Central Missouri is the home to one of the largest manmade lakes in the nation. Certainly, the Lake of the Ozarks is the most unique. An enormous horseshoe shaped reservoir, it has over a thousand miles of shoreline and more than 55,000 acres of surface area. Needless to say, the Lake of the Ozarks lends itself to all manner of water activities and has become a major destination resort in the South.
The majority of the shoreline here is privately owned, allowing tourists to book into a wide variety of holiday rentals in Lake of the Ozarks. From rustic cabins in the woods to newer construction with luxury amenities, visitors can find a vacation home that will suit them perfectly.
The lake is uncommonly stable; its surface elevation varies by only about five feet, which helps to preserve the natural beauty of the Osage and Niangua Rivers. Tourists here will not see the typical 'bathtub ring' characteristic of many reservoirs out west. What they will see are championship golf courses such as one designed by Robert Trent Jones where a shot across a cove is required.
Other nearby attractions include the largest of the Missouri state parks: Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Party Cove in this park attracts thousands of boats every Fourth of July, prompting the New York Times to call it the "oldest established permanent floating bacchanal in the country. Visitors looking for a more sedate experience may prefer the Ha Ha Tonka State Park instead.