Every Fourth of July, there is one tradition I look forward to more than just about anything else.

For years, my daughter and I have packed up each Fourth of July and headed to my dad’s condo at the Lake of the Ozarks. This year, my boyfriend, Desi, joined us for the holiday. The trip has become one of our favorite traditions, giving us a chance to slow down for a few days and enjoy a place that’s filled with family memories.

Part of what makes the tradition so special isn’t just the fireworks or the holiday itself. It’s waking up to the sound of boats passing through the cove, spending afternoons on the dock watching turtles and fish below the water and ending each day with another sunset over the lake. After enough summers, those little moments become just as important as the big ones.

Our condo sits in a cove that transforms every Independence Day. As evening approaches, boats begin filling the water, one by one, until it looks more like a floating parking lot than a quiet cove. Famili…