LAKE BREAKING NEWS

-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --

JUNE 13, 2011

Summer Travel Tips & Story Starters
Free Stuff, Horseback Riding, Camping and Facebook at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

Ha Ha Tonka Cove

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. - Temperatures are warming and the summer months are the prime time to hit the road and take a vacation. With its many attractions and activities, the Lake of the Ozarks is Missouri's favorite family summer vacation destination. Read on for hot topics and helpful tips to get you started on summer stories about the Lake of the Ozarks.

Spend Some "Free" Time at the Lake

Ha Ha Tonka State Park

Castle Ruins at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.

Sometimes the best things in life actually are free, especially at the Lake of the Ozarks. Everyone likes to stretch their vacation budget and the Lake area makes it easy with several spectacular free attractions. Start with the natural splendor of the area's two state parks - Lake of the Ozarks State Park and Ha Ha Tonka State Park. Both parks offer miles of picturesque trails for hiking or bicycling. And for those looking for an adventure on the water, both parks have plenty of lake access for swimming, boating or jet skiing. Boaters can even follow an aquatic trail marked by buoys at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, then come ashore for a guided, lantern-light tour of Ozark Caverns. Meanwhile, Ha Ha Tonka offers guests a chance to view castle ruins, sinkholes and a natural bridge. After exploring the state parks, visitors can check out the 80-foot fire tower, nature displays and various demonstrations at the Thunder Mountain Conservation Area. History is spotlighted at the area's three museums - the Camden County Museum, the Miller County Museum and the Willmore Lodge Museum and Dam Overlook. For more information on these and other entertaining, free activities, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau's "10 Free Things to Do" web page here or call 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Camping at the Lake? It's a "Natural"

Cross Creek RV Park in Osage Beach

Cross Creek RV Park in Osage Beach.

Camping can be a challenge for those who might not have earned a chest full of Boy Scouts merit badges. So here are a couple of tips to help enjoy your visit with Mother Nature:

  • To avoid unwanted wild animal visits to your campsite, store food away from your living area - in your car, your RV or in tightly sealed coolers or canisters. Never store food in your tent. Most animals have a keen sense of smell and can do serious damage to camping gear.
  • No one expects to get hurt, but it's always good to emulate the Boy Scouts and "be prepared." Bring a first aid kit complete with bandages, gauze pads, tape, tweezers, antiseptic cream, insect-repellant spray, burn cream, sun block, hydrogen peroxide and a first aid manual.

Camping Paradise 2

Camping Paradise in Roach, Mo.

With good camping advice in hand, it's time to hit the campgrounds. Whether you're a hardy nature-lover with only a tent and sleeping bag or an RV traveler with every technological comfort close by, the Lake of the Ozarks area can accommodate you and your camping family. There are over 20 varied campground and RV park options to choose from around the Lake. For more information or for an RV and campground directory, visit FunLake.com or call 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Horsing Around the Area 

Ozark Homestead Riding Stables
Ozark Homestead Riding Stables.

If you've had enough of hectic city life, serenity can be found at the Lake of the Ozarks on horseback. The rhythmic sounds of hooves on a peaceful, meandering wooded trail is a fun way to unwind and riding is a great way to take in the sights around the Lake. There are plenty of horseback riding options for veteran riders and rookies alike in the Lake of the Ozarks area, whether visitors want to saddle up a "rental" mount or bring their own horses. Among the local businesses offering horseback rides are Camping Paradise (Roach), Hayburner Ranch (Camdenton) and Ozark Homestead Riding Stables (Lake of the Ozarks State Park). Most horseback trail rides are very affordable and charge as little as $20 for a 20-minute ride and $30 for an hour ride. To schedule a ride, call Camping Paradise at 573-346-8440, Hayburner Ranch at 573-346-8440 or Ozark Homestead Riding Stables at 573-348-6670. For more information on horseback riding in the Lake of the Ozarks area, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit FunLake.com.

