Free Things to Do Near Shore to Mountain Stays | 2026 Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Free Things to Do Near Our Shore to Mountain Stays Vacation Rentals (2026)
By Jason and Jana DeLong | Shore to Mountain Stays | Updated June 2026
Here is the thing nobody tells you when you are planning a vacation rental trip.
The property is only half the experience. The other half is everything just outside the front door.
When Jana and I built Shore to Mountain Stays, we made a deliberate decision to put each property in a location where guests could walk out and immediately access something worth doing, something worth seeing, or something worth telling people about when they got home. Not just a nice house in a convenient spot. A launchpad for a trip that would feel genuinely different from anything a hotel or resort could offer.
I have personally built over 100 homes and flipped over 150 properties across the Kansas City metro, so I know how much location drives the long-term value of any real estate. In the vacation rental business, that same logic applies to the guest experience. The properties that generate the best reviews, the most repeat bookings, and the strongest word-of-mouth are the ones where guests feel like they discovered something. Something local. Something real. Something they did not expect to find.
This guide is the insider version of that. Every free thing worth doing within reach of each of our six Shore to Mountain Stays properties, written the way we would tell a close friend who was heading out the door.
Browse all six properties and check availability at shoretomountainstays.com before you read further. Your dates go fast in summer.
Property 1, 2 and 3: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Amazing Blue Dreams, Renovated Lake House with Pool, Luxury Lake House with Pool and Bar
Three lake houses. Sixteen guests each on two of them, fifteen on the pool house. Steps from H Toads and Shady Gators. Dock access. Pool. Views. This is the anchor of the Shore to Mountain Stays portfolio and the most searched short-term rental market within two hours of Kansas City.
But here is what most visitors never get to because they spend their entire trip on the boat or at the bar: the area surrounding Lake of the Ozarks has a legitimate free activity scene that most guests never discover.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Ha Ha Tonka contains ruins of a stone mansion built in the early 1900s that you can explore, along with an extensive system of walking paths throughout the property including a beautiful shaded spring area. The park is an example of karst topography with sinkholes, caves, a huge natural bridge, soaring bluffs, and Missouri's twelfth largest natural spring that gushes about 48,000 gallons of water into the lake daily. The park has fifteen miles of trails traversing the park leading visitors to spectacular scenery, natural wonders, and the famous cliff-top castle ruins. It has been called the most beautiful place in Missouri by Conde Nast Traveler. Free to enter, any day of the week, and genuinely one of the most visually dramatic natural sites in the entire Midwest. BearbottomresortQuailsnest
The drive from our Lake Ozark properties is under 30 minutes. Go in the morning before it gets crowded. The castle ruins overlook the lake and the view from the bluffs stops people mid-sentence.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park
Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Missouri's largest park, clocks in at 17,626 acres. Combined with Ha Ha Tonka, the parks have 26 different hiking trails covering 57 miles of scenic natural landscapes. Mountain biking and horseback riding are also allowed on select trails. Lake of the Ozarks State Park features two sandy swimming beaches that are free and open to the public from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Free public fishing accesses are available throughout the park as well with miles of shoreline and dozens of access points. Natja
This is the park most lake visitors never get to because they are already on the water. If you have a group staying at Amazing Blue Dreams or the Luxury Lake House and someone in the party wants an alternative to the boat scene, this park absorbs an entire day without spending a dollar.
