★ ★ ★ July 1–6, 2026 ★ ★ ★
Missouri Family
Lake Trip
Pomme de Terre Lake • Wheatland, MO
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👨👩👧👦 The Crew
AnisaTaraMom (Mickela)
WestonWendyBradleyLogan
✈️ Getting There & Back
Anisa Southwest conf #BAIVWE
Wed Jul 1 — Memphis 6:45 PM → Houston Hobby → Kansas City (WN 656 / 2030)
lands 11:35 PM
Mon Jul 6 — Kansas City → Austin (WN 4749)
departs 5:20 PM
Mom & Tara Southwest conf #C5457J
Wed Jul 1 — Orange County 11:10 AM → Phoenix → Kansas City (WN 3703 / 2104)
land 8:35 PM
Mon Jul 6 — Kansas City → Denver → Orange County (WN 1146 / 1748)
departs 5:15 PM
Weston, Wendy, Bradley & Logan
Thu Jul 2 — Orange County 7:00 AM → Denver → Kansas City (WN 4011 / 1586)
land 1:45 PM
Mon Jul 6 — Kansas City → Dallas → Orange County (WN 4759 / 4300)
departs 1:00 PM
Car 1 — booked ✓
Alamo — Anisa, Tara & Mom
Conf #898542028 • Hyundai Kona or similar
Pick up: Wed Jul 1, 11:30 PM — MCI (648 Madrid Ave)
Drop off: Mon Jul 6, 3:00 PM — MCI
🏠 Where We're Staying
Night 1 — Jul 1 (Anisa, Tara & Mom)
Homewood Suites by Hilton — Kansas City Airport
7312 NW Polo Drive, Kansas City, MO 64153 • (816) 880-9880
Conf #92954342 • Check-in 3:00 PM, check-out 11:00 AM • Self-parking $15/night (per the confirmation email)
Mom & Tara land 8:35 PM — take the free airport shuttle to the hotel; Anisa lands 11:35 PM and brings the car.
Jul 2 – 6 — everyone
The Lake House — Wheatland, MO (Airbnb)
On Pomme de Terre Lake • ~2 hr 45 min drive from MCI
Check-in/checkout times, door code & exact address: see the Airbnb app.
View the Airbnb →
💡 Heads-up from past guests (4.97★, 29 reviews)
- The drive in looks rougher than it is. House sits at the end of a gravel road and the area looks "a bit sketchy" on the way in, but guests report zero issues — it's a private, quiet, end-of-the-road spot. Don't panic when the GPS turns off the highway.
- Inside is the opposite: newly renovated, very clean, "diamond in the rough." 2 king bedrooms + bunk room for the boys, each room has its own A/C unit.
- Coffee people rejoice: there's an espresso machine and fancy coffee setup. Fiber wifi is fast.
- Kitchen is well stocked (a group of 11 had plenty of towels, linens, and utensils), and there's a washer/dryer plus grill and griddle on the covered patio.
- Parking is tight for trailers — a guest with a 30' boat trailer struggled, and a neighbor sometimes parks in the road. We're renting at the marina, so we're fine.
- Friendly neighbor dachshunds may bark a greeting on arrival, then leave you alone.
- Self check-in by keypad — check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 10:00 AM (note: no carbon monoxide alarm listed).
📅 Day by Day
Wed1Jul
Travel day — Kansas City
- Mom & Tara land 8:35 PM — free airport shuttle to the hotel
- Anisa lands 11:35 PM, picks up the rental car (reserved for 11:30 PM)
- Overnight at Homewood Suites near the airport
Thu2Jul
Drive to the lake
- Anisa, Tara & Mom: check out by 11 AM, big grocery run on the way down — Walmart Supercenter in Clinton, MO (1712 E Ohio St) is right on the route, about an hour before the lake
- Weston & fam land 1:45 PM, grab rental car, drive down (~2 hr 45 min)
- Settle in at the Airbnb (check-in 4:00 PM, keypad)
- 🏁 Evening: Lucas Oil Speedway — Thursday Night Thunder! Dirt-track racing, Kids Night (annual bicycle giveaway!), and the Lake Area's biggest fireworks show. The track is ~10 min from the house. Gates 4 PM, hot laps 6:30, racing after. Adults $22.25, kids 6–12 $12, 5 & under free. Tickets → (Casey's stores have $2-off coupons for the gate)
- Dinner: eat at the track or easy takeout
Fri3Jul
Boat day 🚤
- Boat rental on Pomme de Terre Lake (Nemo Landing marina is right in Wheatland)
- Dinner: Mom, Tara & Anisa cook
Sat4Jul
July 4th! 🎆
- Boat day on the lake
- Evening: dinner & celebration with extended family — everyone brings a side dish, whatever you like
- Fireworks over the lake
Sun5Jul
Free day — pick your adventure
- ⛳ Golf at Shadow Lake Golf Course — 18 holes, par 72, right on Pomme de Terre in Wheatland (the only course around, ~$37 for 18). Family tee time, anyone?
