a narrated driving tour of Branson with a stop at the Dewey Short Visitor's Center at Table Rock Dam. Learn local history as we travel to the Visitor Center. This visitor center opened April 27, 2012 and has been called the “crown jewel” of Table Rock Lake. We'll enjoy numerous exhibits at the visitor center which include a state-of-the-art interactive map of Table Rock Lake, beautiful artistic wall murals, and a replica of an Ozarks bluff complete with local flora and fauna. A Native American artifact exhibit and Ozarks dioramas are fascinating features of the interpretive center. An expansive cut-away model reveals the inner workings of a hydroelectric dam. The fascinating history of the Corps of Engineers rounds out the exhibits. We will enjoy a film during the visit.
Lunch:
Lunch is on your own today in downtown Branson.
Afternoon:
After lunch we board the motorcoach for the Dutton Family Theater where we will meet with the members of the Dutton Family and enjoy an entertainment lecture and workshop.
Dinner:
Dinner is included this evening at a restaurant in Branson Landing.
Evening:
After dinner, we will enjoy a fiddler workshop with a local fiddle player before returning to the Dutton Family Theater for the evening performance featuring the family singing, dancing and playing a variety of instruments.
Day
3
Sight & Sound Theater, Hits of the 60's and 50's
Location:
Branson, MO
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Thousand Hills Resort Hotel (formerly Radisson Hotel)
Activity Note
Getting on/off coach; driving approx. 75 miles; about 2 hours total, with stops. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; some stairs in theater.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet please be sure to bring your Breakfast voucher.
Morning:
Following breakfast we'll board the motorcoach for the Sight & Sound Theater for a behind-the-scenes exploration led by theater staff. As we venture through the massive theater, we’ll see the centers for many aspects of the live performance experience and gain insight as to how such things like the light and sound booths work. We’ll learn how this technology can be manipulated with ingenuity in order to create a truly unique theater-going experience. Through this, we’ll get a better idea of the sheer complexity of what goes into production of a theater show, and even get to see the scene shop, which is filled with custom set pieces made by theater craftsmen!
Lunch:
Lunch today is served at a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we travel by motorcoach to the Clay Cooper Theatre for a private speaking engagement with Matt Muhoberac & Amber Campbell, the producers and owners of the #1 Hits of the 60's and 50's too. We learn their story and what goes into producing their popular show. Next we enjoy the afternoon matinee of this toe tapping performance followed by a private cast meet and greet after the show.
Dinner:
Dinner served tonight at a local restaurant.
Evening:
After dinner we return to Sight & Sound Theater for the evening performance of "David". One of the most captivating stories in the bible, the show is filled with special effects and live animals. **Please be advised that this performance does end with a prayer.
Day
4
Shepherd of the Hills, Ozark Musicians, Clay Cooper Country
Location:
Branson, MO
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Thousand Hills Resort Hotel (formerly Radisson Hotel)
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motor coach; driving approx. 20 miles roundtrip; about 1 hour total, with stops. Walking up to 1 mile total throughout the day; some stairs in theater.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet please be sure to bring your Breakfast voucher.
Morning:
This morning we board our coach with our local group leader for the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead for guided exploration of the Historic Site. Harold Bell Wright, a young Christian Minister visited the Ozarks in 1896 for health reasons and fell in love with the area. He published the novel The Shepherd of the Hills in 1907 depicting the life of the native people. The book was so popular that it is considered to be the start of the Branson phenomena attracting people from all over to see the people, community and landscape that Wright so beautifully described.
Lunch:
Lunch today at a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We return to the hotel to enjoy a private afternoon of entertainment and discussion of folk music from the Ozarks with the local performers. During this session, we’ll see and hear various instruments and how they are played, as well as listen to some stories as to how local folk music became popularized in the area or theater show depending on schedules.
Dinner:
Dinner is included this evening at a local restaurant.
Evening:
Tonight we travel by motorcoach to the Clay Cooper Theatre for the Country Express Evening Show. See the stars (and the couple you met this morning) perform music for everyone: country, rock, gospel and patriotic. The singers, dancers and musicians put on one of the top shows in Branson.
Day
5
College of the Ozarks, Dogwood Canyon, C.J Newsom Show
Location:
Branson, MO
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Thousand Hills Resort Hotel (formerly Radisson Hotel)
Activity Note
Driving approx. 20 miles roundtrip; about 1 hour total for the day, with stops. Walking approx. 1 mile throughout the day; some stairs at field trip locations.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet please be sure to bring your Breakfast voucher.
Morning:
This morning we board the motorcoach for the College of the Ozarks. Upon arrival we are met by College staff who will take us on a guided tour of the campus. The private Christian College offers over 30 academic majors and is unique in that in charges no tuition for full time students due to generous donations and an invigorating work program for students.
Lunch:
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch we set out aboard the motorcoach and travel to the Dogwood Canyon Nature Preserve where we enjoy a guided, narrated open-air tram tour with park staff. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains the park is located in Lampe and offers 10,000 acres of towering bluffs, waterfalls, handcrafted bridges and wildlife.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant we’ll enjoy a choice of plated meals for our farewell dinner together, with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening:
Following dinner we board the motorcoach for the Americana Theater for our final performance of the week. We take in C.J. Newsom's Classic Country & Comedy Show. Following the show we enjoy a private meet and greet with the cast.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Branson, MO
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 10:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
Hotel buffet please be sure to bring your Breakfast voucher. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 17, 2025
Apr 12, 2026 - Apr 17, 2026
Sep 20, 2026 - Sep 25, 2026
Oct 04, 2026 - Oct 09, 2026
