GOLF, BOATING, HIKING & DINING IN LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MISSOURI
Story and photos by Scott Kendall
Towards the end of May, my wife and I joined six other family members for a week of golf, boating, hiking, eating, relaxing, and exploring the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks in mid-Missouri.
Julie and I drove over from West Virginia and Tennessee (we were on vacation from our home in Texas). Julie’s three sisters and their husbands, all from Wisconsin, met us in Osage Beach for four days of golf and other activities. We stayed in a waterfront house at Tan Tara Estates, part of the Margaritaville Resort. This beautiful three-bedroom, three-bath house was the perfect base for our week at Lake of the Ozarks. We were hosted by Lake Days Rentals.
Golfing
Steve and Roger joined me for three straight days of golf. We are all average golfers and certainly set no course records, but we thoroughly enjoyed our time on these three great courses. Lake of the Ozarks is known for its quality golf courses that take advantage of the rolling terrain and natural landscapes for fun and challenging experiences. The courses are well maintained, and the staff at all courses were friendly and helpful.
There are over a dozen golf courses on the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Trail. We played three beautiful courses: Osage National, Deer Chase, and The Oaks at Margaritaville. Osage National has three 9-hole courses, and we played two: Mountain and The Links. I would love to come back sometime and play the River Course. The Club at Deer Chase is in a rural setting full of rolling hills, trees, and lakes. The Oaks is part of the Margaritaville property and was conveniently located just five minutes from our house
Bridal Cave
Bridal Cave is the longest-running natural attraction in Lake of the Ozarks. Created over millions of years from geologic activity, this amazing underground natural wonder is incredible. It is named for the thousands of weddings held here over the years, both inside the caverns and out on the scenic grounds.
Boating the Aquatic Trail
With more shoreline than the entire California Pacific Coast, the many arms of the Lake of the Ozarks provide countless opportunities for boating and water sports. Brian Fredrick, Assistant Superintendent of Lake of the Ozarks State Park, took us on The Aquatic Trail for a fun, interesting boat tour. Departing from the state park marina at the Grand Glaize location, Brian showed us some of the natural formations as well as man-made parks and buildings along the lake. Flower Cove, a private collection of large hanging baskets, ornate pots, and other décor, was one of the favorite stops of our tour.
Hiking
There are several state and local parks in the area. We hiked the Rocky Top Trail at Osage State Park. This moderately challenging trail is 2.2 miles, with the first half winding up to the top of dolomite cliffs with spectacular views of the lake. While on our hike, we saw deer, ground squirrels, eagles, and a turtle. The trees and grass were green from spring rains, and the scenery was fantastic. After the halfway point the trail loops back and divides, and we took the right branch that led us to a lakeside trail back to our car.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is another very popular hiking area. Ha Ha Tonka is famous for the ruins of an old castle, with only parts of the foundation remaining. There is also a natural bridge, several walking trails, and a fabulous view of the lake.
Baxter's Carbonara
Dining
Baxter’s Lakeside Grille is one of the most popular restaurants in Lake of the Ozarks. With a fantastic view of the lake, Baxter’s serves up delicious steaks, burgers, and seafood along with a nice variety of fresh salads, tasty appetizers, and tempting desserts. Members of our party enjoyed the Plank Salmon, Baby Back Ribs, Baked Halibut, Chilean Seabass, Carbonara Pasta, and several other wonderful dishes.
Other restaurants we have enjoyed at Lake of the Ozarks include Shorty Pants Lakeside Cajun, BJ Hooks, Tucker’s Shuckers, The Trophy Room at Old Kinderhook, Stewarts Café, and Andy’s Custard. Many restaurants also have live music some nights – check the current schedules.
This was our third vacation in Lake of the Ozarks, and I’m sure there will be a fourth. The beautiful landscapes, friendly folks, great golf, water fun, and other activities make Lake of the Ozarks one of our favorite places to visit with family and friends.
Watch Video: https://youtu.be/ZfqPm5MFqeQ?si=jbm4nXJ0Bn7m4YCy
Scott Kendall is Editor of PlayStayEat.com as well as a freelance travel writer, photographer, and videographer based in The Woodlands, Texas. He has traveled extensively throughout the US and Europe, including several trips to Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, England, Ireland, and France. In addition to writing for PlayStayEat, Scott has written for EuropeUpClose, Epicurean Traveler, Food Wine Travel Magazine, International Living, Miles Geek, Travel and Talk, and other publications.Scott is a member of SATW, IFWTWA, and TravMedia.
