Redding isn’t just California’s Trail Capital; nearby Shasta Lake is the state’s Houseboating Capital, as well. In the wake of a wet winter, Shasta will be filled to capacity this summer and houseboating business will be brisk, so if you’ve ever considered a houseboat vacation that includes your dog, now’s the time to make reservations.
Several Shasta Lake marinas rent houseboats ranging in size and style from stripped-down models popular with fishermen to ginormous floating palaces like the 65-foot, triple-decker Titan, which features satellite-tracking TV, eight flat-screen monitors, a jetted tube slide and a hot tub big enough for a dozen (no one will tell if your dog hops in, too). Shasta’s 360 miles of jagged shoreline are indented with cove after cove where houseboaters can anchor out in solitude or bob in the company of others.
Pet policies vary among rental companies, and rates vary according to time of year (summer is of course high season). Whatever you decide, be sure to read up on the basics, including how to pet-proof your vessel and keep your pup safe.
Popular as it is, Shasta Lake isn’t the only houseboating haven in Northern California. Lake Oroville in Butte County is known as a top-notch fishing destination, and there’s no better place to wait for a bite than on the deck of a houseboat with Bella lazing by your side. Trinity Lake, a pristine body of water in the Trinity Alps northwest of Redding, is another very attractive houseboating option.
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Photo Credit: @coach.jesse
