Say goodbye to your typical beach vacation since you can look forward to a new and fun activity! Instead of renting a beach house, why not refresh yourself near a lake to enjoy the wonders of nature? One way to do it is to rent a houseboat for your entire family.
Houseboats are probably not your common go-to when thinking of vacations. Thus, it’s expected that it could be an unknown territory for you. Nevertheless, this floating home is a fun-filled guarantee since you already have all the amenities on board, from cooking materials, beds and linens, air conditioning, a filtered water system, and even kayaks and waterslides.
There’s a lot to love about a houseboat, and here are some of the best options you could try:
Sutton Lake, West Virginia
If you’re looking for clear waters towered with forested hills, you’re looking for Sutton Lake in West Virginia! You’ll get 1,440 acres of clear freshwater and 44 miles of shoreline – perfect for a fresh vacation. With such a vast area, you could do any water sport you fancy, whether that be wakeboarding, jet skiing, tubing, water skiing, or even if you’re there for fishing!
The best thing about Sutton Lake is its amenities. Here, you can rent out deluxe houseboats that offer an upper deck and waterslide, or you can rent out a pontoon if you’re not staying for long.
Likewise, the lake has a stock of what you may need, such as cooktops with four burners, gas grills, built-in ice chests, and fuel tanks, to name a few.
If you have your boat, you could even get a transient slip! You only need to contact their management for one, and to comply with their requirements.
It would help if you also didn’t forget to stock your boat for your necessities before your trip, food, cooking materials, clothes, and even fuel tanks for boats. It’s best to ensure you’ve prepared the essentials to make the best of your vacation!
Shasta Lake, California
Shasta Lake is an artificial wonder where you rent a boat, explore, and even hike a wilderness trail. You can enjoy an enjoyable vacation with plenty of coves to explore and waterfalls to traverse.
You could even snag one of the lake’s prized possessions, the king salmon and rainbow trout. With less than an hour of travel from the south of Mt. Shasta, you can already give yourself a well-deserved rest!
Johns River, Florida
Lush vegetation and thriving wildlife are what you’ll see when you visit the St. Johns River in Florida.
You could get to watch pine flatwood and palm trees border the lands of the river, and you could take a pic with manatees and turtles within the warm spring of the marina. You could even fish for catfish, perch, and crappie if you want – as this river was once dubbed the “Bass Capital” of the world.
The river runs extremely slowly, so you’ll have plenty of time to sightsee during your entire stay. Likewise, it’s one of the few rivers that run north, making it unique among the rivers in the United States.
You can also find houseboats of every size that can cater to small and large groups. You could try the Silver Glen or the Song of the South Houseboat if you’re a party of ten. You could also try the Catfish Bend Houseboat if you only have four people. Nevertheless, you’ll get in touch with nature when you vacation at the St. Johns River, which makes quite the adventure of a lifetime!
Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
With a beautiful transition of land and aquatic ecosystems, the Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota offers a surreal experience for nature lovers. This park is an adventure wonderland since it has rock ridges, forests, cliffs, wetlands, streams, and lakes. Moreover, it transitions between the wild and developed areas, giving you plenty of places to explore.
You could rent a houseboat to spend your vacation in pristine waters and pick berries whenever you’d like. Moreover, some rentable houseboats even offer a deck on all sides to give you a full view of the wilderness. You could also get an overnight permit if you have your houseboat. Doing so will give you clearance to use the park’s docks.
Erie Canal, New York
You could try the famous Erie Canal in New York if you want a little history. In the 19th century, the canal was a channel where commerce thrived, transforming New York City’s industry and economic strength and opening the seaport gates of North America.
Now, it’s perfectly lined with modern boat marinas that’ll give you a boating adventure. You’ll notice that canal boats and a few houseboats are available to rent, perfect rides to cruise through the waters while sightseeing. Thus, you’ll be able to enjoy and bask in the river’s history when the waterways shaped American settlement and economy.
Final Thoughts
Houseboats are the new options if you’re looking for a refreshing and fun activity for your vacation. Moreover, it’s like going to a mixture of the forest and the beach since you get clear waters, lush trees, and wildlife. Why choose between the two when you can get both with houseboats?
Also read:
