Classic Boating – Destination of the Month

Now that spring is almost upon us and boating season is only days away in a few more places a little farther north than Florida we’ll take a look at another Woody Boater destination that is ideal for a long weekend or a family vacation. Here’s another one in the Midwest region that promises to be a great destination for just about anyone to visit and enjoy, especially with a Woody Boat in tow.

Table Rock Lake
This lake is nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains for which the region is best known. It’s man-made and is primarily about flood control. The US Army Corps of Engineers built it and 4 others in the region to maintain a more constant and controllable water level and supply in the region. The Corps is our nation’s leading provider of recreational facilities and is a major provider of hydroelectric (renewable) power in our country. Some of their newer responsibilities include resource conservation, management and restoration. This region includes Beaver Lake, TableRock Lake, Bull Sholes Lake, Norfork Lake and Lake Taneycomo. Each lake offers something a little different for the Woody Boater in you. Click on the names for more information about these lakes. World famous Branson, Missouri is at the heart of this great Ozark playground.

Events:
For the Woody Boater, the event you don’t want
to miss is the Classic Cruisin’ Weekend on Table Rock Lake presented by The Heartland Classics Chapter of the ACBS. It’s scheduled for June 6th, 7th & 8th, 2008 at Rock Lane Resort and Table Rock Marina near Branson. This event features plenty of time on the water with planed cruises every day with lots of food and festivities in between. There will be plenty of time to talk classic boating with new friends and old acquaintances all weekend. Last summer’s event brought 65 classic boaters with 25 antique and classic boats from 9 states together for the fun-filled weekend. Contact Don or Kathy Parker (402) 770-5400, donaldwparker@hotmail.com for more details.

There’s plenty of other activities in or near Branson as well. Check out this Upcoming Events calendar for a full summer of things to do in and around Table Rock Lake.

Accommodations:
There are literally hundreds of choices for Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Cabins, Bed & Breakfasts, Vacation Homes, Condos, RV Parks and Camping all around the lakes. Check out these web sites:

Beaver Lake Lodging, RV Parks, Camping, Norfork Resorts, Norfork, Bull Sholes RV Parks, Camping, Table Rock Lake Lodging, More Table Rock Lodging, Table Rock Lake RV Parks, Camping, Branson Area Lodging, RV Parks, Camping. There’s a ton of web sites listing great places to stay in the region.

Here’s an idea for the Woody Boater. Rent a Houseboat and tow the Classic Woody along anywhere on the lake you choose. They can accommodate up to 12 Woody Boater friends and family members. They are self contained floating vacation homes with all the comforts of home built in. Tri-Lakes Houseboat Rentals nea
r Kimberling City on Table Rock Lake has a wide selection of great looking fully equipped units that will fit your needs.

Dining
There’s no shortage of eateries around Branson. There are nearly 200 of them to chose from. The web site provides an easy to use search tool to satisfy everyone’s appetite.

With a Houseboat, Dine In! Grill some porterhouse steaks on the deck-mounted gas grill, bake some potatoes in the built-in oven and the rest of the fixings’ on the gas range. Dine on the upper deck with a cool breeze and a fabulous view of blue water and the Ozark landscape. Remember, it’s a Corps of Engineers lake, so there are no lake-side restaurants. There are a few within a short walk though.

I like authentic Mexican dishes and drinks. If you do, here’s an outstanding choice, Cantina Laredo featuring gourmet Mexican food in a sophisticated atmosphere. Their diner menu features wide variety of Aperitivos, Sopas and Ensaladas, followed by your choice of excellent Especialidades or select from many Platillos Mexicanos. Their Cantina Menu includes a wide choice of Cervezas (Mexican beers), Vino (wines) and Signature Margaritas. Their amazing Tequila list includes Superior, Anejo (aged), Resposado (rested) and Plata (silver) in many favorite brands.

Boating and Waterways
Table Rock Lake has about 800 miles of shoreline to explore and around 50,000 acres of water to play on. Much of its shoreline is covered with pristine forest land. There are 12 public marinas and many other private and resort owned facilities along its vast length. Public boat ramps are located at Missouri State Parks and public marinas around the lake, primarily around Kimberling City and the Branson area.

Attractions
Branson is by far the one attraction that comes to mind. The area offers over a hundred shows and theaters with a wide variety of themes. You could literally shop until you drop in this town. Stop in Motorcycle Boulevard and say hey to my friends Laura and Jeff, even if you don’t like motorcycles. There are riverboat cruises, caves to explore, scuba diving in the clear waters of the lake,. There are theme parks, Silver Dollar City and Celebration City. There’s a water park, White Water. The list goes on and on. Check out this long list of Attractions.

The main attraction is watching the sun rise and set over beautiful Table Rock Lake.

Just do it, you won’t regret it.

/by