Planning a family reunion? Birthday party? Bachelorette party? Consider renting a houseboat on Shasta Lake in California for a carefree sun-drenched celebration on the water.

Shasta's unique shape provides an abundance of coves that offer privacy and the ability to moor up on shore and relax away from other vacationers. When the water is high, the lake beaches up to the shore at the tree line, offering bountiful room for exploration. In the lower months, the red, rocky clay of the banks is exposed. The lake boasts an abundance of both warm and cold-water fish including bass, trout, salmon, catfish, sturgeon and carp. Other attractions in the local area include the Lake Shasta Caverns, free Shasta Dam tours,  and the Sundial Bridge in Redding.

Beautiful spring and summer weather (think 70s to 90s) during spring and soaring over 100 degrees during the summer. The gorgeous weather comes complete with stunning sunrise and sunset views. Boats can be moored directly to the shore, or anchored in open water. 

There are seven marinas on Shasta Lake that rent houseboats: Shasta Marina Resort, Packer's Bay Marina, Holiday Harbor, Silverthorn Resort, Bridge Bay Resort, Jones Valley Resort, and Antlers Resort and Marina. Each marina offers different houseboat models that can sleep between six and 26 people. Prices depend on the length of your stay, number of guests, and season, and can range between $750–$15,965. Many marinas also offer speedboat, Jet Ski and other watercraft rentals.

Plus, depending on which marina you use for rental, some rentals offer hot tubs, BBQs, water slides, on-tap beer, satellite flat screens, fireplaces, indoor and outdoor showers and professional surround sound systems. 

Pro Tip: Many Oregon and California college fraternities rent houseboats through the month of May, so vacationers desiring a mellow experience may want to consider avoiding that month. Most three-story boats require renters to be 25 years old, while the one and two-story boats typically have a rental age of 21. 

For more information, visit shastalake.com/boatrentals.