The Bagnell Dam Strip and Willmore Lodge
Serving as the official Lake of the Ozarks Visitors Center, Willmore Lodge is a nice stop to learn a little history about the area. There is a wealth of information about the construction of Bagnell Dam and the communities here that preceded it. You can also pick up maps and brochures to help plan your stay. Free to visit, interesting architecture, and the panoramic view of the lake from this stretch of the dam is one of the better photo opportunities in the area. Lake of the Ozarks
The Swinging Bridges
The Swinging Bridges are a completely free activity for all ages. The larger of the two bridges is known as the Grand Auglaize Swinging Bridge, a metal wire suspension bridge built in 1922. The length of the structure is 500 feet and the main wooden plank section is 414 feet long. The second smaller bridge is the Mill Creek Bridge, built in 1925. About twenty minutes from Lake Ozark down an old county road. The bridges swing as you walk across them. There is a swimming creek below. It is one of those only-in-Missouri experiences that guests come back and tell us about every time. Yelp
Thunder Mountain Conservation Center
Thunder Mountain Conservation Center cannot be beat for one of the most unique views around the Lake. The center's 80-foot watch tower offers a breathtaking view of Lake of the Ozarks. Be sure to try your hand at the center's archery range. Free to visit, the archery range alone makes it worth the detour for groups with kids or anyone who wants something a little different from the standard lake day. Fun Lake
Camden County Museum
Free self-guided tours through a former schoolhouse in Linn Creek that holds Civil War memorabilia and relics from historical area businesses. Appointment-based for private tours but walk-in welcome during open hours. Good rainy day option if the lake weather is not cooperating.
The Local Secret: Dock Watching at the 5 Mile Mark
This one is not on any list. The 5 Mile Mark area of the lake is where the boat party scene concentrates on summer weekends. You do not need a boat to experience it. Park at the public access point, sit on the bank, and watch several hundred boats raft together across one of the most energetic stretches of the 92-mile lake. It is a free spectator sport unlike anything in the Midwest and it is available every weekend from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Property 4: Granby, Colorado
Modern Rustic Mountain Retreat with Views and Patio
Five bedrooms, twelve guests, hot tub, covered patio, across from Grand Elk Golf Course, minutes from Grand Lake, ski access to Winter Park in winter. This property runs all four seasons because Grand County, Colorado has something worth doing in every month of the year, and a significant portion of it is free.
Monarch Lake Loop Trail
Near Granby, the Monarch Lake Loop delivers lake views, mountain backdrops, and the occasional moose sighting. It is a four-mile loop around a stunning high mountain lake in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, completely free to hike, and one of the most consistently spectacular trail experiences in Grand County at any skill level. Early mornings in summer the moose sightings here are almost guaranteed. We have had guests send us photos from this trail that looked like they were taken in New Zealand. Go Grand Lake
Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway
The Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway takes you from Granby through winding canyons, ranchland, and pristine forest, with plenty of turnouts to spot elk, bald eagles, or even bighorn sheep. Eighty miles of free scenic driving that follows the Colorado River from just above Grand Lake westward through some of the most beautiful ranchland in the state. Free, drives itself, and the wildlife viewing along this route in fall is extraordinary. Visit Grand County
Fraser River Trail
In Winter Park, the Fraser River Trail offers a gentle path that winds past wildflowers, aspen groves, and even public art, making it ideal for families or casual strollers. Free, paved in sections, and connects several communities in the valley. It is the kind of trail where you stop to take photos every five minutes and arrive back at the car having completely forgotten you were supposed to be exercising. Visit Grand County
Free Tennis Courts and Pickleball at Raffety Park and Polhamus Park
Granby has two outdoor, beautiful, lighted tennis courts located at Raffety Park. There are also two new pickleball courts located at Polhamus Park. All courts are free and open to the public to use at any time. If your group has pickleball players and you are staying at our mountain retreat, the courts at Polhamus Park are a five-minute drive. Townofgranby
Free Summer Concerts at Polhamus Park
All summer long, Polhamus Park in Granby comes alive with free outdoor concerts and family-friendly events. Farmers markets pop up in Fraser and Winter Park, offering live music, local vendors, and a lively small-town vibe. These summer concert evenings in Granby are the kind of local community event that makes guests feel like they are not just visiting the mountains but actually living in them for a week. That feeling is the whole point of what we built at the Granby property. Visit Grand County
Lake Granby Shoreline and Wildlife Watching
Lake Granby is one of Colorado's largest, with 40 miles of scenic shoreline and abundant wildlife. The shoreline drive around the lake is free, the wildlife viewing is free, and the photo opportunities are unlimited. Moose, elk, bald eagles, and bighorn sheep are all regularly spotted along the lake and the surrounding Arapaho National Recreation Area. Bring binoculars. Drive slow. Pull over when something moves in the treeline. Colorado.com
The Granbious Moose Mural
One of the most photographed spots in Granby is completely free. The giant moose mural on the side of a building at 491 E. Agate Ave in downtown Granby is a quick stop that every guest who has been to our mountain retreat has a photo in front of. Small town, giant art, free forever.
Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum
The Emily Warner Field Aviation Museum in Granby offers a glimpse into the early days of mountain aviation and honors the legacy of Colorado's first female airline captain. Free or donation-based. A great one-hour stop that most visitors to Grand County have never heard of. Visit Grand County
Property 5: Agency, Missouri
Bro Barn at Free Bird Farms
Two bedrooms, six guests, copper soaking tub, pool table, indoor fireplace, Blackstone griddle, and a front patio that looks directly into the alpaca pasture where Tucker the dog, the alpacas, chickens, and a goat spend their days doing exactly what alpacas and goats do.
Here is the honest truth about Free Bird Farms: the best free thing to do here is already included in your stay. Waking up to a Missouri sunrise with a cup of coffee on the patio while alpacas walk past you is something that zero people in your friend group have done before. That experience costs nothing extra. It is the thing guests mention in every single review.
But Agency, Missouri sits in a pocket of northwest Missouri that has more worth exploring than most people who have never ventured this far from Kansas City realize.
Missouri River Bluffs and Country Roads
Agency is in Buchanan County along a stretch of Missouri River bluffs that are genuinely scenic in a way that most people associate with the Ozarks but do not expect this far north. Drive the old county roads east from Agency toward the river bluffs on a fall afternoon and you have one of the most underrated free drives in Missouri. The light through the hardwood forests along the bluff roads in October is something that photographers come specifically for.
Weston Bend State Park
About 45 minutes southeast of Agency, Weston Bend State Park sits along the Missouri River with hiking trails, picnic areas, and overlooks of the river valley below. Free to enter. The 1.5-mile trail along the bluff edge has one of the best river views in northwest Missouri. Weston itself, the historic town just below the park, has one of the most intact 19th-century commercial districts in Missouri and is free to walk any time.
Missouri Agritourism Trail
Missouri is an agriculture-rich state with diverse offerings for visitors to enjoy. The agritourism trail connects farms and farm-business owners who open their doors for informative tours and fun family outings. Staying at Free Bird Farms already puts guests inside the agritourism experience. The broader Missouri Agritourism trail includes U-pick orchards, working dairy farms open for tours, alpaca operations, and farm-to-table experiences scattered throughout northwest and central Missouri within a reasonable drive of Agency. For guests who drove out to experience something genuinely different from a hotel stay, this is exactly the context they are looking for. Visit Missouri
The Farm Life Itself
I want to be direct about this because it matters. The most memorable free experiences at Free Bird Farms are the ones that happen on the property itself. Feeding the alpacas before breakfast. Watching Tucker the dog run the fence line. Collecting eggs from the chicken coop. Sitting on the patio at dusk when the Missouri sky goes orange and everything gets quiet.
One of our recent guests wrote this: "Our family had a great time getting away for the weekend. We enjoyed jumping outside to feed the alpacas, Tucker the dog and the goat. The finishings of the barn are gorgeous. Very homey feeling and comfortable. Quiet place off the beaten path for a nice low key weekend."
That guest paid for a place to sleep. The alpacas were free.
Property 6: Kansas City, Missouri
KC Fun House
Four bedrooms, eight guests, right in the heart of Kansas City. We covered Kansas City's free activity scene extensively in our locals-only guide at shoretomountainstays.com. But the short version for guests staying at KC Fun House is this.
You are within reach of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which is always free and one of the top art museums in the country. You are close to the Crossroads Arts District First Fridays, which draw over 20,000 people every first Friday of the month at no cost. You are near the Country Club Plaza, free to walk any time of year. You are minutes from the KC Streetcar, a free 5.7-mile ride through downtown, the River Market, and the Plaza. You are in a city hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a free Fan Festival running 18 days at the National WWI Museum and Memorial from June 11 through July 11.
