Tuesday, March 29, 2016

4 Bedroom Waterfront Home on Horseshoe Bend

Dogwood 1 - 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath 


Dogwood 1 is the perfect home for your family vacation or group getaway! Enjoy this 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 level waterfront home at the Lake of the Ozarks, conveniently located in the Horseshoe Bend Parkway area. Don't worry about steps as there's a small ramp leading to the front door.

Bedrooms


The main level features a lakeside king bedroom with flat screen TV, DVD Player and Roku available for use (sorry, there's no cable in this room for the time being). The second bedroom features a king bed, while bedroom 3 features 2 twin beds. There is a full sized bathroom to accommodate everyone on this level.

Common Areas


Also featured on the main level, is the open living room with fireplace, large flat screen smart TV with sound bar and Roku available for use, a 3 top lakeside pub table, a 6 top island table and a full sized kitchen with everything you would need for your large group. Just off the kitchen is the laundry room and pantry. Step outside and enjoy that great lake view off of the large deck complete with dining seating, gas grill and extendable awning.

Downstairs


Downstairs you will find bedroom 4, featuring a queen bed, full bathroom, a lakeside family room with large flat screen smart TV with sound bar, plenty of seating including the futon, a 6 top table perfect for card playing, fireplace, wetbar and second refrigerator with ice maker. Just outside the door, you'll find the extra large patio with a 6 top table and firepit.

Outside 


It's hard to find a flat yard with gentle slope to the dock, but this home has it! The dock features a slip with a V-bottom lift and a well with 2 PWC lifts in it. There is room to tie up on the side if needed and it's also a great area for swimming off the swim platform! The owners have done a fantastic job in updating this home. Stay here, relax and unwind - give your brain a break!

Memorial Day weekend is just 2 months away! Now is the time to book your reservations for the big holiday weekends and the busy summer months before all the best properties are gone. Give our vacation rental company at the Lake of the Ozarks a call at 877-284-0267 to book your reservations today. No matter the size of your group, we have the best Lake of the Ozarks accommodations to fit your needs!

For more information please call us toll free at 1-877-284-0267!!
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Easter Traditions Around the World

In America, colored eggs and the Easter bunny are popular traditions for most. While these traditions can take place in several other countries as well, Easter is celebrated differently all around the world. Let's take a look at a few Easter traditions in other countries around the world:

England


At Easter, the English like to enjoy a Hot Cross Bun, a sweet bun with raisins and a cross at the top. Similar to America, decorating Easter eggs is a common tradition in England. The Easter bunny is also very much a part of the holiday. Some people make Easter bonnets or baskets, which have things like daffodils or mini eggs in them. In addition to Easter egg hunts, people exchanges gifts of anything from money and chocolate to clothes, or they sometimes go on vacation together instead.

France 


In France, Easter is called Paques. You won't hear any church bells ringing on Good Friday or Easter Sunday. This is a token of mourning for the crucified Christ. Early on Easter morning, the children rush into the garden to watch the bells return. During this time, their elders take the opportunity to hide chocolate eggs. Boxwood branches are sometimes used instead of palm leaves, to put over doors to bring good luck to the people in the house.

Germany 


In Germany, the Easter holiday is known as Ostern. Children get about 3 weeks of vacation, while none of the adults work on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday. Many people eat fish on Good Friday. On Easter Saturday, there is often a big bonfire in the evening. These Easter fires symbolize the end of winter and burn away any bad feelings. On Easter Sunday, families have nice breakfasts together, and like in America, parents hide Easter baskets with sweets, eggs and small presents. Hand-painted eggs are exchanged with friends, and in many regions girls present their suitors with a red egg.

Italy 


In Italy, Easter is called La Pasqua. On Easter Sunday, the Pope presides over a very large mass service in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City. The service is a place of pilgrimage to Catholics and is broadcast on radio and TV all over the world. In the Palm Sunday services, olive branches are often used in place of palm leaves. Easter Monday is called Pasquetta (Little Easter) and that is when they pull out all the stops. Grilled lamb chops are a must-have for dinner, with Easter bread, which looks like a fat braid, for dessert. 

Spain 


Easter is a very important holiday in Spain. They too celebrate a Holy Week. On Palm Sunday, most people go to mass in the morning. Children bring palm leaves, sometimes decorated with sweets or tinsel, to be blessed by the priest. On Ash Wednesday, people have a cross made of ash put on their foreheads as a way of saying sorry to God. On Maundy Thursday, there is a special "Dance of Death" celebration, where a scary dance is performed in Verges, Gerona at night by men dressed as skeletons. Many cities celebrate with processions through the streets at night. Floats decorated in gold, silver, fine cloths, and fresh flowers are often carried through the streets.

