Cabins at the Table Rock Lake

Staying in a vacation home at Table Rock Lake offers a unique opportunity to try out the cuisine of the Ozarks. The regional cuisine is mainly based on local produce including wild turkey, deer, and, of course, fish from the lake itself.

True to the South, this area is also known for its barbecue, particularly its hickory-smoked pork served with a sweet and sour sauce. Local joints like Bubba's Barbecue in the town of Eureka Springs will give you a taste of what the locals enjoy on their plates.

The Ozarks region, including the area around Table Rock Lake, is also noted for its wineries. Make sure you order a bottle of local wine from the Golden Rock or Seven Springs wineries with your meals. Follow that up with a tour of vineyards like Railway Winery's, and take some bottles back to your vacation home.

A vacation home at Table Rock Lake is an ideal base for a family holiday, with plenty of attractions in the area. Silver Dollar City is an 1880s-style theme park in Branson that has rides for kids of all ages. It also features daily live shows and demonstrations of traditional crafts.

Adventurous families need to check out the Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain, an outdoor attraction featuring ziplines of varying lengths and heights, along with the largest synthetic tubing run in the US. Rainy-day activities in Branson include a spectacular interactive Titanic museum, a Hollywood wax museum, and an impressive IMAX cinema screen.

The area around Table Rock Lake is home to dozens of underground caverns, which make for a great family day out. Guided tours through the Talking Rocks Cavern take you 100ft underground along paths lined with crystal formations. Back out in the open, visitors can enjoy a game of crazy golf or try their hand at gemstone mining.

Branson is famous for its country music heritage, and remains a hotbed of live musical performances today. The Presleys' Country Jubilee pays homage to an Ozark musical family who started out playing on stages in underground caves, before moving to a prestigious location in town alongside some of the biggest names in country music.

Travelers can step back in time with an evening cruise on the Showboat Branson Belle. Enjoy the stunning scenery or watch the top-notch live entertainment as you dine. The queen of country music, Dolly Parton runs her own spectacle, Dolly Parton's Stampede, in Branson. A rodeo-style dinner show featuring elements like equestrian demonstrations and racing pigs, it's a great night out for the whole family.

For a night out with a view, head to Branson's own Top of the Rock, which has spectacular views of Table Rock Lake, and several restaurants and bars. If you want to experience the era of moonshine and blues, then the rustic Copper Run Distillery is the place to go. Its craft cocktails are inspired by old bootlegger recipes and local traditional music.

Towns near the shore of Table Rock Lake include Branson, famous for its country music heritage as well as being a center for aquatic sports. The smaller town of Cape Fair is home to a modern marina, where travelers can rent boats or try their hand at reeling in a catch.

If you prefer to let someone else do the sailing, lake cruises depart throughout the year from the historic city of Hollister. Another scenic excursion option is a ride on the Branson Scenic Railway, a heritage railroad line which takes passengers on a 40-mile round trip through the heart of the Ozarks.

Visitors can learn more about local wildlife at Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, located in Springfield. Home to 35,000 live animals, fish, and birds, the center also celebrates some of the country's most impressive fishing and hunting records.

Outdoor activities aren't confined to the lake alone. Vacationers staying in cabin rentals at Table Rock Lake can explore its shores on foot, while the more adventurous can also go on Segway and horseback tours of nearby Dogwood Canyon Nature Park.