4+ Inexpensive Activities for Kids Under 6 in Branson
Most of our road trips involve only our teens and young adult kids, so that is the primary topic of these tips and travel advice posts. However, once in a blue moon, we meet up with one of the adult kids in a tourist area and enjoy some vacation time with our young grandkids. In this post you will find some of our all-time favorite activities for very young kids in Branson.
Swimming
If your VRBO or hotel does not offer a super fun pool area, consider getting a day-pass to the Howard Johnson’s Castle Rock Water Park in Branson. We found this little-known secret when our son-in-law went searching for a water park, because the resort pool did not offer slides or zero entry areas for his kids. We met up with 13 of the grandkids, ages 6 months to 8 years, and spent several hours here! During our visit in the first week of August, there were only about 20 other people in the whole water park outside of our group, so it never felt crowded.
This water park area offers separate pools of 6 inch and 18 inch depth, with climb through toys and slides in both. There are edges for parents to sit on, and even the littlest babies can sit and splash to their hearts’ content! The 6 month old that we took was able to sit, assisted, and play with Mom or watch other cousins splashing nearby.
For pre-school aged kids, the water park has deeper pools and two huge slides. In our family, everyone from Grandpa to the four-year olds enjoyed the 3-story slides and the Lazy River tube experience. We never saw any of the kids sitting out or complaining of nothing to do.
If you’re going to the Howard Johnson’s water park, make sure you take your own towels. There are loads of picnic tables where you can set up your family’s area. You can also take in your own food and drinks, to save even more money. The Castle Rock Water Park costs $15 per person (age 3 and up) for a day pass. One child 2 and under gets free admission with each paid admission.
Indoor Mini Golf
If you go to Branson when the weather is too cold or too hot for little ones to be outdoors, you might want to try indoor mini golf. The Coral Reef Mini Golf course is completely indoors, and also includes many other pub-style games. All of the holes are built around a theme of an undersea adventure, with bright colors and fun pictures. Because the course is indoors, it is easily walked by little feet, and there is plenty of room to leave the stroller within reach on the outskirts of the course. When you finish your round of golf, you can play pool, foosball, carpet ball, or one of many arcade games. Again, during our visit in early August, there were only two other groups golfing, so we never felt crowded or rushed.
Be aware that this location is very strict about outside drinks. You can probably bring in a sippy cup, if the child is clearly holding it and drinking out of it, but they will not allow bottles of water for older kids or parents. The stated reason for this is that too many patrons smuggle in alcohol. Regardless of the reasons, they do offer water bottles and other drinks for sale. Just don’t plan to bring your own.
To make this activity less expensive, consider buying a Groupon deal. We found one for $20 for four of us to golf. But before you purchase the Groupon, call the Coral Reef Mini Golf location and ask a few questions. When we called, we were told that the owner would rather give us the deal directly than have us purchase it through Groupon. And when we arrived, he ended up charging us only $15 for all four adults to golf! It’s always worth an extra phone call!
Frozen Yogurt
This is a pricier option, but a fun outing for little ones. Right across from the Howard Johnsons’ water park is Sweet Suzie’s Frozen Treats. They offer over 45 flavors, including vegan, dairy-free, and sugar-free options. And unlike many fro-yo places, you can serve yourself in a waffle cone or waffle cup, as well as in a normal paper cup. So much fun for the whole family!
Sweet Suzie’s appears to be run by Christians who also support patriotism and those in uniform. It is a wholesome, family-friendly place to visit, and you’re supporting locals, instead of a large corporation. Just remember, you’re being charged by the ounce, so encourage your littles to take just a few gummy bears, instead of filling their cup, then throwing some away.
Hikes and walks
With a little bit of research, you can find public areas to explore the beauty of the Ozarks. Most of these will be completely free, although you might pay $5 parking on some of the conservation land. Because this tourist town is located smack dab in the middle of the beautiful Ozark mountains, you don’t have to walk far to find a trickling creek or a splashing waterfall. You can find more info on family hikes, including details on difficulty and terrain levels, at (https://www.alltrails.com/us/missouri/branson/kids).
I think the trail I would most like to explore with my grandkids is Roark Waterfall. It is mostly paved and includes great photo opportunities for your littles, as well as fabulous areas for watching the local wildlife. The end of the trail is an overlook 1/2 mile from the end of the pavement. If you’ll be traveling with a stroller, there are many paved options for you, too. Check out this list.
Overall, Branson is a great place for a quick family getaway. If you plan things correctly, you can enjoy many activities for very little cost. I remember traveling with eight kids, and it is not easy to find something that all ages will enjoy, or something you can afford for all ten family members! If you have other suggestions to add, please leave a comment. I’ll enjoy researching your favorites and adding them to our next visit with the grands.