HELP ME PLAN "LOTO" VACATION
 

I'm thinking of taking a road trip this summer from Orlando, FL to LOTO; 4 adults, 1 child (3yrs) and two boats. I need some help figuring out where to stay.

Some guidelines:

My wife, daugher and my parents will be with us, so I need a nice place to stay on the lake with boat slips. (How is Four Seasons?).

Because of the attendees, this won't be a "rowdy" vacation, but I don't want to be too far from the action (wherever that is).

One of the things we would enjoy is taking the boats to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so I don't want to be too terribly far from decent restauarants. "Decent" means reasonably good food, even if the place is a dump.

And what month(s) would be best to go?

Please help me . . . I know nothing about the place and don't want to drive 1200 miles and have made bad plans.

Thanks.

Lodge of the four season, and Tan Tar A are two of the most accommodating resorts at the lake. Both would have slips available along with pools and restaurant on the grounds. Tan Tar A is at the 26 mile marker and the lofge of the four seasons is at the 13 mile marker. Most of the activity on the lake is between the 4 mm and the 31 with the 19 - 21 the most popular. another suggestion is to rent a condo are a house. you can get them with docks and might be able to get all under one roof. if i can help give me a shout.

later

I would personally suggest staying away from the Lodge of The Four Seasons... Later hit the mark when he said to rent a condo, by far the best way to go. As far as when to go... I would suggest visiting the week of the fourth of July if you are looking for the ultimate LOTO experience! However, anytime between Memorial day weekend and Labor day weekend is an excellent time. Feel free to contact me if you need more help, I am sure I can point you in the right direction.
Regards,
Tony

Why ???

All pretty solid data above. It's really whether you want all amenities in one spot without commute, or, if you prefer to be 'forced' to climb in one of those two boats and motor to everything. You didn't describe your boats (unless of course one is a 23' Baja - duh?), but it can be challenging on the main channel between Tan-Tar-A and The Lodge ANY weekend between June and Sept. in anything less than about 28-30'.

Party Cove is a few miles down the Grand Glaize arm, and should be experienced to believe. Don't take parents who don't appreciate extremely sparse swim attire. :o:crazy: Thankfully, the Patrol is extremely diligent regarding DWD, so heads-up on a designated driver everywhere on the water.

A private house might be a tad sedate if you're looking for action. The big resorts have both a hotel part and even individual cottage set-ups which we found fun, and might have a little more stuff than a condo like kiddie playground and bowling alley, but there's good quality condo developments that either have their own agents for rentals or private owners who own one or more for rental. I know a couple leads if you want.

There's lots of car traffic considering all the landside activities (huge Outlet Mall, good restaurants, shows, all the boat dealers), so factor that into where you want to stay. Good eats and laid-back atmospheres at several spots on the water, some snooty places too. Once you narrow down your potentials a little, I'm sure folks here can offer more specific suggestions and details. One thing is you're guaranteed to have a ball! Welcome and good luck. In case you ain't done the internet thing yet, here's some links I already had saved.

I know this is long-winded, but just talking about the lake for a while helps until Spring comes. There's an ice storm going on this minute.

http://www.lakelinks.com/lodging/osage_beach.htm

http://www.odd.net/ozarks/

http://www.funlake.com/

http://www.lakeareachamber.org/

p.s. With trailers you'll be able to gas up on land - a definite plus. :rolleyes:

loto
 

i think i would try to get a condo for the best accomadations that would meet yourr needs. two places i feel would be the best are parkview place or the ledges. both are nice and have dock facilities. i know a guy who has 5 units in parkview he rents and they are really nice and furnished. its also right by the grand glaize bridge which is in the middle of all the action. you can expect to pay 200-250 night for a 3 or 4 bedroom 2000 sq. ft condo. but they both have pools. big surf is awesome water park for the kids. let me know if you want some phone numbers or give me dates and i can help you set it up. you'll really enjoy it .

There are a lot of great places to stay. What are you looking for? Tan-Tar-A is an all enclusive resort with a new (small) indoor water park, resturants, golf and marina. There are tons of condo's to be rented, Parkview is where I stayed when I moved to the lake while I found a house to buy, it is inside the no wake zone on weekends and has good access to highway 54 but no place to park a trailer, Lazy Days has a seperate trailer lot and is very close to the state park to launch the boat. So if you can be more specific on what you are looking for I am sure we can point you in the right direction.

