Zion, Bryce, and Lake Powell Houseboating. I need some tips!
Nov 24th, 2006, 10:18 AM
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Zion, Bryce, and Lake Powell Houseboating. I need some tips!
We finally booked our Lake Powell houseboating trip for next summer! I have been reading trip reports and have ordered some guidebooks, but I need some practical advice that I know I can get from Fodorites. There will be two families, with kids ages 12-14.
We will be picking up the houseboat at the Wahweap Marina on a Wednesday at 8 am and returning it at 2pm on Sunday (early August). We are driving from L.A., and towing our own 2 jet skis. The other family will be hauling their ski boat. (We figure this will save us almost $3k in rentals at the Lake.) Our initial, very loose, itinerary looks like this.
Sat. - Leave L.A. in the early a.m. drive to ?? I was thinking we could drive to St. George, which Mapquest shows as about a 6.5 hr drive. There we could find a motel, unhook the trailers and use as a base for 3 nights to explore Zion and Bryce. (I realize that this is a very short time to devote to these two parks, but that's all the time we will have on this trip, and I would really like to make the best of it.)
Question: Would St. George be practical? Should we press on to Springdale? I was looking at the map and saw that Glendale, UT seemed to be a 1/2 way point between the two parks, but there don't seem to be many lodging options there. We don't want to check in and out of 2 different hotels in three nights. Any help here would be appreciated.
Sunday: Zion & Tubing
Monday: Bryce & horseback ride
Tuesday: ? head to Page, AZ in the evening and spend night in Page.
Weds-Sun: Houseboat - How far can we venture from Wahweap in 5 days? Any tips on lake levels, out-of-the-way coves, etc. would be appreciated.
Sunday: Here's where I need more help. We turn in the boat at 2pm. I don't know how long the check out & unloading process will take and how soon we can be on the road. I was thinking of trying to drive at least to Mesquite, NV that afternoon. Is this practical?
Monday: Drive back home.
Sorry this is so long-winded. Thanks for any and all suggestions you can offer!
We will be picking up the houseboat at the Wahweap Marina on a Wednesday at 8 am and returning it at 2pm on Sunday (early August). We are driving from L.A., and towing our own 2 jet skis. The other family will be hauling their ski boat. (We figure this will save us almost $3k in rentals at the Lake.) Our initial, very loose, itinerary looks like this.
Sat. - Leave L.A. in the early a.m. drive to ?? I was thinking we could drive to St. George, which Mapquest shows as about a 6.5 hr drive. There we could find a motel, unhook the trailers and use as a base for 3 nights to explore Zion and Bryce. (I realize that this is a very short time to devote to these two parks, but that's all the time we will have on this trip, and I would really like to make the best of it.)
Question: Would St. George be practical? Should we press on to Springdale? I was looking at the map and saw that Glendale, UT seemed to be a 1/2 way point between the two parks, but there don't seem to be many lodging options there. We don't want to check in and out of 2 different hotels in three nights. Any help here would be appreciated.
Sunday: Zion & Tubing
Monday: Bryce & horseback ride
Tuesday: ? head to Page, AZ in the evening and spend night in Page.
Weds-Sun: Houseboat - How far can we venture from Wahweap in 5 days? Any tips on lake levels, out-of-the-way coves, etc. would be appreciated.
Sunday: Here's where I need more help. We turn in the boat at 2pm. I don't know how long the check out & unloading process will take and how soon we can be on the road. I was thinking of trying to drive at least to Mesquite, NV that afternoon. Is this practical?
Monday: Drive back home.
Sorry this is so long-winded. Thanks for any and all suggestions you can offer!
Nov 24th, 2006, 01:59 PM
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Hi Ivk,
I think for what you are trying to do, you will need to check in/out of hotels more often.
Using St. George as a base would not be practical. Drive on to Springdale, it's only another 40 minutes.
If you were to stay in St. George and drive back and forth to visit Bryce from there, you would be looking at about 6 hours of driving RT. No point in doing that! Takes less time to check in/out.
Actually, I would recommend just staying in Zion, enjoying your time there, and save Bryce for another trip.
Picking up the houseboat, receiving instructions, loading will take you most of the morning. Returning the houseboat will take a little less time, but allow for re-filling that huge tank and possible waits for the fueling dock.
I think for what you are trying to do, you will need to check in/out of hotels more often.
Using St. George as a base would not be practical. Drive on to Springdale, it's only another 40 minutes.
If you were to stay in St. George and drive back and forth to visit Bryce from there, you would be looking at about 6 hours of driving RT. No point in doing that! Takes less time to check in/out.
Actually, I would recommend just staying in Zion, enjoying your time there, and save Bryce for another trip.
Picking up the houseboat, receiving instructions, loading will take you most of the morning. Returning the houseboat will take a little less time, but allow for re-filling that huge tank and possible waits for the fueling dock.
Nov 24th, 2006, 06:46 PM
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I think Dayle's right about skipping Bryce on this trip. You should consider heading to Page earlier and touring the Upper Antelope Slot Canyon instead. I think you should be fine to drive to Mesquite on your final day. Although Mesquite is just a few casinos with cheap hotel rooms - you should be able to get a good rate on a Sunday night.
Nov 24th, 2006, 11:56 PM
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Just a couple of thoughts. We did this trip twice, but 10 years ago. I still remember some things that maybe will have changed. We also picked our boat up in Wahweap. On our way there we to wanted to spend the night in a small town and could not find lodging. Every town we came upon was SOLD OUT. If you can get your reservations before you go do it. Also this saved us..at the last minute we rented a camper type vehicle(bed on top ) not rv but because we couldn't find lodging we ended up sleeping in the camper. We didn't want to but we did.
Also we had a ski boat we towed behind our houseboat.We traveled about 2 hours(first day) on the lake(started around 3 pm) and quickly found a place to beach our houseboat,kind of level.We would send the ski boat out to find a cove or sandy beach to save time because we were up against the sun setting and you want to have your boat somewhere BEFORE the sun goes down. Especially that first day. I remember that now. It was a great trip. The ski boat saved us because it was our scout. In two weeks we only moved the houseboat three times. We would explore with the ski boat and ski but we didn't want to keep moving the houseboat.(It's alot of work)
Also, don't bring camping food bring the best.That's what we did and it was great. We packed the food in dry ice and brought Lobster Tails,Steak,Champagne..really good food. It was such a great family trip. Bring a good camera and good music.
Have fun!!!
Also we had a ski boat we towed behind our houseboat.We traveled about 2 hours(first day) on the lake(started around 3 pm) and quickly found a place to beach our houseboat,kind of level.We would send the ski boat out to find a cove or sandy beach to save time because we were up against the sun setting and you want to have your boat somewhere BEFORE the sun goes down. Especially that first day. I remember that now. It was a great trip. The ski boat saved us because it was our scout. In two weeks we only moved the houseboat three times. We would explore with the ski boat and ski but we didn't want to keep moving the houseboat.(It's alot of work)
Also, don't bring camping food bring the best.That's what we did and it was great. We packed the food in dry ice and brought Lobster Tails,Steak,Champagne..really good food. It was such a great family trip. Bring a good camera and good music.
Have fun!!!
Nov 26th, 2006, 12:04 PM
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Thanks for your responses. St. George is now out as a base. The guys wanted to check out the golf courses there, but not on this trip .
We will make reservations in Springdale and use that as our base. We're not ready to give up on Bryce, yet.
Anamaria, those were just the type of tips I was looking for. We'll make sure we always find a cove before dark. Oh, and we never eat camping-type food, even when we are camping
!
We will make reservations in Springdale and use that as our base. We're not ready to give up on Bryce, yet.Anamaria, those were just the type of tips I was looking for. We'll make sure we always find a cove before dark. Oh, and we never eat camping-type food, even when we are camping
!
Nov 26th, 2006, 02:12 PM
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Ivk,
By staying in Springdale, you can make Bryce a long day trip. It's about 1 1/2 to 2 hours one way. If you are driving at dawn, dusk, or night watch out for deer. The area is loaded with them.
By staying in Springdale, you can make Bryce a long day trip. It's about 1 1/2 to 2 hours one way. If you are driving at dawn, dusk, or night watch out for deer. The area is loaded with them.
Nov 26th, 2006, 02:37 PM
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IVK,
I loved our trip but we did have a few mishaps that happened. Once when we were floating down that huge Lake, my DH and I had just popped open a bottle of champagne when he looked over to the side and noticed a speed boat with no driver in it. Just floating in the Lake with no one on it. We laughed and commented on how dumb those people were and then my son ran over to us to say our boat had come untied. My DH had to dive off the houseboat and swim to the speedboat, while I had to take over on the houseboat. WOW I will never forget that.
Also on the last day of our trip my DH slipped because of suntan lotion and his foot hit a cleat and cut it open on the boat. I had to drive us all the way back to Las Vegas(part of our plans) then he walked into a walk in clinic to have it stitched up. We should have had his foot stitched up before our drive to Las Vegas but there was nothing around.
He still to this day, 10 years later has a nasty scar on his foot.
I loved our trip but we did have a few mishaps that happened. Once when we were floating down that huge Lake, my DH and I had just popped open a bottle of champagne when he looked over to the side and noticed a speed boat with no driver in it. Just floating in the Lake with no one on it. We laughed and commented on how dumb those people were and then my son ran over to us to say our boat had come untied. My DH had to dive off the houseboat and swim to the speedboat, while I had to take over on the houseboat. WOW I will never forget that.
Also on the last day of our trip my DH slipped because of suntan lotion and his foot hit a cleat and cut it open on the boat. I had to drive us all the way back to Las Vegas(part of our plans) then he walked into a walk in clinic to have it stitched up. We should have had his foot stitched up before our drive to Las Vegas but there was nothing around.
He still to this day, 10 years later has a nasty scar on his foot.
Nov 29th, 2006, 03:18 AM
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Sounds like a great trip! I would also agree with the plan to overnight in Springdale. But don't give up on Bryce yet....you can do it as a day trip and it's worth seeing. While I loved Antelope Slot Canyons, too, I would still chose the time in Bryce.
As for Zion, I would do the Narrows hike while there rather than tubing. It's unique, the kids will love it and you will be spending time on Lake Powell so the tubing isn't that different.
You might want to consider Flanigans or the Best Western in Springdale. Everyone on this board loves Desert Pearl so that's an idea as well.
Have a great trip!!!
As for Zion, I would do the Narrows hike while there rather than tubing. It's unique, the kids will love it and you will be spending time on Lake Powell so the tubing isn't that different.
You might want to consider Flanigans or the Best Western in Springdale. Everyone on this board loves Desert Pearl so that's an idea as well.
Have a great trip!!!
Nov 29th, 2006, 01:30 PM
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We have rented houseboats on Lake Powell twice, and the first time we paid extra to pre-board the boat the night before, so the next day we were pretty much ready to go. They did not let us leave the dock, but it saved us alot of time and cost just a bit more at the time, than staying overnight in a hotel!
Nov 30th, 2006, 07:41 AM
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Thanks for the additional tips.
ccrosner: Have you stayed at Flanagans or the Best Western? I love the look of the Desert Pearl too, but the houseboating is surprisingly expensive, so we're looking to cut costs elsewhere.
disneynan: do you remember how much extra it was to stay on the boat overnight? We are 2 families, so we would need at least 2 hotel rooms in Page. Staying on the boat at the dock might really save us time and money. I'm going to call to explore that option.
Thanks Again!
ccrosner: Have you stayed at Flanagans or the Best Western? I love the look of the Desert Pearl too, but the houseboating is surprisingly expensive, so we're looking to cut costs elsewhere.
disneynan: do you remember how much extra it was to stay on the boat overnight? We are 2 families, so we would need at least 2 hotel rooms in Page. Staying on the boat at the dock might really save us time and money. I'm going to call to explore that option.
Thanks Again!
Nov 30th, 2006, 12:03 PM
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LVK,
We stayed in a 2BR suite at Flanigans and it was quite nice. The property is more "crowded" in feel than the website might lead you to believe, but we liked it. Not a huge pool but fine.
You should try to search on "scraphappy" so that you can read her recent (october?) trip report. They did a similar trip including the houseboat and gave great details.
Carol
We stayed in a 2BR suite at Flanigans and it was quite nice. The property is more "crowded" in feel than the website might lead you to believe, but we liked it. Not a huge pool but fine.
You should try to search on "scraphappy" so that you can read her recent (october?) trip report. They did a similar trip including the houseboat and gave great details.
