Big Cedar Lodge Itinerary
Spring Into Adventure in the Great Outdoors
There’s nothing quite like spring in the Ozarks! The Redbud and Dogwood trees create a memorable blanket of colors across Big Cedar Lodge, while the birds chip as they glide across Table Rock Lake. Afternoon sunshine and warm breezes inspire a sense of adventure and exploration, perfect for creating lasting family memories. Enjoy fishing, hiking, go-carts, incredible dining experiences, and more – all while taking in the beautiful scenery as you take time to disconnect from the busy world – and reconnect with family.
Here’s an expanded family itinerary for your spring stay in the Missouri Ozarks.
Day One
4:00 PM: Arrive at Big Cedar Lodge, check in to your accommodation, and discover all of our amenities!
Pro Tip: Meet a member of our team and grab the Kids Adventure Passport and check the activities calendar for all the events and activities planned during your stay so you can build your perfect family adventure in the great outdoors!
5:00 PM: Settle into your room or cabin and then head to our Big Bass Mini Golf course for a late afternoon round of putt-putt or stroll down to Bent Hook Marina to feed the fish and check out our selection of boat rentals, outdoor gear, paddle boats, canoes and kayaks.
6:00 PM: Time to relax and enjoy an unforgettable casual dining experience and stunning lake views on the outdoor patio at Devil’s Pool Restaurant.
8:00 PM: Enjoy the family campfire, roast s’mores, or watch a movie on the Swimmin’ Hole lawn.
Pro Tip: For in-room snacking and convenience, enjoy our in-room dining service or plan to have provisions delivered straight to your door from Nature’s Wonders.
Day Two
BREAKFAST: Start your day at Devil’s Pool Restaurant for breakfast and coffee.
9:00 AM: Take a short drive to Dogwood Canyon, our 10,000-acre nature park for horseback riding, hiking, biking, and more!
LUNCH: After a day of exploring, stop for lunch at the Dogwood Canyon Canyon Mill & Grill built right over Indian Creek.
Return to Big Cedar Lodge and relax by the pool or snag one of our complimentary paddle boats, canoes, or kayaks at Bent Hook Marina.
4:00 PM: Check the kids into the Kids Adventure Club at Fun Mountain for four hours of Big Cedar-style fun with our activities staff while mom and dad enjoy a relaxing date night.
Pro Tip: Download our shuttle app for convenient transportation.
DINNER: With stunning views of the lake, custom-themed cocktails and gourmet food, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable evening at the historic Worman House. Arrive early for Cocktail Hour and enjoy live music and specialty drinks at this timeless 1920s country retreat.
8:00 PM: Time to pick up the kids from Fun Mountain and unwind around the campfire before heading back to your cabin.
Pro Tip: Book a special bedtime story visit for your child from our nature loving friend here at Big Cedar, Willow.
Day Three
BREAKFAST: Rise and shine and make your way to Truman Cafe & Custard for a quick coffee, breakfast bites, and smoothies before a round of golf!
Next, grab your clubs (or use ours!) and hop a board the shuttle to Mountain Top Golf course. This short, 13-hole course is truly a memorable experience for golfers – and is our most recommended course for families with kids. Don’t forget to stock up on your Big Cedar Golf gear at the Mountain Top Clubhouse and Pro Shop.
Pro Tip: Check out the Fitness Center schedule for nature walks, yoga classes, and other wellness activities offered during your stay.
LUNCH: After some time on the greens, take a break at Mountain Top Grill for lunch, located inside the clubhouse.
Pro Tip: Be sure to take time to explore Arnie’s General Store to find unique, hand-crafted items created in the Ozarks.
2:00 PM: Drop your clubs off, and grab the next shuttle to Top of the Rock! Journey along on an electric cart on the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail tour. This dramatic golf cart tour follows a beautiful 2.5-mile trail created to highlight stunning rock formations, waterfalls, and views of Table Rock Lake and offers plenty of photo opportunities along the way! The perfect way to relax after a busy morning on the course.
3:30 PM: Come face to face with prehistoric creatures, explore Civil War history and take in the largest most impressive collection of Native American artifacts in the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum.
DINNER: Dine on the patio of the Buffalo Bar or in the atrium at Osage Restaurant and enjoy picturesque views of Table rocks lake and experience our evening Sunset Ceremony complete with the firing of the canon and a bag-piper.
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to snap your selfie and tag us #topoftherock #sunsetselfie
Day Four
BREAKFAST: Grab something quick and tasty from Truman Cafe & Custard.
11:00 AM: Looking for a fun indoor activity? Join our activities team for a Wood Burning & Charcuterie Class or head to Fun Mountain for Pottery Painting. *Charcuterie class participants must be 18.
LUNCH: Lunch on the patio at Uncle Buck’s is the perfect way to get ready for an action-packed afternoon at Fun Mountain, our 50,000-square-foot adventure center!
Fun Mountain offers endless entertainment for all ages. Enjoy go-carts, underwater-themed bowling, a full arcade, laser tag, a golf simulator, a ropes course, and so much more! Gutter ball nachos, pizza, and wings from Uncle Buck’s are great mid-day snack options to keep the fun going all day long!
Pro Tip: Challenge the family to a race around the go-cart track or a friendly round of bumper cars!
DINNER: Just downstairs from Devil’s Pool Restaurant is our famed Buzzard Bar! It’s the perfect spot for a casual dinner, drinks, and family-friendly live entertainment featuring local entertainers, including our own Singin’ Cowboy performing decades of favorites!
Pro Tip: The Buzzard Bar Signature Chicken Wings are rumored to be the “Best Wings in the Ozarks!”
Day Five
BREAKFAST: Order in! Our in-room dining services offer a full selection of breakfast favorites, delivered to the comfort of your accommodation.