Not sure why TBone discouraged Lodge of 4 seasons. He may have a good reason. But, they have many condo's in their rental program, and you would have access to the lodge's amenities. May be the best of all worlds. Most of the lodge's properties are around HH, not counting their new Porto Cima (sp?) which probably has no rentals available. Be careful the "Racket Club" condos, as they are NOT on the water, or even close. I'm sure they are quite nice, and have world-class tennis facilities, but that's not why you come to the Lake. While LOT4S no longer owns them, they still property manage units for private owners there.

No one has mentioned golf, but LOTO has numerous great courses, designed by people like Arnold, Jack, and Pete I think, as well as more normal ones. Three plus a pitching course are part of LOT4S.

If your boats are less then 25 feet, you may find weekend water to be challenging, but during the week it's smooth enough to ski in the main channel.

It makes me chuckle thinking all the times I've gone to Orlando for vacations, and people in Orlando and coming here for their vacation. Welcome, and have a great time.

I have just had alot of bad experiences with the Lodge. There are far too many nicer places to stay at when visiting the lake. I have been going to the lake since I was five years old and I have probably stayed at almost every resort down there as well as condos. Tan-Tar-a is by far the nicest of the resorts, but I always enjoyed myself the most when renting a condo through PMG at the lake. You can contact PMG / Professional Management Group Inc. @ 573-365-6260.
Regards

I have a house on the 10 MM fairly close to the Lodge of the Four Seasons. Tan-Tar-a is very nice however way overpriced and to far from any action. There a many condos between the 4MM and 20MM which is where I would stay if I were you. Emrald Bay has great condos and docks and is very close to all attractions.
Holiday weekends are not a time to take little ones out to eat way to long of wait and lake is extreemely rough.
Any time between Memorial and Labor Day is a great time to visit the lake. Typically the weekend before and weekend after a major holiday tends to be a little lighter for visitors.
Any time you go there will be a great deal of things for the family to do. Have fun. Rick

Wow, does the boat traffic really make LOTO that rough? Or are you saying the lake is so crowded that you'll get run over in a small boat? Is the lake largely bordered by bulkheads so that the waves don't dissipate (like Lake Conroe in Houston)? I have yet to be in a freshwater environment where I was not comfortable in my boat. (BTW, our boats are 232 Baja and 225 Sea Ray.)

The Ledges were nice.

Jon

We've been staying at a rental condo at the Ledges. Very nice condos, reasonably priced, great slips, quiet bay...

I personally felt that on major holiday weekends my 28 Pantera was the smallest boat I wanted to be out in after 12 noon. Before noon you are OK and later in the evening a smaller boat is OK and any weekday that isn't a holiday you will be good to go. Not to say you can have your boat out on a holiday but it will be rough.

It is a combinatin of the steep walls around the lake and the number and size of boats that will be out. The 25 or so MM to the Dam and PC will be a zoo on holidays going the other way you would also find it much more comfortable but also less to do at that end of the lake.

I've already decided I'm not going on a holiday weekend; not with a 3yr old.

PMG will find you exactly what your looking for.
I agree a condo would be nice if your in the right complex. I dont think you can beat the Ledges or Indian Point either.

We have a friend who rents their 3 bedroom place out at Westside Bay. (thats where our place is too) its Very clean a pool right out front and a pretty nice cove, on the water at the 11 and just across the community bridge from Osage Beach (10 Minutes). This is the link to their place http://www.vrbo.com./24438

Tony is right on about 4 seasons. If I was to stay at a giant complex like that Tan Tara blows 4 seasons away.

2 weeks after the 4th is usually a good week at the lake.

Waves do not disipate much due to rock shores and seawalls. The lake is also no real wide. The main channel is pretty much a 3'-5' washing machine on Sat afternnoons. There are a ton of 35'-50' cruisers on the lake. I would not take my 3 year old out on a Sat afternoon in my 28 Pantera. I did have him out during the week a few times though when he was only 9 months old.