"Face"ing the Web

With an Internet connection and a Facebook account you can get all the latest Lake of the Ozarks news, as well as great deals on food, lodging and attractions right on your computer or smart phone. There are also links to local businesses' Facebook pages for even more information and money-saving opportunities. You can read posts from fans of the Lake and see hundreds of great photos and videos from Lake area events. Want to get in on all the fun at the Lake? It's as simple as checking the Lake of the Ozarks' Convention and Visitor Bureau's Facebook page here and clicking the "like" button. If you're not on Facebook but still are web-savvy, no problem - just visit FunLake.com for a vacation and service guide and all the directories, deals and news you need. Or if technology isn't your thing, simply contact the Convention & Visitor Bureau the traditional way by phone at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

On the Horizon...

Check out some more upcoming fun and exciting events around Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks:

 

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS

JULY 8, AUG. 12 & SEPT. 9

This "cruising" series on the Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark began on May 13 and continues through the summer on the second Friday of each month. Hot Summer Nights will feature all makes and models of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Visitors attending the event will enjoy contests, giveaways, helicopter rides, entertainment and much more. For more information about Hot Summer Nights, call 573-964-1008 or visit CruiseHotSummerNights.com 

 

AQUAPALOOZA

JULY 16

MarineMax and Sea Ray Boats invite the entire family to the Lake's largest family-fun boating event. Aquapalooza kicks off at the popular Dog Days bar and grill in Osage Beach and features live music, boats and plenty of great giveaways and prizes. For more information, visit Aquapalooza.com.

  

19th ANNUAL LAURIE HILLBILLY BBQ COOK-OFF

AUG. 5-6
Sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society, this fun event offers over $7,000 in prize money and bragging rights for the best BBQ around.  A dance, beer garden, prizes, raffles and an ever-popular kids' BBQ contest are on the Cook-Off schedule. Take in some of the great aromas and taste some of the delicious BBQ at the Fairgrounds in Laurie. For more information on the Hillbilly BBQ Cook-off, contact Susann Huff at 573-374-8776 or visit the City of Laurie on the web at CityOfLaurie.com or email at [email protected].

 

18th ANNUAL MISSOURI WINE FEST

AUG. 6
Local and regional wineries show off the bottled fruits of their labor to wine aficionados at the Country Club Hotel & Spa in Lake Ozark. Admission to the Wine Fest is $15 and includes a wine tasting from the participating wineries, hors d'oeuvres and a souvenir wine glass. Wines can be purchased by the bottle or the case. For more information on the Missouri Wine Fest, call 573-964-1008 or the Country Club Hotel & Spa at 800-964-6698.  

 

23rd ANNUAL LAKE OF THE OZARKS SHOOT-OUT

AUG. 22-28

Named one of the nation's eight must-see boating events by Powerboat magazine, the Shoot-Out is the largest unsanctioned boat competition in the U.S., as more than 100 boats individually race to be named the Lake's fastest boat. This will be the fourth year Captain Ron's (a restaurant, bar and marina in Sunrise Beach) will host the event. For more information, call 573-374-5852 or visit LakeOfTheOzarksShootout.org.

 

For more information about these and other Lake-area springtime events or for more info about local accommodations and lodging facilities, please call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) or visit www.FunLake.com.

# # #

 

Summer is the season of exciting travel stories at the Lake of the Ozarks!  For more information, media assistance or high-resolution photography, please call The Beenders-Walker Group toll-free at 800-544-8474 or email Marjorie, Jo, Gene or Kyle.

 


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LAKE OF THE OZARKS TRI-COUNTY LODGING ASSOCIATION & CONVENTION AND VISITOR BUREAU

Phone: 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) Fax: 573-348-4292 

P.O. Box 1498  Osage Beach, MO 65065

Website: www.FunLake.com  Email: [email protected]   


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Quick Links

 Lake of the Ozarks State Park 

 

Ha Ha Tonka State Park

 

Thunder Mountain Conservation Area

 

Camden County Museum

 

Miller County Museum

 

Willmore Lodge Museum and Dam Overlook

 

Camping Paradise

 

Ozark Homestead Riding Stables

 

Hayburner Ranch

 

Lake of the Ozarks Facebook Page

 

Hot Summer Nights

 

AquaPalooza

 

Laurie Hillbilly BBQ Cook-Off

 

Lake of the Ozarks Shootout

 

FunLake.com 

 

VisitMO.com 

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