I spent much of the last week with my sisters and their families in the Ozarks in Missouri. We last vacationed together at the same place in 2009.

We stayed at Summerset Inn Resort and Villas in apartment-style accommodations. It featured a mini-kitchen, a deck overlooking the lake and a grill. There were ten of us staying in our “Captain Quarters,” and we were very comfortable.

The weather was great, and we spent a good portion of our time on the lakes on Waverunners, in speedboats and on Jet Skis. Several of us also went parasailing. We tried a new place, a little off the beaten path, but Casa del Loco Winery was well worth the trip. Its’ history dates back to the 1920s and includes several owners and usages, one of which was a care facility for the elderly and mentally ill. You can enjoy their wine tasting or wine blending, where you create your own. They recently added made-to-order brick oven pizzas. We ordered several with varying topping combinations.

We had many great meals during the stay. Some of the highlights included the grouper sandwich at Captain Ron’s, alligator eggs at Shorty Pants Lounge, barbecued delights at Burnt Ends BBQ and awesome seafood at Docknockers.

I really love the Ozarks, and they are constantly trying to make the area even better. There are new shops opening and old ones improving in downtown Osage Beach. There is construction underway to ease traffic flow and make everything more easily accessible. The Ozarks is a great vacation spot. You can be as busy as you want or you can be completely lazy. Either way, you will have a great time.

— John Wroblewski, distribution specialist