Like said by others, I would rent a condo. Parkview bay is nice and it is close to the action if you go one direction, and the water is calm if you go other. You do have to go thru a 1/2 mile no wake area and some of the roughest water on the lake to get to the hot spots.

Griff, what the hayal is anyone doing up this early on a workday?

You don't exactly have small boats. Actually, they're going to be the perfect size except for about 12 hours a week when you think about it. Comparatively steep shores are pretty effective at bouncing waves back. Put that together with a more-or-less directional traffic channel that has boats moving parallel with each other in either direction, and it all combines to make the perfect wave machine.

Yes, there are lots of boats, but that's the draw in the first place. It's like a major boat show every weekend. No, you won't get run over.

With a whole week here it is easy to plan the best boating times with other activities too. You have one definite advantage with your boats. They're the perfect size for weekday scenic cruises all the way up the various arms like the Gravois and Niangua, and without busting your budget on gas. Lots of attractions, - you're gonna be busy. Just get up here, you'll love it.

A non Holiday weekend will be great for you & the extended family.You can sample plenty of action on either of the weekends your there.I have a house across from the 4 Seasons & can say the location is convienient to about everything.I have never stayed there though. Unless you have a pretty big boat (30+) the place gets rougher than hell on weekends & Holidays.During the week boating wise you'll have a blast.

Pretty good advice above.
Tbone speaketh much truth.:D

Here is another thought for your group: The wife and I have also stayed at several different places at the lake, but without a doubt our favorite is a place called the Gardenhouse Bed and Breakfast.
It is five star quality rooms and service as well as outstanding food!
The Bed and Breakfast part scares most people. Trust me this is a beautiful home that would sell for over $1 million if it were on the open market.
Plus, the people that own and operate it are a ball to hang with, and they have become good frinds of ours.
They have a new martini deck that sits over the water with hot tub, a dock, jacuzzi in two rooms, large decks to sit and watch early morning traffic, etc.
It is on the main channel about mile marker 4.
Check it out:
http://www.thegardenhousebnb.com/


Here is a pic of the home:

The Garden House BnB would be nice, but they, like many BnB's, do not allow children. Not an option.

Work for me starts at 5pm and goes till 3am. So when I posted I was probably "working"

Stay away from LOTO.....your boat will look huge there, just like the bugs and the women!!!! :D :D :D :D Nothing but jet boats, flat bottoms and wave-runners!

Just another post by Nort proving that he has never been there :)

No bugs that I have witnessed
You want bugs in the summer, come to Minnesota or Florida :(
The women, from what I remember at Party cove :) if that is huge, then me like :)
There are larger size women in any state, on any body of water you go too, that is life. Just like us huge men are there looking for the little women :)

As for jet boats, flat bottoms and pwc, you have one of three right on that.
However, the pwc's are cove runners, weekends they might as well swim :)
Jet boats, not, they would get the hell beat out of them.
Only flat bottoms I would imaging being there are fishing or duck boats that are out in the wee hours of the morning when it is glassy

Ric,

My uncle has a 3 bedroom condo that he rents when he's not there. It's at Kapilana, which is on the Grand Glaize arm in the heart of everything (food, shopping, entertainment) and less than one mile from party cove.

No wake during the weekends, has a beautiful pool, a playground, they rent paddle boats, has a game room, has a swim beach, they have covered slips for rent, fishing, a designated lot to park the boat trailers, and a half mile from the state park to launch your boats.

Like I said, it's right in the heart of Osage Beach. My sister and brother in law own the condo right next door, which use to be my parents. They rent theirs out too, but it's only two bedrooms. My parents bought a lake house on down the lake towards tan-tar-a at about the 24 mile marker, so we're not too far. I just shack up with them to get away from all the kids and comotion.

Anyway, my uncles name is Dennis Harper and his # is 402-292-5392. We're from the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. I don't think you'd be disappointed at all with the accomodations and location, since we've been vacationing there for decades. Tell him Todd gave you his #.

We just bought a new Eliminator 28 Daytona TD with twins and can't wait to get down there and try it out, maybe we'll see ya down there.

A word of caution, the lake is very busy on holidays and weekends and the main channels get very rough 3-4-5 ft. rollers going in every direction. There are many coves and channels to get out of that stuff though, you just have to look around.


Hope this helps,

Todd Harper
[email protected]