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Okoboji family recommendations?

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Freebird

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
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Spending four days up in Okoboji with wife and two young children. I have never been there.

Any strong recommendations of things to keep the kids busy? Dining recommendations? Or things/places to avoid? Is the cruise out of Arnold's Park worth doing with two children? The race track looks kinda cool.

Thanks for any advice.
 
Got a boat? West Okoboji is the best water in Iowa. My family rents a small cabin every August and we spend all day on the lake. My favorite spot to beach is Pike's point. Nice shallow water to wade in and enjoy a cold beverage.

We also make sure to get in a game of mini golf @ Arnold's Park.
 
First thing that popped to my head was definitely hitting up Wyman's Spudnuts, which is a doughnut shop near the crossover bridge between West and East and near Mau Marine. Its a fun, very popular doughnut shop that has been transformed from an old oil station/auto shop, not to mention its potato flour doughnuts are one of my all-time favorites. The key is to get their glazed doughnut, then ask them to cover the top of it with maple frosting. MMMMMMMmmmmmm...... I'll be dreaming of doughnuts tonight for sure.
 
Spudnuts are amazing but be prepared to wait unless you get up early. Dukes has good burgers, Braacoos has good food as well. There is an indoor water park at the hotel by Braacos my kids love it when we go. Barefoot Bar is awesome as well its a bar but kids are welcome and have good bar type food. The old Wharf which is now the Okoboji store us a good place o eat as well. The emporium also has resturaunts and Arnolds park will be good for the kids. Go to Barefoot though
 
Freebird said:
Spending four days up in Okoboji with wife and two young children. I have never been there.

Any strong recommendations of things to keep the kids busy? Dining recommendations? Or things/places to avoid? Is the cruise out of Arnold's Park worth doing with two children? The race track looks kinda cool.

Thanks for any advice.
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If you have young children, Arnold's Park would be a good place to start. There's a small amusement park next to the mini golf and go kart track. Take them to the Nutty Bar Stand. Also plenty of gift shops in that area, as well as in the Emporium up by the Fillenwarth resort.
 
Free concerts on Sat. nite at the green space at Arnolds Park, bring your own chairs and they sell snacks, beer, and pop there. There is a fairly nice bike trail on the west side of Okoboji, not sure if they ever finished it all the way around. Riding the north part and down the Arnolds Park was ok but all highway riding not for kids.

Lots of different places to stay at least one hotel has an indoor waterpark, much camping available also, if camping you may want to reserve a spot. The newer Bedell park on Spirit Lake isn't as busy as some of the more established ones.

If your into history the Gardner cabin is right at AP.

Avoid Tweeters it's a huge hawkeye bar went once per friends recommendation. When I left it felt like I'd wrote a check to the Ia. AD.

Depending on how young your kids may enjoy the plays out at treasure village, more mini golf there also. It's on the west side of West Okobji.
 
Freebird said:
Spending four days up in Okoboji with wife and two young children. I have never been there.

Any strong recommendations of things to keep the kids busy? Dining recommendations? Or things/places to avoid? Is the cruise out of Arnold's Park worth doing with two children? The race track looks kinda cool.

Thanks for any advice.
Click to expand...

we go to the lake every summer. Some must eat places are:
The Ritz
Gingham Inn for amazing fried chicken

Not sure how old,your kids are, but there is a very cool grass miniature golf course at Indian Hills in Spirit Lake.

Arnolds Park has lots of fun things to do and they also have live music in the weekends.
 
The kids may get bored on the boat ride, but it's neat to see some of the houses people have built. If your kids are into boats they'll probably think it's pretty cool maybe? The park has some type of day pass with different options you can buy,with 4 of you that might help save some money.
 
ripvdub said:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaur...2-Reviews-O_Farrell_Sisters-Okoboji_Iowa.html
Go here for breakfast at least once. Delicious.
We almost lucked into buying a mobile home directly on the water last year, last second kinda thing that our friends brought to our attention, but was sold underneath us. Would've been super cheap compared to actual homes there and was a nice one. Oh well.
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This. Neat old place with great food.

another is the Koffee Kup by Fillenwarth.
 
Miles. Charlie Boys and Schooners. I wouldn't eat at the Barefoot as there are better options like Braacos (my personal favorite or The Okoboji Store.

Arnolds Park would be cool for the kids and your wife would probably enjoy the little shops nearby. The greenspace is nearby and they should have some sort of music going.

Otherwise, renting a boat for an afternoon could be fun as you can go around and look at some of the houses built.
 
Bridges Bay. In case it rains they have an indoor water park.
 
Second the renting a boat. Watch out for rocks though. Taco house was always good if it's still there.
 
With young kids plan on doing one of two things, either Arnolds Park or hitting a public beach. I second whoever said Taco House that's some good eating. My wife's family owns a cabin on Millers Bay and if you're taking/renting a boat and want a place to park it on the water and hang out that's a great spot. If you're a golfer Brooks is a great course but there are a lot of other ones around there that aren't bad either.
 
Oh, while I talked earlier about grabbing Spudnuts, my other necessity every time I go to Boji is the Taco house. Their tacos are still my all-time favorite and I can't get them enough. It is also a fun place to take the kids. However, like someone mentioned before, BOTH the Taco House and the Spudnuts place can get busy with lines, so going early for the doughnuts is best and going a little off-peak times to Taco House is also best.
 
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