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🚌 Resort Shuttle app (get / open)
Shuttle info · runs 6 AM–midnight, free
To-do before we leave
- FINISH Chelsey's Missouri boater card at ilearntoboat.com/missouri, save to phone. Pay with the discount coupon - Cameron got a share-with-someone coupon email after his course; forward it to Chelsey BEFORE she pays. Backup: marinas issue 7-day temp cards on the spot.
- RESERVE the boat + couch tube at Bent Hook Marina - call Big Cedar 800-225-6343. Confirm Wilderness Club guest access + ask about Mon/Wed 4th-hour-free.
- RESERVE the Osage sunset table for Thursday at Top of the Rock - tell them it's a birthday.
- RESERVE the Dogwood Canyon tram for Thursday morning - dogwoodcanyon.org.
- SERVICE the Nissan Rogue - oil change Friday 12:30 PM, Walmart Lee's Summit (Cameron's lunch break). ~750 highway miles coming.
- SIGN a printed copy of Cameron's temp boater card - it's invalid unsigned. Digital copy lives in the Boat tab; permanent card mails in 3-5 weeks and may beat the trip.
- BOOK optional add-ons - horseback, spa slot, Kids' Adventure Club: 417-339-5240.
- ORDER the Walmart grocery pickup for ~3 PM Sunday, Branson.
The shape of the week
| Day | The big thing |
|---|---|
| Sun 26 | Drive down: Osceola Cheese + Buc-ee's, check in, first swim |
| Mon 27 | Fun Mountain + Lost Canyon Cave cart at golden hour |
| Tue 28 | BOAT DAY - tritoon + couch tube |
| Wed 29 | Resort day: kayaks, pool crawl, putt-putt, fire pit |
| Thu 30 | Dogwood Canyon + birthday dinner at Top of the Rock |
| Fri 31 | Home via Lambert's + Wonders of Wildlife |
Day by day
Sun July 26The Drive Down
9:00a
Roll out of KC. MO-7 → Clinton → MO-13 south → Springfield → US-65 south.
10:45a
Osceola Cheese on MO-13.Hundreds of samples + jerky. Food event #1.
12:15p
Lunch at Buc-ee's Springfield (I-44 exit 84, ~10 min off route).Brisket sandwiches, Beaver Nuggets, the jerky wall. Stock the week's road snacks.
3:00p
Grocery pickup, Branson Walmart.
4:00p
Check in. First move: set up the room split (Pack tab) before anyone unpacks.
5:00p
Swim #1. Scope the pools.
7:00p
Easy dinner at the condo or lodge casual spots. Grounds walk + custard at Truman Cafe.
Route note: Buc-ee's is 4 miles east of the US-65 turn on I-44 - hop east one exit, feast, backtrack.
Mon July 27Big Cedar Day
6:30a
Dawn patrol (Cam + Chels): kayaks on glass water while Phoenix sleeps. Back by 8.
8:30a
Showers, big breakfast at the condo, then Swim #1 while the pool's still empty.
1:00p
Fun Mountain during peak heat.Go-karts, ropes course, arcade, laser tag, bowling - all AC.
4:30p
Swim #2 back at the club.
6:00p
Shuttle to Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail: drive your own golf cart through a canyon INTO a cave with a waterfall. ~$40/person incl. Ancient Ozarks museum.
sunset
Top of the Rock sunset ceremony, then dinner at Arnie's Barn.
Rain plan: flip with a dry day - Fun Mountain + museum both work wet.
Tue July 28Boat Day
8:30a
Big breakfast. Load the boat-day kit (Pack tab).
9:30a
Pick up tritoon + couch tube at Bent Hook Marina. BOTH boater cards + driver's licenses; expect a deposit hold.
10-1p
Tubing with Phoenix while the water is glass. Trade driving shifts so everybody rides.Morning = calm water. Afternoon chop is real.
1:00p
Anchor in a quiet cove, swim off the boat, cooler lunch.
3:00p
Return boat, shower, nap.
6:30p
Branson Landing: waterfront dinner + free fire-and-water fountain show.
Money move: Mon/Wed 4th-hour-free promo at Bent Hook - if live, boat Wednesday instead. Weather wins all ties.
Wed July 29Resort Day
6:30a
Dawn patrol #2 (Cam + Chels): sunrise kayaks, back by 8 for showers + breakfast.
10:00a
Family round: free kayaks / canoes / pedal boats at Bent Hook; paddleboards rent cheap.Phoenix paddles himself silly. Pedal-boat fishing if the itch hits.
noon
Pool crawl + Swim #1. Swimmin' Hole has the pool bar & grill - lunch without leaving the water. Lakeside + Camp Long Creek after; Brushy Creek indoor is the rain backup.
3:00p
Putt-putt (included), then Swim #2. Shuttle between all of it.
evening
Fire pit + s'mores kit, casual dinner at Truman Cafe or Devil's Pool, sunset stroll.
Add-ons: horseback ride, spa hour for Chelsey, or Kids' Adventure Club for Phoenix ($85, 4 hrs incl. dinner) = parents' evening. Lean into doing nothing.
Thu July 30Dogwood + Birthday Dinner
9:00a
Dogwood Canyon (~25 min): wildlife tram through bison + elk country, waterfalls, trout feeding. Bikes on the paved creek trail if legs allow.
1:30p
Back to the club: lunch, Swim #2, lazy pre-pack.
6:30p
Birthday dinner at Osage, Top of the Rock, sunset table.Best view in the Ozarks. Chapel + overlook photos after.
