« Budget Friendly Baton Rouge | Main | Mama on the Move - Goin’ with the Flow in Daytona »
Lake Powell Houseboat Vacation Tips
By MountainMama | April 15, 2008
Nearly every year since 1997 I’ve vacationed on a houseboat on Lake Powell, the massive man-made lake that stretches for 186 miles across southern Utah and dips into Arizona.
In my single days, my then-boyfriend and I would rent a houseboat with a bunch of friends, and packing consisted of throwing some beer and Bloody Mary mix into our duffel bags. In recent years, my now-husband and I have packed diapers and sippie cups, traveling with three generations of his family (on one trip, ages ranged from 3 months to 63 years).
Now the kids are even older and can do more, so we bring along all sorts of blow-up rafts, water skis, windsurfing boards (that’s my daughter and her older cousins being towed behind a speedboat), fishing poles, giant water pistols, horseshoes and other fun toys.
Both kinds of trips – with carefree singles or a motley group of family and friends, kids and grownups – are a blast on Lake Powell. After all, the other-worldly playground is stunningly gorgeous. And you can’t help but unplug there – cell phone service is limited; we forbid laptops on our houseboats!
If you’re considering your first vacation in the giant desert-and-water playground that is Lake Powell, check out these tips from this avid houseboating enthusiast.
Reserve your boat early. Three marinas rent houseboats at Lake Powell: Bullfrog and Hall’s Crossing in Utah (south of Hanksville) and Wahweap, just across the border into Arizona. You’ll likely book your houseboat depending on what location is closer to your point of origin. You don’t need to book a year in advance, but if you want a certain sized houseboat and a specific dates, you just might want to be the early bird.
Upgrade your rental if you can afford it. Houseboats come in all sizes and prices. The very, very basic 44-foot Explorer sleeps up to 10 with minimal amenities, such as a kitchenette, outdoor grill, bunk beds and water slide. The top-notch 75-foot Excursion sleeps 12 and features a hot tub, fireplace and many more upscale appointments. With all sorts of options in between, if you are wavering between two choices, go with the more expensive rental—you’ll appreciate the small touches (which might include a GPS system, two refrigerators, bed linens) after a few days on the water.
Don’t worry about being a novice houseboat driver. The friendly marina staff will give you a thorough lesson in piloting your houseboat, as well as an important safety briefing.
Don’t overpack. Life is very laid back at Lake Powell. (Should we relax on the deck with margaritas or Coronas today? Is it a good day for hiking or water skiing?) Resist the urge to pack extra toiletries, clothes or anything less rugged than old hiking boots and flip flops. You’ll be hauling duffel bags (and coolers and water toys) from your parked car to the boat, so only pack the necessities.
Pack enough food and drink. I’d skimp on T-shirts before I’d skimp on what’s really important at Lake Powell: lots of bottled water (and beer!), salty snacks, sweet treats and shared meals (divvy up meals among each family or couple you’re traveling with, so you only have to prepare a few easy lunches or dinners; oven-ready lasagna, deli sandwiches and burgers are easy to fix on board). Groceries at the marina store are very expensive.
Explore. Find the time in between fishing, water skiing, tubing, swimming and hiking, to take your houseboat (or rented jet skis or powerboat) to investigate vast Lake Powell and its 2,000 miles of shoreline.
Here’s the official Lake Powell website for more information.
Topics: Budget Travel, Destinations, Family Travel |
TravelMuse
November 6th, 2008 at
Great post! I would also recommend an Antelope Canyon cruise for the family or an overnight kayaking and camping trip for the adults for those times when you just need to get away from it all.
http://blog.reserve123.com/2008/10/tours-and-ac...