Carol
Nov 30th, 2006, 05:58 PM
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Sorry, we don't remember the exact price for the "Pre-boarding Option" , other than at the time it was cheaper than 2 hotels rooms. We left from HITE Marina that year. It was really nice to be able to load the boat and get everything all ready. The service guy came down first thing in the morning and went over everything and off we went. I have read lots of trip reports and it seems like its an option that alot of folks appreciate, when & where available. Maybe rooms will be more affordable in Page. There was very little available up by Hite. We drove from CT. so it was the closest marina for us and the only one that had an available boat the week we needed. Returning the boat was very easy and everyone we dealt with on the docks were very friendly, low key & and laid back.They have guys working on the docks with carts that helped carry our things back & forth. I think we just just gave them a tip. It went quickly & efficiently. Lake levels are changing all the time. So a nice spot that is there one year, maybe gone the next. We used this site for info:
http://elakepowell.com/freds/index.htm
I have read lots of folks prefer to find one spot, park, and then use the smaller boats for sight-seeing, exploring to save on gas costs. Our group really liked cruising in the houseboat as much as we could. Our first time out we left from Hite & went to Halls. The 2nd time we rented at Halls and went to the Rainbow Bridge area and stayed 2 days there, with a trip down to Dangling Rope for ice cream! Lake P. fabulous/magical place and we would love to do it again someday. Nothing beats sleeping on top of the boat, under the stars, with warm desert winds blowing..Actually we have spring trip planned, going to Zion (Desert Pearl), Bryce, Page, (rent power boat for the day, tour Antelope Canyon), and the off to Grand Canyon. Can hardly wait.
http://elakepowell.com/freds/index.htm
I have read lots of folks prefer to find one spot, park, and then use the smaller boats for sight-seeing, exploring to save on gas costs. Our group really liked cruising in the houseboat as much as we could. Our first time out we left from Hite & went to Halls. The 2nd time we rented at Halls and went to the Rainbow Bridge area and stayed 2 days there, with a trip down to Dangling Rope for ice cream! Lake P. fabulous/magical place and we would love to do it again someday. Nothing beats sleeping on top of the boat, under the stars, with warm desert winds blowing..Actually we have spring trip planned, going to Zion (Desert Pearl), Bryce, Page, (rent power boat for the day, tour Antelope Canyon), and the off to Grand Canyon. Can hardly wait.
Dec 1st, 2006, 07:28 AM
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Carol,
I did read scraphappy's great trip report. I wish she would come back to finish it. Flanigan's looks great, but a bit pricey for this trip. I would love to stay there or the Desert Pearl on a future trip, when we have more time to spend.
I'm seriously considering the Best Western Zion East/Thunderbird. It will take a bit longer to get to on that first day, but it is slightly closer to Bryce. It also has the 9-hole golf course that would make the guys happy. We have friends with an RV who may be joining us, so the adjacent RV park is attractive too.
Any comments on this place? How soon should we book? Best Western's website shows a AAA rate of about $85/nt. If this is the best we can hope for, then I'll reserve it right now.
disneynan, thanks for the additional info. I'll check out that link.
I did read scraphappy's great trip report. I wish she would come back to finish it.
Flanigan's looks great, but a bit pricey for this trip. I would love to stay there or the Desert Pearl on a future trip, when we have more time to spend.I'm seriously considering the Best Western Zion East/Thunderbird. It will take a bit longer to get to on that first day, but it is slightly closer to Bryce. It also has the 9-hole golf course that would make the guys happy. We have friends with an RV who may be joining us, so the adjacent RV park is attractive too.
Any comments on this place? How soon should we book? Best Western's website shows a AAA rate of about $85/nt. If this is the best we can hope for, then I'll reserve it right now.
disneynan, thanks for the additional info. I'll check out that link.
Dec 1st, 2006, 08:10 AM
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Hi again Ivk,
The Thunderbird is a long, slow drive up and out through the tunnel and well past the east entrance of the park. Mt. Carmel Junction is also just a wide spot in the road. Personally, I would not want to stay there. Springdale is a much better location, even if you are going to do a day trip to Bryce!
There is a new chain discount motel across the street from the Zion Park Inn, Best Western. Sorry I can't remember which one it is! Maybe Roadway Suites?
The Thunderbird is a long, slow drive up and out through the tunnel and well past the east entrance of the park. Mt. Carmel Junction is also just a wide spot in the road. Personally, I would not want to stay there. Springdale is a much better location, even if you are going to do a day trip to Bryce!
There is a new chain discount motel across the street from the Zion Park Inn, Best Western. Sorry I can't remember which one it is! Maybe Roadway Suites?
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