Low-key alt: Devil's Pool Restaurant at the lodge.
Fri July 31The Drive Home
9:30a
Last swim if the crew's up, check out by 10.
11:00a
Early lunch at Lambert's Cafe, Ozark - they throw hot rolls across the room at you. Phoenix's grand finale.
1:00p
Wonders of Wildlife, Springfield: America's best aquarium, then a lap of the original Bass Pro next door.
4:00p
Point it home. KC by ~7:30 PM.
Swap: Fantastic Caverns ride-thru cave if aquarium'd out - or a farewell Buc-ee's pass.
Table Rock, three ways
Lake Life
The 6 AM ritual (Cam + Chels)
- Kayaks out by 6:30-7 - glassiest water of the entire day, eagles and herons on patrol, Phoenix sound asleep.
- Back by 8: shower, big breakfast, then the family swim. The day hasn't even started and you've already won it.
- At check-in, ask about early kayak access - if the racks are staffed-hours only, ask to keep two by the room overnight.
- Vests on, phones in the dry pouches. Sunrise photos are the souvenir.
Boat Day Playbook
Licenses
Both drivers born after Jan 1 1984 = both need boater ed cards on board. Cameron's done, Chelsey's in progress. Bring both cards + driver's licenses. Fallback: marinas issue 7-day temp cards with a license + affidavit. Phoenix rides + tubes; no driving.
Cameron's card (carry + show)
Temporary Missouri card K37813693, valid through Oct 11, 2026. Rules on the card itself: carry it signed with a photo ID whenever driving the boat. This copy is the phone backup - bring the signed printout too. If the permanent card arrives in the mail before the 26th, bring that instead.
Where to rent
| Marina | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bent Hook | ON property. Tracker/Regency fleet, couch + deluxe tubes, hourly or daily. Guests-only - confirm Wilderness Club access. Mon/Wed 4th-hour-free promo. |
| State Park Marina | Backup, 15 min, open to all. Tritoons ~$300-400 half day, ~$300 refundable deposit. |
First-summer-captain tips
- Go morning - 9 AM water is glass; 2 PM wakes stack up.
- Tube rules: spotter always, throttle OFF the instant he's off, circle back slow from downwind.
- Cove swimming: out of the main channel, anchor with plenty of scope, engine OFF before anyone jumps.
- Life jackets ON for anyone on the tube or in open water - all three, house rule.
- No-boat lake fix: Moonshine Beach, real sand, 20 min.
Load-out
Packing
0 of 0 done ·
Documents + money
Daily swim kit
Boat day kit
Condo kit (from home)
Walmart pickup order · Sunday ~3 PM
Grocery List
Built around Chelsey: low/no sugar, low-glycemic, protein-forward (PCOS-smart). The boys eat great off the same list.
Protein + breakfast
Chelsey-smart snacks
Drinks + boat day
Easy dinners (condo nights)
The boys' corner
Room split + sleep
Evenings + backup
One room, two zones
The Room Split
ZONE A: ParentsKing bed side, bathroom access.
ZONE B: Phoenix's DenSofa-bed corner: bed, chair-nightstand, snacks, headphones.
Divider = tension rod + curtain OR folding screen. Zero damage, 10-min setup at check-in.
Plan A: Curtain Wall
Long spring-tension rod (10+ ft, no drilling) at the pinch point + two tall blackout panels. Full privacy both ways, ~$50-70.
Plan B: Folding Screen
4-panel divider (~6 ft, ~$60-90). Stands anywhere, zero install.
- Sound: box fan on his side + earbuds.
- Light: sleep masks + his clip light.
- House rule: after goodnight, Zone B is his room.
- If it's a 1-bedroom villa: parents take the bedroom, living room IS his room, divider screens the changing corner.
At check-in: ask if a 1-bedroom villa is open. Free-upgrade asks cost nothing on a birthday trip.
Never leave the property
Resort Menu
| Type | What's there |
|---|---|
| Free | 5 pools · kayaks/canoes/pedal boats · putt-putt · pickleball, sand volleyball, horseshoes, shuffleboard · 5K cedar trail · geocaching · fire pits · sunset ceremony · daily calendar (Bingo, yard games, fishing derbies - grab at check-in) |
| Water | Lady Liberty yacht cruises (~$70 day/brunch, ~$120 dinner) · Goin' Jessi 1934 Chris Craft rides · pedal-boat fishing $30/hr · guided fishing |
| Paid | Fun Mountain · Lost Canyon Cave ~$40 · horseback · easy golf: Mountain Top short course / Cliffhangers par-3 with Phoenix (Payne's Valley island 19th = bucket list) |
| Grown-up | Art of the Cocktail class · Cedar Creek Spa · yoga + fitness · Kids' Adventure Club ($85, 4 hrs w/ dinner) = parents' evening |
If the mood strikes
Wild Cards
| Rainy day | Fun Mountain · Aquarium at the Boardwalk · WonderWorks |
| Lake, no boat | Moonshine Beach (real sand, 20 min) |
| Show night | Dolly Parton's Stampede - dinner show, eaten with your hands |
| Free evening | Branson Landing fountain show + ice cream |
Numbers + links
- Resort shuttle: 417-339-5105 (or the JM Nature Resorts Shuttle app)
- Big Cedar main / Bent Hook: 800-225-6343
- Activities desk: 417-339-5240
- Big Cedar Lodge · Activities · Dining
- Dogwood Canyon · Wonders of Wildlife · Lambert's
- MO boater course · State Park Marina
Wendelin-Cox Family · Big Cedar '26 · belated 34th birthday trip