Feature

story by Vicki Wood

Getting the most out of the last days of summer

Photo provided by Big Surf Waterpark on Facebook

As the last weeks of summer wane for those visiting Lake of the Ozarks with kids before school starts, here is a guide to help you get the most out of your visit.

Weekend Getaway

For those looking for ultimate fun, the last big blowout before fall sports practice begins, (they already have in many communities) water entertainment is the best way to celebrate your vacation to the area. Bear Bottom Resort has been welcoming families since 2008 and is your ultimate fun destination. The 58-acre resort boasts the last great waterslide experience on the westside at Sunrise Beach. It’s a great place to headquarter your trip because the traffic is lighter on Highway 5, and amenities are a bit cheaper for families. Bear Bottom’s dual waterslides are 700 feet long and allow for side-by-side fluming. Parents can relax on the poolside deck nearby, >>>

Top photo: The Wave Pool at Big Surf Waterpark. Above: The watersides at Bear Bottom Resort.

Bear Bottom Resort on Facebook

or cool off in the swim-up bar. A $12 ticket price gives riders all the fluming fun that they can stand. Lakefront Cottages start as low as $115 per night, with 11 cabins featuring kitchenettes, a great option for those needing to feed hungry kids on the go. Two area grocery stores have fantastic delis, Woods Supermarket in Sunrise Beach, and Town & Country Market at Laurie. Don’t want to deal with cooking? The resort restaurant located lakeside offers a refreshing menu of fish or shrimp tacos, a crab stuffed avocado, or heavier fair such as tenderloin and pizzas. A fishing trip can also be had on the docks at Bear Bottom Resort.

Bear Bottom Resort is located at 123 Bear Bottom Drive, Sunrise Beach. Photos provided

Make A Splash

Big Surf Waterpark will be open daily through August 21, then on weekends through Labor Day Weekend.

The ultimate water experience, kids never seem to tire from running up and down those hills to the next attraction between the flume rides and the dousing buckets of the water playground. Zambezi Falls and the Space Bowl rides are for the brave who desire to get completely drenched on a zooming, dropping experience. For adults, The Lazy River and Wave Pool are a place to relax while the kids are running between rides. For a thriftier experience perfect for escaping the brutal heat of the day, the after 3p.m. Surfer Ticket is the way to experience the waterpark without emptying the vacation wallet.

Big Surf Waterpark is located at 954 State Road Y, Linn Creek.

A Little Bit of Everything

Margaritaville is centered on family water fun as only the Caribbean themed properties know how to do. The Estates complex is perfect for There are several dining options at Margaritaville Lake Resort. families to rent, giving plenty of room to kick back. There are seven restaurants and bars on the property, so families won’t go hungry. The ultimate respite is the indoor water park where kids can splash all day without fighting the extreme heat of August. The Jolly Mon Waterpark gives plenty of splashing fun, but there are also lake options such as pontoon rentals as well as many outdoor pools for use with live music at the Tiki Hut pool bar. For mom and dad, there is an onsite Driftwood Spa and Salon for pampering. With mini golf, an arcade, and horseback riding, Margaritaville is the ultimate family vacation spot.

Margaritaville Resort is located at 494 Tan Tar A Drive, Osage Beach, Missouri.

The Celebration offers a variety of crusing options.

Lake Media file photo

Let’s Go Shopping

Extending your water fun vacation up to the first weekend of August brings some special back to school shopping opportunities. Visitors report saving big bucks shopping our area as opposed the cities that most travel from. Osage Beach Outlet Marketplace offers such a family friendly trip, and pairing it on a Saturday morning with the local farmers market in the parking lot nabs locally raised healthy snacks for your trip. Go to their website at www. premiumoutlets.com for even more money saving deals.

There is also the Bagnell Dam Strip, the Landing on Main Street and many other shopping centers that offer locally-owned businesses with a great selection of merchandise.

Take A Cruise

Taking a sunset cruise on board the Celebration with the kids would be the ultimate goodbye to summer. The Evening Sunset Lake Cruise can be purchased with dinner and is highly suggested. The dining experience makes the cruise special. Several menu options are available.

Other experiences include a Lunch Lake Cruise and Candelite Dinner Cruise offered on Saturdays only.

The 80-foot vessel holds 149 riders and run by a crew of seven. Your window view dinner gives the best dining views on the Lake, cruising past the most magnificent homes of Lake of the Ozarks. Give the kids a memory of a lifetime floating on a yacht.

The Tropic Island yacht, docked at Margaritaville Lake Resort, also offers sightseeing cruises.

For more information, go to www.cruiselakeoftheozarks.com.