How to Houseboat on Lake of the Ozarks

Water-skiing, parasailing, tubing, fishing, and swimming are just a few of the fun activities you can do while enjoying a family vacation on your houseboat home away from home on the Lake of the Ozarks, just south of Kansas City, Missouri. Houseboating is definitely the way to go on this 92 mile lake. You can tie up to your own private sandy cove and have the vacation of a lifetime in the water.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Reserve the houseboat. They run from $1200 to $5000 a trip, depending on the size of the houseboat, length of stay, and time of season. Weekday rentals are less expensive than weekend rentals.
2. Learn to drive the houseboat. The rental staff will teach you how to drive the houseboat before you leave the marina. A little different than driving a car, most people have the feel for it by the time they leave the marina's no-wake zone.
3. Decide what to bring. Houseboats are equipped with gas grills, coolers, refrigerators, full bathrooms, bedrooms, TVs and VCRs, and air conditioning. It isn't exactly roughing it. You will need to bring all your food, personal items, ski vests, swim towels, and don't forget plenty of plastic garbage sacks, which can be unloaded at the marina.
4. Enjoy the State Park from your houseboat. Glide up to the bank and step off for a tour of Bridal Cave, which has a stalactite resembling a chapel. More than 1800 marriages have taken place inside the cave. There are also music festivals, museums and great shopping in the area, as well as golfing and tennis courts.
5. Decide if you want to indulge in water sports. Into swimming and skiing? The water is warm in the summer months, but much too cold in fall and winter when it is the perfect time for cold-water fishing.