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Good times are catching at the
Lake of the Ozarks.
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Wage a war against your child's boredom this summer and attack the doldrums with an exciting trip to Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks. With arcades, waterparks and mini golf in the Lake's family-fun arsenal, the forces of dullness don't stand a chance. And when you experience all the fun waiting at this family-oriented destination, you'll declare victory over the summer blues.
Summer brings the heat, but that doesn't mean you have to wave the white flag. When temperatures rise, head for the Lake area's two waterparks. When you arrive, don't waste any time - hop on a waterslide, splash down and cool off with the whole family.
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Big Surf Waterpark in Linn Creek is sure to please kids of all ages (and parents too)!
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Big Surf Waterpark, an outdoor waterpark in Linn Creek, showcases Zambezi Falls (a four-story waterslide), the Space Bowl (a slide into a 30-ft. bowl), The Rapids (a white-water slide), Challenge Flumes, Lazy River, Wave Pool and Splash Island (for kids 6 and under). Big Surf is open every day beginning Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. For more information about Big Surf, call 573-346-6111.
If you've had too much sun, dive indoors and try Tan-Tar-A Resort's Timber Falls Water Park in Osage Beach. Timber Falls showcases the Ozark Wilderness Treehouse, complete with water blasters and a six-foot wide wooden bucket that spills out over 600 gallons of water. But that's not all: the park has over 600 feet of waterslides and a Lazy River. Timber Falls is open at Tan-Tar-A Resort year around, but hours vary. For park hours and ticket information, call 573-302-5024.
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Timber Falls, Tan-Tar-A Resort's indoor water park, creates a big splash.
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Once everyone has sufficiently pruned in the pool, dry off and race to play at one of the many family entertainment centers in the Lake area.
Cruise over to the Orion Science Center and Dino Space Adventure in Camdenton for an eclectic mix of an interactive science center and an outdoor fun park. Kids and parents can pick up hands-on knowledge in the Science Center, and then take what they've learned to the outdoor fun park where they can launch balls from trebuchets, ride zip lines and pretend that technology can prevail in the land of the dinosaurs. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 573-346-5516 or toll-free 866-938-6746 for more information.
After you and your family have saved the world from the dinosaurs, make your way to Osage Beach and Miner Mike's Indoor Family Fun Center for 35,000-square feet of fun-for-all amusement games. Miner Mike's features fantastic food in Buster's Longbranch Saloon and thrilling rides - including the Gold Miner Bumper Cars, the Chuck Wagon Ferris Wheel and the Runaway Mine Train Roller Coaster. For more details about Miner Mike's, call toll-free at 800-317-2126.
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Hit a hole-in-one at one of several mini golf courses at the Lake.
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If the kids like mini golf, then the Putt 'n Stuff Family Fun Center in Osage Beach or Sugar Creek Mini Golf in Lake Ozark are both like hitting a course of holes-in-one. Putt 'n Stuff sports two 18-hole mini golf courses (Thunder Ridge and Raging River), bumper cars and Go-Karts. To find out more about Putt 'n Stuff's features, call 573-348-2127. Sugar Creek has a pair of 18-hole mini golf courses set in a picturesque woodland park, complete with natural creeks, waterwheels, mills and waterfalls. Call Sugar Creek Mini Golf at 573-365-2226 for more details.
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The castle ruins at Ha Ha Tonka are a favorite with younger audiences.
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Don't forget to take the kids to the Lake's popular state parks - Ha Ha Tonka State Park and Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Both are fun, free-admission options for the budget conscious. Families can hike, swim, fish or enjoy one of the parks' interpretive programs. The interpretive programs present a great opportunity to teach kids (and adults) about everything from astronomy to wildlife. Parents love the fact that children won't even realize the programs are educational, because they're having so much fun.
There's an additional bounty of adventure for kids to experience at the Lake, but we can't list everything here and your crew can't possibly fit it all into one day. There's plenty of on-the-water and in-the-water fun, cave tours, bike trails, horseback riding and much more. It's all family-friendly ... and budget-friendly too!
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Many Lake lodging facilities have refreshing swimming pools to help the kids beat the heat.
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In order to win the battle against boredom this summer, plan to stay awhile - book your lodging at a local resort, hotel, motel, condominium, bed and breakfast, RV park or campground. Most offer great options and money-saving prices to families looking for places that have activities for kids. Some of the full-service and family-owned resort properties can be one-stop entertainment centers with pools, arcades, playgrounds, waterparks, kids clubs, mini golf, boat rentals and more. So be sure to check out a full list of these outstanding properties, along with some great lodging deals on FunLake.com or call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253) for more details.
Note to Media: Summer is the season of exciting travel stories at the Lake of the Ozarks! For more information, media assistance or high-resolution photos, please call The Beenders-Walker Group toll-free at 800-544-8474 or email Marjorie, Gene, Kyle or Jo .
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