Best to look at Ledges condos. In the heart of the lake and easy by land. Put the boat in at Public Beach 2 (PB2) which is in the state park and just a few minutes by boat to Ledges. Leave the trailer at PB2. Drop boat in water. Tie up to dock. Help wife park trailer and unhook. Run boat around to condo slip and have wife meet you there. All very easy to do staying at Ledges. Use VRBO to find condo at Ledges. The lake slows down after Labor Day so not as many boat running around. If you want to see some performance boats go for the Shootout which is 3rd week of August. You wont have any issues with the 292. Take your time. The restaurant/bars are all kid friendly. They know that if you get the kids you get the parents and that's who spends the money. Don't boat after dark unless you are comfortable doing it and make sure no more than 30mph at night or the WP will let you know about it. Great place to go.

Thanks...
Leaving the trailer at the ramp for several days... Is it safe? I can't image how much it would suck to have it go missing 8 hours from home! My job is always to think of how a good idea can go bad. It's the non-boating crowd that I worry about.

We have been looking at a lot of the Ledges condos.

Yes I know it will be the end of the season persay but this is hopefully a test for many more trips in the coming seasons.

Thanks again for all of your inputs so far.

The Knolls is the way to go honestly. I might sound bias toward it, cause this is where we stay all the time since family has a 3 bedroom, and a 4 bedroom condo there, and our boats are there. Knolls has a very good ramp, I use it all the time with my 24ft boat, and I have seen boats as large as 40ft been put in there. They have trailer parking at the top of the complex. It is a very very nice complex. They have a indoor pool and a outdoor pool. The outdoor pool will be closed the weekend after labor day. But the indoor pool is open all year, and they also have a indoor hottub. PM Me if you are interested in renting the 3 or 4 bedroom...

+1 on Wilks recommendation! We've have done the same thing on numerous occasions without issues. I was a little worried about leaving the trailer the first time too, just bring along a good lock that covers the coupler and you'll be fine. The launch facility is great and very well set up with lots of room to park the trailer. As stated, the lake gets extremely quiet after Labor Day, but the water will be plenty smooth! Lol

Just put a big lock on the trailer. I'd say a bigger chance of it disappearing on a holiday weekend vs late in the season.

We have stayed at the Knolls before. It is in a great location and the docks are in a cove off the main channel. We were able to park the trailer in a fenced in lot, I felt it was safe. We now stay at Point Randall Resort at the 3mm, its our home away form home for the past 7 years now.

Were do you boat at when your here in Illinois?

Google LOTO vacation rentals.

I rented a cottage with a floating (air) lift and all amenities with enought room for my family plus friends about 1 mile from toads....left the rig at the cottage.....all good.

The water smelled a bit for the first day, but cleared up soon after....

Under 1k including electricity usage for 5 days

Really no worries about the trailer. So many to choose from if somebody wanted to steal one. If you feel more comfortable have it in secure lot then call "The Boat Yard" in Osage Beach. They charge $1 day. They may charge for a full week or a month but either way not that big of deal. It is very close to PB2 and Ledges. I leave mine there for the season. You can leave the boat tied up at PB2 courtesy dock for the little time it takes to run the trailer over there.

Ledges Condos wrap around a point. Some decks look out over main channel and some look over cove where the boats docks are. Being on lower number docks (not necessarily slip number. around 40 slips per dock) means you are further back in cove. Further back in cove means less wave action. Docks 6 and under are fine. Dock 7 and 8 get a little rough even though there is a break wall installed. Renting condo looking in cove is nice because close to slip. Bad because it faces west and deck gets hot late in day. Renting Condo facing main channel has better view and nice on deck during evening. longer walk to get to dock. There are also some condos that are 2nd Tier which means they are not on water. Less desirable. I had a place at the Ledges a few years ago. Moved to different condo complex right next door.

I have grown up on the chain o lakes
A few times on Lake Michigan... Hoping to do more with the new boat this year

All good info posted by others since I last posted.
I can't count the number of times I have left my trailer at PB2. 48hrs free parking and $5 additional day. PB2 is only about 5 miles by land or water from the Ledges.

Your kids ages will not limit you on doing anything or going anywhere. My boys are 13 and 9 and have been on LOTO since before they could walk.