3 Days on a Houseboat -The Fun, the Fears and the Family Memories

Is a houseboat vacation rental on your family travel bucket list? Houseboating was always something that caught my attention, with dreams of relaxing on the water and watching the sunset from the boat deck. In Virginia, there’s no better place for houseboating than beautiful Smith Mountain Lake. Often called the “Jewel of the Blue Ridge,” Smith Mountain Lake has over  500 miles of shoreline, and combines the best of lake life with the scenic backdrop of the Blue Ridge mountains. It’s the ultimate family bonding experience when you are all together on a 39’ boat for a few days! Here’s what I discovered during our 3-day houseboating adventure on Smith Mountain Lake, including 6 helpful tips for first-time houseboaters. 
*This post was updated April, 2023

The location of Smith Mountain Lake in southwest Virginia makes it accessible by car from cities like Washington, DC, Richmond, and Raleigh. It’s home to Smith Mountain Lake State Park, with a beach area and trails. Plus the cool town of Roanoke is just about 25 miles away and is another wonderful place for outdoor activity. 

Since this was our first time renting a houseboat, a 3-day, 2-night rental seemed like the perfect amount of time for our mini vacation. At Smith Mountain Lake, houseboat rentals are also available for 4 or 7 days. Our 39’ rental houseboat had room for 6 with a dinette and a sleeper sofa, one bathroom with a shower, a grill, and a water slide. 

Basic boating experience is important, and the staff at Parrot Cove Boat Rentals were quite efficient in providing instructions and getting us quickly on the water. It’s funny how the houseboat websites never show pictures of people signing paperwork and loading all their stuff on the boat! Once my husband got the boat out of the marina, we cruised for about an hour, searching for the ideal spot to hang out.  

The Fun
Once we got settled and comfortable with driving, we headed towards our first stop—a small cove near one of the state park areas of the lake. It was time to drop anchor, secure the boat, and let the fun begin! We learned that essential items for relaxing include rafts, tubes, pool noodles, food, and drink. Our $10 rafts that we picked up before our trip were perfect for the deep water, and we were able to lounge around for most of the day. The 2nd story slide was helpful for those of us (me!) who didn’t want to jump from the top deck. Our adjustable beach chairs came in handy for lounging on the deck, especially at night when the sky was filled with stars.

​My husband had high hopes of throwing freshly caught fish on the grill for dinner, but it was not meant to be for us. Fishing from a raft didn’t work any better (although we were curious to see where he would put the fish as he paddled back to the boat), but he had fun trying. Fortunately we had a back-up plan of grilled chicken and steak which definitely came in handy. Enjoying the colorful sunset over the water was the perfect end to the day. 

On Day 2, we decided to venture to a more remote cove and stay there for the remainder of our stay. Once anchored, we spent another lazy day in the water, along with card playing on the shady front deck, and scary stories at night under the stars. We all agreed that having water toys on hand (rafts, pool noodles, etc.) is crucial  for any houseboat adventure. 

We were awakened on Day 3 by a flock of geese passing through our cove. It was another beautiful day on the water, and we took our last opportunity to swim and enjoy relaxing on the boat before heading back to the marina. 

The Fears
While we certainly had fun during our 3-day trip, it was not without some fear on my part for the first time on a houseboat.  My biggest fear (besides watching my husband drive the boat) was drifting off to sleep and waking up on the other side of the lake. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep well our first night, waking up often to peek out the window and check our position. I’m happy to report that my fears were unfounded and our anchor did its job. I realized that being on a houseboat is similar to camping in some ways. There are often unfamiliar noises at night, and you forget how dark it can be outside at night. I couldn’t blame my daughter for wanting to sleep under the beautiful star-filled sky on deck, but it did cause me to sleep with one ear open until she decided to rejoin us in the cabin. Our second night was much more peaceful, securely anchored in a bigger cove. Luckily for us, we didn’t encounter any thunderstorms which can happen during the warmer months. Having a confident driver also helped. I think my whole family would agree that Mom driving the boat is not a good idea! 

The Family Memories
Whether it's 3 days or 3 weeks, vacations are all about creating lasting memories, and the houseboat will be remembered for many reasons. Hours playing in the water, flipping each other off the rafts, enjoying the rooftop slide, the kids watching me scramble to grab my sunglasses as they floated to the bottom of the lake, and hanging out on the upper deck to stargaze and tell ghost stories are just a few. I’m sure my kids will also be constantly reminding me that I was too scared to jump off the top deck (although they will conveniently forget that I did make it through my first high adventure course just a few days prior). As expected for first-time houseboaters, we did have a few stressful moments just getting comfortable driving the boat, but all in all, it will be remembered as a wonderful trip, full of relaxing moments and great memories.

Helpful Tips for a First Houseboating Trip

• Having some basic boating skills under our belt certainly made us a little more comfortable when we first motored away from the dock. Unlike a car, houseboats don’t brake quickly, nor do they steer as easily as a smaller power boat. It was a bit unnerving at first when you turned the wheel and the boat did not immediately change directions, but my husband handled it well, even in the crowded areas of the lake. 
• Houseboats around the country range from basic models to luxurious boats with all the amenities you would find in an expensive hotel. Usually, you don’t need to bring items like sheets, towels, kitchen accessories, etc. We did bring extras like beach chairs for lounging, beach towels, sunscreen, music, playing cards , games, books, and lots of things to float on. Most places will provide you with a detailed list of items that are included.  Extra towels always come in handy. 
• Our top deck was not covered - it would have been nice to have brought a small tent canopy to provide some shade during the day. Most of the deluxe and luxury houseboats in the hotter parts of the country offer this feature.
• Consider the age of your passengers and how you will be spending your days. Many houseboats offer packages that include Waverunners, small motor boats, paddleboards and kayaks. Depending on the length of your stay and where you are boating, you might need a smaller boat to get to a marina or to the shore.
• Visit houseboating.org to get more information about the many lakes around the country where houseboat rentals are available. They also offer tips and other important information to make your houseboat vacation as smooth as possible. 
• Before departing, review the map and get recommendations from the marina for the best spots for fishing, refueling, and overnight anchoring. Ask about the most efficient cruising speeds to maximize your fuel. And finally, make sure you understand the best method for anchoring the boat. Then relax and enjoy this unique adventure.