Tuesday, February 5, 2013

The Official 2013 Lake of the Ozarks Vacation & Service Guide



We at the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau (CVB) are excited to announce the launch of the Official 2013 ONLINE Lake of the Ozarks Vacation & Service Guide.  The online version of the guide is a great tool for visitors that are planning their trips last minute and/or online. The online version may be viewed at www.funlakevacationguide.com.


In addition to the publication now being online, we are already “On the Road” with the Official 2013 Vacation & Service Guide, traveling to 12 boat, sport and travel shows throughout a five state area. The CVB office mails physical copies of the Vacation & Service Guide to potential visitors, second homeowners and people relocating and requesting information about the Lake. Our publication is also distributed at five local Chamber of Commerce locations, Missouri Visitor Centers throughout the state, AAA offices in seven states, as well as travel agents in twenty four states. The publication is also distributed through our members’ locations in the Lake Area reaching both locals and visitors.

“The Lake of the Ozarks CVB is always looking for ways to promote its members and the 2013 Vacation & Service Guide is the best way to accomplish that task.  We offer the publication online which gives the member another opportunity to get their ad viewed,” states, Tim Jacobsen, Executive Director for the CVB. 

Request your free physical copy of the Official 2013 Vacation & Service Guide at www.funlake.com/vg or call (800) 386-5253. And, as always, visit www.funlake.com for information on Lake Area events, lodging, dining, attractions, golf and more.
 

Friday, February 1, 2013

Lake of the Ozarks Mardi Gras Pub Crawl 2013

A night of entertainment, food and fun awaits guests, Saturday, February 16, 2013.
 
Photo by Rita Rose, courtesy of LakeExpo.com
The 12th Annual Mardi Gras Pub Crawl has become one of the Lake's most popular winter activities and continues to draw increasingly larger crowds each year. Last year, the event had an estimated attendance of over 6,000, with even more expected this year.

"Our festival is helping to attract more and more winter visitors to the Lake every year," said Mardi Gras Pub Crawl organizer Jeff Carroll. "A lot of people who attend the festival reserve a room and schedule a weekend getaway around the event. This year, with Presidents' Day, they'll have a three-day weekend to shop, sightsee and explore. Winter is a beautiful time at the Lake and this event allows us to showcase a lot of the great things we have to offer. We have great fishing in the winter. We're the home of the largest outlet mall in Missouri. We also have five wineries and two state parks. And if the weather is good, you can golf at one or more of our 15 area courses. And I'm only mentioning a few of the attractions we have in the area. I think visitors are discovering that the Lake of the Ozarks is a year-around travel destination." 

Photo by Rita Rose, courtesy of LakeExpo.com
Eleven years ago, the Mardi Gras Pub Crawl started with just eight locations and four 16-passenger buses. This year, patrons will have the convenience of 26 full-sized buses, the variety of 20 nightspots and restaurants and the assurance of a safe, fun evening.

"Our message to our guests is to ride the bus, be safe and have fun," said Carroll. "We're all about safety and responsibility. We just want to make sure that everyone has a good time. I think one of the reasons that our pub crawl is so popular is because we offer safe transportation to and from each location from start to finish. We have a uniformed security guard on each bus and we work closely with the local police department to make sure that when you attend the Mardi Gras Pub Crawl, you can put your keys away and have a fantastic worry-free evening out on the town."

Photo by Rita Rose, courtesy of LakeExpo.com
To ride the buses, festival-goers must purchase a $7 wristband that includes entry into all participating restaurants and nightspots, bus transportation between all pub crawl locations and pick ups/drop offs at participating hotels, motels and resorts. A wristband can be purchased in advance or on the night of the event at restaurants/nightspots on the route.

The fleet of 26 buses will transport attendees on a continuous circuit of all 20 bars and restaurants. The buses will make numerous stops at each venue and will make drop-offs at hotels, motels and resorts. Buses begin departing from partner hotels, motels and resorts at 3 p.m. and will run on the circuit until 2:30 a.m.

Photo by Rita Rose, courtesy of LakeExpo.com
Most Mardi Gras Pub Crawl venues will have live entertainment. Some will feature live rock, blues and country music, while other locations have DJs and/or karaoke. The restaurants on the festival's bus route are an eclectic mix of food options for guests, including Mexican cuisine, prime rib, seafood, Ozark-style barbeque, Chicago-style pizza and much more. Shuttle riders also will be able to collect Mardi Gras beads and other themed souvenirs along the route.

For overnight accommodations, live entertainment and dining options, please visit the festival's website at LakeAreaPubCrawl.com, or visit FunLake.com. For the latest Lake of the Ozarks Mardi Gras Pub Crawl news, like the event's Facebook page at Facebook.com/LakePubCrawl.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

15 Free "Hidden Treasures" at Lake of the Ozarks


Lake of the Ozarks is the Midwest’s premier lake resort destination, offering world-class boating, golfing, shopping and fishing, and a wide variety of lodging, restaurants, state parks, and other recreational activities to suit any budget and taste.  Yet, there are “hidden treasures” at that Lake that many visitors don’t know about but are worthy of exploring.  Many may think these treasures would be costly but it is exactly the opposite.  I am talking about the FREE things to do at the Lake that will take your breath away. 

