Lake of the Ozarks Expedition

Old Kinderhook – Family Getaway

Sunday – The Journey South

We packed up Sunday morning and picked up Olivia and Henry around 10:00 a.m. before pointing the GMC Acadia east. Our route carried us through Kansas City, down through Clinton, Missouri, and eventually south to Old Kinderhook near Camdenton.

We arrived a little ahead of check-in, so we spent some time driving through the neighborhood to get our bearings. Our first stop was the Hook Café for lunch, where we enjoyed chicken Caesar salads and cheeseburgers before making a quick run to the Walmart in Camdenton to stock the kitchen with a few essentials.

Back at the resort we checked into Golf Cottage No. 5, perfectly situated near the swimming pool and tennis courts. The two-bedroom, two-bath cottage was beautifully appointed, complete with king beds and a spacious deck overlooking the fifteenth fairway.

The kids wasted no time heading to the pool, and before long we all settled into vacation mode. It was a peaceful first evening filled with much-needed rest.

Monday – First Impressions

I was up early and walked over to the golf shop before sunrise. It was one of those classic Midwestern summer mornings where stepping outside feels like someone has draped a warm towel over your shoulders. Fortunately, the sun hadn’t yet cleared the horizon, making the temperature surprisingly comfortable.

After rolling a few putts and warming up on the range, I joined two younger gentlemen from Indiana for my round. I enjoyed the golf course tremendously. Nearly six inches of rain had fallen the previous week, and today marked the first day golf carts were allowed back onto the fairways. The maintenance crews were everywhere repairing damage from the storms, creating a few distractions throughout the round.

Despite the conditions, I managed an informal 78.

The experiment with my Ben Hogan AHS hybrid irons ended after nine holes. They simply weren’t the right fit, and I decided to put them back in the bag for now.

After golf I met the family at the pool for a quick swim before we headed into Camdenton for breakfast at Stewart’s Restaurant. It had received glowing reviews, but unfortunately the food proved to be fairly mediocre.

Later we drove over to Lake Valley Golf Course just south of Old Kinderhook. The golf professional was welcoming, and we booked a 6:00 p.m. tee time for the following evening. The course appeared to be a beautiful, well-kept parkland layout—perfect for a relaxed family round.

That evening we enjoyed dinner at The Trophy Room, Old Kinderhook’s signature restaurant. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. Sonya ordered grilled chicken with pasta, I had the French dip, Henry enjoyed mini corn dogs, and Olivia had a Caesar salad while sharing some of Sonya’s pasta.

Back at the cottage everyone was feeling pleasantly tired. We put on Sheep Detectives, but before long we had all drifted off to sleep.

Tuesday – Discovering Possibilities

After another good night’s sleep, Sonya and I spent the early morning sitting quietly on the deck overlooking the golf course while the sun climbed above the trees. It was one of those peaceful moments that reminds you why places like this have such appeal.

The kids slept until around 7:30. Sonya and Olivia headed to the fitness center while Henry and I relaxed in the cottage watching fishing videos on YouTube before making another trip to the pool.

Once everyone was cleaned up, we drove about thirty minutes north to the Rusty Rooster for breakfast.

It was, without question, one of the best breakfasts any of us could remember. Henry announced that he wanted to bring his friends there for his birthday someday—a pretty strong endorsement.

From there we crossed the bridge to visit Porto Cima. We toured the neighborhood, admired the villas overlooking the lake, and immediately loved the atmosphere, although nothing happened to be available for sale.

We continued over to the Lodge of Four Seasons, a fascinating property with a distinctly retro Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired feel dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. While its glory days may be behind it, the architecture, setting, and history gave it a unique charm that made quite an impression.

On the drive back south we stopped at the Ozarkland General Store in Camdenton before returning to the cottage for a little rest ahead of our evening golf.

We arrived at Lake Valley shortly after five o’clock and warmed up on the practice green before teeing off. We played a fun format where each player served as team captain for three holes. The Missouri heat was relentless, and after six holes we unanimously agreed that was enough.

Still, everyone had memorable moments.

Henry was remarkably hot with the putter.

Olivia crushed a beautiful drive that became one of the longest tee shots of the evening.

Sonya hit a wonderful six-iron onto the green on a par three before calmly two-putting for a well-earned par.

Those moments were worth far more than any scorecard.

After golf everyone cooled off with another swim while I ran to the clubhouse to pick up pizzas for dinner. We finished our movie that evening before turning in for one final night.

Wednesday – Heading Home

Henry and Olivia squeezed in one last swim before we packed the car for the drive home.

The three-hour trip passed quickly. We dropped the kids back at home before continuing to The Preserve, where we unpacked and settled back into our normal routines.

As I reflected on the trip, I realized this wasn’t simply a golf getaway.

It reminded me how valuable these spontaneous, low-pressure adventures can be. There was no elaborate planning, no airports, and no complicated logistics—just family, golf, swimming, good meals, and time together.

Those simple experiences often become the memories that last the longest.

More importantly, this trip reinforced something that has been growing clearer in my mind over the past several months. Life doesn’t necessarily become richer by making it bigger. Sometimes it becomes richer by making it simpler, more intentional, and easier to enjoy.

Old Kinderhook—and the Lake of the Ozarks in general—continues to feel like a place worthy of further exploration. The combination of quality golf, boating opportunities, comfortable accommodations, and its easy three-hour drive from home makes it an exceptionally attractive destination.

Most of all, though, I’ll remember sharing this little adventure with Sonya, Henry, and Olivia. Those days together are the true treasure, and I have a feeling we’ll look back on this trip as one of those quietly perfect family memories.