Wanting to plan a vacation

[t8764]

I am looking at getting a boating trip together next summer. I have 3 lakes in mind, Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock, and Grand Lake OK.
I have been to lake of the Ozarks and had fun but kind of need a bigger boat to go there. But i do like the area.
Table Rock would be good because of Branson and other stuff to do.
Never been to Grand Lake but it is about the same drive, or I would like the hear more about it.
We are going with anther couple that he really likes boating but sometimes she needs something a little more. (cant take 10 hrs on the lake like the rest of us)
So if you have been to any of these let me know.
Thanks
Erik

 

[Insteada]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

I don't know what size boat you have but if you go during the week you would likely be just fine at Lake of the Ozarks. With everything there is to do there, it makes a great vacation destination. We go at least 5 times a year for various times. We stay away from weekends and holidays and our 24' br does just fine. LOKZ get's my vote!

If you go, you have to go to Dog Days to have their Jerk Chicken Wings. Hands down the best I've ever come across.

 

[t8764]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

Mine is 24 feet also but I will have to include a weekend in the trip. I am a HVAC tech and summer is a hard time to take time off. So I have to use a weekend and Friday and Monday to limit my time away.

 

[Sparkinator]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

We just got back from a week at Tablerock lake. We really enjoyed it. Branson being close by made everyone happy. Everyone enjoyed staying on the lake, but not everyone was interested in spending all day on it. We stayed about 10 miles from Branson and about a couple of miles north of the Arkansas line. We are all hoping we get a chance to go back soon.

 

[brents]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

Grand Lake is a nice place, but certainly no tablerock or Lake of the Ozarks, at least IMHO. If you need additional fun, and like the sound of Branson then go for that. The closest fun of that nature to Grand would be a tribal casino or Tulsa.

 

[fauxmeister]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

I'm a newbie and just have a 15' open bow but I really enjoy the time we have spent on Table Rock this late summer. (just got up and running in the past month) I live in Springfield so Branson is the closest to me but have been a few times to Lake of the Ozarks and to me it seemed considerably rougher water each time I was there. The additional attractions of Branson are a definate pull as well. Just my $.02 worth...

 

[lrcustom]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

If you want a lake that has it all...Lots of people and things to do and quite secluded and away from stuff. You can have that on Table Rock big time. Probably in my opinion the most diverse lake in the region. Lake of the Ozarks is in second place for me. Table Rock just has it all it's a great lake and stuff to do area.

LR

 

[Stlouisboating]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

We live in St. Louis, but have a condo on Tablerock. Keep in mind it was found to be the 3rd cleanest lake in the states 2 years ago, while Lake of the Ozarks was found to be the 3rd most dangerous body of water in the states with the Atlantic Ocean being the most dangerous. Add in the ecoli problems at Lake of the Ozarks and chose wisely. Tablerock is incredibly clean and not crowded. It does not have the restaurants on the lake like the Lake of the Ozarks. It does have some nice ones, just not as many. That being said, we don't encourage people to boat on Tablerock as we like to keep it to ourselves.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

I love Tablerock. I grew up in Harrison, which is 45 minutes south give or take. We kept an old Arkansas Traveler in a slip there at Cricket Creek Marina. When I say old, I mean it was old when I was a kid fishing from it thirty years ago. I remember thinking we were quite the adventurers crossing the state line in a boat. Good times thanks to my old man.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

well, i know nothing about that part of the country. but, we have found many great camping areas, here in Florida, excellant facilities.

we only tent camp, so we can bring one of the boats.

4 days, usually $100.00 for site. makes for an inexpensive family outing.

we have 3 sites reserved at Salt Springs, Florida. 2 sites for 4 days was $129.00, it is in Ocala National Forest.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

From what I read here, I think each lake has it's own great merits.

We've been to Grand Lake, about 5 years ago. Felt like we had the whole thing to ourselves, even on the weekends. It was clean (by my standards, anyway) lots of good fishing, accomidations were cheap and we had a blast tubing and skiing. Paddle fish were a new experience to me, one nearly jumped in our boat! I had no idea they did that! We just bought our first boat and plan on returning.

Where we were it was pretty empty, and that was OK because we were there for the lake and nothing else.

I don't think you can make a real mistake with any of those lakes, you're fortunate to have them all so close.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Wanting to plan a vacation

I'm partial to LOTO. I ran up to Bear Bottoms and Captain Rons and back down the Big Niangua this afternoon. No problem with my 24' deck during the week. On weekends, we stick to the Big and Little Niangua.

A 24' deckboat isn't renowned as a rough water boat, but I had no problem today on LOTO.