Mexico 


In Mexico, Easter is celebrated over a period of two weeks. The first week is Semana Santa, or Holy Week, which runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. On Palm Sunday, people buy woven palms to bring to church service, and after those palms are hung on the doors of Mexican houses to ward off evil. Throughout the week Passion Plays are held in many towns and villages. Since many people in Mexico are Catholic, the majority of the country will participate in a special Easter Sunday Mass. In some areas, that service is followed by a fun fair of sorts, featuring food vendors, toys and sometimes even mechanical rides. The second week runs from Easter Sunday to the following Saturday. These two weeks are a popular time for vacationing as children are out of school for two full weeks.

Greece 


In Greek Orthodox Churches, a tomb is often put in the center of the Church for the Good Friday service. On the Saturday before Easter, an evening service is held, where priests give out candles to each attendee that are then lit at midnight. Fireworks are also often used to signal that Easter has begun. After Easter Sunday Mass in Greece, it's customary to eat a stew of lamb's stomach called patsas or tripe soup. The dish is seasoned with red wine vinegar and garlic or thickened with avgolemono, an egg-lemon sauce. For dessert, a sweet Easter treat filled with Greek yogurt called Tsoureki is enjoyed.

Vacationing seems to be a theme in many countries - if you're still looking for something to do this weekend, come stay in one of our lovely condos or private homes at the Lake of the Ozarks! There are plenty of fun Easter activities happening right here at the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. To book your last minute reservations for this weekend or to get a jump start on your Lake of the Ozarks summer vacation planning, give us a call at 877-284-0267 today!

For more information please call us toll free at 1-877-284-0267!!
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Why Do We Wear Green on St. Patrick's Day?

....and 5 Other St. Patrick's Day Traditions


Each holiday has a set of traditions that started somewhere. Maybe those traditions are thousands of years old or maybe they're new traditions that you started with your family. St. Patrick's Day is no different - and Your Lake Vacation is here to shed some light on a few traditions associated with this holiday we celebrate each year on March 17th!

1. Wearing Green and Pinching People. 


The association of the color green with St. Patrick's Day is actually kind of a fluke. The original color of St. Patrick's Day was blue. However, for several different reasons, the color green prevailed: Ireland is often referred to as the Emerald Isle, the Irish flag displays a green stripe, Irish Catholics typically wear green and of course, shamrocks are green! Why do we pinch people that aren't wearing green on St. Patrick's Day though? Rumor has it that leprechauns (who wear green) pinch those around them who are not sporting the same green apparel. This evolved into people pinching each other to show the disapproval we think the leprechauns would be showing. This is largely an American tradition, because - shhhh - Irish leprechauns of yore didn't even wear green! 

2. Eating Corned Beef and Cabbage. 


While corned beer and cabbage is a traditional Irish meal, eating it on St. Patrick's Day is more of an American than Irish tradition. It dates back to the 19th century, when most Irish Americans were poor and could only afford the cheapest meat possible, corned beef. Therefore they substituted it for the traditional Irish bacon. As for the cabbage, it's most likely included because it's a spring vegetable. 

3. Drinking Green Beer. 


Nothing's better than enjoying a nice Irish ale with your friends, but who came up with the idea to dye that beer green for St. Patrick's Day? More than likely, the tradition of green beer started with the Irish tradition of dropping a clover in one's drink and then downing it for good luck. However, the first recorded incident of beer being turned green occurred in New York City in 1914. It seemed like any other St. Patrick's Day celebration until Dr. Curtin, a Coroner's physician, presented his contribution to the festivities - a bright and vibrant green beer. The doctor said he simply added a drop of Wash Blue (a bluing agent used for dying fabrics/textiles) to an undisclosed amount of beer. To make green beer for yourself this year, just add a tiny drop of blue (not green) food coloring - because yellow beer and blue food coloring together will make a nice vibrant green colored beverage!    

4. Legends of Leprechauns. 


The belief in leprechauns most likely stems from the Celtic belief in fairies, tiny men and women with magical powers. In Celtic folklore, leprechauns were cranky souls, responsible for mending the shoes of the other fairies. Leprechauns were also known for their trickery, which they often used to protect their much fabled treasure. 

5. Stories of Shamrocks.


The shamrock was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the 17th century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish nationalism. When the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure with English rule. Legend also has it that St. Patrick used the three-leaved shamrock to explain the Christian Holy Trinity; however, there's no evidence that he ever actually did that.    

6. Participating in Parades. 


When it comes to modern holidays, which ones don't have parades? Parades have become a staple tradition in the majority of the holidays celebrated here in America. The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place in New York in 1762, when a group of Irish soldiers in the British military marched down Broadway. While parades and wearing green have always been a traditional part of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, the events will vary from city to city. For example, in Chicago they die the river green.

Your Lake Vacation wants to wish you a very Happy St. Patrick's Day! For all your holiday planning, from Valentine's Day to Christmas and New Year's, keep our vacation rental company at the Lake of the Ozarks in mind. We have accommodations for any size group - perfect for a small weekend getaway or a big family reunion. Give us a call at 877-284-0267 to book your reservations today! 