Here are the Top 15 Free “hidden treasures” at the Lake of the Ozarks

1.    Lake of the Ozarks State Park: The Lake of the Ozarks has the largest State Park in Missouri with over 17,441 acres of things to do.  At the park you will find two public beaches, boat launches, camp sites, Lee C. Fine Airport, hiking trails, horseback riding and much more.

2.    Ha Ha Tonka State Park: This is an amazing park and a must see place to visit at the lake.  This park contains over 3,600 acres with 12 hiking trails, 8 caves (not open to the public), picnic areas, playground, exhibits, and castle ruins.

3.    Mother’s Shrine: The Shrine is known as “Mothers' Shrine” and is probably the most meaningful shrine in the country, featuring the Mothers' Wall of Life with names of mothers engraved in the black granite.  A beautiful outdoor shrine with a 14 ft. sculpture of Mary standing above the fountains.

4.    St. Patrick’s Church & Museum: Historic St. Patrick’s Church is the oldest church in Morgan County and the oldest stone church in the three counties surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks.  St. Patrick’s Church was built by Irish Catholics, a first generation German-American and a Protestant Scotsman. The church was designed to hold 80 people and was ready for worship by 1870. The small living quarters were added to the old church in 1936 for the circuit riding priest. These quarters have been turned into a museum that contains many of the vestments, photos and artifacts of the early church.  The last regular church service was held at this Historic Old Church July 20, 1952. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Sites, March 2, 1979. (Information provided by St. Patrick’s Church website.)

5.    Camden County Museum: Located in what was once the Linn Creek School, each classroom has been devoted to a specific theme, ranging from archives to a weaving room, where woven rugs can actually be purchased.

6.    Miller County Museum: This museum serves as a monument for the folk life of central Missouri society, with its Indian heritage, early home accessories, machines, crafts, schools, churches and agriculture.

7.    Morgan County Museum: Located in the old Martin Hotel in Versailles, the Martin Hotel was established more than 150 years ago.  There are 28 rooms decorated with exhibits, including a Chapel, a doll room, a military room and a tool room.

8.    Bagnell Dam Historical Museum: This historic log building was completed in 1930 by the Union Electric Company (now Ameren Missouri) and served as an administrative and entertainment center for the mammoth Bagnell Dam construction project that created Lake of the Ozarks.  The building is now refurbished and serves the Lake area and its visitors as a museum, cultural activities center and offices of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.

9.    Bagnell Dam Overlook: This overlook has a breath-taking view of the Bagnell Dam in Lake Ozark, but it also shows the difference in elevation between the Lake of the Ozarks and the Osage River.  The overlook has several areas explaining various historical facts along with a turbine that was recently retired after seventy plus years of use.     

10. Eldon Airpark Disc Golf Course: Disc Golf is a great individual or family sport.  It is played like regular ball golf but with disc (or frisbies).  Eldon has a great 9 or 18 hole course (you can move the baskets) that can be played at any time. 

11. Camdenton Disc Golf Course:  Camdenton just finished building its disc golf course last year.  This course is located at its city park and has more of a rugged terrain.  This is an 18 hole course dug deep into the valleys of Camdenton.

12. Swinging Bridge and Shallows: This is a marvel all on its own and truly a Lake of the Ozarks “hidden treasure”.  As a kid I used to swim here, and it is still around to admire.  This bridge is comprised of 400 feet of wooden planks to go across the Auglaize Creek.  This location is great for fishing, site seeing, swimming or even a picnic.  Travel down the country side to see this “hidden treasure”, truly a great way to showcase the beauty of central Missouri.

13. Tunnel Dam and Whistle Shallows: Lake Niangua at Tunnel Dam is 3 miles long and is at the end of the Big Niangua River.  This area retains the rustic charm of the Ozarks with majestic hills and dense forests.  The gravel bars make perfect spots for afternoon picnics, swimming or just relaxing in the water.  The shallow water in this area is ideal for kayaks or canoes.  This is also a good area for wade fishing or fishing from the bank.

14. Aquatic Trail:  This trail is administered by the MO Department of Natural Resources as part of the Lake of the Ozarks State Park; it is nine miles, which is a two hour boating excursion that runs from Public Beach #1 to Grand Glaize Beach.  One may start from either end and a booklet with a map with a detailed explanation is available at the park office.  You will see everything from a logging chute, caves, naturally solar heated bluff and much more natural phenomenon’s.  

15. MO Department of Conservation Area: North of Camdenton there is a 40 acre conservation area, with an 80 foot viewing platform that is open to the public which allows visitors to get a bird’s eye view of the Lake.  In addition to the tower, there is a 1-1/4 mile hiking trail and an archery practice range (no onsite archery equipment available).



As you start to plan your weekends and decide what to do and where to go, just remember that Lake of the Ozarks is only a short drive away with many fun activities.  There are a variety of free “hidden treasures” to explore as mentioned above that can appeal to anyone who loves to boat, take in the beauty of the outdoors and more.  For more information on any of the activities mentioned above please visit, www.funlake.com or call 573-348-1599.