- ⚾ Springfield Cardinals game (Double-A St. Louis affiliate) — Sun Jul 5, 6:05 PM vs Arkansas Travelers at Route 66 Stadium, ~1 hr 15 min away. Perfect for the boys. Tickets →
- 🥾 Ha Ha Tonka State Park (~1 hr) — castle ruins on a bluff, natural bridge, sinkholes, and spring-fed lake trails. Best hike in the area.
- 🐟 Bass Pro Shops flagship + Wonders of Wildlife museum, Springfield (~1 hr 15 min) — pair it with the game
- 🏖️ Or just hang at the lake — swim beaches at Pomme de Terre State Park
- Dinner: Weston & Wendy cook — unless we all end up at the Cardinals game
Mon6Jul
Head home
- Weston & fam: leave by ~9:00 AM (flight at 1:00 PM)
- Anisa, Tara & Mom: leave by ~11:30 AM (car due 3:00 PM; flights at 5:15 and 5:20 PM)
- Tidy the house, take out trash, leave it better than we found it
🍽️ Meal Plan
Breakfast — free-for-all. We'll keep the kitchen stocked: eggs, bacon, sausage, avocado, bread, smoothie stuff.
Lunch — make-your-own sandwiches. Fixings in the fridge.
Dinner — each family cooks one night:
| Night | Who's cooking | Menu |
|---|
| Thu Jul 2 | Arrival night — easy/takeout |
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| Fri Jul 3 | Mom, Tara & Anisa |
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| Sat Jul 4 | Extended-family potluck 🎆 | |
| Sun Jul 5 | Weston & Wendy |
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Cooking crews: post your menu, then add the ingredients you need to the grocery list under your dinner's category.
🛒 Grocery List
ℹ️ Good to Know
Around the lake
- Big grocery run: Walmart Supercenter in Clinton, MO — right on the drive down from KC. Bolivar's Walmart (~30 min south of the house) is the closest one once we're there.
- Boat & marina: Nemo Landing Marina, Wheatland — pontoons, deck boats, jet skis
- Weather: expect hot — highs around 90°F, warm lake water. Hydrate.
- Cell service: can be spotty around the lake — download maps/music before you head down
🍔 Local picks — eat, drink, caffeinate
- ☕ Coffee: 254 Cafe (Wheatland) for breakfast + coffee; Hermitage Coffee Shop (~10 min) — plus the Airbnb has its own espresso machine
- 🍳 Breakfast/diner: 254 Cafe (Wheatland), Home Town Diner (Hermitage)
- 🍔 Lakeside food: The Harbor (lakeside at the marina), Crappie Hole Bar & Grill (Hermitage)
- 🍻 Bar/BBQ: Tipsy Mule FOB550 (Hwy 254, Wheatland) — bar + barbecue; Hickory House Bar & Grill (Hermitage)
- 🌮 Quick bites: Pomme De Ritas, MeMaw's Shake Shack
- 🛒 Groceries: big run at Walmart Supercenter in Clinton on the drive down from KC; closest Walmart to the house is Bolivar (~30 min south); marinas and gas stations around the lake for ice and forgotten items. Anisa has Walmart+ — we'll check if delivery reaches the Airbnb address as backup.
- Small-town hours can be quirky, especially around the 4th — check Google/Facebook before driving over.
Packing reminders
- Swimsuits, sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, water shoes
- Towels for the boat (check what the Airbnb provides)
- Life jackets for the boys if you have favorites (marina provides standard ones)
- Baseball gloves for July 5 ⚾ (and golf clubs if you want Shadow Lake — they may have rentals, call ahead)
- Red, white & blue for the 4th 🇺🇸