Lake Mead - Nevada
Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake and reservoir in the United States. It is
located on the Colorado River about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada,
between the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by Hoover
Dam, it extends 110 miles behind the dam, holding approximately 28.5 million
acre feet of water. Lake Mead National Recreation Area provides a wide variety
of unique outdoor recreation opportunities ranging from warm-water recreation to
exploration of rugged and isolated backcountry. Visitors to Lake Mead find
spectacular scenic vistas from the sparkling blue surface of the lake. Striking
backdrops include deep canyons, dry washes, sheer cliffs, distant mountain
ranges, colorful soils and rock formations and mosaics of different vegetation.
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are the tropic paradise of the United States, immortalized in
song and story. Moderate temperatures, lush islands, endless views of the Gulf
of Mexico and beyond . . . all these attract visitors. The Keys may not be
entirely wild any more - in fact, the major, larger Keys are connected to the
mainland by highway for ease of travel - but many of the smaller islands are
virtually untouched. Don't expect long stretches of white sand beaches, though.
The Keys are formed from an ancient coral reef and even the "domesticated" ones
have rough edges, edges you can explore while houseboating the Gulf. There's
nothing quite like the slow approach of a Key, as it appears as a speck in the
distance and as you move your boat closer, it grows gradually larger and more
beautiful. Or imagine zipping over the ocean waters with a sleek watercraft.
Fishing in the Keys is also a rare treat, with such large sea-born species as
sailfish and redfish populating the waters.
Smith Mountain Lake - Virginia
Smith Mountain Lake spreads clear-watered and large in a valley of the Blue
Ridge Mountains. With 32 square miles of water surface and over 500 miles of
shoreline, this is a lake of many inlets, shaded with thick Virginia foliage.
Part of this foliage shades a fine beach that stretches along Smith Mountain
Lake State Park. The wide surface and those "nooks" on the shore make this a
lake for exploration, both on large crafts like a houseboat and on small, sporty
personal watercrafts. Water-skiing and wakeboarding on the open water is a
common activity - how couldn't it be, with all that space? A houseboating
excursion will naturally be slower, but even if you go at a rate to see every
individual tree, the diverse coast is extremely rewarding. You might want to
fish off the back of the houseboat, at that, for this is a fantastic lake for
Striped Bass.
Lake Powell - Utah
For hundreds of thousands of years the Colorado River roared through Glen Canyon
carving a tremendous canyon through the sandstone. In 1963 the Glen Canyon dam
was completed and impounded the Colorado, turning the wild beauty of Glen Canyon
into popular Lake Powell -- a vast body of deep blue water contained within
orange-red cliff walls. Lake Powell offers excellent opportunities for you to
enjoy your houseboat rental; fishing, and in summer when water temperatures
climb to a comfortable 70-80 degrees, swimming and water skiing. Lake Powell has
a myriad of side canyons that narrow to just a boat width as they twist away
from the main channel and make for fascinating exploration. Many visitors are
content to just cruise its waters by houseboat and spend nights on its beaches
under the stars. Hiking from the lake into the very rugged environs of Glen
Canyon Recreation Area is an option for the adventurous.
Lake Shasta - California
Shasta Lake or Lake Shasta is one of the most popular house boating and
recreation centers in the western United States. Visitors from all over enjoy
the best combination of scenery, weather and recreational opportunities that
mother nature has to offer. Being close to the Pacific Coast and surrounded by
the Trinity National Forest, Shasta Lake is a vacationers' paradise. Day
temperatures reach near 100 degrees during the summer, whereas the water stays a
perfect 78. Lake Shasta is the perfect place to get away from it all and enjoy
some spectacular flora, fauna and recreational opportunities. Whether you're
interested in house boating, or anything from fishing to hiking or just
sunbathing, a Lake Shasta houseboat rental will ensure that you see this gem of
California in comfort and style.
