4. Osage Beach, Missouri
Osage Beach is on the Lake of the Ozarks, the most popular summer-vacay spot in the Midwest. But you won’t feel crowded: The lake has 1,150 miles of shoreline. The free public beach at Lake of the Ozarks State Park in Osage Beach stood out not only because it’s water-sports central—fishing, kayaking, sailing, and more—but because it’s absolutely beautiful, with rolling hills and limestone bluffs as a backdrop. “The view is so spectacular, you won’t want to leave,” judge Howes says.
If you do manage to pry yourself from the park, you can play a round of golf, pick up fresh fruit at one of the many roadside stands, or check out nearby Spa Shikia at the Lodge of Four Seasons, which is nationally renowned for its Japanese garden and treatments.
Stay here: Bringing the kids? Tan-Tar-A Resort (starting at $100 per night) has two golf courses, an indoor water park, Jet Ski and paddleboat rentals, plus horseback riding. A great B&B alternative is The Inn at Harbour Ridge (starting at $109 per night), where you can swim or fish right off their dock.
Next page: Hilton Head Island