Pro Tip: Stop by The Shoppe to stock up on snacks, beverages, and the latest Big Cedar Lodge gear!
Read a book on your deck; take a stroll around property; check out the fitness center; or soak in one of our heated pools or hot tubs. With so many ways to relax and unwind, you might have trouble choosing your favorite!
11:00 AM: Bring the kids to the kid’s fishing* pond near the Swimmin’ Hole Lawn for their chance to take home the trophy for reeling in the biggest fish of the day!
LUNCH: The Trumann Café & Custard is the perfect lunch spot for grab-and-go bistro fare with beautiful views of Table Rock Lake.
1:00 PM: Sneak in a little girls date with pampering for mom and daughter at Cedar Creek Spa. Our Royal Treatment is the perfect experience, offering a hair style and makeup for your little princess while mom can enjoy a foot soak in our pedicure thrones. Includes a Royal backpack and goodies. *Options available for upgraded services.
5:30 PM: Grab a shuttle over to Long Creek Marina to set sail aboard the Lady Liberty, our 62′ luxury yacht. Enjoy an unforgettable dining experience and the best sunset views of the Ozarks. This is family-friendly, but you can also choose to book private childcare through the Kids’ Nature Discovery Center at Fun Mountain.
8:00 PM: Catch the shuttle back to Big Cedar Lodge and relax around the campfire on Swimmin’ Hole Lawn.
Day Six
BREAKFAST: Order in-room dining or revisit Truman Cafe & Custard for breakfast and coffee.
9:00 AM: Check the kids into the Kids Adventure Club at Fun Mountain for a fun-filled themed adventure with our activities staff.
While the kids are occupied, Mom & Dad can sneak off for massages and relax by the grotto pool in our world-class Cedar Creek Spa.
Pro Tip: Book a couple’s package and enjoy a private room with patio access and semi-private outdoor pool where you can enjoy refreshing beverages or even dine poolside.
LUNCH: Let our activities staff take care of the kids while you dine poolside at the spa or on the patio at the Truman Cafe & Custard.
1:00 PM: Next, suit up, grab your sunscreen and head to the Bent Hook Marina & Market to stock up your cooler and hop on a boat for a day of fun on Table Rock Lake. Our full-service marinas offer fully equipped bass boats, ski boats, and pontoon boats by our very own White River Marine Group as well as Wave Runner rentals, equipment and even ski/wakeboard lessons!
Pro Tip: Book a fishing guide to discover the best fishing spots in the nation! The marinas are always stocked with all the gear and bait you need to reel in the catch of the day!
3:30 PM Spend the afternoon in Ski and Wakeboard School learning to Ski, Slalom, Wakeboard, Kneeboard or Tube on Table Rock Lake with a nationally ranked ski instructor! Complimentary towels and ice cold drinks are provided.
5:00 PM Lake hair don’t care! Back at the dock, grab a hoodie and ball cap from the Bent Hook Marina & Market and catch a shuttle to Fun Mountain for dinner.
DINNER: Blue Fin Lounge at Fun Mountain offers a casual, low-key dining experience to wrap up the perfect lake day.
Day Seven
BREAKFAST: Order in-room dining or revisit Truman Cafe & Custard for breakfast and coffee.
Pro Tip: Worried about getting all those must-haves home? Ask our staff about shipping and online shopping options.
11:00 AM: Head back to the Swimmin’ Hole Lawn for one last chance to take home the kid’s fishing* trophy.
LUNCH: Enjoy lunch on the patio at Truman Cafe & Custard or Devil’s Pool Restaurant.
2:00 PM: Grab your walking shoes and get ready to travel back in time and learn about the rich history of Big Cedar on the one-mile History Tour. *Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Spend the afternoon relaxing poolside, playing outdoor games, exploring the property, or enjoying marina activities.
Pro Tip: You might choose to book a tee time to get in a round of golf at one of our Award-Winning Nature Golf courses.
DINNER: Enjoy the best of southern homestyle cooking at Devil’s Pool Restaurant.
8:00 PM: Check in at the Swimmin’ Hole Lawn for one last family adventure to compete in the Blacklight in the Night Scavenger Hunt*! Solve some riddles around Big Cedar property and race back to see if your team finishes first!
Bonus Day
BREAKFAST: Start your day at Devil’s Pool Restaurant for breakfast and coffee.
Pro Tip: Book a Family Portrait Session* to capture the memories with the beauty of Big Cedar as the perfect portrait backdrop.
11:00 AM: Time to check out and say goodbye for now but visit the reservations desk before you leave to book your next Big Cedar adventure!
LUNCH: Take a short drive north to explore Finley Farms, the historic Ozark Mill property, and enjoy lunch at the Ozark Mill Restaurant overlooking the picturesque Finley River. Also, be sure to check out The Workshop calendar for any tours or classes planned while you’re on the property.
After lunch, plan to visit Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, the largest immersive wildlife attraction in the world, voted America’s Best Aquarium year over year, by USA Today.
No visit to Springfield is complete without a trip to the original Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World location, affectionately known as The Grandaddy of All Outdoor Stores®. This massive outdoor-themed experience is the number one tourist destination in Missouri – attracting four million families, sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts every year.
DINNER: Enjoy the expansive view and sportsman-inspired menu at Hemingway’s Blue Water Café, a full-service restaurant on the top floor of Bass Pro Shops.
OVERNIGHT: Big Cedar Lodge’s sister property, Angler’s Lodge, is conveniently located across the street from Bass Pro Shops and features lodge-style inspired room accommodations and complimentary breakfast to enjoy before you hit the road.
Pro Tip: Angler’s Lodge guests receive 15% off at Hemingway’s Blue Water Café.
* Reservations are required for special events and activities. Activity schedules, menus, and operating hours may be seasonable and subject to change.