The Lake of the Ozarks

By Midwest Traction on August 27, 2017 in Stories

Growing up, summer vacations were sporadic. Until I was about 8, we frequently took trips to see my grandparents in Phoenix. We occasionally visited family in Minneapolis, Oregon, and throughout Iowa, but we never had a family vacation spot.

When I met my husband, his family was gearing up for their annual vacation to The Lake of the Ozarks, a week full of swimming, water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, and general fun on the water. They'd been at the same resort in Osage Beach, MO for over 10 years. 

Currently, my in-laws don't own a boat. But, as far as I can tell, they get closer every year.

1. No Boat. The first couple years at the lake, they had four small children and mainly stuck to the resort pool, swim dock, and kids' activities.
2. Rent a boat for a few hours. They eventually decided they wanted to rent. Most companies offer 4-hour rental periods. This is enough time to cruise around the lake. 
3. Buying All the Gear. Slowly, they built their collection of life vests, a wakeboard, skis, a tube (or two), even the orange flag warning of a person being towed behind the boat.
4. Renting a Boat for the week. Currently, we arrive on Saturday, pick up our boat Sunday, and return it the following Friday. This allows my father-in-law to fish with his sons in the morning, or my husband and I to go out for an evening cruise, or any combination of day and night rides as a group. Our vacations are more relaxed, and we've discovered so many new things on our adventures.

All signs point toward my in-laws owning a boat soon. How long did it take you to make the commitment to buy a boat? Do you take one big vacation in the summer, or do small getaways throughout the year? Let us know in the comments.

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