For more information please call us toll free at 1-877-284-0267!!
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  

Monday, March 7, 2016

Cozy 2 Bedroom Condo at Lazy Days

Lazy Days Condominiums Z-04 - 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath


Lazy Days Condos offer the perfect vacation rentals to help turn your Lake of the Ozarks vacation into the most memorable one ever. Conveniently located one mile off Highway 54 in Osage Beach, these condos are situated on a peninsula in a beautiful cove surrounded by the state park and offer a premier vacation spot in the heart of Lake of the Ozarks. Let's take a look at one of our favorite 2 bedroom condos here at Lazy Days: 

Condo Amenities 


This 2 bedroom, 2 bath waterfront condo at the Lake of the Ozarks features a master suite with a private bath, king bed, flat screen TV and access to the bistro sitting area on the deck. The second bedroom has two twin beds and flat screen TV, while the living room has a full sleeper sofa allowing this unit to sleep up to 6 people. Enjoy the flat screen TV and DVD player in the living room as well. A full kitchen offers all appliances, plus a stack washer and dryer. The dining room seats 4 at the table, or enjoy breakfast for 4 at the bar! The deck features comfortable dining seating for 6 people, a gas grill and that great lake view!      


Complex Amenities


Leave all your cares behind at Lazy Days.  Stroll along our boardwalk at the waters edge or take a dip in one of our two pools. In addition, the complex features a playground, 2 pavilions, 3 BBQ areas, an ice machine, a boat launch, boat trailer parking, and boat slips available for rent. Enjoy a family day on the lake, a world-class round of golf with friends, shop the outlet mall or take in many of the area attractions or restaurants – all are just minutes away. 

Everything is ready and waiting for your arrival, please come and join us. We guarantee that you will feel right at home here. We have enjoyed many years of providing wonderful, lasting experiences to our guests who come back year after year. We remain one of Lake of the Ozarks best condo rentals for all around family fun and a great choice for making vacation and weekend getaway memories. Call Lazy Days Condos at 877-303-1968 and let our friendly reservation staff help you plan your next vacation at the Lake of the Ozarks!

For more information please call us toll free at 1-877-284-0267!!
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076  

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

The Early Bird Gets The Worm

When To Put Your Property on a Vacation Rental Program


Timing is everything in the vacation rental business. One question that I am asked quite often is “when is the best time to put my property on a vacation rental program?” The answer is that there isn’t a bad time, but some are definitely better than others, especially if you are looking to purchase and depending on the income to defer some of your expenses.


The WORST Time


So if I was going to pick, the worst possible time, I would have to say that it would at the beginning of October. You’ve just missed the entire summer and quite possibly will not have a rental until May of the following year. That is eight months without any income. If you are depending on your property to help pay some of your costs it will be a long wait.

The BEST Time


The best time would probably be the middle of December for a home and no later than the end of February for a condo. As families gather for the holidays they (at least the smart ones) begin planning their summer vacations. Since there are fewer homes than condos, and not very many large homes, they tend to book sooner than the condos and smaller properties. Currently our homes (on average) have booked 30% more nights than our condos for the 2016 rental season. Condos, due to supply and demand, tend to book closer to the guests arrival date.

Condominium Timing Statistics


Last year we had seven new condos join our program. The four that joined prior to January 1st averaged 56.75 nights per unit. Compare that to two units that joined at the beginning of May and one that joined at the beginning of June. Those three units averaged 20.67 nights per unit. The earlier units enjoyed 174% more rental nights than those that joined after May 1st.

Perfect Timing


Sometimes you cannot help when your property becomes available for rent. You may be waiting on the closing, you’ve ordered furniture but it hasn’t arrived, you have repairs that need to be completed or you inherited a property and it just took a while to get it ready. There are many factors that come into play, but as you can see timing can make a huge difference in how successful you are your first year. However, after that you will always be ahead of the curve.

Put Your Property on Our Rental Program


If you are planning on purchasing a vacation rental property at the Lake of the Ozarks, you may want to consider looking in the fall or winter. However, if the perfect property comes along, it may be better to throw caution to the wind and purchase the home or condo before someone else does.

Russell Burdette is the owner/broker of Your Lake Vacation, a professional vacation rental management company at the Lake of the Ozarks since 1986. Russell has served as the vice-chairman of the Tri-County Lodging Association and is the past president of the Lake of the Ozarks Vacation Rental Association. If you would like more info on renting your Lake of the Ozarks condo or home as a vacation rental, give us a call 573-365-3367.

For more information please call us toll free at 1-877-284-0267!!
4571 Osage Beach Pkwy, Suite A
Osage Beach, MO 65065
Local - 573-365-3367
Fax - 573-365-5076