Shasta Lake Summer Vacation: The Planning

Shasta Lake Summer Vacation: The Planning 

This is a series because there is just too much information to share! 

In 2020 we decided to go to Shasta Lake and rent a houseboat  for our summer vacation.  It seemed quite perfect given travel restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic raging.  As a kid I’d been houseboating on Lake Shasta with family friends and I  remember loving it.  I think many adults have the same feeling and return later.

Pre-Planning for Shasta Lake

It was my first time going to Shasta Lake and renting a house boat as an adult.  Obviously, I did not do the logistics as a child.  Like everything I dug in and researched. I found the options for information lacking so that is why I am now writing about it ahead of summer.

Part of planning (for me)  seems to be bugging people a lot.  This time it was the crew at Holiday Harbor.  Holiday Harbor is a small family owned business.  It seemed as if they knew my number (caller ID).  I could hear it in their voice or I imagined it, either way I could sense their annoyance with me.  What they did not know is that I would be helping them in the future by sharing what I learned with other OCD-planning types.

Questions about Shasta Lake and Ski Boats

2020 was a last minute trip and the only boat that I could find was at Holiday Harbor for mid-August.  The Premier, which I don’t think lives up to the name, was available and so we booked it and a ski boat.  This is where some of the questions came in.  At the time we did not know we’d want the boat every day that we were on the lake, so we rented it for 2-days.  My questions were related to when to get the ski boat. Should we get it when we get the house boat or another day to maximize our time.

They had no advice.  In my mind I was thinking this is what you do, every day, year after year and you have no advice.  WEIRD.  And, they were thinking who is this woman with her quirky questions. 

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  I went with pick it up the second day.  The cons, you might find a great spot on the lake, then need to leave it to pick the boat up and it takes time out of your day.  House boats are slowish … the pros you get the boat for a full two days. 
• My recommendation is get the boat the day of and if you can keep it until the end of the trip.  Given the cost is almost equivalent to the house boat, you might not have that option so get it the day you pick up the houseboat and then drop it off later (whatever day) and maybe that’s the day you explore the lake.

The first year we got an old, beat up ski boat and I could barely drive it.  There are technical terms for it, which I will defer to Dave for, but I almost drowned him trying to get him up on a wakeboard.  It was so bad, he only tried like twice. 

When we went to the second year, we rented the boat for the full time and they tried to give us another loser and I said no.  In order for this to be a good trip for everyone, I needed a boat I could drive so Dave could get his ski on.

Questions about Shasta Lake and Dogs

I have two very sheltered dogs so I had a lot of questions.  These did not go over well either. It’s August in Shasta and I wanted to know is it feasible to bring dogs because it’s hot and they have fur.  So, given that the ladies have been doing this for years, day in and day out I would think they’d have some advice.  Not really.  My questions even got to the point of helping them think “do people bring dogs” .. yes, but the deck gets hot they said and it could burn their feet.  Which led me to buy some unnecessary stuff – dog booties. 

• So, yes, people bring dogs all the time. And, they were fine. My dogs seemed fine walking on the deck because they were not hanging out and it was 10 AM in the morning, so not quite 116 degrees. The booties were unnecessary and I still have them.
• Where to put their dog business.  This was a huge question for me because I was thinking that putting it in the garbage in a houseboat where you live (not a lot of room) inside and out … the smell .. they said you have to pick it up.  The guy helping us load said it dries up on the rocks … that is what we did.  My dogs went so far away – they were like little mountain goats looking for snakes (my fear) that it was impossible to even get it.
• And, the heat, I just kept dunking them in their life vests, yes I brought life vests for the dogs and they were great on the ski boat because I could just lift them in and out of the boat.  Some people made fun of me, but I saw seasoned boaters that thad their dogs in vests. 

Shasta Lake and Kids

We have three kids in total (and two dogs).  The Premier was fine, but the next year we got a bigger boat with a quirky upstairs thing … which I thought Dave and I would sleep in, but we let the boys … because it was a little gross.

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  It was nice to have the boys (15) have their own little area to do boy things.
• The ages were perfect and the kids LOVED Shasta and wanted to go again and still want to go again (so do I)
• The water is amazing (amazing) and swimming, jumping off the boat – the beautiful scenery and the sky at night.  My son told me one of his favorite memories is all of us laying on top of the boat one night looking at the stars (it was magical)
• The first year I did a lot of ski biscuiting … the kids loved it, but the second year the boys graduated to skiing.  The second year I did a lot of driving and I can say it was fun and frightening driving a ski boat with someone on the back swinging around … Yikes!
• One year we played a ton of UNO and the year before Apples to Apples, games are good to have.
• Lots of floaters …  which were fun and nice to have.
• In 2022, we bought these paddle boards, which we used a few times.

Quick Tips:

Check-In/Schedules

• We got the boat on a Tuesday so there is not a rush of people getting their boats. Saturday/Sunday would probably be really busy.
• We checked in early and got in mid-afternoon.  The first year we stayed at a hotel about three hours away and got there in the morning and the second year we took an adventure route, but again about four miles away.
• It probably took between 2-3 hours to load the boat and get going (that is on the way out when everyone is excited)
• Recommend getting your ski boat when you check-in and keeping it through your stay.
• They are expensive, so alternatively get it when you check in and bring it back another day (if you are staying longer)
• The house boats are not that clean so bring something to wipe stuff down with.

Water & Food

The first year we took a lot of food for four days/four nights.  It felt like we were making lunch, getting snacks all the time, but when you are swimming most of the day or jumping off the houseboat you have some hungry kids. The boat had two coolers that we kept ice in and then we had one or two refrigerators (depending on the boat) that ran just fine. 

• We each had a water bottle we bought at Costco.  The kids would fill them up. 
• We used the water enhancers to ensure we were hydrated 
• We froze our food – brought burgers, hotdogs, chicken (already marinated)
• The first year we had elaborate breakfasts, but if I recall the second year it was cereal.

Shasta Lake is definitely one of my favorite trips!  We even discussed buying a house boat. If you have questions email me at kristie@lifestylco.com.