A Big Water Playground in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Ozarks

Lake Ozark, copyright Lake of the Ozarks CVB

This 92-square-mile lake records highs in the 70s and warm water when others are still thawing out. Not only that, Lake of the Ozarks is blessed with some magnificent scenery: 1,150 miles of shoreline (more than California's Pacific Coast), cedar forests, limestone bluffs, echoing caves, and water, water, everywhere.

Mother Nature is responsible for this region's fascinating landscape, but the lake itself is the result of good old American ingenuity. When Union Electric built the Bagnell Dam in 1929, they were hoping to harness the power potential of the Osage River and create jobs. A lucky by-product was the birth of the largest man-made lake in the world -- or at least it was back then.

These days, families come to Lake of the Ozarks for the water stuff -- boating, fishing, water-skiing, and swimming. But just in case your crew needs some dry-land diversions, there are also caverns, amusement parks, golf courses, live entertainment, and great outlet shopping.