It’s been a long winter. It’s hard not to daydream about the summer –the smell of suntan lotion, the sound of water splashing, the feel of the sun hitting your back and the taste of an ice cream cone as you head to your favorite vacation spot. What type of vacation is on the horizon for this year? How about the “Best Vacation Ever!” That’s not what we have named it, our houseboating guests have called it that, for more than 20 years. Whether it be a family reunion, a “life-event” celebration or a friends’ getaway, houseboating is a great way to spend quality time with people that you care about surrounded by the beauty of nature.
No matter how many times you have been houseboating, it always begins the same way at Shasta Marina at Packers Bay: you’ll be greeted by one of our staff members and shown to your boat for the week or however long you’ve been lucky enough to break away from your busy life to enjoy Lake Shasta. If you are new to houseboating, the marina has an hour orientation to help you learn everything you need to know about your houseboat including how to captain the houseboat and tips on how to make the most of your houseboating adventures. If you’re a returning guest, our staff will take you through the safety and operational features of the boat and make sure that you know how to turn on the hot tub and gas fireplace.
Onboard you’ll find beds ready for your linens, full sized bathrooms waiting for your hairdryer and suntan lotion, a kitchen outfitted with cookware, dining ware, blender, coffee maker and a toaster, and a refrigerator and freezer chilled and ready for your favorite groceries – everything you need to make your meal preparation as easy as floating.
Waking up on the lake is a like never-before-type-of-feeling. You don’t have to walk “down” to the water, you’re on it! If you’re an early riser, catch the sunrise with a hot cup of coffee from the hot tub on the upper deck. If you’re a night owl, make sure to catch the view of the stars from the boat.
During the day there are a lot of activities in, on and around the lake. Shasta Marina has power boat and jet skis for rent for making waves with water sports. Year round, grab your pole and try fishing for spotted bass. You can get your steps in by going on a hike chasing waterfalls or in search of fauna and flora that habitats on land. If you haven’t visited the Shasta Caverns, you’ll want to add that to your itinerary. It’s a great way to get a break from the heat in the summer months. Speaking of summer, don’t forget to apply sunscreen protection, you don’t want a sunburn to ruin the trip.
Unwind in the evenings chilling in the comfortable living room equipped with self-tracking satellite televisions to catch up on your TV shows. Play a board game or cards or turn on the fireplace and snuggle in with that book that you’ve been trying to finish.
Shasta Marina at Packers Bay is happy to help you get started on planning your houseboating vacation. Don’t hear about someone else’s best vacation ever, experience it yourself!