Lake Living at the Ozarks
Top 10 Reasons to Go to the Lake This Summer
The water. Boating. Skiing. Swimming. Fishing. Need we say more? The 617 billion gallons of water is the calling card of this high-profile body of H2O. So get out there and get wet.

Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals Car Show — May 1-3. The largest show of its kind in central Missouri features more than 600 street rods, customs, trucks, street machines and motorcycles. Held on Bagnell Dam Boulevard, visitors will see more than 30 show classes while enjoying live entertainment and other auto-related fun.
 
The great outdoors (and underground). The swath of land that makes up the Ozarks is one of the most beautiful in the Midwest. You can enjoy nature’s bounty at a number of sites, including Ha Ha Tonka State Park and Lake of the Ozarks State Park. What’s under the surface of the soil can be just as mesmerizing. You can take a tour of three “show caves,” which have been outfitted with paved walkways, bridges and hand rails: Bridal Cave in Camdenton, Jacob’s Cave in Gravois Mills and Ozark Cavern inside the State Park.

Harbor Hops — May 2, October 10. Twice a year, as many as 2,000 participants hit the water for a “poker run” event. Boaters travel between 40 restaurants, bars and marinas to build their best possible poker hand and win prizes. This event is the unofficial kick-off and cool-down of the spring and fall seasons.

The links. With 16 courses and 279 holes, the Lake is a premier destination for those with a penchant for swinging a club. The courses range from a day at the park to challenging holes for every level of player. You could even get the kids involved by taking them to one of the miniature golf courses in the area.

Independence Day celebrations — July 4. Nothing seems to say freedom more than exploding colorful fireworks, and The Lodge of Four Seasons will be putting on a spectacular show. Food goes hand-in-hand with this holiday, so Old Kinderhook is inviting visitors to share in an old-fashioned cook-out at the Trophy Room from 4-9 p.m.

The spas. Life at the lake isn’t so tough, but skiing all afternoon can do a number on your back and shoulders. Work the soreness out at one of the many facilities available at the lake. Go for just a massage or get a complete body treatment at one of the luxury resort spas or medical day spas in the area. 

Newcomers/Longtimers 15th Annual Homes Tour — May 16. See inside some of the Lake of the Ozarks’ biggest and best homes on this popular tour. Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at headquarters on May 16. Headquarters: Village Station, 2599 State Road MM, Sunrise Beach, Mo.

The educational opportunities. Just because you’re at a vacation playground doesn’t mean you can’t learn a thing or two. The Lake area has a handful of museums to interest and educate even the most sun-fried brain: Camden County’s Schoolhouse Museum in Linn Creek; Morgan County Historical Museum in Versailles; Miller County Museum in Tuscumbia; and Willmore Lodge in Lake Ozark, which displays the history of Bagnell Dam.

The Horny Toad Offshore Super Series National Championships — September 23-27.
The world’s fastest boats compete in eight classes. More than 45 boats make up to 16 laps at speeds reaching 185 mph on a six-mile course between the 6 and 9 mile markers. An array of concerts, parties and events precede the racing.