5 things I like about Houseboating

We have been house boating three times with kids. This type of vacation was new to us, but had been highly recommend by a friend. I must say with kids this is a very relaxing vacation. I know what you are thinking, "What?  On a boat?  Over water??"

Here are some key things I liked about it:
1. You have your own room because there are multiple rooms.
2. There is almost always a hot tub on the upper deck.
3. It is a lot like camping, but you don't have to sleep outside on the ground.
4. You can pick a different spot to beach at every night and have a camp fire every night.
5. Depending on which lake you are on there are marked places to beach and then go on a hike.


Here are some important things to keep in mind:
1. You are on the water so make sure there is adequate railing all around the boat. The front deck, the back deck and up top. Make sure that the top has railing all the way around including gates that will keep the children from being able to go up and down the stairs.
2. Take your own life jackets.
3. Houseboats do not get good gas mileage. You will spend a lot of money on gas depending on how much you drive it around.

Here are some fun extras to take with you: Kite, bubbles, water trampoline, ski boat or jet ski (if you have one), and fishing rods.

 house boating at Lake Shuswap, BC, Canada
Lake Shuswap, BC, Canada

8 Tips for House Boating with Kids

House boating as a family vacation is something that we love to do. We find it incredibly relaxing. Your family will have no where to be, but with each other.  Here are some tips to make it a great family trip:


1.You are on the water the entire time, even when your are beached; so make sure there is adequate railing all around the boat. The front deck, the back deck and up top. Make sure that the top has railing all the way around including gates that will keep the children from being able to go up and down the stairs.

2.Take your own life jackets.

3.Budget accordingly. House boats do not get good gas mileage. You will spend a lot of money on gas depending on how much you drive it around.

4.Do not forget some essentials for the kids. Floaties, board games, kites, bubbles, water trampoline, ski boat or jet ski (if you have one), and fishing rods.

5.Only rent a house boat that has a hot tub. This one element adds so much to the trip.

6.Take your own camping chairs. Some that are easily moved around, so that you can sit around a fire each night.

7.Bring all the fixings your will need to make smores. Including the roasting sticks and bundles of wood. I would take at least 3 bundles for a 7 night trip.

8.Look at the area you will be house boating all ahead of time. Make sure you have everything you will need if you decide to go hiking. For example a backpack to carry your two year old in.
 
House Boating on Lake Shuswap, B.C.
House Boating in Canada

I'm a writer over at Travelingmom.com

I am excited to share with y'all that I am now contributing a few articles to Travelingmom.com.

My first article for them 8 Tips for Houseboating with Kids!

House Boating in Canada
House Boating On Lake Shuswap, B.C.

Lake Shuswap houseboating

We really enjoyed our family vacation of houseboating on Lake Shuswap. It is a massive lake with spots to beach everywhere! I think this has to be the most beautiful, peaceful place I have ever been.

     One morning when were were sitting on the back deck having our coffee we watched bald eagles swoop down and catch fish. Another morning we woke up to watch a little black bear roam around the area where we were beached! Our children love seeing all of the wildlife. We were able to fish a great deal. (As long as it is your kids fishing you do not need a license.) We took their kiddie rods with us and they got a kick out of trying to catch something. This is where our son caught his very first fish!

There are a lot of houseboating companies out there. I can't recommend one over another. The main thing is to make sure that whatever one you go with gives you a boat with a hot tub!

Remember Canada gets warm during the day. It may even hit 80 while you are there, but in the evening and at night it can get downright cold. So keep this in mind when packing.

Also, do not forget your roasting sticks, marshmallows, and the other stuff if you want to make smores. We had a camp fire every night with our kids. It was one of the highlights of being on the lake. Find out if your boat has outdoor chairs provided. If not bring your own that way you can sit around the camp fire comfortably.


There are two great hikes that you can go out near spots that you beach at. One is Albas Falls. This hike can be done two ways depending on the ages of your children. You can stay on the road and just take short detours off of it to see parts of the falls or you can take the actual hike through the woods. Through the woods is the way to do it if your kids can handle it. It is very steep and slippery at places. For little children this would be a very difficult hike and they would probably not enjoy it. But if you can take the one through the woods you will see one waterfall after another. Albas Falls:

The other hike is Margaret Falls. This is an easy hike and easy for children. Ask the people at check in where to beach your boat to get to both hikes. Here is a picture of Margaret Falls.

Two important tips to keep in mind if you are driving over from USA. Get groceries before you leave the USA. Food is a lot cheaper here so you will save yourself a lot of money by buying before you get to the area. Also, get gas right before you cross the border. Again gas is quite a bit more expensive. So fill up before you cross that way you won't have to buy as much gas in Canada.

• 5 Reasons You Will Love House Boating

House boating capital of Canada! - Lake Shuswap, BC, Canada

Our family travel have taken us house boating on Lake Shuswap, a provincial park, in Canada once again.

Here are pictures of our house boating trip in British Columbia at Lake Shuswap. I think Lake Shuswap is the prettiest place I have ever been. It is so peaceful and calm.

Both times we have been have been in the off season, so the lake is not crowded at all. We went both weeks hardly seeing any other people at all. This I can assure you makes for some really amazing quality family time. Even when it rain a few times we just stayed inside reading and playing board games with the kids.  I highly recommend house boating as a family vacation.

House Boating on Lake Shuswap is nice because there are plenty of places to beach overnight.

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