And this summer in particular, Kansas City is the most interesting city in the Midwest to be in. The World Cup energy is unlike anything this city has seen in decades. Free watch parties are happening across the metro at Power and Light, Shawnee Mission Park, 18th and Vine, the Northland, and Kansas City, Kansas. The entire city is activated. Guests staying at KC Fun House in June and July 2026 are in the center of all of it.
Why the Properties in Our Portfolio Were Built Around What's Outside Them
Every property decision we made when building Shore to Mountain Stays started with the same question. What is someone going to do here for a week?
The Lake Ozark properties sit steps from the entertainment corridor, which is the reason most people drive to the lake in the first place, with two of the most storied state parks in Missouri within 30 minutes for the guests who want to step away from the boats and the bars.
The Granby mountain retreat sits across from a golf course, minutes from one of the most scenic lakes in Colorado, 20 minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park, and within reach of Winter Park ski resort in winter. Four seasons of reasons to be there.
Free Bird Farms in Agency is a property that does not need anything outside it because the experience is entirely on the land. The alpacas. The copper soaking tub. The Blackstone on the patio. The Missouri sky. For guests who want to add something to the trip, the broader northwest Missouri agritourism corridor and the Missouri River bluff roads are within reach.
KC Fun House puts guests inside a major American city during one of the most eventful summers in that city's recent history.
This is not accidental. I have built over 100 homes and flipped over 150 properties personally, so I know a thing or two about what makes a location worth staying in long-term. The same judgment that guides my real estate work in Kansas City guided every acquisition and renovation decision we made for Shore to Mountain Stays.
The result is a portfolio where the property is excellent, and the location multiplies it.
Check availability and browse all six properties at shoretomountainstays.com. If dates are filling up on the property you want, reach out directly, and we will help you find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What free things are there to do near the Lake of the Ozarks Shore to Mountain Stays properties?
The closest free activities include Ha Ha Tonka State Park with its cliff-top castle ruins and 15 miles of trails, Lake of the Ozarks State Park with two free swimming beaches and 57 miles of trails across 17,626 acres, the Swinging Bridges in the Auglaize Creek area, Thunder Mountain Conservation Center with its 80-foot observation tower and free archery range, and the Bagnell Dam Strip with panoramic lake views and free historical exhibits at Willmore Lodge. All three Shore to Mountain Stays lake properties at Lake Ozark are within 30 minutes of each of these sites. Browse and book at shoretomountainstays.com.
What free things can guests do near the Granby, Colorado, mountain retreat?
Free activities near the Modern Rustic Mountain Retreat in Granby include the Monarch Lake Loop Trail in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, the Colorado River Headwaters Scenic Byway, the Fraser River Trail in Winter Park, free outdoor concerts and farmers markets at Polhamus Park throughout summer, free tennis and pickleball courts at Raffety Park and Polhamus Park, Lake Granby shoreline wildlife watching, and the Granbious Moose Mural in downtown Granby. Rocky Mountain National Park is 20 minutes north and requires a vehicle pass, but has additional free access points around its western edge.
What makes Free Bird Farms in Agency, Missouri, a unique vacation rental experience?
The Bro Barn at Free Bird Farms is a two-bedroom farmstay on a working homestead with alpacas, chickens, a goat, and Tucker the dog. Guests have full access to the farm property, including the alpaca pasture patio, which is where most guests spend their mornings with coffee. The barn itself features a copper soaking tub, indoor fireplace, pool table, Blackstone griddle, and board games. The agritourism experience at the farm is included in the stay. It is one of the most distinctive short-term rentals within driving distance of Kansas City.
What free activities are available for KC Fun House guests in Kansas City in 2026?
KC Fun House guests have access to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (always free), the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art (always free), the free KC Streetcar through downtown, First Fridays in the Crossroads Arts District, the Country Club Plaza walkable district, City Market Saturday mornings, and the FIFA Fan Festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial running June 11 through July 11, 2026, which is free with a registered general admission digital pass at kc2026.com.
How do I book a Shore to Mountain Stays property?
All six properties can be booked directly at shoretomountainstays.com through the Hospitable Direct platform. Direct booking ensures the best available rates and puts you in direct contact with Jason and Jana DeLong as your hosts. Properties book out quickly during peak season, so booking early is strongly recommended.
