How to Plan a Gay-Friendly Houseboating Trip

From Lake Powell in the steamy Southwest to Priest Lake in idyllic Idaho, outdoor adventurers are discovering the joys of these houseboating havens.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Swimsuits
• Travel Clothes
• Travel Kits
• First Aid Kits
• Alternative Lifestyle Travel Services
• Travel Services
• Notebooks
• Travel Games
• Notebooks
• Swimsuits

1. Plan your houseboating trip well in advance. Make a list of the transportation, accommodations and activities you desire or need.

2. Research the various houseboating trips and destinations via the Web or books. Look for hot travel deals offered on gay outdoor adventure travel sites, such as Out West Global Adventures (800-743-0458).

3. Consider your costs carefully, since trips run from midrange on Lake Powell to luxury on Priest Lake (Jacuzzi included!). Establish a "kitty" account for gas and incidentals to share costs.

4. Schedule your trip according to your destination's seasonal conditions. Plan your warm-weather trip the previous winter - regardless of your final vacation getaway.

5. Pack as lightly as possible - the fewer clothes the better (one bathing suit, a few T-shirts, socks and undergarments, and one cool-weather wrap).

6. Set sail and soak in the natural beauty that surrounds you. Pick a campsite close enough to the marina to get ice and gas but far enough from other boats to avoid excessive noise.

Tips & Warnings

• Some books and Web sites provide information for travelers with HIV or AIDS (necessary vaccines, food to eat and not to eat, where not to drink the water, and so forth).
• You can command a houseboat without a license on most lakes. Consult specific marinas or travel companies for more information.
• Always bring a first aid kit.
• Beach your boat by mid-afternoon (3 p.m.) to avoid boating accidents resulting from sun glare.
• Prepare yourself for long boat-rental waiting lists - some as much as a year in advance.
• You will have very little privacy if traveling with a large group. Choose your companions wisely.