The travel season is here and Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks is humming--especially on weekends. A lot of visitors look forward to the excitement and lively atmosphere of this popular Midwest vacation destination from Friday through Sunday. But there’s another side of the Lake that can be experienced only in the middle of the week. That’s when visitors find a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere--and frequent savings, too.“Midweek at the Lake, visitors often will benefit from additional discounts in lodging and attractions,” says Tim Jacobsen, director of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau. “They still can play golf, rent a boat, ride go-carts and dine at our terrific restaurants.”
With a 92-mile main channel and more than 1,150 miles of shoreline, visitors always can find quiet areas on the Lake to water ski, even on weekends. “But between four o’clock Sunday and 4 o’clock Friday you can discover a Lake the whole family will enjoy,” Jacobsen says.
That makes midweek at the Lake of the Ozarks an opportune time to stay awhile at one of the area’s inviting motels, hotels, resorts, condos, rental houses, campgrounds or bed-and-breakfasts. “During the week it’s quieter and calmer on the Lake and in general an easier lifestyle here,” says Sky Johnson, who, along with her husband Bill, owns Eagle’s Next Resort & Vacation Rentals in Sunrise Beach. “Even in the busy season, in the middle of the week all the other Lake-area amenities, like restaurants, attractions and stores, are open and eager to serve visitors.”
Paulette Spriggs, who owns Point Randall Resort in Lake Ozark with her husband, Michael, adds, “Typically in the summer we’ll have families who stay Saturday through Saturday, but we are glad to accommodate people who would like to arrive on a weekday.” Even in mid-July, in the prime of the tourism season, Spriggs notes, “midweek, if you want to get out on the water, you can inner-tube or water ski or go for a nice boat ride. That’s the number one advantage to coming here in the middle of the week: being able to enjoy the Lake.” The number two advantage, she says, “is just getting out and enjoying things with a little less crowds and waits.”
That would apply to Lake-area attractions such as Big Surf Water Park in Camdenton. Notes Group Sales Manager Lacey Filley, “The main benefit to coming here during the week is shorter lines. Generally, Monday through Wednesday isn’t as busy. But we are very weather-driven. If it’s hot, we will have quite a few people in the park!”
Visitors who want to rent boats and other watercraft also will notice the benefits of being at the Lake during the week. “On most Saturdays we rent out every boat, about 30 in all, but during the week you have a better chance of renting whatever you want, whether it’s a pontoon, speedboat or jet ski,” says Trent “F”, manager of Bridgeport Boat Rentals in Osage Beach. He offers weekday savings on jet ski rentals: $35 per hour from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday-Friday, versus $60 per hour on Saturday. “I deal with families a lot more during the week,” he adds. “Many are from St. Louis and Kansas City and they’re coming to the Lake instead of traveling farther for vacation. They don’t have to travel as far or spend as much to get out on the water, especially if they come midweek.”
Dining, golfing and shopping also offer midweek benefits for Lake-area visitors. Restaurants typically are less busy during the week, which means less time waiting to be seated and served. “But the Lake doesn’t just close up Monday through Friday. There are a lot of different activities going on aimed especially at weekday visitors,” says Jeff Carroll, owner of Pickled Pete’s Sports Bar & Grill in Osage Beach. For example, Thursday nights are Kids Nights at Pickled Pete’s, where children can eat for one dollar and have a pickle painted on their face by Miss Loretta, who also gets kids involved in other fun activities while their parents relax. “Other places also have food and drink specials and live music on particular week nights,” Carroll says.
Midweek visitors can walk in and tee up—and save money—at the Lake of the Ozarks’ outstanding golf courses. Many courses offer weekday specials just for seniors and ladies. Paul Leahy, director of golf at Tan-Tar-A Resort & Golf Club and president of the Lake of the Ozarks Golf Council, says, “Golfers definitely can find better values at Lake-area courses during the week. In fact at The Oaks and Hidden Lakes courses at Tan-Tar-A you can save 10 percent on weekdays.” Golf course restaurants and course-side lodging also are less crowded, Leahy says, adding, “We have a lot of regulars who will only play during the week.”
Shoppers also notice a difference between weekends and weekdays. At Osage Beach Premium Outlets, Missouri’s largest outlet center with more than 110 designer and name-brand outlet stores, General Manager Candy Wilson says, “If you are age 50 or older, consider shopping on Tuesdays for our 50 Plus Shopper Perks to receive an extra 10 percent off at stores.” She also suggests joining the VIP Shopper Club for exclusive savings including a voucher for a free VIP Coupon Book that sells for $5 at the outlet center’s Information Center. See www.premiumoutlets.com/vip
Discover the relaxation and savings that await midweek visitors at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. For more information about a Lake getaway—weekdays or anytime--as well as details about Lake-area lodging, dining, shopping, attractions and activities, please contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at (800) FUN LAKE or visit www.funlake.com.
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