1st time going to LOTO... Looking for recomendations
 

We are staying at the Ledges in a few weeks. This is the 1st time for us going and we are bringing the boat. I am looking for some recommendations on places to go and things to see. Yes we should have went durning the shootout but we figured not the best weekend to try the lake. What will be open durning the week? We ended up with a geat deal on a condo and huge covered slip and we are really looking forward to all your recommendations....

Thanks in advance.

Well...Horny Toad, Lazy Gator, Shady Gator are in the Toad cove toward the dam. Coconuts is a couple coves away & fun. The Beaver is by the dam. Franky & Louie's is fun when busy. Dog Days is a must stop & where they have Aquapoluza. Paradise is a great place with good food & great view! Fish & Company is fun & cozy with good food. Captain Ron's is good & where the Shootout runs. There are several fun places for all types of people, but things will be slowing down after Labor Day weekend for sure! It will take a couple trips to the Lake to find your favorites & throw out a couple you like less.
Be Safe, burn some gas & Enjoy!

Most places will still be open during the week but there will be hardly anyone at them.

Shorty Pants is very near the Ledges.

Thursday night at Backwater Jacks is always a good bet!
With school back in session, the lake will be pretty quiet.

When you get into town, grab one of the "maps" they are basically everywhere, grocery stores, gas stations etc. It is a BASIC layout of the lake and will mark many of the restaurant/resorts at the Lake.

There is also numerous free magazines available about the lake, they too will have numerous places listed to visit.

Also lookup Midwestboatparty on the internet, it is a more local web site, lots of good info there...

Thanks

for your drive down avoid st Louis there is a another route pm me or give me a call 847 514 9162 dan you looked at my café last winter. we always make the boat trip to the state park and do the walk up to the castle nice boat ride and good exercise ,

Give me a PM if you want a faster easier way to go. To get to Shorty pants, turn left out of Ledges and go left at next cove. They are about halfway in on the right. You absolutely have to get to Coconuts bar. It is a nice ride from Ledges. Get a map as you are new it will help you find stuff. As others said grab a few mags at a restaurant and read thru them. Have fun !!!

Take I72 out of Springfield to Hannibal. Then Rt61 out of Hannibal to Rt19 to Rt54. It is an hour faster than going through St Louis.

^^^^^^. He is correct.

Download ....LakeLocator,,, it is a APP available for Android or Iphone,, uses your location on the lake shows you all resturants,bars, marina, etc.in any direction

IMHO: It is a WAY easier drive going through St Louis than the 2 lane roads through Hannibal. If you hit traffic on I270 past the I170 Exit, just take the 370 bypass then get back on I70, Head west, Personally I would rather drive with the cruise on than deal with worrying about passing every "old person who pulls out" on a 2 lane road....

X2

I've been making this trip for over 30 years, several times a year, and use to go through St Louis. That 50 miles of 2 lane is a piece of cake compared to screwing around with St Louis traffic. Plus that 2 lane is smoother road. There is only 2 small towns, Center and Ladonnia, that you slow down to 35mph less than a mile each. The 2 lane was all refinished and widened with shoulders so it is way better than it was 15 years ago.

I guess it is what you are used to. When we used to make the 8.5 hour trip from WI to LOTO (8 years worth) before we moved here, For us, the bathroom stops, food choices, and easy driving of Interstate, was ALWAYS less stressful.

Some people like the country views, I prefer less stress. Just a side note, rarely did we ever hit St Louis at rush hour, so getting around the city was never an issue. As long as you stay on the north bypass type routes, it was easy! Now going into downtown on I70 the whole way.... Road Rage would prevail!

Last time I went from Hannibal... EVERY farm implement in MO pulled out in front of me and It must have been Social Security day because they were ALL on the roads... :whistle:

Even with the old guy in front of you for a few miles, going thru Hannibal is way less stress and faster and shorter to boot. For years I went thru north of St. Louis and always got cut off or had to stand on the brakes for many reasons. Only reason to go thru St. Louis area is if you think you might break down or run out of fuel:D:D

That's been my experience too. St Louis is way more stress. Although bajaholic has a point around harvest and planting seasons, but that is just a couple weeks each spring and fall. Fall season coming up. Personal thing, I still prefer a couple 2 lane slow ups over St Louis. And you are only slowed up if you want to run the 2 lane at 65/70 instead of 60 (speed limit).

And if you get hungry on the 2 lanes stop at the Junction at the S curves. Great food and tons of parking space if you are towing.

Great info...

THANKS...

We are really looking forward to the trip.

I looked into the castle dock parking and they list boats under 24ft. Is this correct?

Thanks

Any recommendations off the water in the area? Things to do.

Docks are very small. People in our group that climb the stairs to the castle always swim to shore, most boats will be on anchor. But then again we always go to Ha Ha Tonka in July. Off lake, Google Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland Mo if you like that kind of thing. It is about an hour away. For the girls, there is always the outlet mall in Osage Beach. There are also plenty of very nice golf courses.

Been here a few days... Not the best weather but really a boaters dream.

Spent an hour with Glenn at performance boat center. It will be hard not to pull something new back home. 38 top gun or 382 formula. Both great boats. We did take a minute when passing by some of the parts from the outerlimits wreck. Somber moment for my family to see that.

Glad you got to stop by our new place. Let us know if you need anything!!

[email protected]

Sent you all the pics for the 292. Let me know what you think as trade on the 382. You have my email.

Thanks again.

Did you look at the 2007 top gun? I went and saw it with a friend a couple weeks ago, looks brand new. Price needs to be negotiated but it is a sweet boat.

http://performanceboatcenter.com/boa...sp?boat_id=821

A little out of my price range!!!

But that is the only way the wife will have a top gun is with the new interior. The 1999 that he has there is absolutely beautiful. But my ass is spoiled on mcloud seats. With the seat up my knees are smashed in the dash.

Your wife is correct on the new interiors. Not sure exactly but think they switched them around 2005. Also agree you get spoiled with the McLeod, especially on the Formulas with the electric foot rests.

Glad you had a nice time at LOTO, it's very addicting.

X2

Had a great time. Weather wasn't great but really I would recommend every boater do this. We will be heading back next summer when things are a little more active.

I was sitting on the pool deck over looking the lake at the ledges and both of us said we could see us retiring down here. Great week!!!

Thanks for all the advise and recommendations.

Too bad you missed the weather by a week, this past week was perfect. Then again, I always think being there in bad weather is still better than being lots of other places.