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FeedLure of the Lakes
17 of Missouri’s Best Lakes to Satisfy Your Inner “Lake Person”
Courtesy Springfield CVB
Fellows Lake
You can’t escape being a “lake person” if you’re from Missouri. Like the mighty Missouri and Mississippi, our lakes are an integral part of our landscape, not just geologically but also as a matter of culture and outlook.
I was born and raised on the shores of Lake Taneycomo in Branson. Even my childhood neighborhood was called Lakeshore Drive Estates. As a five-year-old, there was nothing better than going to the lakeside to feed stale bread to the ducks that lived on shore. Alternatively, we skipped stones along the surface. Winter was marked by icicles frosting the bluffs above Taneycomo; summer was ushered in by trips to Table Rock Lake’s swimming beaches or—best yet!—a three-hour drive to Camdenton, where my grandfather had a retirement home perched beautifully on a spit of land thrust into Lake of the Ozarks. If we were lucky, he’d take us on a ride in his powerboat.
Anyone can share in these rich experiences by exploring the lakes of Missouri. Here is my selection—however subjective—of some of Missouri’s best lakes, with a few tips on how to get started exploring them. This list is inevitably imperfect, and maybe it will spark debate. In fact, we invite you to submit your own favorite lakes. But one thing is certain: Missouri’s lakes are a blessing to be shared, enjoyed, and taken care of.
See the June/July issue for the full story, and vote for your favorite lake!
