Can anyone recommend good places for a houseboat vacation? We live in Houston and have heard good things about Lake Cumberland but I would like to hear others opinions. I would prefer a boat around 60-70 ft. One that we could captain ourselves and that might have some watertoys like a Jetski.
Houseboat vacation
- Thread starter khanson
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Check out State Dock on Lake Cumberland; they have a mess of rental houseboats.
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I second Lake Powell.
Here is a link for an operator renting Gibson Houseboats out of Cape Coral, Fl.
http://www.goplayoutdoors.com/Member/HolidayCruise/index.htm
Here is a link for state by state operators.
http://www.goplayoutdoors.com/houseboats_menu.htm
Here is a link for an operator renting Gibson Houseboats out of Cape Coral, Fl.
http://www.goplayoutdoors.com/Member/HolidayCruise/index.htm
Here is a link for state by state operators.
http://www.goplayoutdoors.com/houseboats_menu.htm
Lake Shasta CA. Beautiful mountain lake. Huge lake. http://www.houseboating.org/shasta/overview.cfm
Lake Cumberland is the houseboat capital of the world. But I am biased because that is where my boat is. Vic likes it because he has most of the boats on the lake equipped with Purasans. I have to 2nd State Dock, they have a LOT of boats and they are located in the most interesting and central part of the lake. I keep my boat just across the creek at Jamestown Marina. Jamestown or Conley Bottom are also good rental options. Burnside Marina is not really in a good part of the lake. Grider Hill Marina is down by the Dam, it is a good place but would not be my first choice.
What make Cumberland great for houseboats is that the Corps of Engineers runs it and they do not allow houses on the lakefront and they tightly control things such as tree cutting. The houses are all up on the ridges leaving the lake fairly natural. The best part is you tie up your boat back in one of the thousands of coves for the night that you will have to yourself except for the occasional fisherman. There have been many a night we have spent in a cove without seeing even as much as a light from civilization. The only clue you have that there are other people in the world is airliners high in the sky. Or, if you like to party, head up to Harmon Creek where this always a lot going on.
Man, I sound like a commercial, I can't wait for boating season to start.
What make Cumberland great for houseboats is that the Corps of Engineers runs it and they do not allow houses on the lakefront and they tightly control things such as tree cutting. The houses are all up on the ridges leaving the lake fairly natural. The best part is you tie up your boat back in one of the thousands of coves for the night that you will have to yourself except for the occasional fisherman. There have been many a night we have spent in a cove without seeing even as much as a light from civilization. The only clue you have that there are other people in the world is airliners high in the sky. Or, if you like to party, head up to Harmon Creek where this always a lot going on.
Man, I sound like a commercial, I can't wait for boating season to start.
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Actually Lee, the reason I like Lake Cumberland really hasn't much to do with Purasans but much more so with the friends I've made with folks in that area through the years. There are a whole lot of houseboat builders (or at least, there used to be...) all around the periphery of Lake Cumberland, in Somerset, Russell Springs, Monticello, Jamestown and other towns all through that area.
Plus, Kentucky has a slew of other houseboating lakes as well: Dale Hollow Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Barren River Lake, Green River Lake, Laurel River Lake and a number of others.
Through the years, I've attended Shows with the builders' reps and some of the builders themselves, and made friends with them. Plus, two of my better Servicing Dealers are from that area, and we've also become personal friends.
I'm certainly not knocking Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake of the Ozarks, Arkansas Lakes, Raystown Lake, the St. John's River, or anywhere else. I'm sure they have equal appeal to many of you. I'm simply more familiar with the Lake Cumberland area, and have stayed there a number of times, and have a number of friends and acquaintences there. I've visited many of the builders there, and even put on a seminar on marine sanitation in Somerset, about 10 years ago.
Plus, Kentucky has a slew of other houseboating lakes as well: Dale Hollow Lake, Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Barren River Lake, Green River Lake, Laurel River Lake and a number of others.
Through the years, I've attended Shows with the builders' reps and some of the builders themselves, and made friends with them. Plus, two of my better Servicing Dealers are from that area, and we've also become personal friends.
I'm certainly not knocking Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake of the Ozarks, Arkansas Lakes, Raystown Lake, the St. John's River, or anywhere else. I'm sure they have equal appeal to many of you. I'm simply more familiar with the Lake Cumberland area, and have stayed there a number of times, and have a number of friends and acquaintences there. I've visited many of the builders there, and even put on a seminar on marine sanitation in Somerset, about 10 years ago.
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+2 Lake Powell
Vic, I was just kidding with you a bit. I am sure you like Cumberland for the same reasons most other people do. Just saying if I could go to Lake Cumberland AND make a buck or 2 I would be all over it. I just haven't figured out how to do it yet.
JOHNNYRENO
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WHAT HOGAN SAID
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What Hogan said
+4 or 5 I lost track
I have friends that made this trip and had a great time the boat wasn't great make sure everything is working before you head out, such as genny and AC but the trip sounded amazing and the pictures were incredible.
+4 or 5 I lost track
I have friends that made this trip and had a great time the boat wasn't great make sure everything is working before you head out, such as genny and AC but the trip sounded amazing and the pictures were incredible.
Lake Cumberland. We've rented from Jamestown, State Dock and Beaver Creek. I liked State Dock the best. Lake Cumberland is huge and you can have any type of vacation you want -- partying, relaxing, family, etc. depending on where you go. Having an auxiliary boat or couple of jet-skis is a plus. The lake is fantastic for water skiing and wakeboarding.
Have a blast!
Have a blast!
The southeastern lake are great, but I'll hafta 6th or 7th Lake Powell. Here's a link to a trip I made there in '09...... http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=71 Then, a link to my boat ride on the lake itself...... http://gogittum.com/blog/?cat=72 It's hard to imagine a more spectacular place.
For something a little different, Couer d'Alene Lake in northern Idaho is very beautiful, but one of my favorite places is Dworshak Reservoir on the North Fork of the Clearwater River, near Orofino, Idaho. I'll bet no one's even heard of it. I lived and worked in that area for 8 years and love it, tho' the winters are brutal. Unspoiled, quiet, good fishing..... http://webpictures.homestead.com/bc05g.html To the best of my (out of date) knowledge, there aren't any rentals there - gotta take your own.
For something a little different, Couer d'Alene Lake in northern Idaho is very beautiful, but one of my favorite places is Dworshak Reservoir on the North Fork of the Clearwater River, near Orofino, Idaho. I'll bet no one's even heard of it. I lived and worked in that area for 8 years and love it, tho' the winters are brutal. Unspoiled, quiet, good fishing..... http://webpictures.homestead.com/bc05g.html To the best of my (out of date) knowledge, there aren't any rentals there - gotta take your own.