Lake of the Ozarks - Missouri
Lake of the Ozarks Marina is located just 2 1/2 hours south of Kansas City or
St. Louis, in the heart of Missouri. Lake of the Ozarks is known for fun, fun,
fun - just ask the folks who have chosen to build second homes around the 1,150
mile shoreline. At Lake of the Ozarks there is golf, tennis, spas, music
festivals, historic sites, museums, antiquing and of course, shopping to be
indulged. From your houseboat you can explore the expansive State Park or tour
the famed Bridal Cave. There's so much to do, you'll have to return to the lake
again and again to take it all in.
Lake Sidney Lanier - Georgia
Lake Lanier, Georgia's largest lake, is home to the Lake Lanier Islands. These
islands weren't islands originally - before Lake Lanier was created by the
Buford Dam, they were large hills. Today, islands they are . . . and are also
the site of Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Beyond a Beach & WaterPark and spa, the
resort is also an excellent place to launch houseboats out onto the lake. And
there are over 100 islands to explore - the resort islands are just a few of
many. Lake Lanier itself is immense, so immense that its popularity does little
to make it feel crowded. It's been an Olympic venue and today remains a summer
destination for people who love as much sun and water as they can get. The lake
is warm both above and below the surface and fish are plentiful, with species
that range from Largemouth Bass to Black Crappie to Gar. If you like closer
contact with the lake than a boat can provide, the water is wonderful for a
swim.
Dale Hollow Lake - Kentucky/Tennessee
Dale Hollow Lake is most famous as the world's best smallmouth bass lake. The
largest smallmouth bass ever taken was taken here and it's quite the incredible
lake for largemouth and spotted bass, too, as well as walleye, gar and trout
among others. Naturally, fishing off the deck of a houseboat or renting a
fishing boat alongside is a good way to explore the spectacular fishing aspect
of Dale Hollow, but fishing isn't the only thing to do here. The lake is clear
and deep and you may almost imagine you can see the lake floor far beneath as
you cruise. Or perhaps you'll water ski or wakeboard, two other popular sports
on this reservoir.
Voyageurs National Park - Minnesota
Your extraordinary houseboat adventure is truly a fantastic way to explore the
United States' largest waterways park: Voyageurs National Park. This park,
created by Congress in 1971, encompasses land and water areas which have no
roads and was initially designated for canoeists. Come enjoy its unspoiled
beauty. Houseboats have access to Crane Lake, Lake Kabetogama, Lake Namakan and
Kettle Falls in Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. What better way
to recreate the route of the hardy Voyageur trappers and traders than with a
houseboat excursion? The park stretches over 100 miles along the
Canada-Minnesota border, running through Namaken Lake, Sand Point Lake, Crane
Lake, and includes all of Minnesota's famed walleye lake, Kabetogama, plus over
one million acres of roadless wilderness. From our Ash River base you can visit
the entire southern part of the park - from Western Kabetogama Lake to Eastern
Crane. The water in this region is fed by springs, so that it is cool, clear and
pure enough to drink right from the lakes. You can have the fun of bathing on
many secluded shady beaches, yet the water remains warm enough for water-skiing
and swimming in the vacation period of July and August.
Don Pedro Lake - California
Located in the Sierra Nevada foothills, on the way to Yosemite, is Lake Don
Pedro, east of Modesto and approximately 2 hours southeast of Sacramento.
Because of its large size and over 160 miles of shoreline, Lake Don Pedro is
rated as one of California's best recreational lakes with hundreds of hidden
coves and inlets to boat, fish, swim and camp. Whether your idea of a vacation
is relaxing all day with a good book...laughing with family and friends over a
card game... or keeping busy with a variety of activities, houseboating on Lake
Don Pedro is perfect. There's plenty of water to enjoy your favorite water
sports - wake boarding, windsurfing, sailing or jet-skiing and for the
adventurer, you can explore countless coves. There's even a swimming lagoon next
to the marina that's open all summer - it's a two-acre body of water complete
with a sandy beach and a convenient snack bar so you can get a bite to eat after
a hearty swim.
This listing of the
Top Ten Places to
rent a houseboat is constantly being revised as new places are being discovered. So, if you feel we are missing one, please email us and let us
know!